If Will Smith had told me 190 days ago that he would be back in action by Christmas, I would have told him to see a doctor.
That surreal March Monday came after Smith hit Chris Rock on stage At the Oscars, he won Best Actor minutes later and instantly became a global pariah. He was then well-deserved when the Academy conducted a hilarious ‘investigation’ of events that were undeniably watched by millions of people. ban on ceremonies 10 years.
Needless to say, missing an Oscar for ten years doesn’t look good for a movie actor.
But in Hollywood, who cares how their own people behave?! On Monday, Smith, 54, suddenly stepped into the spotlight with a slap in the face.
Apple released a fancy lofty trailer for Smith’s new movie Emancipation. The film, a serious drama directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”), in which Smith plays an escaped slave, was announced to be released during the peak of his awards campaign in December during his season.
The chances of Smith winning another Best Actor in the next few months are very real.
Apple’s “CODA” wins best picture award last year. Or a crazy Will Smith in front of tens of millions of people attacking another celebrity and saying, “F–k! Like a madman.
“Liberation” was already Oscar buzz for its famously poignant subject matter and associated talent — that is, until Smith hit rock. Meanwhile, Apple is desperate for an award nomination, and most of its Oscar bait for main streaming competitor Netflix has fallen flat so far this year. They are not shy about this release.
“But he can’t win the nomination!” you say. “He’s been banned from ceremonies by the academy for ten years.” You’re half right. Although he can’t actually attend, he’s not actually prevented from being nominated or even winning. He’s like when he got into a fistfight in the Olive Garden. You can’t go back, but you can have chicken parms and breadsticks delivered.
That said, if Smith succeeds in a Golden Globe nod, and you know the poor old Globe, someone who needs all the help they can getI’m not going to keep him from getting in—Hollywood would look like a zip code full of hypocrites and fools.
The entertainment industry, the first to jump on social movements without asking questions and smugly barking at us with unappealing speeches and perfunctory social media posts, is very stupid to give physical attacks two thumbs up. looks like The move reveals that their only truly secret value is to say things that make them look good in the press for a few days.
Smith is not beyond redemption. He apologized to Rock several times. He reportedly told Smith he wasn’t ready to talk about it yetBut it’s only been half a year. Need to rehabilitate this A-list billionaire ASAP? Can’t he finish his anger management course first?
And it takes a gentle comeback (and it has to be gentle. plummeted after a slap) include instantly glamorous red carpets, accolades and standing ovations? Absolutely not. But here we are.
If you or I punch a colleague in the office, we’ll get fired. When a Hollywood star hits another celebrity at a work event, it’s Oscar buzz.