KENNETH BRANAGH
Abnormally talented Kenneth Branagh, without whose films we couldn't even imagine British film scene, who is a symbol of Shakespearean movie adaptations, has never received an Oscar, not for his acting, not for his amazing directing... nothing. Probably the craziest thing you've ever heard, yes? He was nominated for his legendary role and direction inHENRY V, he was also nominated for HAMLET, but not for the direction of one of the greatest cinematic master pieces nor for his utterly perfect performance of the tragic prince but only for the adapted screenplay. He is now again nominated for his role in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. He's never got nominated for any of his other famous adaptations of Shakespeare's plays even though huge masses of people know about them only through his amazing films: OTHELLO, AS YOU LIKE IT, LOVE'S LABOUR LOST, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - no nominations for him, and he also wasn't awarded for his rather unique films FRANKENSTEIN and THE MAGIC FLUTE. Will the Academy forget him in 2014 when he finishes what promises to be an outstanding drama THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY with Kate Winslet? The fact that he is also a producer and writer beside directing and acting, didn't make Academy be fair to him either.
EMILY BLUNT
In the world in which mediocre or in the best case average actresses such as Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Helen Hunt, Hilary Swank, Julia Roberts or Natalie Portman get Oscars, you will always find some deeply refined silent true talent who gets pushed aside but them. Emily Blunt is an example for that: believe it or not, I personally always get shocked by the fact, but she has never even been nominated for an Oscar - not for her extremely profound, balanced and highly loveable portrayal of the British queen in YOUNG VICTORIA, not for her, now legendary, role of cold and reserved, but perfectly fair and just secretary in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA which was so successful that she stole the show with it from Anne Hathaway. Not even for her brilliant roles in SUNSHINE CLEANING or MY SUMMER OF LOVE. Not even Meryl Streep's judgement of Emily Blunt being "the best young actress she's worked with in some time, perhaps ever", has made the Academy pay more attention to her.
CILLIAN MURPHY
And again, believe it or not, one of the most talented of the young actors, Irish star Cillian Murphy has never been nominated for asingle Oscar either! For the Academy, his mindblowing roles in Ken Loach's THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY and in Neil Jordan's BREAKFAST ON PLUTO, obviously weren't good enough to get at least a nomination, even though those two films and Cillian's work in them got awards at Cannes, Golden Globes and tones of European Film Festivals. He also didn't get a nod for his equally remarkable performances in COLD MOUNTAIN, GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING nor in PEACOCK (even though in the later one he proved for the second time after BREAKFAST ON PLUTO that he is the only male actor who can flawlessly play females on film and not in a comedic way).
MICHAEL FASSBENDER
Without any doubt, the biggest thespian among the generation of younger actors, Michael Fassbender has also never received any love from the cruel Academy, never! For reasons only known to them, they'venever given him a single nomination for his performances that brought him the utter admiration and total respect of critics and film experts around the world: he wasn't nominated this year for his haunting work in SHAME (he had great roles this year in JANE EYRE and A DANGEROUS METHOD too) just as he wasn't previous years even though his roles in FISH TANK and HUNGER brought him tones of other respected awards and the title of the owner of the most unique and most independent talent among the young actors. Shame on you Academy, shame on you!
THE SECOND ROUND
Now let us move to the second round (there will be one more) of our THE BEST STAR WHO'S NEVER WON AN OSCAR poll. Another seven extremely talented thespians are waiting for your votes, thespians who have never won an Academy award for reasons unknown: Hugh Jackman ( THE FOUNTAIN, AUSTRALIA), James McAvoy (ATONEMENT, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND), Patrick Wilson (LITTLE CHILDREN, HARD CANDY, ANGELS IN AMERICA), Eric Bana (TROY, CHOPPER, THE TIME TRAVELLER'S WIFE), Helena Bonham Carter (THE KING'S SPEECH, THE WINGS OF THE DOVE, HOWARD'S END), Julianne Moore (THE HOURS, FAR FROM HEAVEN, THE END OF THE AFFAIR) and Ed Norton (THE PAINTED VEIL, AMERICAN HISTORY X, PRIMAL FEAR).
I love your description of Kenneth "abnormally talented!" :)
ReplyDeleteI love the list of people for the new list. Great actors/actresses. I voted for Ed Norton. Why isn't he in any current movies. He is so talented. I'm kind of getting tired of the same people being in every movie that comes out.
he is, isn't he? :)
DeleteI'm also tired of seeing talentless people getting a lot of roles, while the really good ones rot in darkness :( Maybe we should occupy Hollywood and demand our rights :))
I love Cillian Murphy, and I didn't even realize he was in Cold Mountain or Girl with a Pearl Earring. I don't think I even knew who he was when I watched those - I'll have to go back and take another look!
ReplyDeletehe had smaller roles in COLD MT and PEARL EARRING :) But you must not miss him in THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY and BREAKFAST ON PLUTO, that's serious stuff!
DeleteI second Dezzy's choices!!
