Friday, February 27, 2009 10:40 PM CST
COLUMN: Oscars this year missed some of the big hits
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
Last weekend I continued my annual tradition of watching the Academy Awards, but I was only interested in the first hour or so of the telecast.
I tuned in long enough to see how Hugh Jackson fared as host, liked his song and dance numbers, but the show had too many film montages. I also tuned in to see Heath Ledger win a posthumous supporting actor Oscar for his gleefully anarchic performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”
The reason I was not interested in the rest of the Academy Awards show is that I feel “The Dark Knight” otherwise was snubbed, and so was Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino.”
Neither film received nominations for best picture or director. With the exception of Ledger’s nomination, neither film garnered any other acting nominations. “The Dark Knight” and “Gran Torino” were two of my favorite films of 2008, and I believe they are both very Oscar worthy.
“The Dark Knight,” a follow-up to 2005’s “Batman Begins,” struck a chord with American and Canadian movie-goers to the tune of more than $530 million, making it one of the most successful movies ever at the box office.
Audiences have no doubt been attracted to “The Dark Knight” by its thrilling action scenes, which include a deviously well-plotted bank robbery and an explosive car chase through Gotham. The film also seems to connect with viewers at a deeper level than just delivering great stunt work.
Ledger is brilliant as the villainous Joker, but the rest of the acting ensemble delivers heartfelt performances. This includes Christian Bale as a brooding Batman, Aaron Eckhart as the tragic Harvey Dent/Two-Face, and Gary Oldman as honest police officer James Gordon.
“The Dark Knight” also raises thought-provoking questions about the fine line between order and chaos, how people would respond to life and death situations, and how a noble deception might be better than a demoralizing truth.
While “The Dark Knight” deserved the best picture Oscar, I would have been happy if it just had been nominated.
The best picture slate for the recent Academy Awards show included “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “The Reader,” and “Slumdog Millionaire,” which won the top award.
I have not seen any of the best picture nominees, so I cannot vouch for their quality. I do think that with the possible exception of “Slumdog Millionaire,” which has become a surprise hit, none of the nominees will likely be as well remembered years from now as “The Dark Knight.”
Regarding “Gran Torino,” the film’s best shot at an Oscar nomination was probably for the lead acting of star and director Clint Eastwood.
Eastwood portrays cantankerous widower Walk Kowalski. The retired auto worker and Korean War veteran overcomes his bigotry as he bonds with his Hmong immigrant neighbors from Southeast Asia and realizes he has more in common with them than his own materialistic offspring.
Kowalski tries with his fists and guns to protect the family from a Hmong street gang in their Michigan neighborhood, but comes to realize violence on his part might not be the answer to their problems.
Eastwood’s rich performance is enhanced by what viewers know about his history in film. Here is an actor who built his early career on violent Westerns and action movies. “Gran Torino” pays homage to Eastwood’s tough guy image while showing that even an old tough guy can change for the better.
“Gran Torino” has done surprisingly well with audiences, earning more than $130 million so far. Box office results should not be a deciding factor for Oscar nominations. Still it would nice to see more films, like “Gran Torino,” that are both commercially and critically well received, earn nominations.
The lead actor category at the Oscars always seems to be one of the most crowded in terms of the talented actors who were nominated and the many who were not. Sean Penn won for “Milk” after facing tough competition from Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon,” and Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler.”
I can see how Eastwood got crowded out, but I still wish they would have made room for him. Eastwood has won best director Oscars for “Unforgiven” and “Million Dollar Baby,” but has never won an acting Oscar.
A best leading actor Oscar for “Gran Torino” would have been a fitting and well-earned way for Eastwood, 78, to cap his long career.
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Locke wrote on Feb 28, 2009 3:12 PM:
I have seen all the movies, and I agree, Eastwood Gran Torino got snubbed badly. The Wrestler had some of the most unlikable characters ever seen on screen, and Benji Button was a pale Green Mile where you knew the ending.
I don't agree with Dark Knight. It was a superhero movie. You are either into it or you are not. It tells us nothing new, it has no exceptional moments, with the possible exception of Ledger. Even then, I would wager to say had he not died, there would not have been a consideration. If anything, the makeup team should have garnered an Oscar -- but they don't always bother showing award that on TV.
I guess after the No Country for Old Men joke of an award, I don't bother with the awards. "