It’s strange, for the past seven years when I journey down this “road to the Oscars,” I find myself regurgitating the same things over and over again, but that’s what these awards are all about. You can’t help but reflect about the past winners and losers, go over a multitude of trivia in your head and ultimately think about who was utterly screwed, because that’s what has become of this famed ceremony the past decade. And at the end of the day, I get a whole lot of “coulda, woulda, shoulda” across the board of nominees. That’s just how I see it and although I will never lose that love/hate relationship toward these awards and everything they consume, I’ll still remember how it should have gone down from year to year. Because in the end, the winners that walk away with that gold statuette aren’t necessarily the ones that gave the best performance, while those didn’t win are left sitting in their uncomfortable seats wondering what the hell just happened. That’s the Oscars in a nutshell for not just these categories, but most of the other’s I don’t even go into. Who knows, maybe I’m insane to think that the winners should be the ones that truly gave the best performance of the year or even the ones that weren’t nominated in the first place. Obviously just being nominated is an accolade in itself, but the award should go to the actor that did the best job. It shouldn’t go to the actor who deserves to win, simply because they didn’t win last year, or this is the 8th time being nominated without a win. And although I can see being nominated eight times without a win over the span of forty-five years is a bit ridiculous, it happens. I mean, Meryl Streep has been nominated a record fifteen times now with only two wins; a stat that I feel won’t change this year, despite her innovative performance in DOUBT. But, that’s the reality that has swept over these famed awards the past few years, especially in the acting categories, leaving the question of, “Who will win and who will be robbed this year?”
Even though the Best Picture nominees get all the glory come Oscar time, to me, it’s the Best Actor and Best Actress awards that really have become somewhat of a guessing game lately. What use to be a viable task of picking who should win in these categories has transformed into who you think will win, meaning the best actor/actress may not go home with the gold, as I briefly went into earlier. For the past several years now, my theory of how these categories tend to go has been tested, as most of the actor/actresses who won should have won. And even in looking at this year’s nominees, that theory might get left behind yet again, as who should win, will win. However, there’s always that chance the Academy throws a curve ball and picks someone no one in the world thinks will win, as the best. It’s happened before and if you have read my column before, you know exactly where I’m going next. It’s almost a tradition now, so why stop; especially when it’s so much fun to reminisce on. The year was 2002 and we were supposed to be celebrating the best of 2001 in film, just like any prior year. The nominees were announced and there were a few surprises, but typically that first day when you look over who was nominated, you can pick out definite winners, based on what you saw. This method hasn’t changed for me and in 2002, I felt like Russell Crowe gave the performance of his life in A BEAUTIFUL MIND, a film, which wound up winning Best Picture. And anyone that watched this film clearly could see it was great for pretty much one reason and one reason only, Crowe. Sure, Ron Howard was magnificent behind the camera and Jennifer Connelly only added to the greatness of Crowe, but it was still Crowe’s work that made this film what it was. It’s that simple, and yet, Denzel Washington took home the Oscar for his role in TRAINING DAY. To this day or at least in my memory of these awards, there are only a few times that an actor has won for a performance that was clearly not the best of that year. One is Denzel Washington, as I just mentioned, but another is Adrien Brody for his role in THE PIANIST a few years ago in 2003, which I’ll admit was really good, especially considering the topic at hand.
