The Oscars, Viola Davis & Slighting Movies which Address Politically Incorrect Social Concerns
With each passing year since I became a film buff in the 1990s, I become less and less interested in the Oscars. To be sure, there are always artistic achievements which merit our attention, acknowledgment and accolades.
This year is no different. But, it is seems that increasingly, the Academy strives to please the cultural critics rather than appealing to the public at large. It should recognize excellence, rather than politically correct social concerns as it now seems to be doing.
I’ll be rooting for Slumdog Millionaire for Best Picture because it provided a novel twist on a traditional Hollywood tale–and it is not a Hollywood production. It is a perfect example of how a film can affirm our basic humanity, the power and meaning of human relationships.
In a previous post, I noted how I’m torn between Mickey Rourke and Frank Langella for Best Actor. Both men clearly earned the Oscar for their performances in The Wrestler and Frost/Nixon respectively.
For Best Actress, both Kate Winslet and Angelina Jolie merit the honor for The Reader and The Changeling respectively. I do hope Jolie’s film wins for Art Direction and Cinematography for which it is also nominated. Art Director James J. Murakami, Set Director Gary Fettis and Cinematographer Tom Stern did a great job of capturing the feel of Los Angeles in the 1930s (at least how I imagined it). At times, it even felt as if it were a film from the 1930s.
It seems a given that Heath Ledger will win Best Supporting Actor for The Dark Knight, an honor the late actor truly merits.
All of the four performances nominated for Best Supporting Actress that I’ve seen (Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Amy Adams and Viola Davis in Doubt and Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler) are truly outstanding, I believe one stands head and shoulders above the rest, that of Viola Davis.
To be sure, Davis probably had less time on screen than any of her competitors, but she so steals her scenes that you think she’d had a larger role in the film. Like Beatrice Straight who won for three minutes of screen time in Network, Davis takes a small role and uses it to help sustain the entire film. Take it away and the film falls apart.
She becomes the archetypal mother whose concerns for her child’s welfare overrides almost all other concerns. You can hear it in her words, see it in her face, even watch it the way she moves. It is simply an amazing performance.
And while I hope the Academy singles out that brilliant performance, I regret that one of the the truly great movies which addresses important social concerns has been slighted by the academy this year. Perhaps, that’s because Gran Torino is far from politically correct.
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The Oskarzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
And so the season of Hollywood celebrating itself begins. Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, People’s Choice Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Golden Globes, Cannes, Sundance, etc, etc, etc…. Unfortunately the season is about 12 months long and wraps up just in time for the next season to begin.
And once again no one will watch, because no one BUT Hollywood wants to see the kind of movies Hollywood thinks worthy of award. Movies glorifying drug addiction, depravity and spoiled rotten, America-loathing brats while attacking everything that is good in the world. All the tired, unimaginative, perennial cliches Hollywood thinks are clever, cool and hip.
I am shocked that Slumdog Millionaire was nominated because I was looking forward to seeing it. Now that I know it has been nominated, I worry that it must not be as good as I had hoped.
Comment by American Elephant — February 22, 2009 @ 9:09 pm - February 22, 2009
This makes a record 10 years in a row of not giving a damn about the Oscars! High fives, everyone!
Comment by Attmay — February 23, 2009 @ 12:12 am - February 23, 2009
Why? Because he was somewhat attractive or because he’s dead?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 23, 2009 @ 1:35 am - February 23, 2009
I was glad that Slumdog Millionaire won ‘Best Picture’……it deserved it, Slumdog Millionaire was an uplifting movie (esp. in our current economic climate) and it was also widely predicted to win.
But Sean Penn won Best Actor for portraying Harvey Milk in “Milk”…..Any thoughts?
Feel free to disagree with the “politics” of most of Hollywood, but I liked what Dustin Black said, who won the Oscar for best screenplay in “Milk”…….
“”I think [Milk] would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight … that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours.”
Comment by Jamie — February 23, 2009 @ 2:55 am - February 23, 2009
With each passing year since I became a film buff in the 1990s, I become less and less interested in the Oscars. To be sure, there are always artistic achievements which merit our attention, acknowledgment and accolades.
It’s always funny seeing you guys make these self-contradictory posts about the Oscars where you say you don’t care about the Oscars. Real convincing.
It’s ridiculous to pretend that the Oscars is some sort of line in the sand. Everybody likes movies, everybody likes seeing who gets the biggest yearly award. It’s like sports, more casual sportsfans will usually at least be interested in who wins the championship, and so it is with films, only with an immeasurably broader appeal — again, everyone likes movies. People just like knowing who is getting the job done in the particular field of filmmaking every year, just like non-football fans watch the Super Bowl. You dorks make it sound like liberals tune in to hear Barbara Streisand recite intructions or something.
