Did Kate Winslet deserve to win the best actress Oscar? How should we know – since her acclaimed movie The Reader hasn’t been screened in Shropshire. Movie blogger Carl Jones shares his frustration.

“And I’d like you all to join me in shedding a tear for the Shropshire cinemagoers who won’t get to see my new film because  Odeon and Cineworld think Pink Panther 2 is all they can cope with. It’s an utter disgrace…”

What a great night for British cinema. Eight Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire, a first success for Kate Winslet, and gongs too for UK-made period drama The Duchess, and fascinating documentary Man On Wire.

All we need now is for the owners of our big domestic cinema chains to realise that, when good films are released with good performances, the equally good folk of Shropshire would like to see them.

A good night for British film

Disgracefully, Winslet’s best actress performance in The Reader hasn’t been shown at any of our big county cinemas. Nor has Sean Penn’s controversial turn as gay America politician Harvey Milk, which earned him the best actor prize. I had to travel out of the county to see them.

It goes on . . . Penelope Cruz was best supporting actress for her feisty role in Woody Allen’s latest social drama Vicky Cristina Barcelona, but that hasn’t come to Telford. Hats off to Cineworld Shrewsbury for at least screening that one (and to the town’s Old Market Hall for giving Milk a week-long run earlier this month).

So, what Oscar-winning fare are we left with at the multiplexes? Heath Ledger’s best supporting actor turn came in The Dark Knight, which was shown at every cinema on the planet, and the groundswell of support for Slumdog Millionaire ensured at least Danny Boyle’s magical movie got a full UK release.

At least that’s something, I suppose.

Yes, yes, I know it’s about bums on seats, but the majority of these award winners have genuine A-list stars in them. Ralph Fiennes, the aforementioned Winslet, Josh Brolin, Scarlett Johansson . . . the list goes on.

And then the big chains compound the misery by finding plenty of room to show Steve Martin’s cringeworthy Pink Panther 2, the worst and least anticipated sequel in many a moon which was a box office flop first time round.

It’s a riddle which even Inspector Clouseau would struggle to solve.