But, believe it or not, it wasn’t the best that year as Daniel Day Lewis gave, in my mind, his best career performance, at least up till then, in GANGS OF NEW YORK. You can’t watch that film without being drawn into what Daniel Day Lewis was able to do. His depiction of “Bill the Butcher” was uncanny, stealing each and every scene he was in. But, as I outlined in my Week 1 introduction, GANGS OF NEW YORK walked home with zero gold statuettes’, despite its 10 nominations that year, including Best Picture. And of course last year, as I predicted, Lewis walked home as a winner, but did so for two reasons, one of which being he didn’t win in 2003 and the other being he actually was the best last year for his role in THERE WILL BE BLOOD. However, the same can’t be said for Washington in TRAINING DAY, which I agree was a tough role and one we never saw him in before, but was he truly the best that year? The best to me; means no one else was better and that year, no one, I mean no one, was better than Russell Crowe. Crowe was robbed in every sense of the term and no argument that comes my way will ever make me change my mind. Anyone who saw A BEAUTIFUL MIND will tell you just how brilliant Crowe was and how without him, the movie would have never gone on to win Best Picture like it did. But, because Crowe won the previous year for GLADIATOR, he was snubbed and instead we saw Washington take home the gold. And even the year before, after a breakthrough performance in THE INSIDER, Crowe walked home empty handed, in favor for Kevin Spacey, who was just alright in AMERICAN BEAUTY, but not so good he deserved an Oscar, in my opinion. I mean, I like Spacey, but I just do not understand how that film won what it did. That’s three straight years Crowe was nominated and he walked home with just one prized statuette, when it should have been at least two, if not three if you look at his competition in any of those award season’s. Why that happened to Crowe is a dispute I have revisited too many times, but the point is still there; politics play too much of a role now with the Oscars allowing that once invincible credibility to be questioned. And this year is no different, as I can almost guarantee Sean Penn loses out to who I call “the flavor of the season,” Mickey Rourke, but more on that later as this is truly why I love and hate these awards so much. Because, truth be told, until they change the Academy membership to allow more current working/younger Hollywood members, the politics will continue to rule these awards year in and year out.
Let me start with the supporting actors and actresses that in many ways outshine their leading co-stars, with usually a much smaller role. However, in saying that, how do you determine who is the lead and who is the supporting actor/actress? It’s a tough pickle to be in, especially considering so many of these supporting actors/actresses get just as much screen time, and this year that notion is tested quite severely in what Heath Ledger was able to do. But, others do not put in that kind of time, leaving you with just a handful of scenes to pick from, if that. A great supporting performance to me is one where the actor/actress steals at least one or two scenes from the main stars. That’s it; nothing else goes into it, at least to me, so when I see a nomination like the one this year for Josh Brolin, I wonder what I missed. MILK was an incredible film for a lot of reason, none of which being Brolin’s character, who despite his one final act, blended into the background with little to nothing to do with the story. I mean, when I think of this film, Brolin is the last person I remember, which should tell you that this nomination clearly is some sort of consolation for the fact Brolin was snubbed last year for his work in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. That or the Academy liked his other film in 2008, W, so much that they nominated him for this one instead. Hey, believe it or not, these kinds of politics go on and when I see a nomination like this, I can’t help but wonder. Of course, then I look at the nomination for Robert Downey Jr. and absolutely laugh, not just because he was nominated for a role, he was nominated for one in a comedy where he played a white Australian actor who has immersed himself into a role as an African-American soldier. I don’t care how funny he was or how unique this role is, this nomination should have never happened. It’s no secret comedies get little to no love from the Academy, so why do they feel the need to do something like this now? I guess the overachieving success of IRON MAN has people a little fuzzy in the head, but this has no place among the other actors that deserved to be there. Actors like Michael Sheen, who was snubbed from this category, but was amazing in his role as David Frost in FROST/NIXON. As for the other three actors that did make it, only one will wine and we all know who that is. There’s no need to even discuss what Philip Seymour Hoffman or Michael Shannon were able to do in their respective films, as no one was better than Heath Ledger last year. Setting aside the argument of is this type of role should or shouldn’t be nominated, based on the genre, Ledger makes you forget about the main character for which the film is derived after. It’s true, Ledger was so good in THE DARK KNIGHT, you forget that you’re not only watching Ledger, but you’re watching a guy that is only meant to be the main villain opposite Batman. And as hard as it is to even come up with words to describe exactly why that is, know that Ledger was the Joker, in a way that no one could have ever dreamed of, bringing attention to a role that is just about as dark as it gets. And I can only imagine what he would say, if he was alive to see the result of what he created in this character, which undoubtedly will win this year, as I just can’t see the Academy getting this one wrong.
Best Supporting Actor
- Josh Brolin in MILK (Focus Features.)
- Robert Downey Jr. in TROPIC THUNDER (DreamWorks)
- Philip Seymour Hoffman in DOUBT (Miramax)
- Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.)
- Michael Shannon in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (DreamWorks.)
