Was Brad Renfro snubbed on the Oscarcast?
"The person who was really snubbed during the 80th Oscars was the late Brad Renfro," fumes our forums poster Grand Panjandrum. "From the age of 14 until his death 11 years later — exactly one week before Heath Ledger — Brad was treated like dirt by Hollywood." READ MORE about the reasons why many people believe that the Oscarcast's "In Memoriam" montage should've included mention of the 25-year-old heartthrob star who died of a heroin overdose two months ago.
"It's just not possible to include everyone, " is the academy's official response and that's appropriate.
Entertainment Weekly has a nifty photo gallery billed: "Oscars: Your Burning Questions Answered!" CLICK HERE to see its perspective on the alleged snub: "At least Renfro was in good company. While a number of agents and studio execs made the cut, film critic Joel Siegel, Rat Packer Joey Bishop and 'Cool Hand Luke' director Stuart Rosenberg did not."
The montage hailed recently lost Oscar icons such as Jane Wyman (best actress winner of 1948, "Johnny Belinda") and Delbert Mann (best director of 1955, "Marty"). Also, past nominees like Deborah Kerr and director Michelangelo Antonioni, who'd received honorary prizes. But it also featured some stars like Gaby Greer who were far less known that Renfro and, like him, were never nominated.
The EW gallery answers many other curious Oscarcast mysteries too.
Why did Miley Cyrus, Colin Farrell and John Travolta slip while walking to the podium? EW reports: "The culprit was a silicone spray used to move the various set pieces around the stage. "
By the way, here's what Javier Bardem said in Spanish while accepting his supporting-actor prize for "No Country": '"Mama, this is for you. This is for your grandparents and your parents, Rafael and Matilde. This is for the comedians of Spain who, like you, have brought dignity and pride to our profession. This is for Spain and this is for all of you.'"
With all due to respect to his memory, he didn't really have a great cinematic legacy. Also, the Oscar people, as I understand, have fairly stringent, but consistent, criteria for making that list.
Posted by: Andrew | March 06, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Don't mistraslate my words, his death is tragic and he deserves a honor in Hollywood, but I only recall how happen instead his death, because he makes a stigma, it's unfair because doesn't matter his past, he was talented, young and carismathic actor but Hollywood seema like never know him. Weird and unfair.
Posted by: Xavi Rodriguez | March 06, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Brad deserved to be honored. He was a talented actor who never got any recognition when he was alive and doesn't in death! He deserved to be in that tribute!
Posted by: Me | March 05, 2008 at 09:38 PM
so xavi,
it's an a-list, b-list issue?
a question of worth?
was it the heroin thing?
renfro deserved to be honored as an actor, no matter his personal problems.
Posted by: Yvette Orozco | March 05, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Well, this was since the new of his death. I remember when Renfro was died, the mass media said: "The 25 years-old Brad Renfro is dead" "that's so sad"... Well in others news. The new caused impact only one-two days. and others deaths like Deborah Kerr, Roy Scheider, Igman Bergman and Heath ledger has impact more time: weeks or including months... That's the case of Ledger's death who people are still talking about it... In imbd has the perfect example in the top ten we have Ledger and Scheider but Renfro never appears until outside twenty.
Renfro's image has a stigma of drug overdouse, law problems and complications with his life. So it's curious how the people could create that image.
I don't say his death isn't tragic, but the general opinion has a quiet silence like surprising Ledger's death...
Posted by: Xavi Rodriguez | March 05, 2008 at 03:04 PM