By
Peter Knegt
|
Indiewire
Thu Nov 13 12:09:06 EST 2014
Last week, we profiled 10 deserving underdog actresses from this year's batch of films, including Scarlett Johannson ("Under The Skin"), Jenny Slate ("Obvious Child") and Gugu Mbatha-Raw ("Belle"). This second part works in a similar vein, except this time it takes a look at the boys' club.
There's definitely a few good men from specialty films that are close to locked into both male acting categories this year, like Steve Carell ("Foxcatcher"), Michael Keaton ("Birdman") and Eddie Redmayne ("The Theory of Everything") in the lead category, and Edward Norton ("Birdman"), JK Simmons ("Whiplash") and Ethan Hawke ("Boyhood") in supporting (check out an updated weekly prediction charts here). But there's still a little bit of wiggle room (particularly in supporting), perhaps the same sort that brought somewhat unexpected nominations from small films like "A Better Life" (Demian Bichir) and "Winter's Bone" (John Hawkes) into the mix in recent years. So perhaps one or two of the following will indeed end up in the running.
Commentators should once again keep in mind that the list purposely does not include work that looks like a good bet for a nomination (such as the noted six men in the previous paragraph) and that it only includes films currently scheduled for release during the 2014 eligibility period, With that said, here are 10 underdog actors for your consideration:
Riz Ahmed and Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"
Three years ago, two incredibly deserving performances in a film largely centered around the streets of Los Angeles lost out at the Oscar race: Ryan Gosling and Albert Brooks for Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive." Despite critical acclaim, Academy voters passed on both actors, and it seems likely that will the case for two men featured in Dan Gilroy's successor of sorts, "Nightcrawler." As psychopathic Louis Bloom as his desperate assistant Rick, Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed deliver two of the most impressive performances of the year. But Gyllenhaal -- despite giving what many agree is career best work in the film -- faces a Best Actor category so stacked with more traditionally Oscar-friendly biopic performances (very much like Gosling did when he was up for "Drive"). Ahmed, meanwhile -- a British actor and rapper probably known best for 2010 film "Four Lions" -- has to compete in a Supporting Actor category filled with better known actors that are overdue for recognition (like Ethan Hawke, JK Simmons, Mark Ruffalo and Edward Norton). So both will likely fall short as "Nightcrawler" is -- like "Drive" before it -- probably just a little bit too dark for the Academy's tastes.
Ellar Coltrane, "Boyhood"
Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" is sure to be something of an Oscar juggernaut, with nominations expected across the board (including Best Picture and Best Director). But the boy at its center is probably not going to be an official part of that. Ellar Coltrane, who was only 7 years-old when he started the 12 year journey that would become the epic performance he ultimately offered in the film, can take solace in a potential career being born out of it anyway. But in a year where the Best Actor category was a little less insanely packed with heavyweight performances from the deserving likes of Steve Carell, Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Keaton, he'd probably get a nomination. And it would be entirely deserved. Coltrane offers an unprecedented performance as "Boyhood" subject Mason, melting our souls over a decade of character growth that would not have worked if he hadn't been so game. Here's hoping at least the Spirit Awards give Coltrane his due.
Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
It's been almost 20 years since Ralph Fiennes got his second and -- so far -- last Oscar nomination for "The English Patient," and it's about time that number increased. And one would think it would happen for Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel," a commercial and critical hit in which Fiennes very much led the way. It's a performance so full of charm and energy, and so different from the ones that led him to Oscar noms in "Patient" and 1993's "Schindler's List," you'd think this was in the bag. But as we've already noted, this is not a year where nabbing a Best Actor nomination is remotely close to easy, and Fiennes is not on many prediction lists at the moment. And while we certainly hope that will change (the film is in the midst of ramping up its campaign), it's definitely doing to be an uphill battle for his "Grand" performance to get the notice it deserves. But it will be an even greater one for his just-as-deserving co-star Tony Revolori. While Ellar Coltrane might be headed for 2014's breakout status as far as previously unknown actors go, Revolori deserves major credit to for holding his own as Fiennes' "Lobby Boy" alongside a cast that includes over 10 Oscar nominees, from Fiennes to Tilda Swinton to Bill Murray to Jude Law.