Now for the women, who frankly deserve to go first, but take a backseat this year to Ledger. I can still remember back when TITANTIC ruled this night a good 11 years ago with Gloria Stuart picking up a nomination for her part in the film. She didn’t win, but I was shocked to see her nomination that year, knowing she was barely involved in the film, outside the narration. And like I said earlier, there’s got to be that one scene that shines, the one scene that makes you remember that character. Last year, Tilda Swinton won for her part in MICHAEL CLAYTON, a great film filled with all sort of talent, but not one where I thought she was just amazing in. Sure, she made the most of her scenes, just as she always does, but again I never saw her winning, making my prediction last year about as off as it could get. This year, I actually could have seen a nomination for her part in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, but that nomination went to the well-deserving Taraji P. Henson instead. And now that I look at it, if Swinton would have been nominated, she and Henson might have cancelled each other out, much like Amy Adams and Viola Davis might do this year for their part in DOUBT, despite their heroics opposite two giants like Hoffman and Streep. Maybe that’s a shot in the dark, but I can see it happening and the award going to either Penelope Cruz or Marisa Tomei, who each put it all on the line in their dynamic roles. In fact, Tomei probably deserves this Oscar more than the one she won for way back in 1992 with MY COUNSIN VINNY. Just taking into account the fact we never see Tomei anymore and for her to take on this role in THE WRESTLER, showing more than she ever has, tells me the dedication and love she has for a story she believes in. And who knows, THE WRESTLER might make a clean sweep with its acting nominations this year, with Mickey Rourke possibly in line for his first Oscar, so you just never know with this category that could really go a number of ways, as my pick indicates below:
Best Supporting Actress
- Amy Adams in DOUBT (Miramax)
- Penelope Cruz in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (The Weinstein Company)
- Viola Davis in DOUBT (Miramax)
- Taraji P. Henson in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
- Marisa Tomei in THE WRESTLER (Fox Searchlight.)
This year’s Best Actor and Best Actress categories feature the same old story, a couple rookies and a couple veterans, mixed in with a few that maybe should not be there at all. In fact, given the extreme diversity of the bunch, it will be interesting to see who walks home a winner come Oscar night. But, isn’t it always? As I said, these two awards tend to be the most debated and that hasn’t changed and probably never will. But, the unfortunate question that I come to every year is, who deserves it more? Most of these actors and actresses were outstanding in their nominated roles, but like most of the other categories, there can only be one winner. Before I get into who all is nominated, though, let me tell you who wasn’t nominated, and this one truly shocked me. I really felt after watching GRAN TORINO, there’s no way Clint Eastwood gets left off the ballot. Now, that’s not because he was hands down the best last year, as several other’s deserve that crown, but he was good, maybe even great. I mean, when you start to break down what the Academy likes each and every year, Clint Eastwood fits the bill to a ‘T’, so for him not to get praise for playing a disgruntled old man and bigot, a role that I doubt many would have been to pull off the way he did, is surprising. And it’s in the way he did it too, so easily with no holding back, like each moment of emotion was his last. But, even Clint getting snubbed was not half as bad as Leonardo DiCaprio getting no love for his part in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. Anyone that watches this film will tell you he was remarkable and how he didn’t garner at least a nomination for it is rediculous. What does this guy have to do? I mean, he was so good he overpowered his costar Kate Winslet, who handles her own just fine most instances. But, I guess Richard Jenkins really was better in THE VISITOR, holding onto that 5th and final nominee slot this year. Deserved or not, that’s how the cards were played, so we will accept what was dealt and move on, knowing there were better performances left off the ballot. Now, for the performances that were on the ballot, I think there might only one that truly has no chance and that’s Brad Pitt. Taking nothing away from this amazing star and talent, but he will never win an Oscar, just as Tom Cruise never will, because they are both too big for awards. There are not many actors out there that get the top billing over a title of a film, but these two guys do each and every time they have something new out. That theory may be a bit farfetched to some, but neither of these guys have an Oscar at home and this year will end the same way for Pitt, as his performance in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON will get passed over.
