The Oscars are notorious for being rigged. Some have even said there is a formula that people use to win. From the beginning, the Oscars were seen as little more than a society for mutual congratulations. Typified by the second awards dinner: When award after award went to Academy founding members, Cedric Gibbons himself was a recipient, winning the first of the 11 prizes he would take from a whopping 39 nominations. Gibbons (an Irish-American art director) designed the Oscar statue in 1928 but entrusted the sculpting to George Stanley, a Los Angeles artist. “There is something embarrassing about all these wealthy people publicly congratulating each other,”. Said Cary Grant, who would have to wait until 1970 before receiving his own honorary statuette.
Halle Berry Remains The Only Black Best Actress Honorary
The baffling fact about the Oscars is that only one non-white woman (Halle Berry) has ever received a Best Actress Oscar in almost 100 years. Berry won for her performance in “Monster’s Ball” in 2002, and she remains the only black actress ever. The likes of Jennifer Hudson, Mo’Nique, Whoopi Goldberg, Regina King, and Lupita Nyongó have all won Best Supporting Actress Oscars. In an interview a year ago, Halle Berry expressed her disappointment that there had not been another since her win in 2002. “It didn’t open the door. The fact that there’s no one standing next to me is heartbreaking.” She said. She also said that awards do not measure success. We can’t always judge success or progress by how many awards we have.” Berry explained, “Awards are the icing on the cake; they’re your peers saying you were exceptionally excellent this year.”
A Mitzvah
“What does an Oscar mean?” Ellen Burstyn asked after Walter Matthau, and Jack Lemmon presented her with the Best Actress gong in 1975. “Put it this way, Ellen,” answered Matthau. “When you die, the newspaper obituaries will say: ‘The Academy Award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn died today.’ American filmmaker and author David Mamet said, “The purpose of the event is not the celebration of excellence but the celebration of the ordeal. The Oscars began as an in-house ceremony of appreciation. They have evolved into The Big Bar Mitzvah (a good deed).”
Angela Bassett’s Moment
Many are still hoping that the scandal, injustice, and favoritism surrounding the Oscars will change. This year, Bassett is nominated for the best supporting actress Oscar for her commanding performance as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Her long-time friend and collaborator, Laurence Fishburne, expressed his deep excitement for her nomination. “It’s what’s in my heart that I’d like to talk about more than what’s on my mind. I’m just really, really happy about all of the accolades that have been coming Angela’s way for this performance.” The American actor told Variety. Twenty-nine years ago, Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne were celebrating their Academy Award nominations for portraying Tina Turner and Ike Turner in 1993’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”
Fishburne sought out “Wakanda Forever” early in its theatrical run, interested to see what the Marvel sequel had in store. “I was just blown away by a couple of things,” he said, recounting the experience. The two also collaborated twice in 2006. Co-starring in “Akeelah and the Bee” in theaters and on stage in a production of August Wilson’s “Fences” at the Pasadena Playhouse. This year, Fishburne is rooting for Bassett. Well, after 21 years, we can all hope for what would be both a record and a glorious moment.
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