SMALL PRINT:FANS OF AMERICAN chat shows notice a trend at this time of year: in between Oscar nominations being announced and the big night itself, nominees hit the media circuit to canvas support for themselves.
They sit on the chat show couch to talk about how much work they put into it and how excited they are about the film (often released months previously) and the host finally shakes their hand and says something such as, “I hope you win”. The movie star then goes off to do some other interviews in the hope of swaying the voters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
For months now, industry publications have been running “For your consideration” ads, asking the academy to take a glance at the studios favourite contenders.
The Oscar campaign has been compared with an election, with gala screenings, public interviews and numerous meet-and-greet sessions arranged to court academy voters. An Oscar can’t be bought, but a voter can be charmed.
This is a desirable award, of course, and is one of the few things that publicly humbles popular and respected actors and filmmakers. But nominees should note that winning an Oscar often has little bearing on one's legacy. Remember Mercedes Ruehl (Best Supporting Actress for The Fisher King), Marcia Gay Harden (Best Supporting Actress, Pollock) or Cuba Gooding Jr (Best Supporting Actor, Jerry Maguire)? Their careers barely received a mild lift, let alone a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
And these are all Oscars handed out in the past 15 years. Good luck in trying to remember surprise winners from generations past.
Indeed, sometimes not winning any Oscars has been both good for non-winners and a rod for the academy’s back.
Any time Cary Grant is mentioned in the context of the Oscars, his zero wins reflect better on him than on the awards. Oscar snubs make respected actors relatable and result in vocal support. “S/he’s amazing . . . did you know that s/he’s never won an Oscar?”
This is especially true for comics: Groucho Marx, Jerry Lewis, Peter Sellers and Steve Martin don’t have an Academy Award between them.
And let’s not forget that Peter OToole initially turned down his lifetime-achievement Oscar a few years back because he wanted to wait until he won a “proper” one.
The list of other bridesmaids is an impressive one, including (among other legends) Richard Burton, Kirk Douglas, Donald Sutherland, Tony Curtis, Gary Oldman and Glenn Close. In the director’s chair, Robert Altman, Stanley Kubrick, Howard Hawks and Alfred Hitchcock always left the ceremony empty handed.
Stars and directors who do not get to read out their winning speech on February 27th should remember that they are in good company.
And every actor on the planet would choose the career of Cary Grant over that of Cuba Gooding Jr.
– Joe Griffin