In fact, his film has won practically nothing this season, which to me is an outrage considering how breathtaking and moving it was. So, even if the film goes on to win most of its 13 nominated categories, Best Actor will not be among the winners, which is unfortunate for Pitt, who clearly put a lot into the role. Eliminating Pitt leaves the final three nominees, all deserving like Pitt, but more likely to take home the gold. Last year, this category was a gimme, as there was no way the Academy would snub Daniel Day Lewis for his role in THERE WILL BE BLOOD, one above the rest from a year ago and one I still marvel at when I look back on. This year, I feel, will go one of three ways, with two nominees more likely to take home the gold over the third. The third or what I would dub dark horse to win this year is Frank Langella, a veteran who knows how to stay within the character, carrying all those famous mannerisms and actions of the infamous President, as he did in FROST/NIXON. And at the tender age 71, Langella finds himself in unfamiliar waters as a first-time nominee at the most coveted award show in the world. Well, as my favorite actor once said, just being nominated is a win in itself, so I hope Langella is OK with that notion as this is truly a two-man race. As I noted last week, Mickey Rourke right now is the flavor of the season, meaning anyone and everyone will fall all over themselves to give this guy the award for Best Actor. Listen, I watched THE WRESTLER and it was an amazing piece of moviemaking with very few flaws, much to the credit of director Darren Aronofsky, but honestly when I break it all down, Rourke was great, but I’m just not sure if he deserves the award this year. This may sound crazy, but haven’t we seen this kind of performance before? One where the audience has no choice but to live and breathe everything this character is about? I mean, there’s so much Rourke in this film, that anyone else involved gets lost in the background, which makes the performance by Marisa Tomei that much more impressive. And the feeling I get right now is Rourke will steal this one away, not because he was the best; because he was so raw and so present in virtually every scene of the film. Meaning, since he was in so much of the film, how could we not give him the award. He’s been through so much and was written off years ago, right? I’m telling you, this is why he will win, if he pulls it off. The only salvation I have is at least Rourke is deserving and if it was a different year, he should be the winner hands down. But, guess what, it’s not and this year the award belongs to Sean Penn, who in my mind took it to another level in MILK. Sure, Penn is no stranger to this ceremony and yes, he is a previous nominee and winner, but his performance as Harvey Milk was absolutely stunning. It’s one thing to be hidden behind makeup and be forgotten, but for Penn to somehow make you forget you were watching him, instead of Harvey Milk was incredible and why I feel he should walk home a winner this year, as my pick below suggests:
Best Actor
- Richard Jenkins in THE VISITOR (Overture Films)
- Frank Langella in FROST/NIXON (Universal)
- Sean Penn in MILK (Focus Features)
- Brad Pitt in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
- Mickey Rourke in THE WRESTLER (Fox Searchlight)
For the first time in a long time, I think we might have a clear-cut favorite to win Best Actress. In fact, given the history of this category, one might even go aw afar as to say, this was a down year with not as many groundbreaking performances from the women. And at least of the top of my head, I can’t come up with anyone I felt got left off the ballot this year, which is odd and yet so telling. If anything, Kate Winslet should have been on this ballot twice, as her “other” performance in 2008 was just as worthy as the one given to her for THE READER. But, for once the Academy got it right, leaving that performance in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD off the ballot in favor for the one in THE READER. And what’s funny about this very nomination is the fact the Hollywood Foreign Press for The Golden Globes had this role as supporting, not lead which makes no sense to me. I mean, both roles were lead roles and the fact she won the Globe for lead actress in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD instead of the one in THE READER is crazy, when you couldn’t even name another actor from that film. Obviously in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, there was Leo who clearly stole every scene they were in together, so if she would have been nominated for supporter here, it would have made better sense. But, I guess when the award for both went to her; it didn’t matter letting the Hollywood Foreign Press off the hook of what could have been a huge mistake. Because, Kate was by far the best last year as anyone who watches THE READER will find out. Finally, after five previous nominations and no wins, she will get her long awaited Oscar, something I would bet money on being the defining moment of the ceremony this year. And that’s too bad for first-time nominees Anne Hathaway and Melissa Leo, who were both great, but in the end just not as good as Kate. And at least for Hathaway, this is just the first of several nominations in a career that I expect to explode in the next few years. The same can’t be said for Angelina Jolie, who for the second straight year will walk home empty handed despite one heck of a performance. That’s a shame because I felt CHANGELING deserved a bit more love. Finally, there’s the queen of these awards, Meryl Streep, the actress that so many others look up to. Bagging her now 15th nomination, one would think Streep would have more than two Oscars at home on her mantle, but that’s not the case. And this year, she should fall short, but if Streep was ever more of a dark horse, it’s right now as her part in DOUBT clearly had people talking. She stole the coveted ‘actor’ away from Kate at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, so who knows, we might be in for an upset, but I just can’t see the Academy not rewarding Kate this year for her work as my pick below suggests.
