The Oscar nominees were announced this week merely to prove that the academy will remain a conservative force in the film business. This year the focus was, yet again, placed on the familiar faces, with Brad Bitt for what is to be his fourth nomination, George Clooney, Woody Allen, Martin Scorcesse and (enter another elderly famous film maker who hasn’t really made anything in a while). Very few surprises were revealed on Tuesday, one of them being Gary Oldman’s long awaited nomination for an Oscar for his role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. In many ways, however, Oldman should not accept this honour. His longevity and variety has proven that talent need not be noticed by the Academy to be proven worthy. And I would suppose, Meryl Streep’s a thousand and one nominations for films like, I do not kid, The Devil Wears Prada, would prove a similar pattern. Streep is, undoubtedly, an excellent actress, yet the recognition she has received for films that were in no way her best work is actually appalling. The Hollywood tradition of name dropping so that the celebrities appear that Ricky Gervais touched on at the Globes last year still holds authority even at the most prestigious of the awards, though in a slightly classier shape.
This year the Academy has placed its bet on age and recognition. But it seems the actual films behind the names are of little importance. I dare not say that I found the Descendants dull and unimpressive, nor do I believe Scorcese’s Hugo brushes the dust of Goodfellas or even the stubbornly ignored Shutter Island.
I have a theory on how Oscars are distributed, and am willing to even share that for free. The Academy sits at a table once every 10 or so years and draws up a list of ‘good’ actors. These actors will win. They must. The only problem then is - what do we nominate them for? Well, we wait until they put something new out and then just place the golden statue in their hands. What’s that? Christopher Rouse edited another one of those Bourne films? Go on then, he’s on the list.
Sometimes, however, they mix it up a little. They throw in an unexpected nominee. This one person per category is probably the quick off-the-cuff addition given by a secretary or window cleaner who remembered what they saw in the cinema the week before. It could also explain their occasional talent for picking out truly admirable actors. In each category we see this scapegoat – the one name placed to prove how spontaneous and edgy the Academy can be. This year it is Gary Oldman, Rooney Mara, Max Von Sydow and Incredibly Loud & Extremely Close. Will they win? Of course not! Meryl Streep hasn’t even got three yet, and poor George Clooney is only graced by the presence of a single naked golden man. The better question here is – should they win? Then the answer changes. Then we begin to consider actual performances in actual motion pictures. We do not think of actors, but of acting. And where does that leave us? Well, Meryl Streep should probably win. I thought she was excellent in The Devil Wears Prada. Also, give Johnny Depp one too – did you see his moving performance in the Tourist? Yes, Ricky, neither did I.
Mirela Ivanova
