Page 59 - English Tehelka Issue 6 - March 31, 2018

How the Oscars made peace

with #MeToo but ignored all

else to reward accused men

Not too many Americans watched the Oscar awards this year. It registered the lowest ratings ever
on the ABC network, the official broadcaster of Hollywood’s biggest night, getting President Donald
Trump, a popular butt of Oscar jokes, to tweet “…Problem is, we don’t have Stars anymore- except
your President (just kidding, of course!)”, archita kashyap writes

hile the network and tals-studded night clearly established Oldman called her a liar, won cus-
Hollywood’s all-pow- the most obvious fact — the Oscars tody of their children and never clari-
erful Academy are yet remain an elite club, where they award fied his stand. Fiorentino has lost no
to react to the poor their own without paying much atten- time is also pointing out that the Oscars admitted to rape. But none of that inter- The Academy never discloses which • Stars shine more Oscar winners are floating
W show on TV, despite su- tion to accusations of abuse, harass- awarded an abuser. Oldman is known fered with his stratospheric rise to NBA members participated in a particular on a wave of fuzzy glory.
per host Jimmy Kimmel being in charge, ment or morally wrong deeds. to mouth abuse during interviews, demigod. Now, with two active social round of voting.
one can safely guess that the current 18 The most visible win that reflects abusing Democrat Party leader Nancy media campaigns waging war against The presence of diversity was also
to 40 viewer’s swift changeover in loy- that Oscars come to some anyway, is Pelosi during one such session. sexual abuse and harassment, Bryant’s evident in key nominations this year plause and accolades within this power-
alties to online streamed shows and Gary Oldman. He won Best Actor for He has also called Mel Gibson a ‘vic- Oscar especially rankles. It indicates that with Rachel Morrison becoming the first ful film fraternity.
increased appetite for viewing online his performance as Winston Churchill tim’ of ‘a Jewish conspiracy’; clearly an the Academy will reward it’s own kind, female cinematographer in the awards’ Add to that the fact that Ryan Seacrest,
has affected appointment viewing. Ad- in The Darkest Hour. Oldman’s ex-wife actor whose immense talent overshad- despite a changing social climate. 90-year history to be nominated for Best accused of sexual harassment by his per-
ditionally, Kimmel’s frequent criticism Donya Fiorentino has accused Oldman ows his temperamental problems. Yet Jimmy Kimmel cracked a joke during Cinematography; and Vanessa Taylor be- sonal assistant, hosted the much-viewed
of President Trump could have turned of domestic abuse in the past, stating Oldman received a standing ovation his speech when he referred to Wein- ing a rare co-nominee in the Best Origi- E! Oscar show on the red carpet, and you
off a section of audiences in America. that he tried to squeeze her neck, and when he went onstage to collect his stein’s expulsion from the Academy. nal Screenplay category for The Shape of know that it’s business as usual at the
And a second major factor could be hit her on the face, in front of their cry- trophy. The only other member to have been Water. Greta Gerwig became only the movies.
the fact that the Oscars didn’t pack any ing children during a domestic fight. A British actor who had chosen to expelled EARLIER was a video editor fifth woman to get nominated for Best The late John Heard, also accused of
punches. It incorporated the poten- Fiorentino has a history of pain killer make Hollywood his home, Oldman is who had shared a screener (special DVD Director ever. stalking and harassment, found his spot
tially volatile #MeToo movement and addiction and shared past of alcohol also known to fraternize and socialize prints of nominated films) with someone Yet, the Academy chose to award in the In Memoriam section.
#TimesUp campaign comfortably in addiction with the actor. with those who matter at the studios. who wasn’t a member. The quantum of those who were tipped to win, utilizing In tacit acceptance of ‘boys will be
its program rundown order with three As Kobe Bryant won an Oscar for punishment for both was the same. these nominations smartly to deflect boys’ behaviour from some, the Oscar
victims of Harvey Weinstein, dressed in best animated short for Dear Basketball, Ironically, this puts the spotlight on a criticism and accusations of bias. That awards give legitimacy to menfolk who
their best, sharing a diversity video; a accusations of rape and out of court continuous relationship that the Acad- The Shape of Water, accused of plagiarism might lose work because of accusations
far cry from straight forward activism. In tacit acceptance settlements that the basketball star emy awards have with men accused of (by respected playwright Paul Zindel, of of bad behaviour, violent behaviour and
It didn’t surprise with a single upset and of ‘boys will be has been part of, were put on the back abuse, rape and harassment. It took the having been adapted from his play <Let sexual harassment.
awarded those that were predicted to burner. A 19-year-old hotel employee people-driven, volatile and visible #Me- Me Hear You Whisper>) won four Oscars But the awards must know that in
be winners. (The Shape of Water for Best boys’ behaviour accused Bryant of rape in 2003, which Too Campaign this year to exclude erst- indicates that fair play isn’t always prior- incorporation of radical movements
Film, Guillermo Del Toro for Best Direc- from some, the he denied forcefully till authorities while certified abusers — Roman Polan- ity for Hollywood’s elite. within its smooth flow, the Oscar awards
tor, Allison Janney for Best Supporting linked DNA evidence to him. He tried ski and Woody Allen. The Oscars scored a victory when it risk being relegated to stuff that the
Actress, etc), It is entirely possible that Oscar awards deflecting these accusations by calling Regularly accused by people of lack had the trio of Ashley Judd, Anabella Sci- young and woke don’t like to watch.
viewers, having tuned in, might have it a consensual extramarital encounter, of representation of Hispanic, Black orra and Salma Hayek onstage together Being in touch with one’s evolving
tuned out once predictability and bore- give legitimacy and then proceeded to settle a civil case and Asian talent, the Academy has ex- to highlight that abuse, harassment and audience is very important for those who
dom settled in. to men accused out of court. panded its membership by 774 new general bad behavior at the workplace make films. Perhaps this can explain why
The zingiest bit about the Oscar cer- He also issued a long, heavily word- voting members from diverse ethnici- will not be accepted. the Oscar awards were such a poor show
emony came at the end when Frances of bad behaviour, ed statement, stating that the woman ties. From India, Deepika Padukone, Pri- Yet, in its contradictory approach to- on TV this year. It simply didn’t get the
McDormand won Best Actress and sa- violence and sexual had not been paid off to buy her silence, yanka Chopra, Salman Khan, Aishwarya wards Kobe Bryant and Gary Oldman, people’s pulse.
luted women power of female nomi- and that she had not viewed their sexu- Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan it also reflected that beyond tokenism,
nees. Otherwise, this Swarvoski crys- harassment al encounter as consensual. In brief, he Khan and Aamir Khan have voting rights. there is still a lot to change about ap- letters@tehelka.com

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