Best Actress
- Anne Hathaway in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED (Sony Pictures Classics)
- Angelina Jolie in CHANGELING (Universal)
- Melissa Leo in FROZEN RIVER (Sony Pictures Classics)
- Meryl Streep in DOUBT (Miramax)
- Kate Winslet in THE READER (DreamWorks)
Next Week: (Best Director, Best Picture)
Even though the Best Picture nominees get all the glory come Oscar time, to me, it’s the Best Actor and Best Actress awards that really have become somewhat of a guessing game lately. What use to be a viable task of picking who should win in these categories has transformed into who you think will win, meaning the best actor/actress may not go home with the gold, as I briefly went into earlier. For the past several years now, my theory of how these categories tend to go has been tested, as most of the actor/actresses who won should have won. And even in looking at this year’s nominees, that theory might get left behind yet again, as who should win, will win. However, there’s always that chance the Academy throws a curve ball and picks someone no one in the world thinks will win, as the best. It’s happened before and if you have read my column before, you know exactly where I’m going next. It’s almost a tradition now, so why stop; especially when it’s so much fun to reminisce on. The year was 2002 and we were supposed to be celebrating the best of 2001 in film, just like any prior year. The nominees were announced and there were a few surprises, but typically that first day when you look over who was nominated, you can pick out definite winners, based on what you saw. This method hasn’t changed for me and in 2002, I felt like Russell Crowe gave the performance of his life in A BEAUTIFUL MIND, a film, which wound up winning Best Picture. And anyone that watched this film clearly could see it was great for pretty much one reason and one reason only, Crowe. Sure, Ron Howard was magnificent behind the camera and Jennifer Connelly only added to the greatness of Crowe, but it was still Crowe’s work that made this film what it was. It’s that simple, and yet, Denzel Washington took home the Oscar for his role in TRAINING DAY. To this day or at least in my memory of these awards, there are only a few times that an actor has won for a performance that was clearly not the best of that year. One is Denzel Washington, as I just mentioned, but another is Adrien Brody for his role in THE PIANIST a few years ago in 2003, which I’ll admit was really good, especially considering the topic at hand.
But, believe it or not, it wasn’t the best that year as Daniel Day Lewis gave, in my mind, his best career performance, at least up till then, in GANGS OF NEW YORK. You can’t watch that film without being drawn into what Daniel Day Lewis was able to do. His depiction of “Bill the Butcher” was uncanny, stealing each and every scene he was in. But, as I outlined in my Week 1 introduction, GANGS OF NEW YORK walked home with zero gold statuettes’, despite its 10 nominations that year, including Best Picture. And of course last year, as I predicted, Lewis walked home as a winner, but did so for two reasons, one of which being he didn’t win in 2003 and the other being he actually was the best last year for his role in THERE WILL BE BLOOD. However, the same can’t be said for Washington in TRAINING DAY, which I agree was a tough role and one we never saw him in before, but was he truly the best that year? The best to me; means no one else was better and that year, no one, I mean no one, was better than Russell Crowe. Crowe was robbed in every sense of the term and no argument that comes my way will ever make me change my mind. Anyone who saw A BEAUTIFUL MIND will tell you just how brilliant Crowe was and how without him, the movie would have never gone on to win Best Picture like it did. But, because Crowe won the previous year for GLADIATOR, he was snubbed and instead we saw Washington take home the gold. And even the year before, after a breakthrough performance in THE INSIDER, Crowe walked home empty handed, in favor for Kevin Spacey, who was just alright in AMERICAN BEAUTY, but not so good he deserved an Oscar, in my opinion. I mean, I like Spacey, but I just do not understand how that film won what it did. That’s three straight years Crowe was nominated and he walked home with just one prized statuette, when it should have been at least two, if not three if you look at his competition in any of those award season’s. Why that happened to Crowe is a dispute I have revisited too many times, but the point is still there; politics play too much of a role now with the Oscars allowing that once invincible credibility to be questioned. And this year is no different, as I can almost guarantee Sean Penn loses out to who I call “the flavor of the season,” Mickey Rourke, but more on that later as this is truly why I love and hate these awards so much. Because, truth be told, until they change the Academy membership to allow more current working/younger Hollywood members, the politics will continue to rule these awards year in and year out.
