Oscar nominees that carry a red state of approval

This year’s doubling of the Oscars’ best picture slate to 10 nominees has produced endless speculation about how voters will fill those extra five slots. Will academy members give a nod to sci-fi crowd-pleasers? Comedies? Animated films? Whatever. The more intriguing question is whether it will mean more inclusion for Oscar’s most overlooked genre: movies that appeal to conservatives.

The heartwarming, redemptive tale “The Blind Side” has been winning raves from people who usually either ignore Hollywood or bash it as a bastion of liberal-elite political correctness. The movie’s heartland appeal isn’t hard to figure out. Its odds-defying true story affirms both faith and football, features a country-singer superstar in a key role and shows a family of Southern evangelicals talking the talk and walking the walk.

“The Blind Side” is neither cloying nor condescending and is largely being embraced as warmly as a slice of apple pie at a Tea Party protest.

And it’s not the only Oscar contender this year that could be seen as a patriot act. If the “Blind Side” crowd has found its way to “The Hurt Locker,” it will have discovered one of the most empathetic (and exciting) portraits of what it means to be a soldier in the 21st century. Meanwhile, Quentin Tarantino’s “ Inglourious Basterds” waves the red-white-and-blue with its band of Jewish American soldiers (led by Brad Pitt’s good ol’ boy) giving the Nazis a taste of their own medicine. (Death to fascism!)

We’re so used to the academy’s choices skewing left (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Milk,” “JFK,” “Reds” . . . it’s a long list) that it’s a bit of a head-scratcher when a conservative-friendly movie elbows its way onto the dance floor. Yet, this year isn’t an anomaly. Here are some other best picture nominees from the last couple of decades that could -- repeat, could -- carry the Red State Seal of Approval, albeit with a few caveats:

“Juno” (2007)

The approval: Teen girl has sex(!), gets pregnant (you see what happens?!?), decides to have baby. (Yay!)

The caveat: The woman who adopts the baby will be a single mother.

“Saving Private Ryan” (1998)

The approval: A salute to the selfless honor of those who serve America during war and the bonds of brotherhood.

The caveat: The soldiers are too sensitive. Gen. Patton would not approve.

“Braveheart” (1995)

The approval: Freeeeeeeeeeedom! It’s worth dying for.

The caveat: Hero wears a skirt.

“Apollo 13” (1995)

The approval: American astronauts and the boys at Mission Control use Yankee ingenuity and self-reliance to overcome crisis and achieve a sort of singular glory.

The caveat: American craftsmanship ultimately is responsible for that whole “Houston, we have a problem” situation.

“Forrest Gump” (1994)

The approval: Simple but big-hearted doofus rejects the ‘60s, embraces God, country and free-market enterprise. Bonus points for spawning family-friendly fried shrimp restaurant franchise and creating jobs.

The caveat: His mother sleeps with the public school principal to get him enrolled.

“Fatal Attraction” (1987)

The approval: Film sends clear message: Reject family values at your own peril! Bonus points for sending PETA activists into cardiac arrest with that stove-top rabbit scene.

The caveat: Made the adulterous sex look too exciting.

And these are just the academy’s best picture nominees.

Other conservative-tinged movies that have been nominated in various categories recently include “The Lives of Others,” with its indictment of Soviet-era communism, and Pixar Animation’s “The Incredibles,” in which a family of high-achieving superheroes is forced to go into hiding thanks to political correctness and the threat of litigation. (Damn regulations!)

And looking ahead, now that “The Blind Side” has grossed well over $200 million, there’s probably going to be a long line of studio-sponsored suitors looking to make family values their own.

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