Give the Dog a Bone

Since he has already won the (unofficial) Cannes Palm Dog award maybe the Oscar for Best Actor is not that far fetched. The canine in question is Uggie, the adorable Jack Russell terrier who steals the scenes in the melodrama/musical/comedy/silent pic The Artist (Weinstein Company).

Uggie with co-star Jean Dujardin

According to The Wrap, there is a movement afoot to nominate this season's sidekick who plays the faithful four-legged companion to silent film star George Valentin (played by actor Jean Dujardin). An Oscar campaign has been mounted on the website Consider Uggie and the little guy even has his on twitter and Facebook campaign to support the cause. Can't blame a dog for trying. And as the campaign points out, Uggie is eight years old and you know what they say about age in Hollywood...it's either now or never.

"I'm ready for my close-up Mr. Demille"

 Apparently his Oscar winning performance was fueled not by method acting but sausages from Dujardin's pocket. (Note: he shared the role with two other Jack Russells but did the majority of the scenes). Perhaps he took his acting cues from another famous screen terrier, Asta from The Thin Man series. One can only imagine the acceptance speech.

Bow tied and ready on the red carpet at Cannes

Asta with Myrna Loy and William Powell in The Thin Man 

Good luck Uggie and remember the old adage -- anything can happen in Hollywood. Just remember all the little dogs you left behind at the kennel and don't relieve yourself in the limo.

Thanks to all of you who came to my lecture at the Corcoran in DC and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Spielberg was filming his new biopic Lincoln in the Richmond area where I was staying and look forward to seeing how they turned the Capital into the Lincoln White House. Based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book Team of Rivals, the film stars Daniel Day Lewis (who is in complete method mode and living by candlelight while there), Sally Fields as Mary Todd Lincoln and James Spader, David Straithairn and Tommy Lee Jones in supporting roles.

Daniel Day Lewis in character

Photo Credits: The Weinstein Company