Let me start with the supporting actors and actresses that in many ways outshine their leading co-stars, with usually a much smaller role. However, in saying that, how do you determine who is the lead and who is the supporting actor/actress? It’s a tough pickle to be in, especially considering so many of these supporting actors/actresses get just as much screen time, and this year that notion is tested quite severely in what Heath Ledger was able to do. But, others do not put in that kind of time, leaving you with just a handful of scenes to pick from, if that. A great supporting performance to me is one where the actor/actress steals at least one or two scenes from the main stars. That’s it; nothing else goes into it, at least to me, so when I see a nomination like the one this year for Josh Brolin, I wonder what I missed. MILK was an incredible film for a lot of reason, none of which being Brolin’s character, who despite his one final act, blended into the background with little to nothing to do with the story. I mean, when I think of this film, Brolin is the last person I remember, which should tell you that this nomination clearly is some sort of consolation for the fact Brolin was snubbed last year for his work in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. That or the Academy liked his other film in 2008, W, so much that they nominated him for this one instead. Hey, believe it or not, these kinds of politics go on and when I see a nomination like this, I can’t help but wonder. Of course, then I look at the nomination for Robert Downey Jr. and absolutely laugh, not just because he was nominated for a role, he was nominated for one in a comedy where he played a white Australian actor who has immersed himself into a role as an African-American soldier. I don’t care how funny he was or how unique this role is, this nomination should have never happened. It’s no secret comedies get little to no love from the Academy, so why do they feel the need to do something like this now? I guess the overachieving success of IRON MAN has people a little fuzzy in the head, but this has no place among the other actors that deserved to be there. Actors like Michael Sheen, who was snubbed from this category, but was amazing in his role as David Frost in FROST/NIXON. As for the other three actors that did make it, only one will wine and we all know who that is. There’s no need to even discuss what Philip Seymour Hoffman or Michael Shannon were able to do in their respective films, as no one was better than Heath Ledger last year. Setting aside the argument of is this type of role should or shouldn’t be nominated, based on the genre, Ledger makes you forget about the main character for which the film is derived after. It’s true, Ledger was so good in THE DARK KNIGHT, you forget that you’re not only watching Ledger, but you’re watching a guy that is only meant to be the main villain opposite Batman. And as hard as it is to even come up with words to describe exactly why that is, know that Ledger was the Joker, in a way that no one could have ever dreamed of, bringing attention to a role that is just about as dark as it gets. And I can only imagine what he would say, if he was alive to see the result of what he created in this character, which undoubtedly will win this year, as I just can’t see the Academy getting this one wrong.
Best Supporting Actor
- Josh Brolin in MILK (Focus Features.)
- Robert Downey Jr. in TROPIC THUNDER (DreamWorks)
- Philip Seymour Hoffman in DOUBT (Miramax)
- Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.)
- Michael Shannon in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (DreamWorks.)
Now for the women, who frankly deserve to go first, but take a backseat this year to Ledger. I can still remember back when TITANTIC ruled this night a good 11 years ago with Gloria Stuart picking up a nomination for her part in the film. She didn’t win, but I was shocked to see her nomination that year, knowing she was barely involved in the film, outside the narration. And like I said earlier, there’s got to be that one scene that shines, the one scene that makes you remember that character. Last year, Tilda Swinton won for her part in MICHAEL CLAYTON, a great film filled with all sort of talent, but not one where I thought she was just amazing in. Sure, she made the most of her scenes, just as she always does, but again I never saw her winning, making my prediction last year about as off as it could get. This year, I actually could have seen a nomination for her part in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, but that nomination went to the well-deserving Taraji P. Henson instead. And now that I look at it, if Swinton would have been nominated, she and Henson might have cancelled each other out, much like Amy Adams and Viola Davis might do this year for their part in DOUBT, despite their heroics opposite two giants like Hoffman and Streep. Maybe that’s a shot in the dark, but I can see it happening and the award going to either Penelope Cruz or Marisa Tomei, who each put it all on the line in their dynamic roles. In fact, Tomei probably deserves this Oscar more than the one she won for way back in 1992 with MY COUNSIN VINNY. Just taking into account the fact we never see Tomei anymore and for her to take on this role in THE WRESTLER, showing more than she ever has, tells me the dedication and love she has for a story she believes in. And who knows, THE WRESTLER might make a clean sweep with its acting nominations this year, with Mickey Rourke possibly in line for his first Oscar, so you just never know with this category that could really go a number of ways, as my pick indicates below:
Best Supporting Actress
- Amy Adams in DOUBT (Miramax)
- Penelope Cruz in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (The Weinstein Company)
- Viola Davis in DOUBT (Miramax)
- Taraji P. Henson in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
- Marisa Tomei in THE WRESTLER (Fox Searchlight.)
