Mark Wahlberg Oscar Snub: Why Was His 'Fighter' Performance Ignored?

We examine some theories about why Wahlberg is being largely overlooked this awards season.
By Ryan J. Downey


Mark Wahlberg
Photo: Mike Coppola/ Getty Images

There will be no Oscar for Mark Wahlberg's performance in "The Fighter." Despite the constant reminder in the film's television spots that Mark's character was the one fighting ("Nawt you, nawt you and nawt you!"), the guy playing the role referenced in the film's very title has been largely overlooked this awards season.

A nomination in the Best Actor category at the Golden Globes and inclusion in the movie's numerous ensemble nods notwithstanding, the guy who passionately worked to bring the true story of "Irish" Mickey Ward to the screen as producer and star remains empty-handed for his own performance. "The Fighter" was gritty, visceral, funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming, and a lot of that has to do with Wahlberg's lead role, so what went wrong? Here are a few theories:

He's Already Been Rewarded
As producer and star of "The Fighter" and champion of the real-life boxers portrayed by him and Bale, Wahlberg has gotten to sit back and enjoy the numerous noms lavished on the rest of the cast and the movie in general. It's possible that Academy voters figure that since "The Fighter" is such a personal movie for Wahlberg, he's been rewarded enough through the recognition the flick has gotten in all these other ways. Perhaps folks think a Best Picture nomination for "The Fighter" doubles as love for Wahlberg, as it's very much his movie in the end.

In its analysis, the "Today" show supported this theory, chalking up Wahlberg's absence to "dilution" from the expanded Best Picture category. "Christian Bale got nominated for playing Mark Wahlberg's brother, Amy Adams got nominated for playing his girlfriend, Melissa Leo got nominated for playing his mom, and Wahlberg himself got nominated for... Nothing. As an actor, that is," Joal Ryan wrote, pointing out, "Wahlberg is up for Best Picture for producing."

But Movieline's Alonso Duralde cautioned against the notion that the Oscars set out to shortchange any particular person. "If there's anything I've learned in my years of voting with the L.A. Film Critics Association, [it's that] it's all random and chaotic," he told MTV News. "We often attribute things to 'the Academy likes this, or the Academy likes that'— but it's all about individuals. It may just be that there were five performances that people liked better. For all we know, [Wahlberg] came in sixth by two votes."

Christian Bale Got the Juicier Role
"Wahlberg turned in a wicked pissah performance as boxer 'Irish' Mickey Ward in 'The Fighter' and figured to be a shoo-in for Best Actah, but failed to get an Oscah nawd," Mark Marino joked over at NextMovie.com. "Meanwhile, as in the film, co-star Christian Bale continues to get all the attention as Dicky Eklund."

As Mickey's trainer brother, Bale sinks his teeth into crack addiction, familial strife, greed, despair, empathy and even a few prison scenes in "The Fighter."

As Bale said so eloquently at the Golden Globes as he accepted the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama prize: "I really gotta give a shout-out to Mark, because he drove this whole movie. And you can only give a loud performance like the one I gave when you have a quiet anchor and a stoic character. I've played that one many times, and it never gets any notice."

FilmDrunk editor in chief/ co-founder Vince Mancini agreed with Bale. "Everybody else has a very showy sort of role," Mancini told MTV News. "I just don't think Academy voters necessarily recognize subtlety in acting. Traditionally, they recognize stuff that is big and very obvious. I don't think Wahlberg's [performance] was that."

"I have always said that the Academy likes acting that it can quantify," Duralde reasoned. "They like to be able to put it on a scale and say, 'Look at this nose, look at this accent, look at all this weight you lost. You're pretty, but you did this role without makeup.' They can put a finger on that. The subtler stuff doesn't get noticed as much because it's not as showy."

How Much Acting Is He Really Doing?
Undeniably, the actor and producer has a strong personal connection with these people and this story. But does that mean he wasn't acting his ass off? Does everything need to be some big stretch?

"I would say this is closely related to [what Bale said]," Mancini pointed out. "The part that's acting [for Wahlberg] might not be blatantly obvious to people."

Duralde likened this theory to some of the talk back in 1997. "You had this great comic performance by Rupert Everett in 'My Best Friend's Wedding,' but I think people were like, 'He's playing a gay guy and he's gay, so how much work could that be?' " he lamented, pointing out that Marsha Mason was nominated for 1979's "Chapter Two" where she played a character based on her own life.

And So ...
Whatever the reason, or reasons, for Wahlberg's notable absence from the acting category at most of the major awards, it's a safe bet that the reception to the film overall offers some satisfaction.

"It has been such an incredible journey with 'The Fighter' and one that I am grateful to share with David O. Russell, Christian, Melissa, Amy, my fellow producers and the Ward and Eklund families, who are the heart and soul of the film," Wahlberg said in a statement after the Oscar nominations were announced. "Thank you to the Academy for this tremendous honor."

Check out everything we've got on "The Fighter."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656645/mark-wahlberg-fighter-oscar-snub.jhtml

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Kristen Stewart's 'Breaking Dawn' Vampire 'Scared' Elizabeth Reaser

'Twilight' co-star tells MTV News, 'I thought, 'This might not end well. She's looking pretty pissed right now.' '
By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Elizabeth Reaser
Photo: MTV News

PARK CITY, Utah — Ever since Kristen Stewart spilled the beans at the People's Choice Awards that she had been filming "Breaking Dawn" as a vampire that day, it's all we can think about when we get the chance to talk to one of her "Twilight Saga" co-stars.

Elizabeth Reaser, who plays Esme Cullen in the film franchise, teased at the Sundance Film Festival this week that there have been some crazy vampire scenes on set recently.

