I Would Like To Thank The Academy

For giving Sean Penn the Oscar for Best Actor. MY GOODNESS I couldn't bear the hype about Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler any longer. All this talk about a stunning performance, deep, powerful etc is pure bullshit. I saw this documentary looking movie [it was made on a $6 million budget after a lot of people pulled out when they heard Rourke was in it]. Nic Cage was supposed to play the lead before Rourke stepped in. In all honesty for this type of movie Rourke definitely would have played it better than Cage without a doubt. The budget was not the issue. I've seen great films done on a lesser budget.

I watched with an unbiased opinion. I saw two movies in one night at the cinema back to back. Seven Pounds and The Wrestler. I had to Google the release date of Seven Pounds to make sure the release was before December 31st 2008 in the USA after I had watched the movie. Anything after this date doesn't make the cut for the Oscar nominations. ALL BIAS ASIDE. Will's performance WAS WORTHY of an Oscar. Even if you think the film wasn't that great or complicated, he delivered in that film and moved the hell out of me. Seriously I was like "Wow" when it was over. Yes it was sad, but I was sure I was looking at a front runner for an Academy Award and potential winner. I then saw The Wrestler and cleared my mind. Decided to give Mickey Rourke a fair shot for the just under 2 hour movie and let him work his acting magic on me.

**POOF**

This was Mickey Rourke, playing Mickey Rourke.

**Looks around. Tumbleweeds pass me by.**

What in the hell was so fantastic about HIS performance I'm still wondering what garnered a nomination when Will was totally snubbed across the board. He was so snubbed it was like the movie wasn't even made or released. Like a dog just walked on by and pissed on his shoes. He was only recognised by his peers [Black award shows and only three of them]. I am not even playing the race card in this blog [it's not a colour issue], but seriously what happened at the Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the Academy Awards? Did he piss off Jewish Hollywood or something? He was nominated for The Pursuit of Happyness and this [his performance] was on par, if not better. Remember this wasn't even about liking the movie, I'm talking about Will's sole performance. So before anyone wants to comment on the movie I'm talking about THE P.E.R.F.O.R.M.A.N.C.E. In Hollywood the film doesn't even have to be good or make money for an actor to be recognised in the role for a nomination. I'm even a little mad Rosario Dawson wasn't even nominated either.

Back to Rourke and Penn. I haven't seen Milk but I have seen the trailer in the cinema and when I saw the trailer I said to myself, that Sean Penn's performance has Oscar written all over this [I saw the trailer weeks before I saw The Wrestler]. I was more inspired by Penn in a trailer and loved what I saw and thought "damn I'd be surprised if he's not up for Best Actor" than I was from viewing Mickey Rourke in the WHOLE of The Wrestler. In all honesty Rachel Evan Wood albeit small her performance was the most, real, moving and powerful in this film. She almost reduced me to tears dealing with her mainly absent father [Rourke] in this movie.

My dad was MAD when Mickey Rourke won the BAFTA for Best Actor. I had to explain to his old Jamaican self that you get it for that role in particular regardless of your Hollywood history. My dad thought Rourke didn't deserve the award based on him being a bad boy and being away from the spotlight. Again it's not about his personal life or behaviour but what he delivered in this role. I actually had to tell my dad this is hardly Rourke's first movie since 9 and A Half Weeks, the man has been working and earning money quite well over the 80's, 90's and 00's. He's being hired, he hasn't been shunned [that badly] so why all these idiots are calling it a comeback like he's been off boxing for most of his career is beyond me. Comeback as in first major headlining flick in a while yes. Comeback as in a huge career break no.

But thank God for Penn shaking up the Oscars just a tad. All the money was on Rourke, and this category actually made me mad that there was all this hype over Rourke and ignoring other worthy actors this year. For once Brad was GOOD and we hardly heard anything about him this year.

Well let me just say this. If Benicio is not up for Best Actor next year for Ché, then the [acting] world has lost it's damn mind.

Don't even get me started on Kate Winslett. I may blog about that English bit of fluff another time.