TheLastLaugh.net

Doing the Right Ring Thing Oscar Night

The Academy Awards finally had a chance to do something right. They could have recognized outstanding acting talent in a venue that’s never been done before. And in the process, just this once, could have put a brief halt to the high school level politicking, backstabbing and endless mind numbing publicity stunts that keep so many PR pukes in Armani.

They could have awarded Andy Serkis the award for Best Supporting Actor.

Think about it. He did the voice, the movements and the facial expressions for a tortured, tormented yet thoroughly detestable character. In order to make this all work, his performance had to be better and more powerful and impactful than anyone had ever done before because his work was then translated into another medium. He had to rely on his imagination in ways that most of us couldn’t begin to fathom. He had to deliver a performance powerful enough to be sustained in a digital format.

To this we say to the Dennis Quaid’s of the world: try that one on for size.

So, where did this fine actor get the inspiration for such a demanding role? First, he’s paid generous homage to Tolkien in many an interview but second --- and we really support animal lovers --- he has been known to give his cats a lot of the credit for the character he created.

Cat lovers of the world can start feeling very smug right about now. One of the most compelling characters in the entire trilogy…inspired by hairball hacking cats? You have to love this guy.

And unlike OTHER actors, this one seems genuinely modest and overwhelmed by the groundswell of support he received. It seemed to have caught him completely off guard and he continues to seem continuously surprised by all the adoration. He will, in the middle of any given interview, break into the voice of his character (something snootier actors would have refused to do, by the by). He has no problems charming and entertaining gushing reporters with a flash of Gollum. It is something those high-strung pr handlers would waggle their overly manicured talons against (over exposure ARUGH!!!). Luckily, the pr hacks have not yet gotten their overly manicured mitts on this unspoiled, refreshing entertainer.

So, if there is ANY sense of creativity and standards among those responsible for voting for Oscar winners, Mr. Serkis will be reconsidered next year after ROTK comes out. If the mission of the Academy truly is to recognize and reward the best of the best then Andy Serkis will win because what he and the WETA team have accomplished is beyond groundbreaking. They have taken acting to another level. By merging various forms of technology with acting, they have managed to take cinematic entertainment into an entirely new realm of character development and creative expression.

You’ll be hearing from us again on this subject.