The 88th Academy Awards has recognised 20 performances through nominations in the four acting categories – Leading and Supporting Role for both male and female actors. Nominations and awards are quite complicated. No matter how talented the actors are, it really comes down to the scope of the role itself. For example, if an actor is allowed to depict a disability or voice a difficult accent, then his or her performance is more likely to be visible to us. Moreover, good makeup, appropriate costumes, and intelligent film editing can also enhance a performance. More than mere imitation, acting is deep empathy. For example, Michael Fassbender does not look like Steve Jobs and neither does he imitate him, but somehow he embodies and understands him, and we are compelled to suspend all disbelieve.
This year’s acting palette had a wide range of performances. The most daring performance of the year came from Eddie Redmayne (last year’s Best Actor winner) who played a transgender in The Danish Girl. The surprise of the year was Sylvester Stallone in Creed. Charlotte Rampling’s performance in 45 Years was the most honest. Rachel McAdams’ performance in Spotlight was the most naturalistic. Anyone seriously interested in acting should study Mark Rylance’s performance in Bridge of Spies. But the performance of the year came from Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant – no one can touch him this year.
The perceptive viewer will discern that 10 out of the 20 nominees are acting-duos from the same film: Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams (Spotlight); Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara (Carol); Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl); Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs); and Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy (The Revenant).
For two years in a row, performances by African Americans have not been nominated. One reason might be the Academy does not automatically recognise great work, and the film studios have to do rigorous campaigns for the nominations. But here’s the problem, out of the 6000 Academy members, 94% are white, 77% are men and 86% are over 50-year-old. This lack of diversity gave rise to this year’s ‘Boycott the Oscars’ movement by prominent black artists. Star Wars creator George Lucas remarked, “It’s a political campaign, and has nothing to do with artistic endeavor at all, that’s why it hurts everybody.”
Here’s my ranking of all the 20 performances (relative to the other nominees of that particular category).
Actor in a Leading Role 5. Matt Damon (The Martian) 4. Bryan Cranston (Trumbo) 3. Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs) 2. Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl) 1. Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)
Actor in a Supporting Role
5. Sylvester Stallone (Creed) 4. Christian Bale (The Big Short) 3. Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight) 2. Tom Hardy (The Revenant) 1. Mark Rylance (Bridge Of Spies)
Actress in a Leading Role
5. Jennifer Lawrence (Joy) 4. Cate Blanchett (Carol) 3. Charlotte Rampling (45 Years) 2. Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn) 1. Brie Larson (Room)
Actress in a Supporting Role 5. Rachel McAdams (Spotlight) 4. Rooney Mara (Carol) 3. Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) 2. Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) 1. Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)
In one of the best documentaries of the year, Listen to Me Marlon, the most influential actor of all-time Marlon Brando define acting by stating – “Acting is just faking.” We respectfully disagree. Acting at its best can give voice to the mute, shine light in the dark, and breathe life into the dead. Great actors tell stories that would otherwise remain untold, they reveal souls that would otherwise remain hidden forever. Acting is courage.