To regain populist footing, Oscars need a hero

The Oscars are at a crossroads and Batman is standing right in the middle of the road.

Like the Scarecrow says in "The Wizard of Oz" (not "the Scarecrow" in "Batman Begins"), the Oscars can go this way, or they can go that way.

In recent years, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has increasingly honored independent films that haven't exactly done huge box office business. At the same time, moviegoers have been most interested in coming out to see blockbusters _ particularly superhero films.

Enter "The Dark Knight."

Christopher Nolan's latest Batman installment grossed $531 million, …