Awards Season 2021

[tenia]

tenia - You're one of the smartest people on this forum so, I know you could do much better than that. Violence is, obviously, never the answer but it is part of the human condition and this revealed how little a grasp people have on how fights work, exhibit a: the man hit him and then turned his back!

I can only speak for myself both as myself, a simple viewer, and myself as neither the Smiths or Chris Rock, so there isn't deeper insight I can write about except my own feelings about seeing a worldwide star hitting another one on stage during a live ceremony seemingly because of a debatable joke.

All I can see is the Smiths displaying an image of people who can't take a joke and having violence as sole way of responding. To me, it's disturbing. Because I'd have thought they know better. Because it sets a precedent about what you can do when someone cracks a joke maybe a bit too harsh and the consequences they may not really be facing afterwards. And we're all adults here : imagine kids watching this and thinking slapping people dissing your girlfriend is a proper reaction to have.

While violence is indeed part of mankind and it possibly reminded it to us, I'm not sure there's a deeper point to offer except that many people probably just expected Smith not to seemingly be that short-tempered.

In any case, while I certainly appreciate your compliment but as someone who only has been punched once (well, there were multiple punchs, but that took place during a single mugging), I don't have much more to offer than someone who didn't expect a joke being answered by an angry slap to the face.

[knives]

Don’t ask questions of Black Hat, he’ll just answer them

This made me laugh a little too hard.

Also, just to reiterate, just because people beat each other up during rush hour in the subway doesn’t make that a good or even normal thing. There’s no positive spin to violence.

[felipe]

I was surprised by Amy Schummer not standing up for Chris Rock next time she was on stage and just made a joke to lighten up the room instead of addressing the situation directly. That makes me wonder whether the producers told her she couldn't, specially after they had already decided they would do nothing about Smith.

[Brian C]

Brian - Ha, I'm no tough guy but, sure, I've been held accountable a few times. You haven't?

Well ... no. As you can doubtlessly imagine, I rub people the wrong way at times, and hearthesilence's story about being attacked on the subway brought back a ton of memories of close calls I've had on the train. But at the end of the day, I managed to avoid getting punched.

Perhaps a crucial aspect to understanding violence is having the wisdom to avoid it when possible.

[Finch]

The Academy told members in a letter that due process must be followed and it'll be a few weeks before a final decision is made regarding Smith. BAFTA executives told THR had this happened at their event, Smith would have been escorted out of the building immediately and not been allowed to collect his award in person.

Can't see them allowing Smith to present the Best Actress award next February/March, whether it's with Rock or alone.

[hearthesilence]

The irrelevance of this fact (and the viral clip to which it pertains) was already settled, but here's the answer anyway: John B. Williams does not have alopecia (" a topical treatment he received for a case of the measles affected the texture of his hair, so he decided to shave everything off one day and never looked back"), and FWIW Rolling Stone also got his take on the whole thing.

[captveg]

The irrelevance of this fact (and the viral clip to which it pertains) was already settled, but here's the answer anyway: John B. Williams does not have alopecia (" a topical treatment he received for a case of the measles affected the texture of his hair, so he decided to shave everything off one day and never looked back"), and FWIW Rolling Stone also got his take on the whole thing.

Appreciate the article clarifying this.

I know Williams is older than both Smith and Rock, but it strikes me as a bit odd to refer to two men in their 50s as "young men".

[CriterionPhreak]

The Oscar incident with Will Smith and Chris Rock brings to mind some movie-viewing choices:

Sullivan's Travels (1941) -- This film seems more relevant than than ever to showbiz today. It's about a comedy filmmaker who wants to make a difference in the real world by spreading social messages; at the end he realizes he should just go back to making movies because that's what he's good at and that's what the public wants and needs.

A Star is Born (1937, 1954, 1976, 2018 versions) has a scene where the protagonist storms on to the stage when someone else is receiving an award. In the 1954 version he actually slaps her due to his drunkenness. (That was my first reaction the other night, that Will Smith was probably ON something.)

Good Hair (2009) -- This film is currently free with ads on YouTube. Chris Rock produced this documentary about the issue and significance of hair and hairstyles in the black community. Hair is a sensitive issue, and this may sheds some light on why Will Smith reacted the way he did. It also shows that Rock takes this issue seriously despite the joke he told about Jada's hair.

[hearthesilence]

Two that came to mind were The Nutty Professor (1996 remake) because Jada Pinkett Smith is in it and it had those scenes with a stand-up comic insulting her party (her date though, not her) and Drive My Car where a movie star is held accountable for assaulting someone.

[Finch]

Washington Post reports that Smith was asked to leave but refused

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that Will Smith was asked to leave the Oscars ceremony after he slapped Chris Rock, but Smith refused.

“Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the academy said in a statement. “We also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.”

