Corey Feldman 'Gravely Disappointed' With Corey Haim's In Memoriam Oscar Snub
If you're like Corey Feldman -- or Movieline's own Mike Ryan -- the chances are good that you were fairly outraged when '80s icon Corey Haim was not included in the Academy Awards' In Memoriam segment on Sunday night. While rumors circulated that the snub occurred because of the circumstances surrounding Haim's death -- which was ruled as pneumonia, and not drug-related -- the Academy stated that it was actually a time issue: "Whatever the length of the sequence, there will always be fans and family members of those not included who will be disappointed by their omission. The Academy extends its understanding and its apologies to those who missed seeing a favorite face in this year's feature." Is that cool with you, Feldz?
Not at all. "I am gravely disappointed that the public outcry of the voices of Corey's supporters and fans on his omission from the SAG memorial was not heard by the Academy," Haim's long-time friend and cohort said in a statement on Tuesday. "Corey dedicated his life to the film industry...The same industry that failed to dedicate even 30 seconds to his memory."
Deep burn. Though to be fair, it's not like this is a total surprise. As Academy executive director Bruce Davis said last year, "[M]ore people die each year than can possibly be included in that segment. It gets close to agonizing by the end. You are dropping people who the public knows. It's just not comfortable."
With that in mind: Maybe they should do away with the In Memoriam montage altogether? I'm actually asking. It doesn't really bring much to the table as a home viewer -- beyond "Who will they leave out?" and "I forgot that he/she died!" -- and it's probably super awkward for the audience members. After all, how much clapping is appropriate, and who do you clap for the loudest? Anyway, it's there and it isn't going away, but maybe it should. If you can't please everyone, maybe it's best to please no one. Just a thought.
· Corey Feldman 'Disappointed' by Corey Haim Snub [E!]
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So what if it was drugs (which it wasn't)? If Nicole Kidman overdosed on heroine next year, do you think they'd exclude her from the montage? Besides, that montage could have gone on for another twenty minutes with Celine there to hold the last note.
That was just the rumor, which I think started because Brad Renfro was excluded the year he OD'd. I am pretty sure it's total BS (Ledger OD'd and he made it, obvs).
Wellll, Ledger's was accidental overdose by prescription pills. The other two?...well, meth-face don't lie.
And there's a reason one of the three was nominated for an Oscar.
let's face it....the Oscars may be there to honor the industry but the broadcast is for the public. I believe every actor who passes should be included in the montage. If that means you need to edit that list, than cut the agents and producers. The viewers want to/need to see their 'stars' honored. And based on the 'outrage' from the public (2010 - Corey Haim/2009 - Bea Arthur, Farrah Fawcett) on these snubs, it's obvious the viewers aren't aware of/concerned with producer, agents and even directors, cinematographers.
If there can be no happy meeting of the minds, then yes, maybe it would be best to discontinue the In Memoriam montage.
BTW - kudos to ABC & the Academy this year for muting the applause (which I always felt was in poor taste...you're clapping for the dead???)
Didn't River Phoenix make the grade after he was found with a Walgreens inventory in his system? The Academy is full of it because they saw fit to exclude Haim, yet they included Ronni Chasen - a publicist - in this year's final list. You might think he would make it in if only because of their attempt at courting the younger crowd this year.
Fricking rude!!!
Couldn't help but notice the "gravely" pun. That's unfortunate.
“Who will they leave out?” and “I forgot that he/she died!”
Isn't that part of the fun? It is for me when I watch. But I haven't actually watched in many years.
I agree with what others are saying. Haim was a well known and, oddly, well loved STAR, at least at one time. His absence form the list was always going to be missed, as opposed to a publicist who most of the room probably hated anyway. Doesn't everyone secretly hate each other in Hollywood (isn't that life everywhere?).
I don't mind if Haim is left out. The validation would have satisfied his family, I'm sure. It's hard not to think there was a message of some kind in the snub. The guy spent his last years in the worst of the cable ghetto. Maybe none of the producers or editors wanted to be the guy who said, "Let's not forget the Haimster."