A disappointment at the 81st annual Acadamy Awards

Okay... I hate using a blog as a place to vent, so I'm going to try to avoid that as much as possible and just state my case. The dilemma I'm facing is that I want to like the Oscars. I really do. I want to like them because, for whatever reason, I hope to get one myself one day. I even had a goal at one point to have one in my hands by the time I'm 30. I know it's far-fetched and not likely, but I haven't quite abandoned it completely. But every year I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to throwing that goal away. Who cares, right? Well, in terms of film making in America, I still do have faith that the Oscars are prestigious awards that are given, unbiasedly, to the films, filmmakers, artists and talent who earn them. This leads me to my issue with this year's Oscars, and for the sake of argument, I would like to emphasize the words "earn" and "talent."

I've felt like certain films have been robbed in the past, and just to set the record, I haven't even cared that much about the Oscars until about 5 years ago. I've watched them longer than that, and had opinions, but never objectively formed opinions and comparisons on the nominations.

Now, I know it's still an honor just to be nominated, don't get me wrong, I would probably die happy with just a mere nomination. And although I have a few qualms, I think that the 81st annual Academy Awards was one of the most just, in terms of those awarded, that I've seen in the past three or four years. They especially did well in terms of how they were presented. The stage was beautiful, the announcing of the nominees was incredibly honorable, the music and performances were breathtaking, and in my mind, you just can't go wrong with Hugh Jackman.

Since I've made my disclaimer, I now propose the bewildering question of why didn't Mickey Rourke win best actor? My issue with this award is not that Sean Penn was bad. I haven't seen Milk (which some would say constitutes my opinion as garbage off the bat), but I don't doubt Sean Penn was good. I love Penn, and I think Gus Van Sant is a great director. Mickey Rourke was just better, and I do know this.

I will go see Milk, I promise. But I know it's not a film I will be startled by the Performance with. I honestly think Mickey Rourke as Randy the Ram was overlooked due to the lack of people seeing The Wrestler as well as the unconventional story of the film itself. With Milk, you have a character who is based on actuality with specific events that make up a story that is readily accessible for a broad audience. Not to mention the topic is gay rights, which is going to draw a crowd just because of the controversy. Even with out seeing it, I know that Harvey Milk is a great dramatic character with an incredible dramatic story. So what could make Mickey Rourke as The Ram better?

Once again, only my opinion, but I think if the judges would have viewed the film more carefully, they might have reconsidered.

I have only seen The Wrestler once, and it affected me on more levels than just about every film I've seen within the past five years. The film is not about somebody known, or any historic events. Mickey Rourke's performance is one that has drawn on his own life experiences to play the character Randy the Ram. This makes the character a lot more identifiable, not just for Rourke, but also for the viewer. If I am wrong, feel free to tell me so, but Rourke's performance brings a whole new meaning to character identification. Although I can't identify with a ex-professional wrestler, the movie isn't about wrestlers and the sport. It shows you the world and forces you to feel and experience it through Randy the Ram. This makes the topic more broad and allows you to draw parallels of Randy's emotions and experiences to your own.

As far as performances in general go, Rourke's is also on of the most daring I've seen in a contemporary film. He puts himself on the line, not just emotionally, but extremely physically. Other actors do take physical risks for their characters, but it's very rare we see an actor bleeding for their character. And it's not just the way he bleeds, it's how he does it. Everything Rourke does, regardless of how he's being directed, is perfect for the character. In these ways, I've never felt like I was right next to a character, or with the character the way I was with Rourke's Ram. I only wish enough people would see the movie, and actually watch it without viewer inhibition and discrimination, and experience the universal truths that Mickey Rourke brings to humanity through Randy the Ram's struggles.

Sorry if you didn't want to hear that, but I just had to say it. And I know I'm not the only person feeling it, so I don't care if you disagree. Outside of that, I am very, VERY pleased to see Slumdog Millionaire win 8 out of the 18 of 24 Oscars it was eligible for, 9 of which it was nominated for and 2 nominations for Best Song. I was very frightened that Benjamin Button was going to take many that it didn't deserve. I love David Fincher and Brad Pitt, so I'm glad the film had nominations, but it rightfully didn't deserve the awards. I was also glad to see Heath Ledger win Best Supporting Actor for the Joker. I won't go off again, but for the best supporting actor to have put so much into his role that it physically killed him in the end... well, that's dedication. And it would have been nice to see the Best Actor also be somebody who put a lot more than should ever be expected on the line for their role.

Lastly, and this is truly pointless venting here, I don't get why every year the best costume goes to a period piece. I understand all the work that goes into it, and maybe the only reason The Duchess won was because all the other films nominated had their characters in just suits... It just seems like costume design should be considered not just in terms of how spectacular it is, but maybe how much the costumes contribute to the mise en scene and the characters lives throughout the story. Maybe Benjamin Button should have won this...

I'm done now. And I do want to end with saying that all in all, it was an amazing ceremony to watch. I only hope they continue on the road this year's Oscars were on in the future and begin paying notice where it's due. I would like to thank my oolong-tea-and-banana breakfast, and my Diet Dr. Pepper for helping me put this blog together. And thank you for reading this nonsense.

Monday morning poetry, #1

Folds
by Benjamin Garst

This mind is dense.

Packed with ponders and thoughts,
And Feelings and fears,
Questions without answers,
Memories so clear.

Where wonders and dreams
Can spawn ideas and creations.
Crowded with knowledge,
Yet, ever so spacious.

The intangible world
And unquenchable thirst,
Navigation with focus
To explore this universe.

Our mind is dense.