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One of the most negative parts of awards season is observing group after group sticking to a limited set of names that all predictors seem to have in their choices. (Are these individuals skilled at forecasting, or are award organizations simply too uninterested to consider beyond the experts’ opinions?)
However, one of the most thrilling parts of awards season is the feeling of joy when an award-giving organization goes against popular belief and chooses a performance that was not already considered an Oscar frontrunner. This can bring a lot of extra attention to the work. Each year, there are usually around twelve or more deserving candidates in just the acting categories alone; they just need voters to pay attention or for viewers to seek them out regardless.
If you’re looking to break away from the typical award contenders, here are 12 standout performances from 2023 that have slim to no chance of winning a major award. These performances should be seriously considered by those casting their ballots, or anyone interested in watching some exceptional acting.
Nicolas Cage, Dream Scenario
Nicolas Cage has spent several years appearing in low-budget films, making it difficult to keep track of his career. However, he has since made a number of impressive comeback performances, causing us to potentially take his talent for granted. In Dream Scenario, he delivers one of his finest performances as Paul Matthews, a seemingly unassuming professor who reveals his insecurities and desperation when he mysteriously starts appearing in people’s dreams. Despite the subtlety of his performance, Cage’s portrayal is both humorous and heartfelt, perfectly capturing the essence of writer-director Kristoffer Borgli’s vision. However, it may be overlooked in comparison to his more explosive roles in films like Mandy and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, or even his more subdued performance in Pig (which also received little recognition). Cage skillfully alters his voice, exuding a sense of neediness and relishing the brief moments of positive attention, while also conveying a menacing undertone in certain dream sequences. In this seemingly ordinary role, Cage displays a range of emotions and complexities.
Penélope Cruz, Ferrari
It may be surprising that Penélope Cruz’s portrayal of a strong and scorned wife who threatens her powerful husband with a gun in a biographical film isn’t automatically considered a top contender for awards season. However, there is a possibility that the Academy’s fondness for her could still land her an Oscar nomination. Despite this, the buzz surrounding Cruz’s performance in “Ferrari” has been relatively quiet. This is particularly unusual for Cruz, who commands every scene as Laura Ferrari, the wife of Enzo and the one in charge of finances at his struggling car company. While Laura could easily be portrayed as a stereotype, Cruz brings a mix of heartache and dark humor to the character, with a level of control that fits the Ferrari legacy.
Matt Damon, Oppenheimer
It is unlikely that Oppenheimer will be overlooked during Oscar season, despite its visual effects being inexplicably excluded from the long list of nominees. With a talented supporting cast, both experts and studios are likely to focus on a small group of individuals, with Robert Downey Jr being the popular choice for Best Supporting Actor. However, in this case, there is another performance that deserves recognition. As Gen Leslie Groves, director of the Manhattan Project, Damon delivers a powerful and straightforward portrayal – a military man transformed into a beleaguered project manager. This role shows Damon’s talent for portraying fatherly figures at its finest.
Mia Goth, Infinity Pool
Last year, Goth’s brilliant performance as a farm girl with unfulfilled dreams in the horror movie Pearl was overlooked. This is not surprising, considering her equally impressive dual role in the previous movie X. It’s not unexpected that she didn’t receive much attention for her smaller role in a January release that is not as good as either of those Ti West films. However, Goth shines in Brandon Cronenberg’s sci-fi horror film, transitioning seamlessly from seductive to cruelly mocking to completely unhinged. She revels in the decay of her facade as a wealthy and fun-loving woman. One line delivery that has stuck with me over the past year is Goth’s shrill address to “people of the bus!”
Marin Ireland’s Birth/Rebirth
Marin Ireland had an exceptional year, as she usually does. The talented character actress stood out in her performance as Eileen, stealing the spotlight from Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway with a powerful monologue. She also delivered memorable moments in the Stephen King adaptation of The Boogeyman and portrayed a vivid, privileged menace in the yet-to-be-released festival film Somewhere Quiet. Ireland also had a rare opportunity to take on a leading role in Birth/Rebirth, a horror film with influences from Frankenstein. As Rose Casper, a pathologist with a knack for creation but not necessarily traditional motherhood, Ireland showcases her skills as an actress. She shares the screen with the equally excellent Judy Reyes, who plays a grieving mother, and together they demonstrate Ireland’s ability to portray a unique version of a scream queen – a determined and capable woman with a monstrous side to her humanity.
