Scorsese claims, or feigns, big dog bias
Was Blackie snubbed?
And, if so, was it because because of his large and menacing appearance — a case of Doberman discrimination?
Director Martin Scorsese — pronounced “score-SAYS-he” — is contending that the canine star of his movie, “Hugo,” Blackie the Doberman, was rudely overlooked in the nominations for the First Annual Golden Collar Awards.
But, according to Hollywood insiders (and one wonders, are there any Hollywood outsiders?), he’s doing it for laughs, and probably even more for publicity.
Blackie plays a train station officer’s attack dog, and most of his time on screen is spent scaring and chasing the child stars of the Oscar-nominated film.
In response to the void of Academy Awards for animals, the website Dog News Daily created the Golden Collar awards this year and came up with a list of nominees.
Uggie, the Jack Russell, received two nominations — for his roles in “The Artist” and “Water for Elephants” — but Blackie got no respect.
In a guest column for the Los Angeles Times Scorcese writes:
“OK, let’s lay all our cards on the table. Jack Russell terriers are small and cute. Dobermans are enormous and — handsome. More tellingly, Uggie plays a nice little mascot who does tricks and saves his master’s life in one of the films, while Blackie gives an uncompromising performance as a ferocious guard dog who terrorizes children. I’m sure you can see what I’m driving at.”
He urges readers to start a write-in campaign for Blackie, via comments on the Dog News Daily Facebook page.
Dog News Daily editor Alan Siskind says if Blackie receives 500 write-ins by Monday, February 6th, the Golden Collar nominating committee will add him as the sixth nominee in the Best Dog in a Theatrical Film category.
Posted by jwoestendiek January 30th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: awards, blackie, director, dobermans, entertainment, golden collar, golden collar awards, hollywood, hugo, jack russells, martin scorsese, movies, the artist, uggie, water for elephants
Comment from Miss Jan
Time January 30, 2012 at 3:42 pm
If I were to write to Mr. Scorsese regarding this, here’s what I would say: Dear Mr. Scorsese: while your filmmaking talents are so stellar and your exploration of subject matter beyond reproach, if you indeed are a big-dog lover (big dog-lover) you missed a few frames in this film because you CHOSE a dog to perpetuate – even enhance – the dangerous-dog characterization of Dobermans. Mr. S – not everyone would catch the subtlety of your choice of breeds as possibly deliberate cliche or even dark humor. Sadly, most parents with a child in tow watching the film would say “if you ever see a dog like that they are BAD.” Bad as in your own mild description of Blackie as an “antihero.” Mr. S – you may just have “Scor”d another tally for breed discrimination. Sincerely, a Dobie lover who hates seeing the myth perpetuated.