It’s once again that glorious time of year when every week brings a new tent-pole movie that can make a studio’s year as easily as it can break a fan’s heart, that special stretch when restless teenagers want to get out of the house and run-down adults want to get away from their boring lives, so they collectively, one and all, dash through the sun and heat into the dark and cool local cinema. That’s right, friends: It’s the summer blockbuster season (one that seems to start earlier each year, kicked off this time by the new Marvel installment, Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Like the rest of you, I will certainly be there, as I am looking forward to the big-budget entertainment the season typically offers in abundance. I plan to see most if not all of the most anticipated ones, so I can come back here to Omega-Level and discuss their merits and flaws with you fine folks. And I have no doubt that you will do the same too. We will all be there at the movies this summer, except for probably one small difference: I’ll be there when few others are with me at the matinee showings—and this option is something I’d like to trumpet in this week’s OV.

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When you pick up a novel, you basically know what you’re going to get: some characters, a setting or two, probably some discernible overriding theme—you know, the bare necessities of storytelling. These components are in any narrative concoction; whether it’s good or not is usually all a matter of mixing it up the right way. And there in the middle, moving them all about in some dramatically interesting fashion, is the conflict. Conflict can be a make-or-break element because a story’s clashes and bashes and gnashes propel everything and really make the story come to life. But for me there’s an even more primary conflict attached to this whole process, one that exists outside story itself: summoning the strength to actually pick up the novel to read in the first place. And, if you don’t mind, this conflict is what I’d like to investigate here today.

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Have you ever watched the Oscars and said to yourself, “Gee, if only I had a chance to win my own trophy like those happy Oscar winners. That would really spice up my life—or at least make watching this protracted awards show a little bit more interesting.” Honestly, I don’t even know why I asked: I know you’ve thought this because I have thought the same thing and we Omega-Levellers think alike. It’s just how we roll; it’s what makes us us. Up until now, we have had no outlet to realize this dream, no real chance to shine in the spotlight. But then The Dude, always the innovator in our midst, came up with a brilliant idea to rectify this sorry state of affairs, one so simple and perfect and right for us: We should have our own Omega-Level Oscar award! And now that the Oscars air this Sunday, it’s time to unveil the competition for the inaugural (yes, I’m just going to assume there will be many, many more after this) Best Oscar-Picker award! Hit the jump if you want a piece of some OL Oscar glory.

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