Don't get me wrong -- I really like Kate Winslet, despite her propensity for full frontal nudity. She is a superb actress who can tackle any role handed to her. And it does seem a shame that she has thus far been ignored by the Academy.
I was rooting for her to win, until I heard specifics about her role in The Reader. Now, I'm hoping that Meryl Streep walks out with her third statuette. Streep hasn't won for 25 years -- even though you just know that she has acted rings around every one of the winners during that time -- and two previous wins should not continue to penalize her.
[I have to admit I haven't seen any of contending movies, other than The Dark Knight. There is no award that I will cheer about, other than the sure win of Heath Ledger. There will be no happy surprise that thrills me like last year's winner for Best Song, Falling Slowly.]
When I first heard that Winslet was playing a former Nazi, I assumed it was a character that was wrongly being held accountable for actions she unwittingly performed. But no, she's an unrepentant, willing participant. Oh, wait -- she can't read. That forgives everything. It's a parable about what can happen to people when they aren't enlightened with the ability to read.
Yes, illiteracy is a terrible thing. And a lack of education can lead to a life of violence. But we all know right from wrong. Just because one can't read, doesn't excuse locking 300 people in a burning building.
Or having an affair with a 15-year-old! Where is the outrage here? Just because boys of that age are horn-dogs and seem okay in a relationship with a much older woman, doesn't make it right. The only "issue" about it in the movie is that the young man is left heart-broken when his pedophilic girlfriend leaves without telling him goodbye.
But we're supposed to ignore all that and feel great that Ms. Winslet is winning awards left and right. A Holocaust scholar has actually campaigned against rewarding this performance with an Oscar. I hope he reached enough voters, and they chose not to give it to Winslet anyway just because "it's her turn." For certainly, she'll have a future worthy performance.
Because it's not a complex character Winslet has portrayed, it's a contemptible one. If Kate wins, I won't be cheering. I'll be shaking my head that this win was tainted.
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