This year’s Best Actor and Best Actress categories feature the same old story, a couple rookies and a couple veterans, mixed in with a few that maybe should not be there at all. In fact, given the extreme diversity of the bunch, it will be interesting to see who walks home a winner come Oscar night. But, isn’t it always? As I said, these two awards tend to be the most debated and that hasn’t changed and probably never will. But, the unfortunate question that I come to every year is, who deserves it more? Most of these actors and actresses were outstanding in their nominated roles, but like most of the other categories, there can only be one winner. Before I get into who all is nominated, though, let me tell you who wasn’t nominated, and this one truly shocked me. I really felt after watching GRAN TORINO, there’s no way Clint Eastwood gets left off the ballot. Now, that’s not because he was hands down the best last year, as several other’s deserve that crown, but he was good, maybe even great. I mean, when you start to break down what the Academy likes each and every year, Clint Eastwood fits the bill to a ‘T’, so for him not to get praise for playing a disgruntled old man and bigot, a role that I doubt many would have been to pull off the way he did, is surprising. And it’s in the way he did it too, so easily with no holding back, like each moment of emotion was his last. But, even Clint getting snubbed was not half as bad as Leonardo DiCaprio getting no love for his part in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. Anyone that watches this film will tell you he was remarkable and how he didn’t garner at least a nomination for it is rediculous. What does this guy have to do? I mean, he was so good he overpowered his costar Kate Winslet, who handles her own just fine most instances. But, I guess Richard Jenkins really was better in THE VISITOR, holding onto that 5th and final nominee slot this year. Deserved or not, that’s how the cards were played, so we will accept what was dealt and move on, knowing there were better performances left off the ballot. Now, for the performances that were on the ballot, I think there might only one that truly has no chance and that’s Brad Pitt. Taking nothing away from this amazing star and talent, but he will never win an Oscar, just as Tom Cruise never will, because they are both too big for awards. There are not many actors out there that get the top billing over a title of a film, but these two guys do each and every time they have something new out. That theory may be a bit farfetched to some, but neither of these guys have an Oscar at home and this year will end the same way for Pitt, as his performance in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON will get passed over.
