[Vinyaampawen]

When this thread first started I read about the laments that LOTR/FOTR did not get more of the Oscars they were nominated for. Having lived in California all my life and being quite familiar with the Hollywood scene and the Oscars game I have a few comments. First, in Hollywood the Oscars are VERY POLITICAL. It is all who you know, who likes you, and if you are politically correct with the powers that be. For example, Sean Penn did not have a chance for an Oscar as Best Actor because he has made it quite clear over the years that he hates Hollywood and all the games they play. So guess what? The members of the Academy are NOT going to vote to give him the Oscar for anything.
The same holds true for Viggo Mortensen. Viggo has also been quite vocal and public about his criticism of "Hollywood" so he is just lucky that he is still working as an actor and the only reason that is happening is because he was case as Aragorn and the LOTR is such a big hit (i.e. money wise and all). So....from a producer or director's point of view Viggo is a great actor who is very enjoyable to work with. He works very hard at his craft. However, as far the members of the academy are concerned, because Viggo has been so publicly critical of the Hollywood scene, they would never nominate for dog catcher of LA much less give him an Oscar for best actor.
Also....look how many fine actors, musicians and producers have been ignored by the Academy for an Oscar even though at their craft they are great...George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Barbara Streisand, Randy Newman, Ian McKellan....all of these people are and have been excellent at what they do but it took decades for them to ever get an Oscar and a few probably never will.
In addition...in Hollywood this was the year to politically with it and recognize the African-American/Blacks in cinema (this comment is not meant to be racist so don't anyone take it that way..) Given the fact that Sidney Poitier was slated to get an honorary Oscar and this year the Academy had nominated three other Black actors for it's highest honors, (i.e. Holly Berry, Denzell Washington and Will Smith), the academy was not going to go overboard from their point of view and give Ian McKellan or Peter Jackson Oscars for best supporting actor and/or Best Director.
But look at it this way....I don't believe that the Oscars have anything to do with the difference between fantasy vs. amything else....There are two more LOTR pictures coming out in the next two years and the Academy will have two more opportunities to recognize the magnificence of the LOTR and make this right.
Vinyaampawen [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]