The Winner Is. . . Only Acting Gay

New York Times ^ | November 20, 2005 | CARYN JAMES

[culturewars]

GROUPS that hand out awards can be suckers for acting stunts... The tradition is so entrenched that Kate Winslet, playing an outrageous comic version of herself in the HBO series "Extras," listed a surefire way to get that elusive Academy Award. "Daniel Day-Lewis in 'My Left Foot?' Oscar. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man?' Oscar," she says. "Seriously, you are guaranteed an Oscar if you play a mental." Irreverent, imprecise (the Day-Lewis character was not mentally troubled) yet essentially true.

This season she might have added: playing gay. There has been an explosion of Oscar-baiting performances in which straight actors play gay, transvestite or transgender characters.

[Nonstatist]

They should call it.. acting NYT ish

[peyton randolph]

They should call it.. acting NYT ish

a.k.a. Pulling a Sulzburger.

[Gordongekko909]

Wait... did Cuba get an Oscar for Radio? I mean, I can see him sitting in his house with the shakes, having not won an Oscar since Jerry Maguire, and taking that part as a sure-fire way to get one.

[fish hawk]

Don't forget Cliff Robertson , best actor 1968: Charly

[Bird Jenkins]

There has been an explosion of Oscar-baiting performances in which straight actors play gay, transvestite or transgender characters. Philip Seymour Hoffman melts into the role of the gay title character in "Capote," while Cillian Murphy plays a transvestite in 1970's Ireland in Neil Jordan's witty, endearing "Breakfast on Pluto." Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger play lovers in "Brokeback Mountain"

You mean to tell me the men highlighted in bold are not gay? Mmmmm-kay, if you say so.

[fml]

Great movie, great acting, different times I guess. Awards being given to the deserving??

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

[eric_da_grate]

Actors, in general, know that this type of role is usually a sure-fire way to get noticed. Some work, but most don't. One of my favorites was Billy Bob Thornton in "Sling Blade"....On the bad end, you've got Sean Penn in "I Am Sam".

[RazzPutin]

Did Gary Johnston win an Oscar?

[Hildy]

Does anyone ever watch a new HBO show called EXTRAS??? It's really funny. They always have big guest stars. It's about a guy who's an extra on movies in England (the guy from the original show, THE OFFICE). Anyway, Kate Winslet was on. She was playing a nun in a movie about the Holocaust. She had a funny monologue about holocaust movies. I know that sounds terrible, and I felt a bit guilty laughing at it, but it was funny. Actors know the kind of roles that win awards. It's not new news.

[Hildy]

ignore my last post....if I had even read the FIRST line, I wouldn't have posted what I did...ROFLMAO!!!

[JRios1968]

Pulling a Sulzburger.

Can we call it "PINCH-ing one out"?

[LibFreeOrDie]

Video clip of Kate Winslet on "Extras":

http://www.rickygervais.com/extras_clips_03_01.php

[Kozak]

On the bad end, you've got Sean Penn in "I Am Sam".

When Sean Penn portrays a mental defective, it ain't acting....

[peyton randolph]

Can we call it "PINCH-ing one out"?

Now THAT sounds like an Ann Coulter comment. She just adores him.

[Kozak]

I can't believe the season on Extra's is over already. what was it 6 episodes? Must be filming on a BBC union contract...

[Hildy]

you know what? She should have won an Oscar for Sense and Sensibility. It was on TV today. I can watch that movie all the time and she was BRILLIANT.

[ROTB]

>"Seriously, you are guaranteed an Oscar if you play a
>mental."

It's definitely easier to act like someone simpler than youreslf, than someone more complicated. Brad Pitt did a fine job in "12 Monkeys" playing that mental patient "Grrr get out of my chair!!!"

She forgot movies that glorify ...

1) abortion (Cider House Rules)
2) assisted suidicde (Million $ Baby)

[Mr. Rational]

The you have the tour de farce "Shakespeare in Love" beating "Saving Private Ryan" for best movie.