In fact, his film has won practically nothing this season, which to me is an outrage considering how breathtaking and moving it was. So, even if the film goes on to win most of its 13 nominated categories, Best Actor will not be among the winners, which is unfortunate for Pitt, who clearly put a lot into the role. Eliminating Pitt leaves the final three nominees, all deserving like Pitt, but more likely to take home the gold. Last year, this category was a gimme, as there was no way the Academy would snub Daniel Day Lewis for his role in THERE WILL BE BLOOD, one above the rest from a year ago and one I still marvel at when I look back on. This year, I feel, will go one of three ways, with two nominees more likely to take home the gold over the third. The third or what I would dub dark horse to win this year is Frank Langella, a veteran who knows how to stay within the character, carrying all those famous mannerisms and actions of the infamous President, as he did in FROST/NIXON. And at the tender age 71, Langella finds himself in unfamiliar waters as a first-time nominee at the most coveted award show in the world. Well, as my favorite actor once said, just being nominated is a win in itself, so I hope Langella is OK with that notion as this is truly a two-man race. As I noted last week, Mickey Rourke right now is the flavor of the season, meaning anyone and everyone will fall all over themselves to give this guy the award for Best Actor. Listen, I watched THE WRESTLER and it was an amazing piece of moviemaking with very few flaws, much to the credit of director Darren Aronofsky, but honestly when I break it all down, Rourke was great, but I’m just not sure if he deserves the award this year. This may sound crazy, but haven’t we seen this kind of performance before? One where the audience has no choice but to live and breathe everything this character is about? I mean, there’s so much Rourke in this film, that anyone else involved gets lost in the background, which makes the performance by Marisa Tomei that much more impressive. And the feeling I get right now is Rourke will steal this one away, not because he was the best; because he was so raw and so present in virtually every scene of the film. Meaning, since he was in so much of the film, how could we not give him the award. He’s been through so much and was written off years ago, right? I’m telling you, this is why he will win, if he pulls it off. The only salvation I have is at least Rourke is deserving and if it was a different year, he should be the winner hands down. But, guess what, it’s not and this year the award belongs to Sean Penn, who in my mind took it to another level in MILK. Sure, Penn is no stranger to this ceremony and yes, he is a previous nominee and winner, but his performance as Harvey Milk was absolutely stunning. It’s one thing to be hidden behind makeup and be forgotten, but for Penn to somehow make you forget you were watching him, instead of Harvey Milk was incredible and why I feel he should walk home a winner this year, as my pick below suggests:
Best Actor
- Richard Jenkins in THE VISITOR (Overture Films)
- Frank Langella in FROST/NIXON (Universal)
- Sean Penn in MILK (Focus Features)
- Brad Pitt in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
- Mickey Rourke in THE WRESTLER (Fox Searchlight)
For the first time in a long time, I think we might have a clear-cut favorite to win Best Actress. In fact, given the history of this category, one might even go aw afar as to say, this was a down year with not as many groundbreaking performances from the women. And at least of the top of my head, I can’t come up with anyone I felt got left off the ballot this year, which is odd and yet so telling. If anything, Kate Winslet should have been on this ballot twice, as her “other” performance in 2008 was just as worthy as the one given to her for THE READER. But, for once the Academy got it right, leaving that performance in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD off the ballot in favor for the one in THE READER. And what’s funny about this very nomination is the fact the Hollywood Foreign Press for The Golden Globes had this role as supporting, not lead which makes no sense to me. I mean, both roles were lead roles and the fact she won the Globe for lead actress in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD instead of the one in THE READER is crazy, when you couldn’t even name another actor from that film. Obviously in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, there was Leo who clearly stole every scene they were in together, so if she would have been nominated for supporter here, it would have made better sense. But, I guess when the award for both went to her; it didn’t matter letting the Hollywood Foreign Press off the hook of what could have been a huge mistake. Because, Kate was by far the best last year as anyone who watches THE READER will find out. Finally, after five previous nominations and no wins, she will get her long awaited Oscar, something I would bet money on being the defining moment of the ceremony this year. And that’s too bad for first-time nominees Anne Hathaway and Melissa Leo, who were both great, but in the end just not as good as Kate. And at least for Hathaway, this is just the first of several nominations in a career that I expect to explode in the next few years. The same can’t be said for Angelina Jolie, who for the second straight year will walk home empty handed despite one heck of a performance. That’s a shame because I felt CHANGELING deserved a bit more love. Finally, there’s the queen of these awards, Meryl Streep, the actress that so many others look up to. Bagging her now 15th nomination, one would think Streep would have more than two Oscars at home on her mantle, but that’s not the case. And this year, she should fall short, but if Streep was ever more of a dark horse, it’s right now as her part in DOUBT clearly had people talking. She stole the coveted ‘actor’ away from Kate at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, so who knows, we might be in for an upset, but I just can’t see the Academy not rewarding Kate this year for her work as my pick below suggests.
Best Actress
- Anne Hathaway in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED (Sony Pictures Classics)
- Angelina Jolie in CHANGELING (Universal)
- Melissa Leo in FROZEN RIVER (Sony Pictures Classics)
- Meryl Streep in DOUBT (Miramax)
- Kate Winslet in THE READER (DreamWorks)
Next Week: (Best Director, Best Picture)
thanks for this post.. i'm sorta fed up with the oscars .. the true best actors are from showbizzle. His video blogs are awesome!! thanks for this post!
ReplyDelete