Part Three of Four

For decades, women's Oscar record (in various categories) was not much better than that of African American artists–or other ethnic minorities.  Furthermore, in the women's case, contrary to popular notion, there was actually a backlash compared to their more visible status in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s, at the height of the studio system.

“The Children's Hour,” a remake of the 1936 “These Little Three,” was nominated for five Oscars, including Supporting Actress, but didn't win any award.

Jan 6, 2009–Disney-Pixar's Ed Catmull will receive the Gordon E. Sawyer Oscar for technical contributions to the industry.  “Ed is one of the rare individuals who can bridge the space between science and art,” Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prexy Sid Ganis said in announcing the award.

Jan 6, 2009–“Journey to the Center of the Earth,” the 3-D children film from Walden, New Line and Warner, has made the Academy's visual effects short list. The other semi-finalists for the visual effects Oscar are: “Australia,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Hellboy II,” “Iron Man,” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.”

I am not sure that there is such a thing as America's Best Actor, but if there is, it must be Sean Penn.

Right now, Penn is getting the best reviews of his career for portraying Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to political office, in Gus Van Sant's exuberant biopic “Milk.”  He has already won acting kudos from the New York, the Los Angeles, the San Francisco, and other critic groups across the country.   Which means, he's guaranteed to get another Best Actor Oscar nomination–his fifth–on January 22, when the nominations are announced.  Whether he wins or not is another question.  In this column, I would like to explore what makes Penn our most accomplished and versatile actor.