Oscar Roundtable — What Might Have Been
Newsweek has a lovely roundtable with non-nominees Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton. Also Viola Davis, Christopher Plummer and George Clooney. It’s a good time to remember what the Oscars really are. I feel like I need to remind myself of this, and you dear readers too. Every once in a while it really matters — the talent was recognized. But mostly it’s about the balance of power in Hollywood – careers are made on the statues. The greatest films and performances mostly have gone unrecognized because, to a degree, we need more time to figure out whether it was just a passionate love affair or a lasting one. That isn’t something that can be decided. Nobody knows anything was our saying here many years ago before it became the trick is not minding and both sayings remain true. It is not a bad thing for Charlize that she wasn’t Oscar-nominated, nor was it bad that Fassbender or Swinton weren’t. Their performances have been recorded and appreciated as two of the year’s best. But imagine what an Oscar nomination can do, for instance, for some of the unexpected nominees. It can be a good thing, career-wise, but remember — never forget, in fact — that it’s a game. Some play it better than others. Some lose better than others. At any rate, here’s one.
More after the cut.
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3 non-nominees and… 3 soon-to-be winners??
Plummer on Malick- Ouch!
Plummer on Malick- Ouch!
Right? That quote made me think he would be snubbed.
Fassbender’s omission is terrible. Ditto Swinton. What must she do to get nominated again? She was sublime in Julia (2008), I Am Love (2009) and We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011). Three great performances after winning the Oscar for Michael Clayton (2007).
I don’t think it’s the performances so much as the obviously traditional Academy looking at her like an alien, because she is so wonderfully offbeat and original and funky. She’s also undeniably brilliant. The three performances mentioned above should have never been overlooked.
Thanks for the equalizing pill, Sasha. Really nice to hear them wander away from the stock responses and campaign rhetoric – Charlize put a quick stop on that, I thought.
A few more sighs and feet will be planted on the ground, again – likely until Saturday.
@FilmFatale
agree with you Tilda is brillant.
and thanks Sasha!
For me, the shocker of the day was Midnight in Paris getting an Art Direction nod. Had no idea there was THIS much support for the film. I’m starting to think it could be a surprise a la Crash.
It’s surprising that Fassbender or his dick didn’t get a nomination, but hey, he’s just getting started. This was his breakout year and there will be more to come. As for Swinton, I don’t know why.
The Tree of Life’s nominations made me jump for joy, and I love that Moneyball got in for editing.
I hope Harry Potter gets some of the technical awards.
The trick is not minding…what people say in the comments section of Awards Daily.
Oh Michael
If it weren’t for the fact that he’ll still go down in the history books for winning the Volpi Cup in Venice, I’d be weeping my eyes out.
I wish theyd just show us the video uncut instead of snipping and choosing the most scandalous segments
Clooney and Tilda have good chemistry
Christopher Plummer is never one to shy away from critiquing the movies he was in, much to the dismay of his colleagues. Remember his famous “Sound of Mucus” comment, which probably rubbed many the wrong way? And now he’s older? Forget about being kissing ass! He’s brutally honest and I think it’s refreshing.
And besides, you KNOW he’s right about Malick. Flip a coin and you get a masterwork or an overlong perfume ad.
I was most intrigued with their thoughts about the diminished clout actresses have compared to the Golden Age. Plummer actually worked then (in the ’60′s, the last time actresses were given the opportunity to fill theaters), so I would have liked to hear his thoughts on the evolution of cinema.
“The trick is not minding…what people say in the comments section of Awards Daily.”
I think it’s time to start taking this advice w/a grain of salt. Or alcohol. Whichever you prefer.
FilmFatale -
Tilda has good moments in all the movies that you mentioned.
But essentially she acts the same in every single one of them.
And yes, I do like her and would have not minded a nomination.
Diego-
YOU COULD NOT BE MORE WRONG. Have you even seen I Am Love and We Need to Talk About Kevin???
