Published: March 03, 2008 03:34 pm         

Among Oscar winners and politicians, perception is key

Now that Oscar season has come and gone, it’s hard to believe that we’re still talking about some of the same issues in the 2008 presidential election as we were before the winning films were even released.

Of course, it’s probably a good thing that we spend far more time deciding who will lead our country for the next four years than we do deciding what the year’s best movie is. Even so, in a process during which everything from Rudy Giulianni’s love life to Barack Obama’s middle name has been endlessly discussed, it becomes apparent that a little brevity can sometimes add a lot of clarity.

The main thing that separates the Academy Awards from presidential politics, however, is the Academy’s dedication to judging a film or director based on the work at hand, not pretentious and often irrelevant judgments about a person’s “values,” nor any other aspect of a filmmaker or actor’s personal life.

Sure, there are some politics involved — popular Hollywood players like George Clooney and Martin Scorsese will always be smiled upon by the Academy. But when a giggling Ann Coulter appears on the Fox News Channel refusing to call Barack Obama by anything other than his middle name, it’s clear that we have our entertainment gossip and our politics a little mixed up in this country.

So it is without further ado that I present you with Election ’08: Oscar Style! A list of this year’s Academy Award winners in all the major categories, along with what politician they would represent, if based on the same credentials:

Best Screenplay: Juno by Diablo Cody

A truly inspiring example of the American dream. Not long ago, Diablo Cody was just a simple exotic dancer from the Midwest. Now, she’s a household name whose career probably wouldn’t end even if she died tomorrow, mid-keystroke. Obviously she’s the Oscars’ version of Mike Huckabee — a down home Southern fella’ who didn’t put nearly as much effort into his campaign as seasoned veterans Mitt Romney and Rudy Giulianni did. But he’s still around, and they’re long gone — all because Americans like the way he, like Cody, does things in his own way.

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose

Cotillard is a French actress, who won this award for her portrayal of French singer Edith Piaf, a woman who herself never became popular in America, and who in turn never really understood the country. Like Hillary Clinton, Cotillard was comfortable in her role and we know she does her job well — but in the end, we’re left wondering whether it was her or her material that impressed us.

Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood

Oscar’s answer to Barack Obama, Daniel Day Lewis was the beginning, the end, and everything in between for his film. The movie is nearly unwatchable without his dynamic performance, and the script is so sparse that we’d fall asleep if we weren’t so compelled to hang onto the main character’s every word. Just like Obama’s campaign, it’s a smart story, with keen social relevance, but the leading man is what makes us care about it.

Best Picture: No Country for Old Men

I bet you’re thinking that I’m going to make a joke about John McCain here, because of the term “Old Men” in the film’s title. Well, I just did. But the candidate that this film actually resembles is Ralph Nader. Yes, the aging social activist and anti-corporatist who just announced his plans for a fifth consecutive presidential run — on Oscar Sunday, no less — clearly has the most in common with this film, which is about a confused but noble man caught between two unstoppable forces.

Best Loser: Atonement

Atonement is a gorgeous and sweeping drama, about love and honor in a time of war. Only the music won an award for this film, even though it was nominated for several others. Alas, just like John McCain, this film was too stale and too familiar for the Academy — and the American public. It’s a powerful achievement, and worth respecting, but people wonder what the point or purpose is.

— Mark Casey is a Brownsburg resident and winner of the Flyer Idol competition.

     

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.