Monday, September 28, 2009

It's Their Time


I always find it upsetting each and every year at the Oscars to see so many talented Actors and Directors to be passed over for awards. So many of the greats never even won. Alfred Hitchcock never got an Oscar, he wasn't even nominated, and he's arguably the greatest filmmaker of all-time. The Oscars are meant to honor the best in film, but when so many of the greats have gotten passed over, how is that right.

This has spurred me to try and find out who I think are the most deserving Actors and Directors currently working in the film industry who have never won an Oscar, or have never even been nominated. I think all 10 of these individuals are highly talented, and if the Academy had any sense, all 10 of 'em should receive an Oscar. Here we go with number 10:

10. Christopher Nolan - Chris Nolan's Oscar chances are those very similar to say, Alfred Hitchcock's back in the day. Chris Nolan has made some of the best films of the past decade, from Memento, to The Prestige, to last year's mega hit, The Dark Knight. Chris is one of the finest filmmakers working right now, but of course the Academy treat him the same as they treated men like Hitchcock and Spielberg before him. Mainstream filmmakers tend to get nothing when it comes to awards season, no matter how talented they are.

9. Hugh Jackman - His performance in The Fountain was one of the most astounding performances of the decade. He has an immense range, from Wolverine to playing a gay man on Broadway. Jackman is a movie star, very classic in that sense. The Academy seems to love him, seeing as how they asked him to host the show last year, so why not give his work some love when it comes time for awards?

8. Johnny Depp - Johnny Depp is one of those actors that in all likelihood will probably always be passed over by the Academy. His work is often at times very obscure, even though it is amazing. Depp's best chance for Oscar gold was back in '04 when he was J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland. If Depp could snag a role in a film like that once more, he'll be able to bring home the statue, I'm sure of it.

7. Darren Aronofsky - Aronofsky is one of the more innovative filmmakers working in Hollywood right now. His works are fantastic, he has a great sense of visual storytelling, but not only that he is one of the finest actor's directors I have ever seen. I still don't see how this guy has never even got nominated, both Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain should have done it for him.

6. Liam Neeson - One of those great disservices. Neeson is one of those actors that you hand him anything, he'll be able to make it better. It still shocks me that he didn't win for his portrayal as Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List. Since then he has had many more terrific performances in films like Rob Roy and Les Miseraibles. Neeson deserves the gold guy.

5. Leonardo Dicaprio - Dicaprio is much like his favorite director, Scorsese, once was. He is always nominated, but never wins. His work in Blood Diamond was overlooked, his portrayal of Frank Abagnale, Jr. wasn't even considered, not to mention his best role thus far, Howard Hughes. Dicaprio's in his prime, give it to him already!

4. Spike Jonze - The best filmmaker of this current wave of cinema. Spike Jonze is a brilliant director. He laces his films with terrific visuals and personality. His films seem to connect to him on a deep level, and it's because his films are so personal that he is so unique. Not only that, he can flat-out direct, getting his actors nominated so many times. Any guy that get his actors nominated in almost all four of the acting categories in the same year, deserves the Best Director award.

3. Audrey Tautou - The best actress working right now, hands down. Shockingly enough she has never even been nominated for an Oscar, not even for her role in Amelie. I think it's because she is French and makes mostly foreign films that she is overlooked, but that still doesn't mean that she can't get nominated. Come on Academy, pick up the ball here.

2. Gary Oldman - Not a single nomination to his name. Gary Oldman is the case of an actor that does his job so well that people always overlook his performances each and every time because he's always so consistent. Gary Oldman is a true character actor, he's like a chameleon, can take on anything and make it wonderful. He should have been nominated so many times before that one can't even keep up with them all. I think it's a slap in the face to the man's talent to not reward him for his work.

1. Peter O' Toole - This guy is the most deserving of all that have never won. Nominated 8 times, still never won, and he's not getting any younger. Much like Oldman, his fantastic performances are too many to mention, of course Lawrence of Arabia is probably his most memorable. O' Toole needs to get this award, he's one of the screen's most recognizable stars of all-time, don't make him wait any longer.

And that's it. I hope you've enjoyed this rant/excursion.

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