As mentioned previously, Jack Nicholson and his bitchin’ shades were conspicuously absent from this year’s Oscars. In addition, two of last year’s winners, Javier Bardem and Daniel Day Lewis, were also missing from the program. As to the trio’s absence, I’d like to believe that these guys hit a bar and maybe played some strip poker together while videotaping it all for posterity, but that’s probably not the case. On a slightly more reputable note, The Envelope, engages in some random speculation:
This year, the Oscars telecast was plagued with past winners who “didn’t want to do the group thing,” our source says. Curiously, it seemed to be more of a problem in the supporting categories than lead. In some cases, the stars’ refusals weren’t due to ego but because they “couldn’t wrap their heads around the concept” of a group presentation.
However, the latter didn’t seem to be the case with Jack Nicholson, a past winner of both categories (lead for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “As Good as It Gets,” supporting for “Terms of Endearment”). As Gold Derby reported earlier, he wasn’t asked to participate in the group thing for the supporting slot, which would’ve been great if he’d accepted. Imagine Nicholson discussing what he thought of Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” a role he portrayed in “Batman.”
But our source says that Jack was invited to do the group thing in the lead race but declined, informing Oscarcast producers, “I present alone.”
Ultimately, their consensus seems to be that Nicholson was probably watching a Lakers game. Hell, I still say Jack was just being a diva. After all, the dude did select Posh Spice & her roboboobs to style him for a Parade magazine shoot. That, right there, should tell us a little something about his need for attention.
As to Javier Bardem, he’s said to have “a good excuse for not being present,” but that seems rather bizarre, since Javier hasn’t appeared at any of the same awards shows that, just last year, spewed their praises all over him for his role as Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men. As a side note, Bardem is a damn fine actor, and he’s pretty fucking tasty as well, but that’s a whole other topic. I am, however, far less likely to make such flimsy excuses for Lewis, who is still on my shit list for all of that “I will find you” bullshit from Last of the Mohicans. I really hate that movie.
Mmmmm… Javier Bardem.
