FYC Best Supporting Actor: Ulysses
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 8:06AM I have seen the greatest performance by a supporting actor in 2013. All hail "ULYSSES". Here he is in a key moment from his star-making role in the Coen Bros Inside Llewyn Davis.
What a face! But he doesn't coast on it. He acts with his whole body. If there's any justice in the world, a BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR campaign will rev right up.
Okay okay. I realize this is a silly argument and I know exactly what you're thinking...
You're thinking:
"But Nathaniel, a nomination for Ulysses will never happen. I mean, hello, Oscar Trivia! The Coen Bros filmography, which is chalk full of excellent supporting turns never produces nominations in the supporting category that aren't arguably leads (William H Macy in Fargo and Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men are both in the driver's seat of their film's narrative even if they aren't the protagonists). It's only happened once: Michael Lerner in Barton Fink. And complete unknowns rarely get traction... especially when the film they're in doesn't even feature them in the press notes"
To this I say "But you haven't seen this awesome performance yet and Ulysses DOES drive the plot along -- sometimes in soft footed silence and other times with a sprint. Plus, where's your faith? No supporting actor in a Coen Bros film has ever given a performance this pure of heart or this instinctual. I don't mean to be disrespectful to John Goodman, John Turturro, and the entire Coen repertory company but none of them have ever purred or kneaded their leading men on cue so maybe they just didn't deserve one.
I consider it an indignity that Ulysses will be left out of the film's SAG ensemble nomination (if it gets one) since he goes uncredited. He has way more screen time than Garrett Hedlund and better close-ups than Justin Timberlake.
Don't hate on gingers. Root for Ulysses.
Reader Comments (13)
If there was a Penelope in the film she would get a nod only because of the "long-suffering wife" status.
PS:You're an Oscar season treasure and a treasure for all seasons.
If Uggie couldn't get a nod then how could ulysses?
Josh: Sshhh, we don't want to talk about Hollywood's species problem and how hard it still is for cats to get recognition, and even roles, over dogs. That's a continual awards-season (and general) downer.
Plus, if I had my druthers, Topper in Bright Star should have gotten more love than he did way back when.
Obviously not on the same level as a cat, but I'm still pretty sure Wilson the Volleyball deserved some attention back in 2000.
This brings back painful memories of Moses being robbed of a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Dogville. Of course, he had two other major disadvantages besides being a dog: being in a Lars von Trier film and being a chalk drawing (until the last couple of seconds).
@Josh: You are gesturing toward profound issues that divide humanity into hostile and mutually uncomprehending camps, much like religion or Anne Hathaway.
I kind of love that Ulysses has more screen time than Carey Mulligan in this.
Ulysses wasn't just acting. He BECAME feline indifference.
Whatever happened to the PATSY Award? That used to be handed out to animals.
I wish there were a "like" button for these comments.
"Where's its scrotum?!?" had me laughing for at least four whole minutes.
Kurtis -- that was a great scene. I love me some Robin Bartlett.