Should Jaden Smith get an Oscar nod for The Karate Kid?

[gsdx]

The role is a big challenge for a little kid to pull off

If you want to see a challenging role for a little kid to pull off, catch Patty Duke in the breakfast scene in the Miracle Worker. Learning Kung Fu? Bid deal. Patty had to learn how to be deaf and blind and mute:

 

[BearBoi]

I’ve always thought that awards, like an Oscar, should be based on the virtue of the actor as demonstrated over the course of their career and capped by one outstanding role through which they are considered.

Passing it out to every dick that pulls off a good performance in their first movie cheapens it. How often is it handed out and we never see/hear from the actor/actress again?

Having said this, I am thoroughly convinced that all -- yes, all -- arts awards are bought and sold months before the ceremonies. It’s all fixed.

 

[gsdx]

learning kung-fu and doing stunts sounds a lot more like fun than work for a 10 year-old with no responsibilities.

And it doesn't require any acting abilities to do it.

 

[Under-taken]

Neh, it wasn't a good 'acting' performance. Sure props for dedicating himself to the role, but actors like Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson are way more deserving then shorty.

I'm sure if Jaden stays acting though, more roles will depth can come his ways for more consideration.

 

[G-Lexington]

Does he deserve it? No. That doesn't mean he won't get it.

Lex

 

[Willie Boy]

Can we wait until the kids gets a role based on his ability and not the fact that Mommy and/or Daddy are at the helm to decide if he deserves an award for it.

 

[Under-taken]

Does he deserve it? No. That doesn't mean he won't get it.

Lex

I think historically, I'd have enough confidence in the Academy to not nominate him

 

[blackbeltninja]

Passing it out to every dick that pulls off a good performance in their first movie cheapens it. How often is it handed out and we never see/hear from the actor/actress again?

I disagree. The award is an annual one for the finest performance of the year.This whole "well, he didn't get it last time so I'll vote for him this time" is rubbish. Best performance that year should win at the next ceremony.

Having said that, in answer to your 2nd point:

A handful of recent winners are:
Kevin Spacey and Hilary Swank
Russell Crowe and Julia Roberts
Denzel Washington and Halle Berry
Adrian Brody and Nicole Kidman
Sean Penn and Charlize Theron

I could go on... remind me which are these actors and actresses we've never heard from again after their wins?

-d-

 

[EthanStorm]

I wonder how many of you saw the movie, bc I did and he was amazing. The acting, not just the Kung-Fu.

 

[BearBoi]

I disagree. The award is an annual one for the finest performance of the year.This whole "well, he didn't get it last time so I'll vote for him this time" is rubbish. Best performance that year should win at the next ceremony.

That isn't what I said. I prefaced that opinion with:

I’ve always thought that awards, like an Oscar, should be based on the virtue of the actor as demonstrated over the course of their career and capped by one outstanding role through which they are considered.

Having said that, in answer to your 2nd point:

A handful of recent winners are:
Kevin Spacey and Hilary Swank
Russell Crowe and Julia Roberts
Denzel Washington and Halle Berry
Adrian Brody and Nicole Kidman
Sean Penn and Charlize Theron

I could go on... remind me which are these actors and actresses we've never heard from again after their wins?

-d-

And (most of) them would fit into my first statement, wouldn’t they?

 

[gsdx]

- and NO! he does not deserve an Oscar.

And if he even gets nominated, it will be Will's doing. The boy won't be nominated on his own merits.

 

[ThreeCrows]

Having said this, I am thoroughly convinced that all -- yes, all -- arts awards are bought and sold months before the ceremonies. It’s all fixed.

Totally agree - I've always suspected this. Then again, we sometimes get gems like this:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyZRiEJnIag[/ame]

But she was just joking....riiight.

 

[BearBoi]

^^^

It would have been funnier if she had yelled, "I want a REFUND!" But yes, that is classic.

Dolly Parton's "Travelin' Through" losing to Three 6 Mafia's, "It’s hard out there for a pimp" was the last straw for me.

 

[blackbeltninja]

And (most of) them would fit into my first statement, wouldn’t they?

Um, no.

Not Charlize (previous hits at that point being Devil's Advocate, Mighty Joe Young, The Italian Job and 2 Days in the Valley); not Adrien Brody (previous hits at that point being... um...) and not Hilary Swank (most renowned back in 2000 for Karate Kid 4), none of which can really in good conscience be regarded as a magnificent body of work which needs an Oscar as a crowning achievement. Even Halle Berry had had mostly popcorn roles up until Monsters' Ball, and Kidman was still more famous for being Mrs Tom Cruise until her suprise acting ability shone in Moulin Rouge.

That's 5 of the 10 I listed already rubbished, let alone getting stuck into the others.

Still, by your suggestion some great performances would be completely overlooked as though the person hadn't paid some mythical dues. Your idea would be great for a lifetime achievement but not a run-of-the-mill acting award.

-d-

 

[gsdx]

Well it probably is a long shot, but.... I thought he was pretty good.

'Good' does not equate to 'outstanding', which is what the Oscars represent.

 

[Joshua_me]

It was pretty lousy the year they gave the Oscar to Julia Roberts over Ellen Burstyn for Requiem for a Dream.

Or the year Ian McKellen lost for Gods and Monsters.

^ Hear, hear !

 

[BearBoi]

That's 5 of the 10 I listed already rubbished, let alone getting stuck into the others.

Still, by your suggestion some great performances would be completely overlooked as though the person hadn't paid some mythical dues. Your idea would be great for a lifetime achievement but not a run-of-the-mill acting award.

-d-

Yes, well, I have not tried to pick and choose whose performances are worthy and which actors should be "rubbished."

I didn't try to do that. In fact, I very carefully worded my post to avoid any such implication. Even in my previous post, I had the forethought to include "(most of)" rather than make a sweeping generalization.

And what this really comes down to is personal opinion. In my personal opinion, these kinds of awards would be better served as a crowing achievement for a career in the field -- not passed off to anybody that pulls off one good role.

That’s all.

 

[Callum]

It was pretty lousy the year they gave the Oscar to Julia Roberts over Ellen Burstyn for Requiem for a Dream.

Probably one of the biggest "Are you fucking kidding me?" moments ever on an awards show. Talk about being robbed.

Although I don't think the Oscars are all that credible anymore (I mean seriously...they're giving out pity awards now...[Kate Winslet and Jeff Bridges being the most recent] I am expecting Edward Norton and Julianne Moore to collect their overdue Oscars within this decade) I highly doubt Smith would get one. Mostly because Oscar season films are atypically released in September-December.

 

[Under-taken]

Kate Winslett is one of the best actresses of her generation, the fact she's been passed over in the past for Oscar worthy roles, doesn't negate her performance in The Reader

Agree! Little Children, Titanic, Revolutionary Road, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind etc

It was pretty lousy the year they gave the Oscar to Julia Roberts over Ellen Burstyn for Requiem for a Dream.

And as much as I agree (given its my favourite movie and Bursyten is amazing), I think Roberts was equally deserving. She was impressive in Brockovich.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Can I beat him over the head with it until he goes away and takes his annoying family with him?