Writer Photos Darrell J Banks

AND THAT OSCAR THING

Bette, Barbie, Margot, and that Oscar thing

Cr 2024 All Rights Reserved Worldwide

by Darrell J Banks

If you have watched that latest Capote thing on a streaming service, you know what Joan said about Bette and her naming that golden statue Oscar ™.

This Sunday one of my favorite actresses Charlize Theron is presenting. I suggested to her on twitter, never X.  That she wear a gold dress. (cross marketing ala Dior).   That is the real reason we watch the Oscar red carpet show and the Oscar after carpet show.  Fashion said Bowie.  They do it over there, but we don’t it here.

Her buddy from that golf film won’t be present, a slap stopped his Oscar ™ appearances for a decade.   But according to X, oops twitter, there will be plenty of stand ins.  Look at the 30th annual Vanity Fair Hollywood issue, as thin as it, you will find want to bees and real Hollywood players for Queen Bee.

Past Hollywood issues were heavy you didn’t want to carry it from your desk. Not this time.  What would Bette think of this? Hollywood reduced to tweets, tik toks, Instagram posts and of course Deadline Hollywood. Perez who? Hollywood is always in transition, ala the late big as life Nicky Finke.  

Who will step up to fill that void?

Back then when, Bette devoured the Oscars ™ with nominations, the awards were literally in black and white. Bette was nominated several times for Academy Awards.  She ultimately won an Oscar, twice, but was nominated ten times (Wikipedia).

Bette I always loved, and even more so when I learned from a face book post that she was the only major white star to tour with fellow Oscar winner Hatti McDaniels with black troops doing World War two.  Simple but complicated things in those times.   Think Margo Channing jumping off the page/slash stage to praise the troops.

Which is the premise of this article.  Stand outs always get kicked downwards.

Act 2 Barbie

When Margot Robbie was asked about her next project, she said they were sick of her. Why?

Lucile Ball accomplished a lot with Desi Lou, Kathleen Kennedy, Amy Pascal etc. In film have achieved a lot as executive film producer.  But that IMDB list is very short.

So, when an actress also serves as an executive producer.  Well, add in 1.445 billion according to box office mojo, the world shudders.   They love you one moment, remember Barbenheimer.

Well, come award season, things separated, Barbenheimer fused into only Oppenheimer. 

I saw Oppenheimer in the theatre, fell asleep twice.   Oscar worthy for sound and cinematography, yes.  Actor, director, etc. not so much.  What was the message, the premise.  If you read the fiction book Los Alamos, well it contains more drama and twists.

I had passed on Barbie. Caught it on a stream. The first-time I attempted to watch Barbie it was well WTF click.

I tried a second a time when I was not tired.  Barbie is social satire on the divide between men and women.  Apply that theme to actors, directors, and executive producers and award shows.

In 2024.

Margot has followed in the steps of Lucille Ball.  Bette would have been a great EP.  Nicole Kidman has done that and Charlize Theron.  Must be a blonde thing. Is this why the women (and men) did not vote for her as best actress?)

Which takes me to.

Act 3. Margot’s folly

Her predecessors well, Nicole has always cut the film world a slice or two in, her films.  Charlize did it in Mad Max, stealing scenes, and the entire film.   She was not invited back for the next film in that series.  But as executive producer, moved on to Atomic Blonde part one and the Old Guard.

Barbie/Margot upset the apple cart woman director, screen writer, a black Barbie president. Mierda.

Hollywood could not take it thus a lack of nominations and wins.

We will see what happens on they early Oscars show.

I don’t expect trend setters like Margot to walk on the stage in pink or better yet a men’s blue suit for best picture.  But in the end like Bette, will ultimately win again and thirty years from now if the Oscars still exist, obtain a lifetime Oscar.

Until next time Ciao