Jennifer Lawrence, No Resentment
The most talked-about moment in the film No Hard Feelings features its star, Jennifer Lawrence, playfully breaking the conventional rules of modesty in romantic comedies. In a scene where the characters are skinny-dipping, Lawrence emerges from the water completely nude to fight off intruders who have stolen their clothes. This scene could also be seen as a satire of the type of nudity that is often praised in award-worthy films, but Lawrence’s performance surpasses these more serious attempts with her bold and confident approach. In her role as Maddie, a woman in her thirties who is paid to help a teenage boy come out of his shell, Lawrence shines as an actor and feels like a natural fit for the role compared to her previous performances in David O Russell’s films, which earned her Oscar nominations. Her physical comedy is flawless, and she delivers her lines with precision, yet we never forget that Maddie is a relatable character with her own regrets, insecurities, and emotional struggles. The fact that Lawrence is not being considered for awards is a reminder of how little recognition comedy receives, even when executed as brilliantly as it is in this film.
Teyonah Parris, They Cloned Tyrone
Parris gained recognition for her role as Monica Rambeau, the found-family niece of Captain Marvel (played by Brie Larson) in the MCU. She portrayed Monica charmingly in the recent space adventure film The Marvels, but her standout performance in 2023 was in a more grounded role: Yo-Yo, a sex worker who becomes part of an unlikely trio investigating a mysterious conspiracy in the sci-fi comedy They Cloned Tyrone. Parris brings depth to Yo-Yo’s character, avoiding any crude stereotypes and infusing her dialogue with resourcefulness and unexpected humor. She shines as a lead, holding her own against the equally hilarious performances of Jamie Foxx and John Boyega.
Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson star in “Asteroid City.”
Wes Anderson utilizes a large and impressive cast of well-known actors, making it difficult to single out just a couple for recognition. However, Anderson has a talent for knowing when to allow actors to bring depth to their deadpan delivery and when to use them for comedic relief or small emotional moments. This is especially evident in his film “Asteroid City,” where stars such as Steve Carell, Margot Robbie, Matt Dillion, Tom Hanks, and Edward Norton all deliver fantastic performances. Amidst the star-studded cast and stunning sets, two individuals stand out even more. Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson both play multiple characters within Anderson’s complex storytelling, creating a remarkable connection between them. Schwartzman portrays restrained grief with subtle nuances, while Johansson embodies an alternate version of Marilyn Monroe who finds strength in accepting her own vulnerabilities. Though often seen opposite each other like characters from “Peanuts,” their chemistry is explosive.
Tilda Swinton stars as a ruthless assassin in the film “The Killer”.
The movie “The Killer” features Tilda Swinton as a merciless hitman.
Another cast member of the Asteroid City group is Swinton, who has showcased her most eccentric and attention-grabbing work in minor supporting roles for Anderson and others. However, in both Asteroid City and David Fincher’s The Killer, she restrains her shape-shifting oddity and still manages to steal the scene effortlessly. In The Killer, where she plays a wealthy assassin assigned to eliminate Michael Fassbender’s fellow hitman, she is sharp and cunning. Fassbender’s character is unsettled but darkly philosophical when he tracks her down first. Over a glass of whiskey, she playfully probes at his professional quirks – and by extension, her own. It is a small role, and one that is difficult to imagine another performer executing as flawlessly.
Teyana Taylor, A Thousand and One
AV Rockwell’s multi-generational tale centers on Teyana Taylor’s portrayal of a single mother in the evolving landscape of New York City during the 1990s and 2000s. Her performance brings a raw authenticity to the struggles faced by disadvantaged mothers. While Hollywood tends to favor films featuring women fighting for their children, Taylor’s role may have been too unflinching for some. Despite her years of experience as a choreographer, singer, and dancer in the music industry, Taylor’s character, Inez, remains free of any glitz or glamour, anchoring the film through its more daring moments. Taylor has received recognition for her work in A Thousand and One, including an Independent Spirit nomination, but the Oscars tend to favor a more simplistic approach to melodrama.
Donnie Yen, John Wick: Chapter 4
Action is a genre that often gets overlooked by award shows, even more so than comedy. This is unfortunate because the best action stars display impressive physical performances while also embodying a character, similar to the art of dance rather than just pure athletics. Donnie Yen’s portrayal of Caine in John Wick: Chapter 4 is a prime example of this. On paper, Caine may seem like a typical blind assassin or rival to the hero, but Yen adds depth and personality to the character through his movements and dialogue scenes with Keanu Reeves’ Wick. Yen truly shines as a supporting actor, elevating his role to add richness and vibrancy to the film, even when he is not at the forefront of the action.
Source: theguardian.com
