Thursday, October 17, 2013

10 Acting Contenders We Might Be Overlooking for Oscar

How will actors respond to The Book Thief?

Will any of the following fringe contenders be nominated? Probably not, but they could make some noise in the precursor awards.

Casey Affleck, Out of the Furnace

I gave up on this baity role registering months ago, but let's see if this or Harrelson's work can get any traction in the awards season.

Jean Dujardin, The Monuments Men

Whispers of his likable performance might not amount to anything, unless the Academy love Clooney's latest directorial effort.

Harrison Ford, 42

He received praise, but the film might already be forgotten.

Paulina García, Gloria

A performance that isn't in English doesn't often make the cut, and she could lose ground to Bérénice Bejo in The Past.

Jennifer Garner, Dallas Buyers Club

If it's a Best Picture play, she could join McConaughey and potentially Leto as a first-time nominee.

John Goodman, Inside Llewyn Davis

He's also got The Monuments Men. Vote-splitting could hurt him, or he might not even register with voters.

Jake Gyllenhaal, Prisoners

Category fraud (in Best Supporting Actor), but his performance has received notable praise.

Sophie Nélisse, The Book Thief

If voters love the film, she could find herself in the conversation.

Geoffrey Rush, The Book Thief

See above. Plus, he's the best acting chance this piece of Oscar bait has.

Someone from Lone Survivor

Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch. One of them is bound to stand out, and a supporting nod isn't entirely out of the question.

10 comments:

  1. Great list! I would be so elated if Paulina Garcia gained some traction in this Oscar race. She's superb.

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    1. Thanks! That's what I hear. I can't wait to see Gloria.

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  2. Word is that Goodman's role is VERY small in ILD, and that he'd have a better shot for Monuments Men, but that ensemble is so large and that film looks so dull that I can't see it happening.

    Garner is said to have a very 'nothing' role, and really the only way she would happen is if the film gets showered with Oscar love and makes it into BP.

    There are a few who think Ford will happen. I personally don't think he will in a category that is so rich with potential and with a film that is completely forgotten at this point. Still, if he hits SAG, it's a possibility.

    I actually think Gyllenhaal could happen. He's got a lot of praise for his role BUT the film itself has taken a nosedive after the initial praise at Cannes, and he'd really need the film to be a homerun to sneak into the category.

    The trailer for The Book Thief reminds me of Hugo set in the Holocaust and just reads like a film that is trying too hard to get Oscar attention to the point where it fails miserably, kind of like that Kite Runner movie.

    I really know nothing about Lone Survivor, but that cast doesn't inspire confidence, Ben Foster aside.

    As for Garcia, I think her category is too tight. Lead Actress needs a shakeup, for sure, but I don't think it'll come in the form of THIS foreign language performance, regardless of praise. You really need HUGE praise to sneak in, ala Cruz and Cotillard. You can't have moderate praise in a film no one really knows about. That's why I really think Adele is the only shot for a foreign language nomination in that category this year. Her reviews are STELLAR, but she needs people to see her film first.

    Someone needs to see Out of the Furnace soon!

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    1. Yeah, some of these are more in play than others.

      SAG is definitely the place where Ford could pop up. I don't see it happening, but it's possible.

      If my Best Actor lineup gets too crowded, I'm nominating Gyllenhaal in supporting, like you did with Helen Mirren for The Cook… I love his performance too much to snub him.

      True, but The Kite Runner got a score nod. Funnily enough, The Book Thief could do that as well.

      I expect Lone Survivor to go unnoticed, but I wanted to mention it just in case.

      Yeah, Best Actress doesn't seem to have much room. I don't even think Adele has much of a chance.

      Out of the Furnace might be my second most anticipated film behind 12 Years a Slave. Dying to see it!

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  3. Nice list! I'd love to see Dujardin nominated, but the category is probably going to be packed, hell even Clooney has better chances with Gravity considering how much Academy loves him and the film's fame.

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    1. Thanks! That category seems really fluid at the moment. Clooney could get in for Gravity, but I'm interested to see if Dujardin goes anywhere this awards season.

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  4. I actually think Alan Rickman was superb in CBGB, but I know the Academy will hate that movie.

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    1. Ha, I hadn't even heard of that film. I'll have to check it out.

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  5. I saw the trailer for The Book Thief a couple of times and looks like a good one. I like Rush but yeah, I have a feeling it'd be overlooked too, bummer!

    I'd add David Oyelowo from The Butler on the list, he's such a great actor!

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    1. I think Rush will get a few technical nods, and Bruhl might get nominated. :)

      Oyelowo has a shot, but he's not in the thick of the competition.

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