And So It Begins

I had originally written a piece that called out what I think is yet more dirty pool in the Oscar race. But after mulling it over I removed it – for one thing, it only makes a bigger deal out of something that wasn’t a big deal to begin with (hot air, really), but the main reason is that I agree that the Oscar race isn’t strictly about the performance or the film. It should be, but it isn’t. It is about PR, it is about looks, it is about “fitting in,” and doing the right thing, and working the line. It is about all of those things. To pretend it isn’t is idealistic at best. A performance rarely stands on its own. Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Marion Cotillard, Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts – they all worked the line. Even odd duck winners like Marcia Gay Harden, Tilda Swinton and Jim Broadbent pretty much worked the line.

Performance + likability = Oscar.