DeleteThe Wind and Breakfast were amazing,both story and Cillian's act
yep, two of the critically highly acclaimed movies and performances!
DeleteOscar is as famous for his snubs as for his favours.
ReplyDeleteit's true, sister, it's true....
DeleteI love that guy! He should have won many.
ReplyDeletehe should indeed!
DeleteLove that photo of the bearded Branagh. Very handsome. Maybe this year he'll get his statue, (though it would be ironic if he got one for playing Lawrence Olivier, since Olivier also played both Henry V and Hamlet). :)
ReplyDeleteah, you've no idea how hard it is finding his pics, he really doesn't do a lot of photo shoots :( He was very handsome when he was young. It is always ironic when one of the best thespians gets a supporting role Oscar, like Blanchett for example. Can you believe she has just one Oscar and it is for a supporting role?
DeleteYeah those stick up their butt academy people wouldn't know a good actor/actress if the stick was pulled from their butt. And Wolverine has my vote this time.
ReplyDeleteI will tell Hugh he got your vote :)
DeleteKB deserved it. As much as I like Cillian Murphy, he hasn't done anything (dare I say) worthy.
ReplyDeleteFor the new batch, I'm going with Ed Norton.
what? I delibereately didn't mention any of Cillian's Hollywood roles, but only these for which he is highly praised and loved here in Europe. I bet you haven't seen THE WIND THAT SHAKES... and BREAKFAST ON...
DeleteI bet Joshua hasn't seen his non-Hollywood movies. Anyone who hasn't seen his Irish and independent movies always look at me as if I know nothing about good acting when I said Cillian is a brilliant actor
Deleteit's a sad sad true, Novia :(
DeleteJoshua, please watch Peacock. Then tell me that he doesn't deserve an oscar. It's hard to act as a character with a bipolar disorder... and even harder to act as the opposite sex. And his misterman performance was crazy - one man show about a character and his interaction with 7 different characters. Nothing impressive? Yeah.
Deletehe was great in PEACOCK, Enya!
DeleteKenneth B. and Kate W. together? I gotta see that one. DId you say 2014?
ReplyDelete2013 premiere and 2014 Oscars? :)
DeleteThe way the Oscars are disided it seems more like some snobby peoples oppinions on acting instead of a real look at acting ability and respect of others in the feild!
ReplyDeleteI liked George C Scott's disision to not exept his Oscar in 1971!
yep, it is interesting and memorable whenever someone refuses the award.
DeleteKB really deserves an Oscar...I would have picked him if Cillian wasn't in this first batch. I wonder why Oscar keeps ignoring him? Was is because he is Irish?
ReplyDeleteOscars usually don't have much love for non-American actors.
DeleteCillian Murphy is a very good actor.
ReplyDeletei enjoy watching any of his movies
he is indeed!
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ReplyDeleteI voted for Julianne. I've always loved her work.
ReplyDeleteshe had lots of amazing performances!
DeleteI haven't see a lot of Cillians work, but i do think he was amazing in Peacock. And while i don't think Blunt is a bad actress, she didn't amaze me in Devil Wears Prada.
ReplyDeleteI'm unpleasantly shocked.
DeleteI would just like to say with the right role my opinion of her could change drastically, but as of right now she hasn't done anything to make me go wow.
DeleteWill Oscar favor Hugh Jackman finally for the role of Valjean in LES MISERABLES?
ReplyDeletekeeping our fingers crossed!
Deletefassbender really needs to have one coming his way with all the work he's putting out lately.
ReplyDeletewhy hello, mr. mcavoy! know who i'm voting for this time!
I am happy when the Academy is always neglecting some people who really are not worthy of an award (like DeCaprio and Nollan) but I'm angry when they're neglecting someone like Fassy who is really truly and deeply talented.
DeleteGreat write up on Emily Blunt - I support your thinking; where do the Academy folks keep their brains...she should have received at least a nomination or two by now; and no disrespect to Julie Roberts but since when is playing yourself, in every role, Oscar worthy. (and don’t get me started on Helen Hunt)
ReplyDeleteAs to the boys you've mentioned - one must wonder if those Academy folks actually go to the movies!!! Or do they get a little checklist, pin it to the wall and throw darts at it - what else could explain such blatant oversights.
By the way, I always enjoy your polls!
Cheers, Jenny @ Pearson Report
Co-Host of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
Julia really has no talent, and I agree on Helen Hunt too, where is that woman now? Or Kim Basinger getting an Oscar. What the hell? Or horrid Anna Paquin who is an example of a person who couldn't know how to act even if her life depended on it.
DeleteGlad you enjoy the polls :)
It always amazes and sickens me the talent that gets overlooked at Oscar time. I still don't understand how Paltrow or Basinger ever won Academy awards. Made no sense.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right Emily stole the film from Anne in Prada. She was just mesmerizing.
Your second pole has some really stellar talent. I had to give my vote to HBC. I have always adored her.
when Meryl says you're the best young actress she's ever worked with, you should get two Oscars immediately!
Delete