Not really a fan of hers, and didn't see the movie, but last year most critics thought Jennifer Aniston's performance for Cake was Oscar-worthy, but she wasn't even nominated.
And this year there's talk about Leonardo DiCaprio (also not very familiar with his work, nor a fan) finally getting a nod, having been passed by for many of his past performances.
Probably in the history of the Academy Awards, many people have been passed over. Most just hang in there and continue to try to do their best work, regardless of what the Academy thinks.
There will always be Oscar crimes. Every single year since Leonardo DiCaprio was robbed (ROBBED, I SAY!) of Best Supporting Actor in 1994 and lost to Tommy Lee Jones, who was playing the same character yet again, I vent about it when the Oscars roll around. It's become an annual tradition for my husband to listen to me go on (briefly) about how LD was cheated of an Oscar that he clearly deserved for What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and lost to TLJ, whom I like just fine, but who was playing the same character he's played 100 times, while LD turned in an amazing performance at an incredibly young age. You get the picture. If I ever skip my yearly rant, my DH would think something was wrong with me.
And yes, Jennifer Aniston amazed me in Cake. I did not think she had such a performance in her. I believe she deserved a nomination, but none came her way. I'm sure she was disappointed, but she didn't pitch a fit.
There was a big stink recently when Sylvester Stallone won a Golden Globe for BSA for Creed. He was clearly stunned and thanked his family and the character of Rocky, but forgot to thank his (Black) director and co-star. After he left the stage, he realized what he had done and came back onstage to thank them, but this was not televised. He also did the media thing to thank them, but he was heavily criticized by many Black celebrities, who seemed to think it was nearly unforgiveable to fail to thank the director and co-star. Stallone was stunned to have won. He failed to give a lengthy, perfect acceptance speech and he left some people out. It happens all the time. People forget to thank their spouses for their support!
It pains me to say it, but had the director been White, there wouldn't have been the scathing criticism of Stallone about forgetting to thank him by mostly Black celebrities/entertainters. He would have been allowed to thank him a few minutes later, as he did. People forget, it was STALLONE'S win. I only hope the stink of this doesn't taint his chances at the Oscar for BSA. A lot of people are complaining that Michael B. Jordan wasn't nominated for Best Actor, but Stallone was nominated for BSA. To be blunt, Jordan did a good job, but I believe any number of actors could have done as well. DH and I both remember the actress who played his girlfriend more. She made more of an impression. However, the ONE person this film could not have done without was Stallone. Take him out and you have next to nothing. Just another boxing movie. People who are not old enough do not remember that Stallone created Rocky. He did not just act the part, he wrote it. He actually created Rocky. To be able to act that role over 40 years and show the character aging physically and emotionally, the losses he's suffered, to make the audience emotionally invested in him after decades is impressive. Stallone has done a lot of action movie drivel in is life, but if he'd never done anything besides "Rocky" he could hold his head high. I'm crossing my fingers for a win.
Sadly, it looks as if the Oscars are headed to a quota system.
