Could a blockbuster win the Oscar? With 'Mad Max,' 'Star Wars,' it doesn't seem impossible.

Rarely do box office smashes wow academy voters. Technical categories aside, Oscars are reserved for movies that are just more sophisticated. There are exceptions, of course. "Titanic" won best picture in 1997, and ever since the best picture field expanded to 10 potential nominees, there's supposedly more space for less weighty movies. It's sort of a peace offering for the common folk -- a chance for one movie that's less artsy and more mainstream to get a nomination. Last year it was top earne...