Every year, certain stars receive Oscar campaigns that seem ridiculously pointless (Jack Nicholson for The Bucket List?), while other truly deserving performers get left out of the hype. These three underdog actors probably won’t be getting full big-studio pushes this year. But if you ask me, they should.
Greg Kinnear, Flash of Genius
Universal Pictures’ awards site doesn’t even list Flash as one of its contenders, and I’m told screeners for the film (which admittedly flopped at the box office) won’t be sent out to Academy members. But it’s a shame that most voters won’t get to see Kinnear’s complex performance as inventor Bob Kearns.
Ari Graynor, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Goofy comedy doesn’t usually catch the Academy’s eye, but Graynor, who plays the ditsy, drunk party girl Caroline, is a scene-stealer of the highest order, combining gross-out humor (that toilet-bowl sequence!) with some real tender moments. Nick & Norah screenwriter Lorene Scafaria should also be recognized for her keenly-observed script, which is as memorably hip as Diablo Cody’s Oscar-winning Juno.
Michael Kelly, Changeling
Universal lists no fewer than five supporting actor candidates from its Clint Eastwood/Angelina Jolie kidnapping drama. But the guy who really deserves his own push is Kelly, the good-guy detective who discovers what happened to Jolie’s missing son. It’s a star-making performance, notable for its understatement. You’ll have to excuse the name-dropping here, but when I met Jolie this summer for an EW cover story after seeing the film, I mentioned that I thought Kelly was the standout. “Clint was talking about him the other night, that he’s a leading man,” she said. “He’s got that thing.” You hear that, Academy?
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Didn’t see “Genius.” Like the Ari Graynor and “Nick and Norah” ideas. Can’t say I really felt Michael Kelly stood out for me. Plus, he seemed to ping pong emotionally in that scene where he makes the kid dig up the bodies of the children he helped murder, one minute yelling at the kid, the next consoling him and telling him it’s all over now. It’s only one scene and probably more of a writing issue than an acting one, but it’s a supporting role so one bad scene can easily tank it.
My favorite unsung performance of the season continues to be Bill Irwin in “Rachel Getting Married.” The guy played a role that was both joyous and raw, two emotions that would seem to be mutually exclusive. Plus, without his portrayal of that character, I would never have believed this dysfunctional group could ever hold together as a family. The guy was just awesome.
Was Michael Kelly in ‘Generation Kill’? Haven’t seen ‘Changeling’ but loved that dude as a Marine on HBO.
‘Nick & Norah…’ was great. I’d definitely be glad to see it get a little Oscar love.
Michael Kelly was great in Generation Kill, too. I’m rooting for him to break out.
Russell Brand was hilarious in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”
Rebecca Hall handily filled Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow’s shoes in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
Wow, E.B., thanks so much for the spoiler warning! Jeez…
Yeah, E.B., nice work. Loser.
Yeah, E.B., nice work. Loser.
Here’s a deserving long shot; Wall-E for Best Picture!
For me, Michael Kelly will always be the guy who played Dutchs first big serial killer case in The Shield season 1. Powerful scene in the interogation room.