Commenting on why the dramedy fails to score any nomination at the 2012 Academy Awards, Rogen says that the comedic take on 'life with cancer' shown in the film has probably irritated some people.
- Jan 26, 2012
AceShowbiz - Despite the fact that "50/50" has won several prizes at some film awards and received positive reviews from critics, the dramedy failed to score any nomination at the 2012 Academy Awards. Weighing in on the Oscar snub, Seth Rogen admitted that he was not really surprised because he has already predicted it.
Rogen, who co-produced and starred in the film, shared his thought to Entertainment Weekly of the Oscar snub, "I know for a fact that some people are appalled by the movie." He went on explaining the sensitive issue discussed in the movie, "You see movies where people who have cancer never talk about it."
"But we found it to be the exact opposite. It was all we talked about it when [screenwriter] Will [Reiser] had it," Rogen continued. "And sometimes we talked about it very seriously, and other times we'd be at a bar and he'd be thinking of ways it could help his single friends get laid."
The Canadian actor opened up that the comedic take on "life with cancer" shown in the dramedy has probably irritated some Oscars voters. "I think it must be people who have very, very personal connections to the subject matter and just can't emotionally disconnect from their own experience," he said.
"I respect that. But what we found for the most part is that people like to laugh at tragedy. It makes them feel better," stated the 29-year-old thesp. "Often with films about cancer I think, 'Wow, what a creative endeavor! You made something sad seem sad for two hours. Congratulations!' If you're able to make that seem anything but completely miserable, I think creatively that's a real challenge."
Inspired by personal experiences of screenwriter Will Reiser, "50/50" is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis.
The movie was nominated for Best Comedy/Musical and Best Actor (Gordon-Levitt) at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards. Reiser himself won the National Board of Review's prize for Best Original Screenplay. Some reviewers had previously predicted that Reiser would receive a Best Original Screenplay nod at the Oscars.
