Please don’t hate me too much when I say this, but I don’t think Jamie Foxx should have gotten an Oscar Sunday evening.
Don’t get me wrong, I know Foxx is an incredible actor. He did very well portraying the late Ray Charles in the movie “Ray,” belting out “Georgia On My Mind” while tickling the ivories. But was he over-hyped for one role?
Denzel Washington had to endure two dozen movie roles, including “Remember the Titans,” “Hurricane” and “Malcolm X” before he got recognized with a Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar for “Training Day.” Morgan Freeman still hasn’t won a Best Actor for a Leading Role Oscar, and he has been in more than 60 movies and television shows, including “Lean on Me,” “Seven,” “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Shawshank Redemption.”
Then there are the nominees that competed against Foxx this year. Don Cheadle’s resumé is remarkable. His acting skills are more than amazing. He can play any type of role, with any type of accent, on any given Sunday. Yet, he hardly got a second look for his brilliant role in “Hotel Rwanda.”
Now, here is where I may step on some toes. Leonardo Dicaprio – the boy can act. He is one of my favorite actors. His credits surpass Foxx’s with ease in movies such as “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” “This Boy’s Life,” “Basketball Diaries” and, of course, “The Aviator.” There is no denying the talent he has delivered in every one of his movies.
What can Foxx include on his resumé besides “Ray,” “Booty Call” and “Held Up?”
I can sense the hate mail coming now. Before you do that, just think of all the great actors who have been overlooked on Academy Award night for great roles, and just know that I am not anti-Foxx.
I was pretty confident that Jamie was going to win the Best Actor in a Leading Role award. I even cried a tear or two during his speech. I do feel he deserves an Oscar- I just feel that 2005 wasn’t that time.
Stephanie Lambert is a senior magazine production student from Panama City. She can be reached at stephanielambert21@hotmail.com