In 2007 no one saw the Best Actor nomination for Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah (2007), it was one of those happy surprises that reminded us the acting branch really does watch the films and pay some attention. Way back in 1975 there was another such shock when James Whitmore received a Best Actor nod for his filmed stage show Give ‘em Hell Harry (1975), though it was not quite as deserving as Jones’ nomination.
With the strong reviews coming in for Brad Pitt in Killing Them Softly (2012), could he knock out one of the so-called locks and be in the category come Oscar night? He is well liked, the Academy likes him, critics like him and he has grown substantially as an actor through the years. For my money he should have been nominated for Best Actor for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) and for Babel (2006). Last year he won the New York Film Critics Award for Best Actor for Moneyball (2011) and was an Oscar nominee, and I think discounting him this year is a huge mistake.
Really the only lock at this writing is Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln (2012), and frankly I think he has got the thing sewn up. John Hawkes in The Sessions, Hugh Jackman in Les Miserables, Denzel Washington in Flight and Joaquin Phoenix in The Master could all be nominees, or one or more of them could be bumped, just like that. Remember 2000, when Michael Douglas had it all locked up for his lovely work in Wonder Boys (2000)? He wins the LA Film Critics Award, has some of the years best reviews and then is snubbed for a nomination? Any one of those four could suffer the same fate allowing Pitt to slip in.
His performance in the film is magnetic and powerful, one of the best of his career and with the right push he will be celebrating the day they announce the nominations. I am not quite ready to say with all confidence that Jackman and Washington will be among the nominees, and Phoenix might have hurt his chances with his silly comments earlier in the year. We’ll see, but I think Pitt might crash the party.
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Tags: American film directors, Brad Pitt, Cinema of the United States, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, Entertainment/Culture, Hugh Jackman, Human Interest, In the Valley of Elah, James Whitmore, Joaquin Phoenix, John Hawkes, Lincoln, Michael Douglas, Oscar, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, the LA Film Critics Award, the New York Film Critics Award, Tommy Lee Jones
13 Comments
I thought Pitt was great in Killing Them Softly, but without any serious buzz for him or the film, I’m not sure he’s actually in enough of the movie to warrant him a nomination over the towering performances of Washington and Phoenix. I could see him squeeze in over Hawkes or Jackman maybe, but Bradely Cooper has a better chance of stealing one of those spots by the simple fact that he has a lot more screen-time than Pitt.
George(Quote) (Reply)
Don’t forget his 2009 nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button!!
I think this is the most obvious upset we might see. He gives a great performance and individuals who didn’t care for the film are still raving about his performance. I think it may happen! He is one of the best (and biggest) actors working today.
Ethan Wasdovitch(Quote) (Reply)
The general reception has turned against Killing Them Softly so much, I think Pitt would have a much more difficult time getting in than say Jack Black or Joaquin Phoenix.
Colin Biggs(Quote) (Reply)
Phoenix has to be a lock for nomination… Jack Black feels like more of a stretch than Brad Pitt.
Ethan Wasdovitch(Quote) (Reply)
Jack Black came in second at the NYFCC and Mcconaughey did not only win for Magic Mike but also Bernie. Bernie is at a better position than Killing Them Softly it’s just that simple.
GL(Quote) (Reply)
I think he was great in the film but he pulled off the role too effortlessly to be able to secure a nomination. I personally would prefer Gere to get a nomination instead.
Rohit Ramachandran(Quote) (Reply)
The big difference between Pitt in Killing Them Softly and Jones in In the Valley of Elah is Jones was nominated for Satellite and London awards, Pitt has gotten nothing. It won’t happen if he can’t crack a critic mention or a precursor.
GL(Quote) (Reply)
Having just seen the film, I can say that any awards hope for Pitt here is unwarranted. He’s good, but his screentime and the role are too limited to overcome the competition. He also gets stuck with a final speech which, to me, practically scuttled the film.
If I were to list an outstanding performance, I’d go with James Gandolfini, who could potentially crack my personal nominees if he had a little more screentime.
JamDenTel(Quote) (Reply)
The only reason I’m not convinced of his chances is that the movie itself is too dark, too bitter, and too cynical. The Academy doesn’t go for cynical. It’s not their thing.
koook160 (Robert MacFarlane)(Quote) (Reply)
What about 2007? It was the dark Oscars.
Rohit Ramachandran(Quote) (Reply)
I definitely think Pitt was the best part of the film (along with the cinematography), but he felt too much like a supporting player to me. When Jones got his nomination, he got it for playing a very emotional role, which Oscar loves. Pitt doesn’t have that benefit. While I agree that Hawkes, Phoenix, and Washington aren’t locks yet, I find it very hard to believe that anyone will get nominated ahead of them.
missionstatement1224(Quote) (Reply)
the most magical moment was right after The Sapranos guy told the hard-breaking story of his wife giving him “papers’ after 5 years in the slammer. After a long soliloquy, Pitt just sat there with a pained look on his face, chest breathing, and then slowly broke into a smile as the other guy said “so what’s the plan.” it was one of the most subtle, amazing moments I’ve ever seen on the screen. I had to admit that in every other movie I’ve seen Brad in there were at least a couple of moments like he looked like he was “acting.” but in this role he was truly transparent and utterly flawless. He, Scoot McNairy, and James Gandolfini made the movie memorable even though the movie as a whole had some weak elements.
Amy(Quote) (Reply)
sorry, not soliloquy, “monologue.” (in the above comment).
Amy(Quote) (Reply)