Oscar denied, Oscar nom died

Prolific indie producer Bob Yari will have to console himself with the TV version of "Crash" since it appears that he won't collect an Oscar for the feature film after all.

At least that's what the California appeals court said yesterday, in ruling that Yari, one of six credited producers on the incendiary film, can't retroactively sue to get an Academy Award. Seems that as a private group, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can do whatever it wants in handing out its Little Gold Men (tell us about it -- we saw who won this year for best original screenplay).

The decision comes after nearly two years of legal wrangling from Yari, who's worked on movies ranging from "The Matador," "Factory Girl" and "The Illusionist" to the upcoming "Assassination of a High School President." The issue he raised -- exactly how many producers does it take to make a hit movie? -- remains a thorny and unresolved one. Expect more lawsuits!

Richard Widmark, best known for playing the tough guy in decades worth of genre flicks, passed away this week at 93. Widmark was nominated for a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1947 gangster flick "Kiss of Death," which was later remade by schlockmeister Barbet Schroeder with Nicolas Cage in the sociopath role.

If you want to see somebody really bring the crazy, watch Widmark in the original noir classic (pictured here with Victor Mature). Go to THR for the infamous scene of him pushing an old lady in a wheelchair down a flight of stairs. Creepy.