How I Am Love’s Tilda handles her daughter when she comes out of the closet, so delicately and warmly, supportively, VS. how she handles Kevin in any number of scenes, particularly in the late scene in the jail, is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
You’re delusional, period. Go back and pay attention. Her Emma Reicchi in I Am Love has no residue whatsoever in her Eva character in We Need to Talk About Kevin.
@ Diego once again-
Did you notice, by chance, that she learned Italian and Russian for I Am Love????
Yep, you’re right, “she acts the same.”
Please explain.
I have to agree vehemently with you Film Fatale on Swinton. There are few chameleon like actors around, but Tilda is one of them. Comparing ‘Julia’ to ‘I am love’ – incredible submersion in her craft. In Julia she is in virtually, if not every frame, and i could not take my eyes off her. I am love, she was often restrained, most nuanced in her skill. Shw is one masterful actor.
“Ditto Swinton. What must she do to get nominated again?”
I think the problem with Tilda is that she doesn’t really care that much about getting an Oscar (or getting nominated for one) or at least that’s the impression that she projects. Maybe the academy take a bit of offense to that?
That’s why I don’t feel so bad about Rooney Mara (and even Glenn Close) getting in over her today – you can tell that it won’t really bother her, whereas I’m sure it means a great deal to Mara.
How much does Tilda Swinton care about an Oscar? Remember what she did during her acceptance speech the year she got one? She announced that she’d be giving it away to her agent, and she did.
This Newsweek Oscar roundtable was pretty excellent. Good group (but I agree Mr. Plummer should step down from the Malick trashing in public leading up to awards night). Tilda Swinton’s comments about what the trailers really mean in the industry is very interesting, she is so smart. I still don’t understand how Glenn Close got in over her. Swinton picked up every other nomination leading up to today.
The lack of Fassbender is also still shocking. The man’s acting all year was just superb, film after film. How many people are that consistent? BAFTAs really needs to step it up and give him the Best Actor win since the British branch of the Academy is going to bat for Gary Oldman.
Sad about the lack of love for Charlize Theron’s ‘Young Adult’ but at least that wasn’t a total surprise.
I think Tilda didn’t get nommed because no one saw the movie. I live in LA and it played here for 1 week (maybe 2) and closed. The only way to see it would be on a screener. I want to see it and cannot until it comes out on DVD. It’s simple math.
I have to take back some of what I just said – I see now that Tilda’s film is playing in 2 theatres here in LA. A little late, though.
Apparently, the Academy weren’t in the mood for darker films, having ignored Drive except for 1 sound nom, and shutting out Shame and Kevin entirely. It’s too bad…
Kinda glad to hear Plummer bashing Malick, to be honest. It almost sounds like the man is a genius director in spite of himself….
I have to admit that as much as I want to see Swinton get all the noms she’s been passed over for the past three years, when she won I sort of felt that she had lost some credibility–as if she’s too good and too independent to be tarnished with an Oscar win.
But lately I’ve felt that way about a lot of winners. I want certain people to be honored, but as soon as their name is announced, I kind of feel as if they’ve lost some of their coolness. Weird.
Anyone else feel that way watching the ceremonies?
This year the Academy was in mood for Nostalgia. But it`s a wrong to say they almost always embrace characters they cheer for (Sandra Bullock/ Jeff Bridges). There are lots of cases in the past 10 years of “uncomfortable“characters that won:
- Danzel
- Theron
- Penn
- Robbins
- Whitaker
- Day Lewis
- Bardem
- Swinton
- Ledger
- Winslet
- M`onique
- Waltz
- Portman
Knowing Tilda for as long and as well as I do, I know she cares ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for all this awards who-ha. She’s gotten on Oscar already. And yes, they do hold it against you. Like they may hold Clooney’s previous win for “Syriana” against him.
When she gave her Oscar to her agent in LA, Brian Swardstrom I know it made HIM very happy and he still has it to this day. NO ONE ever gives their agent their Oscar, though they thank them all profusely, as we know.
