As the anticipation builds for this year’s Oscar nominations, it’s worth reflecting on the exceptional performances that, despite their brilliance, never received the coveted nod from the Academy. Here’s a look at some of the best acting turns in the 21st century that were not even shortlisted for an Academy Award.
1. Naomi Watts: Mulholland Drive (2001) – Best Actress
- While Halle Berry’s 2002 win was culturally significant, Naomi Watts delivered an artistically challenging and emotionally soul-shattering performance in David Lynch’s haunting masterpiece. From a wide-eyed ingenue to a washed-out, suicidal wreck, Watts’s transformative work in “Mulholland Drive” remains a standout that defied recognition.
2. Paul Giamatti: Sideways (2004) – Best Actor
- In Alexander Payne’s sad sack romcom and oenophile odyssey, Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of the dyspeptic wine snob and lovelorn loser was a highlight. Despite the film’s success and multiple nominations, Giamatti’s absence from the Oscars list left a sour taste, showcasing his convincing and genuinely great performance.
3. Sandra Hüller: Toni Erdmann (2016) – Best Actress
- In Maren Ade’s epic tragicomedy, Sandra Hüller’s performance as the no-nonsense executive Inès unraveling professionally and personally was a tour-de-force. Despite the film’s critical acclaim, Hüller’s nuanced portrayal, especially in scenes like an enforced Whitney Houston karaoke performance, went unrecognized by the Academy.
4. Amy Adams: Arrival (2016) – Best Actress
- The 2016 best actress race was fiercely competitive, and Amy Adams’ precursor favorite role in “Arrival” shockingly failed to secure a nomination. Adams’s performance as a grieving linguist leading audiences through a temporal spiral of loss, revelation, and heartbreaking acceptance was a standout that deserved recognition.
5. Gene Hackman: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)/Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – Best Actor
- Despite Wes Anderson’s A-list casts, not one actor from his films has ever been Oscar-nominated. This includes Gene Hackman’s roguish patriarch in “The Royal Tenenbaums” and Ralph Fiennes as the debonair hotel concierge in “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Both performances expertly revealed the melancholy faultlines beneath Anderson’s pristine aesthetics, yet they went unnoticed by the Academy.
These performances, among others, stand as testaments to the subjective nature of award recognitions. As the Oscars continue to celebrate excellence in film, it’s essential to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding acting turns that, for various reasons, were not shortlisted for the prestigious Academy Awards.