Comment by Levi — February 23, 2009 @ 3:28 am - February 23, 2009
I truly don’t care, asshole. Haven’t cared since Forrest Gump was a contender. I only find out who won in passing when other folks mention it. It would not surprise me at all that the liberal snobs said “Hey, let’s vote for the dot-head flick so we can show the ignorant masses how much we care!”.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 23, 2009 @ 5:12 am - February 23, 2009
Then why has viewership been plummeting every year?
There’s nothing at all contradictory about acknowledging that a cultural event that is the object of so much hype garners increasingly little public support and attention. Or that it used to be worthwhile, but increasingly is not. Indeed, that seems to be the growing public consensus.
Everyone does love good movies. But judging from the fact that the nominated movies did so poorly at the box office, few seem to agree with the Academy on what constitutes a good movie.
Comment by American Elephant — February 23, 2009 @ 5:57 am - February 23, 2009
These conservative gays are sooo above the Oscars. That’s why every year we get a screed about how they should award the Oscar to popular movies. The Oscars are so out of touch. If you guys don’t care then shut your pie hole, and let those of us who do enjoy the Oscars enjoy it without your hateful comments. You don’t like Hollywood and I don’t like Wallstreet. Which has done greater damage to this country?
Comment by DaveA — February 23, 2009 @ 10:12 am - February 23, 2009
#7 – “If you guys don’t care then shut your pie hole, and let those of us who do enjoy the Oscars enjoy it without your hateful comments.”
I keep saying that about you and your ilk when it comes to this blog, pinhead. If you don’t like us shining the light of truth on the libtard left, then shut YOUR pie hole.
“You don’t like Hollywood and I don’t like Wallstreet. Which has done greater damage to this country?”
Oh please – too easy. If you have to ask then you are more clueless than I thought.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — February 23, 2009 @ 10:27 am - February 23, 2009
Peter you’re missing the point. Let me try.
These conservative gays (because of course all the self professed straights who post here are in denial) are sooo above the Oscars (They’re busy listening to flyover country). That’s why every year we get a screed (because ‘screed’ is the only style that the left can write in) about how they should award the Oscar to popular movies (popular with those neanderthalls who aren’t as enlightened as us) . The Oscars are so out of touch (like I am, but I won’t admit it). If you guys don’t care then shut your pie hole, and let those of us who do enjoy the Oscars enjoy it without your hateful comments (because disagreeing with an enlightned liberal is automaticaly hate). You don’t like Hollywood and I don’t like Wallstreet (because actually, y’know, making a profit is bad, unless it’s my side making the profit). Which has done greater damage to this country?(please please don’t answer that)
There. all ammended.
Though I’ll have to admit, Hollywood produced the only Union president to sit in the oval office
Comment by The Livewire — February 23, 2009 @ 10:59 am - February 23, 2009
Levi, I didn’t say I don’t care about the Oscars. Again, read my post, read even the passage you quote. I said I am becoming “less and less interested” in them.
Comment by Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest) — February 23, 2009 @ 11:47 am - February 23, 2009
Hollywood! hands down
Comment by American Elephant — February 23, 2009 @ 11:58 am - February 23, 2009
Hollywood would not exist without Wall Street.
Comment by DaveO — February 23, 2009 @ 12:57 pm - February 23, 2009
“You don’t like Hollywood and I don’t like Wallstreet”
I think I actually felt a brain cell die, reading that comment.
Don’t tell me, DaveA, le’me guess: Hollywood is better, because it’s not involved in business or industry like Wall Street is… it just makes art, right?
Comment by DaveP. — February 23, 2009 @ 1:15 pm - February 23, 2009
Re: #7
And the award for Biggest Drama Queen goes to….
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 23, 2009 @ 3:41 pm - February 23, 2009
#14 – Wait a minute, does a vote for Levi count?
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — February 23, 2009 @ 5:20 pm - February 23, 2009
#7: You have got to be sh!††ing me. Hollywood corruption makes Wall Street look like Sunday School. Just ask anyone who’s tried to get royalties owed from Disney movies (Peggy Lee for money owed from video sales of “Lady & the Tramp”, the North American licensees of the rights to Winnie the Pooh, et al). And that’s leaving out the music industry altogether.
Comment by Attmay — February 23, 2009 @ 9:19 pm - February 23, 2009