Cripping Up, the Oscar Myth, and a Song Sung Blue

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This year's Oscar season has been relatively uncontroversial. The biggest discourse seems to be surrounding Paul Thomas Anderson and the writing of Perfidia Beverly Hills in One Battle. (If you're interested in some smart discussion on it read Stacy Lee Kong's latest Friday Things newsletter.) But if you know me you're aware of my continuous discussion on Kate Hudson, and the disability plotline, in Song Sung Blue.

You can read my full review of the (otherwise mid) Neil Diamond-inspired musical here, but with regards to the disability element it goes as such: Hudson's character is hit by a car and loses a leg (based in fact) and goes on a journey struggling with personal acceptance to her new set of circumstances, and drug addiction. It's showy, it's excessive, and in any other award season it'd probably be a contender. Because, if history's taught us anything, it's that if women play unglamorous redemptive characters they win an Oscar. Oh, and also if there's some disability in there somewhere that helps.