The Politics of Canine Cute

And now for something lighthearted.  Sort of.

I have been quite amused by the feud brewing between Uggie the Jack Russell terrier from The Artist (the odds-on favorite to capture a number of Oscars this Sunday night) and Blackie, the Doberman Pinscher from Hugo, Martin Scorsese's love letter to early cinema.

Both films are actually pretty delightful. Since I resent pretty much everything about 3D--the money the studios and theaters have invested, the money we have to spend on weird glasses that we are supposed to "recycle", and the fact that 3D looks nothing like stereoscopic vision and I feel like I'm a character in The Emperor Has No Clothes every time 3D is discussed--The Artist has the edge, as far as I'm concerned.

This year, for the first time, the Golden Collar awards were announced; a new awards racket created to recognize the best performances by animals in film and television.  Before you scoff, take note: there is some history behind this issue. Rin Tin Tin earned the most votes in the acting category at the 1929 Academy Awards, but it the victory was wrested from the noble Shepherd's crusty paws by industry insiders who didn't think it was such a good idea. If you don't believe me, read Susan Orlean's biography of the Amazing Alsatian or read about it.

Back to the feud. Seems Blackie the Dobie was completely snubbed and was not even nominated for a Golden Collar.  Now, that's an insult. So the film's director, Martin Scorsese, penned an op ed piece in the LA Times attributing the oversight to that fact that, like most of Scorsese's stars, Blackie had taken on the challenge of playing the antihero. Had worked against the grain of the tastes of the American movie going public. And I tend to agree with Marty: any little bantam weight four legger who sports a little fuzz on his face--and this means you Uggie--can play cute. What's not to like? But Blackie the Doberman--a female whom Scorsese refers to as "enormous and . . . handsome"--had to master dignity, menace, and all that 3D nonsense all at once.  Blackie, you are my hero.

Now don't even get me started on Fifi, the Dobie who made it to the final round at Westminster this year, only to lose out to a Pekingese.  Fifi was robbed!