RUSSELL
VS.
DENZEL
In
the best actor race, which generally goes for a lineup of best picture representatives
and/or valued masculine traits (notice the absence, year after year, of
great work that's overtly emotional or sensitive in nature),
there's something awfully diva-like in the race for the gold this
year. First off, both of the frontrunners are superstars, which always ups
the drama ante. Second, they're both notoriously their own men (i.e. they're
not people pleasers by nature). Both Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe
(the media anointed frontrunners) seem to have campaigns fraught with nighttime
soap bitchslapping. When the race is thisclose -the drama will have
out. The heated competition is turning manly thespians into total drama
queens.
Russell,
the 'drama queen.'
You may remember the gladiator himself was last year's winner. Going into
the race he wasn't a sure thing. There was also, if you'll recall, a huge
amount of external drama surrounding him during Oscar season. There was
the ugly dragged-through-the-mud quality of his affair with married Meg
Ryan and a bizarre surly security contingency (stemming from an alleged
kidnapping threat). This year, however, without any media scandal -all the
drama seems to be completely internal. Crowe seems to be having a harder
time controlling his temper than he did his wandering accent in A Beautiful
Mind. After BAFTA officials cut short his acceptance speech for best
actor last weekend, he threw a total hissy fit. Apparently he and a friend/bodyguard
(?) threatened, intimidated, and by some reports -this part denied by Crowe
-physically abusing a production official. While Crowe is no stranger to
the tabloids after his whirlwind ride to the top of the 'cool' heap, this
latest rag-ready fracas is truer than fiction. Now that E! has broadcast
the BAFTAs we've all had a chance to see the speech (played in full Stateside)
which Crowe's unbecoming antics were defending. Sigh. Not only should
Crowe have checked his legendary temper at the door, he should have thanked
the official instead of attacking. The speech in full was yet another frustrating
reminder that great actors aren't always great public figures. Yet again
Crowe reminds us that his best work is onscreen. When he plays himself at
these functions -he seems completely lacking in humor, humility, and perspective.
Someone's ego needs to be taken down a notch. Several media pundits think
there may be only one man in Hollywood capable of that job. His name is
Denzel...but he has his own campaign issues to deal with.
Denzel, the 'angry black man.'
Denzel Washington's magnetic and against-type star turn in Training
Day has been exploding with buzz in the past couple of weeks to the
point where Julia Roberts has been publicly campaigning on her former co-star's
behalf. Unfortunately, Denzel who is a huge movie star and one of our finest
actors, is being reduced to a 'token vote' political hot potato in the media.
Comments from various quarters seem to be playing the race card both in
Denzel's favor and against him. Liz Smith infamously suggested in her column
that the award should go to him to prove that the Oscar's aren't racist.
Spike Lee chimed in to say that if Crowe beats Washington it will show that
the rules are not the same for white and black men. This statement was in
reference to the 1999 race when Denzel lost for The Hurricane after
a media frenzy over the film's factual inaccuracies reared up. A similar
'taking-too-many-liberties' controversy has been swirling around A Beautiful
Mind this past month but it doesn't seem to be doing any damage to Crowe's
campaign... so perhaps Mr. Lee has a point.
As for the man himself, Denzel's statements seem frustrated that the race
issue is raised at all. He doesn't want votes (good for him) out of collective
AMPAS guilt, but based on his performance. But sadly, whether he wins or
not, the Academy can't. The neverending racism claims levelled against them
have only exacerbated the problem and created a lose/lose situation. Should
Denzel win, those not in favor of the decision will say the Academy voted
out of guilt and reverse racism but if he loses, there'll be more ammunition
for the "OSCAR IS RACIST" charges. The
whole messy topic seems to be looming heavily over this specific Oscar race
and on Denzel in particular. In fact, judging on media alone, Halle Berry
and Will Smith don't exist in the equation any longer. It's unfortunate
that performances that resulted in nominations based solely on merit (None
of the African Americans nominated are there because of their skin color
-don't believe me? Go and see the films) should have to be loaded down with
the extra baggage that this brings. Denzel is probably hoping that AMPAS
will vote based on acting alone. If they do, he'd be right to assume that
the votes wouldn't be going to last year's hot tempered Aussie...
Tom,
the 'wolf in sheep's clothing.'
...but then again, if the 6000 or so voting members of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences actually voted on acting (we all know they don't)
Denzel may still lose. A certain respected Brit thespian could trump both
superstar frontrunners should performance be the sole balloting factor for
discerning Academy types. As entertaining as Denzel is in Training Day
and as showy as Crowe's turn in A Beautiful Mind may be...there's
little question who should win this year. That would be the unassuming
Tom Wilkinson, who (this is not a popular opinion) has more to do with the
artistic success of In the Bedroom than his best actress sweeping
counterpart Sissy Spacek. Unfortunately, even he has a little mini drama
of his own to dampen enthusiasm for his chances. Seems that Miramax isn't
too keen on recent comments he made about them (I'm still a little unclear
on what happened here -anyone want
to fill me in?) and his Oscar campaign seems even more muted now. Coincidence
or payback? Whichever it is... it probably hurts Wilkinson's darkhorse position.
Sean and Will, the 'wallflowers.'
As for the final two nominees.... Well, neither of them can win. We'll just
move along to the snubbed. Shall we mourn again over unfairly neglected
Haley Joel Osment (the little A.I. tyke who towers over many adult
stars on pure talent) and Ewan MacGregor (the singing, swoony, utterly sensational
heart of Moulin Rouge!)? These two terrific performers can't even
console themselves with Penn and Smith's silent affirmation: "At least
I was nominated"
What a shame.
The
Drama Keeps On Coming....
If this contest wasn't already overripe with drama, the SAG awards hit next
weekend. Contrary to popular belief, they won't cement the Oscar race as
they usually do. The Screen Actors Guild has a membership well over 10 times
the size of the Academy's and the membership is also less 'insider' like.
Members of the guild live all over the place, so politics play less of a
factor than the more industry-like Oscar body -- but, stardom is more of
a key advantage since name/face recognition is a bigger plus the larger
your voting constituency gets. Remember Annette Bening besting Hilary Swank
two years back?
Last year Benicio Del Toro won the SAG Actor crown for Traffic. Consequently,
the SAG voters don't have the same "Do we reward him two years in a
row?" dilemma that Oscar voters face in regards to Russell Crowe's
schizophrenic act. Bet on Russell to take home the SAG but, remember, this
doesn't really tell us that he'll win the Oscar race. The Academy has different
issues here than the Screen Actors Guild.
-Nathaniel
Oscar Outlook