"There's been some really cool stuff in the Cullen house with Bella," Reaser revealed to MTV News. "There's been some interesting transformations happening."

Sounds to us like director Bill Condon has been filming the famous "Breaking Dawn" birthing scene, and that Reaser got a chance to see Bella's transformation into a vampire. Producer Wyck Godfrey already shared that the birthing scene will be shown from Bella's perspective to keep with the film's PG-13 rating, but as Reaser witnessed the whole scene unfold, what was her impression of Stewart's transformation?

"She scared me a little bit on Thursday, I'll be honest with you," Reaser said. "Because when vampires are newborns, they're stronger than any other vampires, so for a second there I thought, 'This might not end well. She's looking pretty pissed right now.' It was great."

Reaser's praise of Stewart's performance as vampire Bella matches with what co-stars Robert Pattinson and Peter Facinelli had to say about it at the Golden Globes. Pattinson told MTV News it felt like Stewart "wanted to do it the entire time."

"It's really funny, it's like a completely different environment on set when she's a vampire and when she's not," he said. "I think she's going to do it really well."

In the books, Bella becomes much more confident after transforming into a vampire, so it's fitting that Stewart is coming into her own with the role. Facinelli jokingly credited vampire contact lenses as the real reason Stewart is doing so much better.

"She's doing really well. She looks fantastic," Facinelli raved. "For some reason, once they put those contact lenses in, you look very statuesque."

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656620/elizabeth-reaser-breaking-dawn.jhtml

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Inside the Rulebook: Did You Get the Memo?

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Dave Stewart, PGA Tour professional at Florida's Kissimmee Golf Club and rules expert, helps break down the ever-complicated golf rulebook in "Inside the Rulebook" for FanHouse.

Dustin JohnsonThe game of golf is unlike any other. Players compete on a playing field covering hundreds of acres without always being under the watchful eyes of a cadre of officials. Familiarity with the Rules of Golf and the "Notice to Competitors" issued to each player at each tournament, players may be able to save themselves strokes, thousands of dollars, and possibly even a chance to win a major championship.

Just look at some of the major rule snafus from the 2010 season.

The PGA of America went to super-human lengths to notify all players in the 2010 PGA Championship of the unusual circumstance declaring all of the thousands of sandy areas scattered over the Whistling Straits course as bunkers. Despite their persistence, at least one player didn't get the memo.

On the 72nd hole of the Championship Dustin Johnson grounded his club in a sandy area, not realizing that he was in a bunker. Adding 2 penalty strokes to his score for the hole resulted in Johnson missing out on the playoff and a chance to win his first major championship.

While playing a European Tour event in China, Ryuji Imada was under the assumption that the PGA Tour and the European Tour used the same procedure for "Lift, Clean and Place" when playing in soggy conditions. While the PGA Tour allows players to move their ball 1 club length, the European Tour allows only 1 scorecard length. By the time Imada realized his mistake, he estimated that he committed 13 violations during the round, for a whopping 26 penalty strokes and a total score of 97!

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/01/12/inside-the-rulebook-did-you-get-the-memo/

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Chris Cornell Filling In For Robert Plant On Led Zeppelin Tour? That's News To Him

'I have not been approached to fill in for Robert Plant on the Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be,' singer says.
By Chris Harris


Chris Cornell
Photo: MTV News

Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he's been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.

Cornell has been mentioned — along with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, White Stripes mastermind Jack White and Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy — as a potential Plant fill-in. Plant has already said that he wouldn't take part in the tour.

"I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be," Cornell told MTV News. "I've heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it's just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour."

Cornell's denial comes just a day after Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford confirmed reports that frontman Steven Tyler recently met with Zeppelin for an impromptu jam session. "They did it for fun," Whitford said during an appearance on the syndicated show "Todd N Tyler Radio Empire." "I actually think Jimmy wanted Steven to come over and play a little bit because I think he was trying to light a fire under Robert."

Rumors of a Zeppelin reunion tour have abounded since the iconic band played a single reunion set last year at London's O2 Arena. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider added fuel to the fire last month when he revealed that the group was thinking of touring, with or without Plant.

According to Snider, the rest of the band told Plant, " 'We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go. Here's a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid [Myles Kennedy].' "

"And he can sing the sh-- out of Zeppelin," Snider added. "They're going to hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK,' and step in."

In a recent interview, Jones told BBC Radio Devon that a new singer was being sought to take over for Plant. "We are trying out a couple of singers," he said. "We want to do it. It's sounding great, and we want to get on and get out there."

But Jones insists that he, Page and Bonham aren't interested in finding a Plant clone. "It's got to be right," he said. "There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be onboard."

Of course, even if Zeppelin were to approach him, Cornell might be too busy to take over vocals for the band. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo LP, Scream, will be released within the next few months. Cornell told MTV News last month that some of his fans might consider Scream something of a departure, but he doesn't see it that way.

"It makes me happy that there's this perception that I have a group of fans that I'm now sort of throwing a curve at and what their reaction will be," he said. "But I've been in this situation so many times already. When I put out [1999's] Euphoria Morning, my main goal was to create an album that sounded like nothing I'd done in Soundgarden, and I did that. I also had that with Temple of the Dog, where I showed up with songs that weren't necessarily riff-based. And then, of course, the pairing of me and members of Rage Against the Machine had everyone sort of speculating about what that would sound like.

"It feels like I've done this so many times that when it's presented to me as being a departure, I feel that's a misconception," he added. "I feel like that's my theme at this point."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598367/chris-cornell-debunks-led-zeppelin-rumors.jhtml

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