It seemed with Cynthia Swartz on her side as far as campaign-strategizing is concerned, I don’t think Tilda did ANYthing wrong. She even let a reporter from TIME into her own home in Scotland for that TIME piece, which cut no slack with Academy members interestingly enough.
What happened to Tilda was the same old story, a younger, similar-seeming, NEW star burst upon the scene with Rooney Mara as the “Girl With a Dragon Tattoo.” And burst she has, obviously.
And Lisbeth Salander is sooooo like who Tilda is IRL. And it’s a part Tilda could’ve done with her eyes closed, if she was the right age.
Tilda never has appeared in a role that isn’t age-appropriate, in case anyone hasn’t ever noticed.
It’s so ironic, really. And Rooney M. IRL is a very well-bred, sensible young heiress, if truth be told, and not like the character she’s playing in TGWTDT…
The new wrinkle in Tilda’s career is the role Cyntha Swartz was brought in to play. Tilda’s also a producer, now, too, in addition to being one of the greatest actresses of our times. She knows her low-budget indie flicks like “Julia” and “I Am Love” need all the publicity they can get. And she certainly participated in the hype for WGTTAK…
But she will go on. No fear about that. And Michael Fassbender…I predicted both snubs btw, it’s penis envy by the S.W.O.R.M, the straight white old rich men, who STILL dominate the Academy. AMPAS is almost the last refuge of the het male in Hwood.
“You know what? I agree with everything Christopher Plummer said. I’m just glad Badlands and Days of Heaven were the first two Malick films I saw so my impression of him remains positive. But nice to hear honesty because Malick DOES shoot beautifully but the man could use a script doctor.” -Guy Who’s Never Accomplished Anything.
“(Everything Christopher Plummer said about Malick)“ I sign down. Perfect commentary.
Having spent much of 2011 and until last week away from Awards Daily, it is comforting to see that some things never change – Stephen Holt and
his generalisations and ‘inside’ banalities that give me a chuckle and an opportunity, respectfully, to challenge. Tilda Swinton’s win, and lack of follow up is one thing, but to declare that ‘they hold it against you’ – is hardly an accurate statement. Maria Tomei and one of the most talked about wins, was hardly punished – she has received 2 more nods since. Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Sean Penn, Morgan Freeman and others have all won and been re-
nominated since. For every Mercedes Ruehl,(hardly heard of again) there
is a Dianne Wiest or Marcia Gay Harden or Cate Blanchett who could have
been seen the Oscar end their careers but either won again or at least were re-nominated, and they too were Supporting Actresses. Meryl Streep hasn’t played the game for most of the umpteen nods she has had (i
recall Mr Holt saying the Academy hates her) 17 nominations, indicated
she doesn’t have to, to still be in the race.
The alchemy that is the Oscar race is always more than just ‘they don’t
like her’ or ‘the film was too this or that’. If it were that straightforward, it would imply that the group think extends to 6000 people – all with that one thought. With only 5 slots for acting in each category, omissions are always going to be greater than the 5 who did make the cut. It does, as our hosts eloquently describe it – shift the power plays in the industry – but it is still so subjective as to whether Ryan Gosling is seen as a lesser actor today becuase he was overlooked. Not for me, not for quite a lot of people, i imagine.
Sandra Bullock has an Oscar – doesn’t change the way i regard her.
Christian Bale has an Oscar, doesn’t change the way i see him.
Tilda Swinton will continue to take great roles, so will Michael Fassbender.
It’s business. Show business.
I didn’t have a problem with Plummer’s comments about Malick, at all. That’s how Malick works, and it drives actors like Plummer (and maybe Penn) nuts. Kubrick was not collaborative with his actors; Gilliam, Fincher, Ford and Lucas all have their pre-composed visions, so don’t get in the way. Hitchcock referred to actors as cattle.
Actors like Plummer, especially those who have survived a rough business, have their own ideas about how things should be done, to their advantage, of course. Hepburn didn’t take direction, she gave it, as did Davis. Some, like Streep, work with weaker directors who won’t get in the way. The best stories come from sets that contain a tough director and an equally tough actor (Dunaway vs Polanski on Chinatown is a great one – it was a draw as to who had the worse mouth).
