By Ed Otte

Lisa Kennedy would like to move beyond the recent Academy Award nominations controversy. But it isn’t easy to avoid the topic.

The Denver Post film and theater critic was asked about the lack of diversity at this year’s Oscar awards ceremony during the March 11 Fireside Chat at the Denver Press Club. The program was sponsored by the Colorado Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

“They don’t think they are racist but I don’t know if they are,” Kennedy said in response to a question. “I’m just trying to figure it out and not be angry.”

The question was about the lack of recognition “Selma” received in the 87th Oscar nominations. The film, about the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., received two nominations – Best Picture, and won for Best Original Song, “Glory.” Neither director Ava DuVernay nor David Oyelowo, who portrayed Martin Luther King, Jr., were nominated.

“I think Paramount mishandled the marketing of ‘Selma,'” she said. “But we’re constantly talking about snubs and there are a lot of them. Orson Welles was snubbed. Alfred Hitchcock was snubbed.

“What’s wrong with the Academy? The lack of diversity. I don’t want to know how clubby the industry is. I’m more interested in seeing what the industry does now with gender diversity and racial diversity.”

Kennedy also cited box office appeal that reflects public attitudes. “It would more interesting if ‘Selma’ was making the same money as ‘American Sniper.'”

According to Box Office Mojo, “American Sniper” is the No. 1 domestic grossing 2014 film with $337,852,209. “Selma” is ranked 62nd with $51,057,668. Both films opened on Christmas Day.

Kennedy worked as an editor at other publications, including the Village Voice, before joining the Post in 2004. “When I made the shift from editing to writing it was because it would be something I enjoy doing.”

And although she crafts well-written articles, Kennedy added: “My approach to writing is not comfortable. But I try. I don’t have a good filter for what I want to write. That’s why I’m not a good blogger. I like tweeting.”

Admitting “a terrible film is more fun to review then a mediocre film,” she said both efforts require attention. “It takes the same amount of energy. Your name is on the piece. I can watch a mediocre documentary about a topic I’m interested in and like it but I can’t do that with a mediocre narrative film.”

An example of an interesting documentary, she said, is “Rolling Papers.” The 2014 independent feature examined Colorado’s cannibis culture and “our pot editor, Ricardo Baca. That sounds funny, our pot editor, but that’s who he is. The Village Voice had one of those before it was a title.”

Another person asked about critics who have reputations for being harsh in their reviews. “I don’t like judging people. Some (critics) like to tear things apart. They have such panache. But it’s like, don’t pull the wings off, it’s a ladybug.”

Three years ago, theater critic was added to Kennedy’s assignments. She displays equal interest for the stage and the screen.

“I think there’s a theater culture in Denver that’s bubbling up,’ she said. “There’s smart programming going on at the Denver Theatre Center development company. Buell’s the economic engine but there’s some other good theater going on. I think play development will make us (Denver) important. You want people to come here to perform and produce but you want people to stay. You want that mix of new play development and tour companies.”

The same is true for film production. “You look at Boston and Austin as examples, we really don’t have the narrative business now but we do have a documentary infrastructure that is being nurtured. I think there are a lot of crews here who can produce films, documentaries and commercials.

“The Colorado Film School at Lowry is a lot more about film production than film studies. Hands-on training. Pretty complete.”

Kennedy’s favorite films?

“I give a stock answer,” she said. “No, it’s not a stock answer. It’s true. ‘Wizard of Oz’ is my favorite. I can watch that over and over.  I just love it. I didn’t see it on the screen. I saw it on TV. I don’t want to see her go back to Kansas. I want her to stay in Oz.”

“Wizard of Oz” was released in 1939. “I’m a ’30s, ’40s kind of person. There’s some great ’70s things I like.”

The other films:

“Best Years of Our Lives’ (1946) “Still one of the most satisfying movies about men coming back from war and rebuilding their lives.”

“Bonnie and Clyde” (1967)

“Do The Right Thing” (1989)

“And I like Quintin Tarantino,” she said. “I’m so into his work.”