Oscar time (forgive me, I wrote this in haste)

The Oscars have come and gone again, and once again we realize what a political game it is. What an opportunity for the artistic community to band together and recognize the contributions of their fellow artists. In some cases, I felt the proper participants were acknowledged, while some performances of staggering talent were completely overlooked. I was mildly disappointed that “Little Miss Sunshine” didn’t command more respect from its peers, but then again, foreign-language films rarely do (in this case, the “foreign language” is the language of subtlety; an oft-overlooked quality in modern art).

Another failure, in my opinion, was the lack of recognition for the Spanish-language triumph, translated as “Pan’s Labyrinth.” It received some credit in the peripheral categories such as best makeup, best art direction, and the like. If you look back to the types of movies which typically receive these awards (I’m thinking of Star Wars: Phantom Menace), and this doesn’t seem like a compliment. But this movie had a dark, daring, fresh story, followed up with stunning imagery and strong acting, which all amounted to nothing. And that was disappointing.

But the greatest travesty of the evening, in a room full of actors and directors, was the complete inability of the academy to recognize the genius of Hollywood’s greatest talent. I am referring of course to the great Sacha Baron Cohen. Not only did he not receive an Oscar tonight, but he was shut out of the nominations completely. Irreverent as it was, can you point out a greater performance, much less one that was performed live, on the spot; unrehearsed, and without the aide of a proper screenplay? Cohen has fooled thousands of people in person and onscreen, and has done so through the medium of satire. Despite his lofty accomplishments at exposing the dark corners of western society, because his milieu is comedy, as Rodney Dangerfield would proclaim, he gets no respect. No respect! His performance was not one of mental or physical handicap, nor was he staring in a biopic (mere impersonation); his film did not feature the holocaust (though it did feature the “running of the jew”), and he did not play a sexual predator (though he might be considered a deviant). These archetypes tend to earn one an Oscar, and because Cohen’s performance was radical, brilliant, ironic and fresh, it didn’t stand a chance. And what a shame.