So Plummer’s remarks are amusing, especially that of his wounded ego when his big scene was used as background atmosphere, but no more serious than anecdotes of strong people working under pressure.
@Steve50: My favorite Dunaway/Polanski exchange, courtesy of Peter Biskind’s Easy Riders, Raging Bulls
Dunaway: “I can’t figure out my motivation! WHAT is my motivation??!!”
Polanski: “Your salary is your fucking motivation!”
So priceless…
Good one! I’ll try and find some others.
The reason why Meryl works with weaker director is that most of the great directors somehow almost always make male-centric films. With the exception of Woody Allen, Almodovar and a few others, take the filmography of Spielberg, Scorsese, Malick, the Coens (exception: Fargo), David Fincher (Dragon Tattoo is his only female centric movie), Paul Thomas Anderson, Tarantino, Peter Weir… and you will see that. Meryl is a show-stealer. That`s why she usually does`t work with directors in the level of the ones i listed.
@JP: Generally I agree, with Quentin being the exception. Jackie Brown, Kill Bill, and Inglourious Basterds were all centered on women, although I wouldn’t expect to see Meryl wielding a sword
But it is difficult to criticize Meryl’s choices when her peers haven’t exactly left her in the dust. I wonder what, besides Black Swan, she’s turned down recently…
Scorsese landed Ellen Burstyn an oscar; Tarantino did well with Uma Thurmon and Pam Grier. I’m sure if Meryl called the Coens, Tarantino – or any of them, for that matter – and said “let’s blow the roof off,” they’d jump at the chance. Not that it will ever happen.
More women writers, please!
“It’s a good time to remember what the Oscars really are. I feel like I need to remind myself of this, and you dear readers too. Every once in a while it really matters — the talent was recognized. But mostly it’s about the balance of power in Hollywood – careers are made on the statues.”
So it matters when we agree with the nominees, but not when we don’t?
“It is not a bad thing for Charlize that she wasn’t Oscar-nominated, nor was it bad that Fassbender or Swinton weren’t. Their performances have been recorded and appreciated as two of the year’s best.”
Three. I know Young Adult is polarizing for viewers, but I found Theron fascinating, funny and moving in the part. I count her alongside Fassbender and Swinton (and Brooks, Oswalt, Gosling, etc) in this year’s group of good-but-overlooked.
By the way, Theron and Fassbender look fantastic on camera together.
@ Jesse
You’re right but what we see in almost all this cases when those directors made female-centric movies is that the women somehow had, let’s say, a ”masculinized” behaviour.
@JP: Yeah, in the traditional sense. The women of Tarantino, not unlike Roooooney, exemplify physical action in hyperreal settings as opposed to the more domestic triumphs in female characterization from the 70′s. I’m thinking An Unmarried Woman or Alice Doesn’t Live Here Any More, both from great male directors. Maybe Scorsese could continue his career left-turn and do a character drama with Meryl…
Who won best supporting actress last year? Does anyone know…or care? Well, a few people at this site might remember, as it’s a site that closley follows everything Oscar, but in the real world, no one even slightly cares. For a good many “winners,” it seems to actually drag their careers down. It’s like the expectation of being a Oscar winner scares them. This seems to espacially affect the females. Some of them have either disappeared or made some of the worst choices known to man. I think it’s better to just do good work, in films people enjoy, than to chase awards. If you think about it, there’s no way any one performance, or film, is the “best.” Think of all the beautiful work done by actors and directors, through the year. For a handful of people to tell you which one was the “best?” I don’t think so. Only history tells us which films we want to watch, again and again, years from now.
Sorry for the typos.
Could not agree more Riley, Kidman and my beloved Theron being 2 examples. As you said it can literally end careers.
I really dont know what to do right now:( TGWTDT snub makes me so sick to my stomach! I was so expecting a nod! Oscars really showed their true colors today by nominating the sappy over sentimental ELIC, they are to scared to nominate a film thats cool and badass and modern!
