Okay, the talk that has been going around for a few weeks now about the posthumous Oscar that could be be awarded Heath Ledger is starting to get on my nerves.  I'm sure that I'm in the minority here and it's a bit silly to even have this conversation when the film hasn't even hit the screen yet, but this is ridiculous in my book.  

The Oscars have gone the way of so many other prestigious accolades bestowed upon those in the entertainment industry that have a career under them of incredible achievement and contribution, only to be passed up by someone who has garnered a ton of instant momentary fame.  Britney Spears got a star on Hollywood's "Walk of Fame" a full year before "Kevin Costner", Britney friggin Spears.  Mia Sorvino and Marisa Tomei, both actress's that I like, got Oscars before Martin Scorsese was given one for a film that he really shouldn't have won it for.  The list of travesties of this kind is far too long to list.

Now Hollywood seems poised to give an Oscar to a guy who played a villain in a comic book action movie.  I am sure, given the fact that Heath Ledger was a great actor, his portrayal of the comic book villain is excellent.  But Oscar worthy?  If Oscar is in his cards, why didn't he receive one for "Brokeback Mountain", a film in which he had to go to one seriously risky and deep place to pull off, and he did. 

The truth is, all this Oscar talk is because he is dead.  I don't want to come across as insensitive here but, he killed himself.  It sucks, it's sad and on some level it's even tragic, but the man had everything, abused too many substances at once and left a child, loved ones and adoring fans to grieve this tragedy.  Now there is talk of rewarding him for doing so.  What kind of message does that send to youngsters who are struggling with life, drugs and alcohol?  Hollywood does some stupid things with the Oscars, but it never gives an Oscar to an action hero movie, or I should say, to an individual actor playing a villain in a action hero movie.  If it did, Jack Nickleson would have gotten it for his portrayal of the same character.   This talk of Oscar and Ledger gets louder every week, and wether or not it comes to light when the nominations are officially handed down or not, the troubled and destitute in this world need to know that it is not okay to put yourself in a position of taking your own life.  Handing out awards for it, even talking about it, only emboldens the theory of "things will be better if I'm not here".

Do you think Heath Ledger should be nominated for an Oscar? 

Do you think Heath Ledger should be nominated for an Oscar?

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