Robin PottratzA Salute to Sasha Stone, Tim Swanson, and David Fear: Champions of Oscar Dissent
November 20th 2008 05:17
If you have read the title of this post, I'm sure you are wondering...who exactly are Sasha Stone, Tim Swanson, and David Fear? Well Sasha Stone is a film blogger, Tim Swanson is the movies editor for the Los Angeles Times, and David Fear is a film blogger and reviewer for "Time Out New York." So why am I writing a tribute about these three film minds? The reason that I feel that these three should be acknowledged and praised is that they are the three film journalists that I have read that have dissented with the status quo of this year's Academy Awards season. They are dissenters in the one situation that it is impossible to be disagreeing with. The situation that I am speaking of is the category of Best Supporting Actor.
This year, the majority of critics have already decided that the late Heath Ledger should win the award for his performance as the Joker in the box office superhit "The Dark Knight." While none may admit it, and in some cases deny it...it is impossible to ignore the fact that the primary reason that everyone is ready to crown Mr. Ledger as the winner this year is the fact that he died last January. A posthumous Oscar win for an undeserved performance would be the product of overwhelming sentiment and voters making their decision with their hearts and not with their heads.
I am now going to say what everyone is afraid to: What happened to Heath Ledger was tragic but if he wins an Academy Award for "The Dark Knight" it will be because he died not because he deserved it. If people want to give Mr. Ledger a tribute then leave it at a nomination, but don't give it to him because that win will always have a stigma attached to it.
Now back to the original point...On the Los Angeles Times website they have a section dedicated to this year's Oscar season. The favorites in various categories have already been listed:
Best Picture: "Milk," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Australia," and "Frost/Nixon" to name a few.
Best Actor: Sean Penn "Milk", Frank Langella "Frost/NIxon", and Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler" to name a few
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway "Rachel Getting Married", Meryl Streep "Doubt", and Angelina Jolie "Changeling" to name a few
Best Director: David Fincher "Benjamin Button", Ron Howard "Frost/Nixon", and Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire" to name a few
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz "Vicky Christina Barcelona", Viola Davis "Doubt", and Kate Winslet "The Reader" to name a few
In these categories the predictions are spread out...however in the Best Supporting Actor category it is almost entirely for Heath Ledger...except for three writers.
Tim Swanson and David Fear both would give their vote for Best Supporting Actor to past winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman for his portrayal of a priest accused of child molestation in "Doubt." I have not seen that film so I couldn't tell you if it is a justified choice, but it is refreshing to see two journalists challenge the supposed established order of film critics and make a choice sanely.
A special kudos goes to Sasha Stone. Stone is the only journalist that I have read that has given her vote to a man who truly deserves it...Robert Downey Jr. for his high wire act as a method actor who performs in black-face in "Tropic Thunder." Downey Jr. hit a career high for both comedy and pure acting skill. In my opinion of all the realistically possible nominees Downey should win for the best reason of all...unlike Ledger he actually deserves it. It is encouraging that a critic like Sasha Stone can exhibit the bravery to go against the grain and vote for someone who truly deserves the award.
Whether I like it or not Heath Ledger is going to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his hammed up Joker in "The Dark Knight." I hope that academy voters come to their senses and leave the tribute at just a nomination. However the film community has already decided to further establish Ledger as little more than a tragic figurehead by giving him an undeserved Oscar. I may not agree, but it is comforting to know that there are at least some film critics who still can judge sanely in the sweeping film world.
So a salute goes out to Tim Swanson, David Fear, and Sasha Stone. I salute them for their bravery and for their honesty in a situation where it would be easy to brand any dissenting opinion as politically incorrect. Their journalistic courage fills me with confidence in writing this blog and proudly exercising by freedom of speech by saying this...Don't give Heath Ledger an Oscar...for this reason...he didn't earn it.
This year, the majority of critics have already decided that the late Heath Ledger should win the award for his performance as the Joker in the box office superhit "The Dark Knight." While none may admit it, and in some cases deny it...it is impossible to ignore the fact that the primary reason that everyone is ready to crown Mr. Ledger as the winner this year is the fact that he died last January. A posthumous Oscar win for an undeserved performance would be the product of overwhelming sentiment and voters making their decision with their hearts and not with their heads.
I am now going to say what everyone is afraid to: What happened to Heath Ledger was tragic but if he wins an Academy Award for "The Dark Knight" it will be because he died not because he deserved it. If people want to give Mr. Ledger a tribute then leave it at a nomination, but don't give it to him because that win will always have a stigma attached to it.
Now back to the original point...On the Los Angeles Times website they have a section dedicated to this year's Oscar season. The favorites in various categories have already been listed:
Best Picture: "Milk," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Australia," and "Frost/Nixon" to name a few.
Best Actor: Sean Penn "Milk", Frank Langella "Frost/NIxon", and Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler" to name a few
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway "Rachel Getting Married", Meryl Streep "Doubt", and Angelina Jolie "Changeling" to name a few
Best Director: David Fincher "Benjamin Button", Ron Howard "Frost/Nixon", and Danny Boyle "Slumdog Millionaire" to name a few
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz "Vicky Christina Barcelona", Viola Davis "Doubt", and Kate Winslet "The Reader" to name a few
In these categories the predictions are spread out...however in the Best Supporting Actor category it is almost entirely for Heath Ledger...except for three writers.
Tim Swanson and David Fear both would give their vote for Best Supporting Actor to past winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman for his portrayal of a priest accused of child molestation in "Doubt." I have not seen that film so I couldn't tell you if it is a justified choice, but it is refreshing to see two journalists challenge the supposed established order of film critics and make a choice sanely.
A special kudos goes to Sasha Stone. Stone is the only journalist that I have read that has given her vote to a man who truly deserves it...Robert Downey Jr. for his high wire act as a method actor who performs in black-face in "Tropic Thunder." Downey Jr. hit a career high for both comedy and pure acting skill. In my opinion of all the realistically possible nominees Downey should win for the best reason of all...unlike Ledger he actually deserves it. It is encouraging that a critic like Sasha Stone can exhibit the bravery to go against the grain and vote for someone who truly deserves the award.
Whether I like it or not Heath Ledger is going to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his hammed up Joker in "The Dark Knight." I hope that academy voters come to their senses and leave the tribute at just a nomination. However the film community has already decided to further establish Ledger as little more than a tragic figurehead by giving him an undeserved Oscar. I may not agree, but it is comforting to know that there are at least some film critics who still can judge sanely in the sweeping film world.
So a salute goes out to Tim Swanson, David Fear, and Sasha Stone. I salute them for their bravery and for their honesty in a situation where it would be easy to brand any dissenting opinion as politically incorrect. Their journalistic courage fills me with confidence in writing this blog and proudly exercising by freedom of speech by saying this...Don't give Heath Ledger an Oscar...for this reason...he didn't earn it.
| 33 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog