Breakout Hits vs. Respected Staples: A Response to the 2004-2005 Awards Season
Let me start by saying that I do feel that Jamie Foxx did an excellent job in his portrayal of musical genius Ray Charles in the film "Ray."
Lately, especially in this year's awards season, I've been noticing how the various groups seem to recognize the breakout hits instead of bonafide stars whose performances, while they may not be surprising, are still terrific, especially in the Best Actor category. For example, who knew that Foxx, the star of a somewhat mediocre TV sitcom ("The Jamie Foxx Show") who was once only known as Ugly Wanda on "In Living Color," was such a good dramatic actor? His surprisingly good performances in "Ray" and Michael Mann's crime thriller "Collateral," which co-stars Tom Cruise, have won him several nominations, honors and awards this season.
While Foxx is deserving of this attention, actors we've come to associate as stars are being somewhat overlooked. For example, Johnny Depp gives what might be the best performance of his career in "Finding Neverland." Most awards groups only started recognizing Depp for his work in 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," but most people, like myself, thought that Depp was great before "Pirates" and think that the under-appreciated actor is deserving of a lot more than simple nominations. Another great performance is found in the dramatic success (finally!!) of Jim Carrey in last spring's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," opposite Kate Winslet, Depp's "Neverland" co-star.
So far, all we've heard about the Best Actor awards is "'Ray,' 'Ray', 'Ray'" and "Jamie Foxx, Jamie Foxx, Jamie Foxx." I doubt this will change. For anyone who hasn't seen "Ray," it is a must-see, but "Neverland" and "Eternal Sunshine" are also must-sees, and I hope that no one forgets that.
Disney and Pixar's animated hit "The Incredibles" is another unexpected hit that is taking every nomination, honor and award and running with them. DreamWorks also released "Shrek 2," the highest-grossing movie of 2004, a movie that was expected to be good (it was) and has nearly disappeared because everyone is looking at the new big thing, "The Incredibles," which was good, but not incredible.
"Sideways" is an unexpected film that has also been receiving a lot of awards and nominations this season. While it is an excellent movie, I really do not see why it should be getting all these accolades. "The Aviator," on the other hand, was expected to be great, and is also receiving many awards and nominations, but I definitely don't think it really deserves it. The bottom line is that I think that movies like "Eternal Sunshine," "Neverland," "Kill Bill Vol. 2," "Garden State," "A Very Long Engagement" and "The Motorcycle Diaries," which are all fantastic movies, should be receiving a lot more attention than they currently are getting.
Lately, especially in this year's awards season, I've been noticing how the various groups seem to recognize the breakout hits instead of bonafide stars whose performances, while they may not be surprising, are still terrific, especially in the Best Actor category. For example, who knew that Foxx, the star of a somewhat mediocre TV sitcom ("The Jamie Foxx Show") who was once only known as Ugly Wanda on "In Living Color," was such a good dramatic actor? His surprisingly good performances in "Ray" and Michael Mann's crime thriller "Collateral," which co-stars Tom Cruise, have won him several nominations, honors and awards this season.
While Foxx is deserving of this attention, actors we've come to associate as stars are being somewhat overlooked. For example, Johnny Depp gives what might be the best performance of his career in "Finding Neverland." Most awards groups only started recognizing Depp for his work in 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," but most people, like myself, thought that Depp was great before "Pirates" and think that the under-appreciated actor is deserving of a lot more than simple nominations. Another great performance is found in the dramatic success (finally!!) of Jim Carrey in last spring's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," opposite Kate Winslet, Depp's "Neverland" co-star.
So far, all we've heard about the Best Actor awards is "'Ray,' 'Ray', 'Ray'" and "Jamie Foxx, Jamie Foxx, Jamie Foxx." I doubt this will change. For anyone who hasn't seen "Ray," it is a must-see, but "Neverland" and "Eternal Sunshine" are also must-sees, and I hope that no one forgets that.
Disney and Pixar's animated hit "The Incredibles" is another unexpected hit that is taking every nomination, honor and award and running with them. DreamWorks also released "Shrek 2," the highest-grossing movie of 2004, a movie that was expected to be good (it was) and has nearly disappeared because everyone is looking at the new big thing, "The Incredibles," which was good, but not incredible.
"Sideways" is an unexpected film that has also been receiving a lot of awards and nominations this season. While it is an excellent movie, I really do not see why it should be getting all these accolades. "The Aviator," on the other hand, was expected to be great, and is also receiving many awards and nominations, but I definitely don't think it really deserves it. The bottom line is that I think that movies like "Eternal Sunshine," "Neverland," "Kill Bill Vol. 2," "Garden State," "A Very Long Engagement" and "The Motorcycle Diaries," which are all fantastic movies, should be receiving a lot more attention than they currently are getting.
posted by Admin at 3:17 PM
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