Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmys are really just political rallies
Hollywood awards show or political rally? Who can really tell these days. It’s no longer about movies and has become a long and boring performance of actors’ political issues, writes Mike Colman.
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If there’s anything I love it’s a Hollywood awards show.
I just can’t get enough of millionaire actors telling the rest of us how to live our miserable lives.
It all started for me back in 1973 when Marlon Brando sent out Apache activist Sacheen Littlefeather to accept his best actor Oscar in order to highlight the film industry’s portrayal of Native Americans. Then there was Dustin Hoffman six years later who was critical of the whole awards system for comparing the work of one actor over another.
“I refuse to believe that I beat Jack Lemmon, that I beat Al Pacino, that I beat Peter Sellers,” he said. “I refuse to believe that Robert Duvall lost.”
I did note however that he didn’t refuse to accept the award which was tightly grasped in two hands as he left the stage.
Ever since then I have waited anxiously for awards season to roll around. Unlike some people who are keen to find out which actors and films have been nominated, I’m more interested in what the major political issues of the night will be.
The cause du jour at the Globes this year was, of course, climate change, given currency by our very own bushfires (or forest fires as they are known in the US).
One of the most telling speeches came from Russell Crowe who won for his work in The Loudest Voice, one of a number of TV series that came out on the back of last year’s number one award show theme of choice, the #metoomovement.
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Unfortunately Russell couldn’t be there in person to deliver his message because he was staying close to home, protecting his family and trying to convince Latrell Mitchell to sign with the Rabbitohs, but there were plenty of others to fly the climate change flag in his absence including Cate Blanchett, Ellen DeGeneres and Pierce Brosnan.
Even host Ricky Gervais exhorted people to “donate to Australia” although he might have been joking. You can never tell with Ricky.
One person who is never joking is Michelle Williams. Say what you will about her acting, but boy can she give a speech. Last year at the Emmys she was on about equal pay for women – and who can blame her?
When the producers of All The Money in The World had to reshoot scenes after sacking Kevin Spacey (see above under #metoo), Michelle was paid $80 a day, a total of around $1000. Her co-star Mark Wahlberg got $1.5 million.
I would have thought her speech might have been about the importance of having a good manager, but it was effective nonetheless.
This year she spoke from the heart about abortion and a woman’s right to choose and then launched into the big finish: a plea for viewers to register to vote in the upcoming US elections in order to make their voices heard.
“Women 18 to 118, when it is time to vote please do so in your self-interest,” she said. “It’s what men have been doing for years, which is why the world looks so much like them but don’t forget we are the largest voting body in this country. Let’s make it look more like us.”
I must say Michelle’s speech really hit a nerve, bringing together as it did two issues of major importance to me. One, the hijacking of awards shows by the verbose political grandstanding of actors, and two, the excruciating boredom, excessive length and ridiculous cost of election campaigns. So here’s my solution.
From now on, why don’t we combine the two?
Forget the charade of presenting awards and cut right to the chase; call the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAS what they are – political rallies – and let the actors come right out and campaign for their candidates of choice.
Instead of giving awards for the best actors we could give them for the best speeches, which would keep Dustin happy – and I’ve also got a solution to the hosting issue.
As anyone who has a vague interest in these things would know, Ricky Gervais has taken his poison pen and acid tongue off into the sunset and, for the second year running the Oscars will be sans host after the sacking of Kevin Hart (see above under #metoo).
Well, I just happen to know of someone who has recently become available and is very keen for work.
Meghan Markle.
She does voice-overs, you know.
mike.colman@news.com.au
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