(...) The academy said it is providing Smith with “at least 15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response.” The board will meet again on April 18, at which point it “may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions.”

[domino harvey]

Washington Post reports that Smith was asked to leave but refused

Unbelievable. Allow me to quote an old bit by one of the hosts, “I didn’t realize that was optional!”

[hearthesilence]

There's got to be a severe penalty, especially now that's out. The industry is trying to shake a reputation that it enables and empowers higher ups to be awful people. The Academy has to hand down a firm punishment.

[mfunk9786]

Prediction that is not based upon my opinion of the incident but instead just what I expect:

One year suspension from voting/attending the ceremony, keeps his award, Jada presents the documentary category next year and gets a standing O

[hearthesilence]

Performers have gotten worse bans/suspensions for lesser offenses. (Johnny Cash was famously banned from the Ryman for kicking out the footlights while under the influence, and he was playing there regularly so quite a few appearances would have happened. They eventually lifted the ban three years later.) A one year suspension would be an outrage.

[domino harvey]

Prediction that is not based upon my opinion of the incident but instead just what I expect:

One year suspension from voting/attending the ceremony, keeps his award, Jada presents the documentary category next year and gets a standing O

I don't know about Pinkett-Smith being invited to present, but I would bet any amount of money that the rest of your prediction is dead on. They'll give him a slap on the wrist to show they did something, but of course a one year suspension from the Academy isn't really a consequence at all.

[mfunk9786]

Like so many things today (remember the 'Build Back Better' bill?): I'll believe it when I see it.

[hearthesilence]

I don't know about Pinkett-Smith being invited to present, but I would bet any amount of money that the rest of your prediction is dead on. They'll give him a slap on the wrist to show they did something, but of course a one year suspension from the Academy isn't really a consequence at all.

Was he going to the Oscars every year? That's like handing me a one-year suspension from traveling overseas. Well my passport isn't even valid at the moment, so suspend away!

[mfunk9786]

Not meant as some huge personality criticism, but he strikes me as someone who attends every year.

[domino harvey]

"Will Smith will have to go to the theater to see Avatar 2 rather than watch his screener on his laptop from the first class cabin," the Academy said in a stern official statement.

[Brian C]

I thought his performance in King Richard was one of the worst award-winning performances I've ever seen in my life, but I'd be very much opposed to taking the award away. I don't know if that's really on the table or not, but however much of an asshat he is, he actually did win that award and pretending otherwise is pure revisionism.

Plus, just practically speaking, I think it would be extremely stupid for the Academy to set a precedent where they have to decide whether or not to dis-award someone whenever a past winner becomes controversial. Because that's obviously what the next step would be.

[hearthesilence]

There's no way that's going to happen. The issue's already been discussed regarding other people who surely would've been stripped of their Oscars for other reasons by now.

[hearthesilence]

Unbelievable. Allow me to quote an old bit by one of the hosts, “I didn’t realize that was optional!”

Finally clicked on this and LMAO

[mfunk9786]

I thought his performance in King Richard was one of the worst award-winning performances I've ever seen in my life, but I'd be very much opposed to taking the award away. I don't know if that's really on the table or not, but however much of an asshat he is, he actually did win that award and pretending otherwise is pure revisionism.

Agree completely. The award's the award, and you're giving the voice to fools comparing this to Polanski or Weinstein still having their prizes. You can't possibly take the award away, and it's not worth the effort even if you wanted to.

HTS: Really not meaning to leap on your every post, I think we're just on the same timer tonight

[domino harvey]

Pedro Almodovar on the incident

I have deliberately avoided the violent episode that is the only thing talked about the next day. I was barely four meters from where it happened. In the general overhead shots, I am the little white head you see in the photo.

I refuse to let that episode mark the gala and be the protagonist of a ceremony where many more things happened and of much greater interest. For example, “Drive My Car,” without a doubt my favorite film of the year, won Best International Feature Film. And also “Summer of Soul,” my favorite documentary.

Still, as I said, I was very close to the protagonists. What I saw and heard produced a feeling of absolute rejection in me. Not only during the episode, but afterward, too, in the acceptance speech — a speech that seemed more like that of a cult leader. You don’t defend or protect the family with your fists, and no, the devil doesn’t take advantage of key moments to do his work.

The devil, in fact, doesn’t exist. It is a fundamentalist speech that we should neither hear nor see. Some claim that this was the only real moment in the ceremony, but they are talking about the faceless monster that is the social media. For them, avid for carrion, it undoubtedly was the great moment of the night.

[CriterionPhreak]

I wonder what the security protocol of an Oscar ceremony is. I suppose every live show or sporting event has one. If someone from the audience storms onto the field in a football game we know what's going to happen. A few years ago on Dancing with the Stars (a primetime live TV show) an audience member jumped on to the stage and he was immediately football-tackled by the security guards (video here).