I’m not disappointed by Tilda’s snub.
In order to be disappointed you must have expectations.
I never thought she would be nominated. However brilliant her performance might be.
For three years in a row, she’s given the performance of the year in movies nobody saw:
JULIA/I AM LOVE/WE NEED…
She also gave the best performance of 2001 in THE DEEP END. No nomination that year either.
She simply needs to be in bigger, more commercial movies. Like MICHAEL CLAYTON.
However it seems she will continue to follow her muse and be in movies for the sake of art, not awards.
Damn her artistic integrity!!
@Manrico1967 – Love that artistic integrity!!! I’d prefer to see Tilda giving amazing performances like the last three years than sleepwalk through some Hollywood remake.
I think the Academy sent a very strong message out this year. For quite some time international movies and performances have had a foothold on the Oscars …… this year was all about bringing it back to Hollywood and America. Whilst Hollywood continue to churn out remakes and sequals and LACK IMAGINATION, they fear the international movies being made which are more challenging on the brain and indeed being more criticall acclaimed. It a sorry state but there ya go!
” It is not a bad thing for Charlize that she wasn’t Oscar-nominated, nor was it bad that Fassbender or Swinton weren’t. Their performances have been recorded and appreciated as two of the year’s best.”
I love how you say two of the year’s best. It should be THREE of the year’s best. Charlize Theron’s performance is widely considered to be one of the best of the year even if her snub wasn’t a total shock. Brave and brilliant performance.
Woah! That Newsweek host Ramin something – he is hot!!
^
oh shit, Thanks for reminding me, Adam.
Ramin sent me an email last week about a piece he wrote that he wanted to be sure I’d see. The past few days have been so crazy, I forgot to write him back and forgot to feature his article. I’ll do that today.
& thanks for reminding me that Ramin is hot.
That’s okay RYan, Yeah and you know, I mean, feel free to include my e-mail address in your response to him. I mean you know, just in case he hasn’t got it at all…
thehag: Clooney and Tilda have good chemistry
I think they get along very well. The Telluride Film Festival 3 gives special medals to certain members of members of the industry every year usually with a retrospective, an interview and a screening of one of their new films. This year the medals went to Pierre Etaix, George Clooney and Tilda Swinton. I know that Tilda attended The Descendants’ screening and got the impression that they do appreciate the work of the other. Take that for what it’s worth.
The oscars have always been Hollywood Congratualting itself. Sure, sometimes the movie or performance that WE think is the best wins, but mostly its a chance for Hollywood to celebrate. The idea that Oscars make careers is false. Unless you are an oscar follower no one really cares, and they haven’t for awhile. Ask the ordianry movie-goer if they’ve ever heard of the following people:
-F. Murray Abraham
-Geraldine Page
-Marlee Matlin
-Marion Cotillard
-Linda Hunt
-Peggy Ashcroft
-Olympia Dukakis
-Brenda Fricker
-Mercedes Ruehl
-Mira Sorvino
-Marcia Gay Harden
-Melissa Leo
-Haing S. Ngor
-Martin Landau
-James Coburn
-Chrstoph Waltz
And what about all the people who win an oscar and then never get nominated again!
-Robin williams
-Halle Berry
-Susan Sarandon
-Al Pacino
-Shirley Maclaine
-Helen Hunt
-Adrien Brody
-Reese Witherspoon
-Gwenyth Paltrow
-Jessica Lange
-Julia Roberts
-Whoopi Goldberg
-Renee Zellweger
And these lists are just for the past 30 years. There are countless more from the fifty years prior. The idea that an oscar is a career making statuette is absurd. It’s an insiders game and in the long run means very little to anyone who doesn’t follow the Oscars closely.
Thank you Christopher Plummer for calling out Terrance Malick for what he is – pretentious. Way too full of himself. It’s obvious in every film I have seen of his.
Ramin is hot until he opens his mouth?? I don’t know. I can’t take him seriously after the “openly gay folks can’t play straight” article….