EW.com has riddled the idea that Carell could be a front-runner for best actor for his subdued performance in "Dan In Real Life." The movie received mixed reviews; so did Carell's performance.
What the argument is really about, rather, is whether a comedic lead role should be recognized as fine art?
I think so. Even Will Ferrell once said that there should be a Best Comedic Performance at the Academy Awards.
Fact is, comedians in great roles are usually snubbed. (Though Johnny Depp got close for his pirate in "Pirates of the Caribbean" a few years back. Jack Lemon, Dustin Hoffman have been taken seriously as funnymen.) They have to take on serious roles to get the Academy's attention.
So consider the mass of great comedic roles that were overlooked come award time: Sacha Baron Cohen in "Borat;" Vince Vaughn in "Made" (see this movie I promise you won't be disapointed) or "Wedding Crashers;" John Candy in "The Great Outdoors;" John Belushi in "Animal House," Nicholas Cage in "The Weatherman;" and Ben Stiller in "There's Something About Mary."
And many more in the past.
Do you think there should be a category at the Oscars for Best Comedic performance? Or should more actors in a comedic role be acknoledged as much as those in a serious role?
Can you name some great comedic performances that were snubbed during Oscar time?
No doubt in my mind there should be recognition for these great great performers. If you think about it, our favorite movies are comedies and ones we are most likely to buy on DVD.
Before we go any farther, Ben Stiller’s character in “Mary” is about the funniest role in the movies. He was so good, I thought it should have won an award. He is one of the best at what he does and we love watching his movies like you’ve said
I do agree that, it's still an art. I mean, even as far as Steve Carrell's nomination goes, if you've seen "Dan in Real Life," it's not the typical comedic role you've typcially seen him in.
It's not like they're not good actorss or anything, they can act. I think they just really excel at being funny and yes, academy people, that is an art that few people could do.
A few names come to mind, Robin Williams in Goodmorning Vietnam was recognized as a award worthy. So was Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks.
So there are few. What bothers me, is that there are a no woman to get recognized. I think Isla Fisher in Wedding Crashers.
I always thought Ben Stiller was overrated; Bill Murray underated.
Chevy Chase wasn't even funny. But I can't think of anything they would do that would be better than what Anthony Hopkins or a TOm Hanks would do. Meryl Streep or Hillary Swank can't be ignored when it comes to those kind of categories.
So I think it's a tired argument.
Most of the great comedians were given due in the early 50s like Jackie Gleason and before the Marx brothers. I think today, it’s possible that the academy has become a little a full of itself and looked to a few genres.
Comedy is a great form of art, just look at Shakespeare.
Don't forget to mention the two most recent comedians to be recognized... Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny and Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda. Both received Oscars for their comedic turns.
And those are about the only ones in my lifetime. Sad. I've always read from actors who have saddled the line between comedy and drama that they'd always rather do drama because they find it very tough to do comedy.