Oscar Dark Horse Watch: Joel Edgerton for Best Actor
Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 10:30AM by Lynn Lee
As we approach the start of Oscar voting, the race for Best Actor remains comparatively quiet, especially when compared with the super-tight margins in the Best Actress category. Currently the smart money has the Academy tracking the SAG lineup, with Casey Affleck and Denzel Washington as virtual locks (notwithstanding the continued rumbling about those 2010 sexual harassment suits against Affleck) and Ryan Gosling, Viggo Mortensen, and Andrew Garfield filling the remaining slots...
Of course, SAG doesn’t always predict Oscar, and some prognosticators are betting that Tom Hanks will squeeze in for Sully; some are even giving Michael Keaton an outside shot despite the fact that few have seen The Founder. But if there’s a strong dark horse in the field, isn't it Joel Edgerton for his performance in Jeff Nichols’ Loving?
Why him? Ruth Negga has been getting a lot of attention for her work in Loving, and deservedly so. But Edgerton’s performance is a key counterpoint to hers that shouldn’t be underestimated. Interestingly, even though the film’s a two-hander, his role frequently feels like it’s supporting hers, in large part because Mildred is the one who goes from passive victim to the driving force behind the couple’s quest for justice. Edgerton’s Richard Loving is a man of little words and even less affect, who after their scarring experience with the Virginia criminal justice system is clearly skeptical that seeking legal redress will do their family any good. As far as Richard’s concerned, he just wants the law to leave them alone. Yet he loves his wife, knows that their forced exile isn’t right, and ultimately, if begrudgingly, acquiesces to the lawsuit even as it subjects them to unwanted attention. Edgerton somehow conveys these unspoken tensions convincingly with barely perceptible changes in expression, in contrast to Negga’s extraordinarily eloquent eyes and body language.
Three scenes in particular capture the effectiveness of this approach. First, there’s the Lovings’ first meeting with their very green ACLU lawyer (Nick Kroll): the juxtaposition of Mildred’s brightly expectant face and Richard’s closed expression and narrowed eyes, suspiciously sizing up the attorney and concluding “you get what you pay for,” is both telling and funny. Later, a photographer for Time-Life (Michael Shannon) spends an evening in the Loving household and manages to get a number of candid family shots, including the iconic image of Richard lying on the sofa with his head in Mildred’s lap. For just a fleeting moment, we see the man with his guard down, happy and affectionate. And finally, when asked what he would want to say to the Supreme Court, Richard responds: “Tell the judge I love my wife.” That’s the Oscar-reel line right there, yet he says it so simply, without any dramatic inflection, that it doesn’t feel like a line at all; it feels like the plain statement of truth it is. It also underscores a theme – love is love – that Hollywood may be even more in a mood to reward in defiance of the shifting political climate.
Edgerton’s performance hasn’t gone unnoticed, nabbing Critics Choice and Golden Globe nominations. Also working in his favor is the steady body of work he’s amassed over the last several years, including solid performances in Midnight Special, Black Mass, The Great Gatsby, Warrior, Animal Kingdom, and writing and directing The Gift. (We’ll draw a curtain over his unfortunate flirtation with brownface in Exodus: Gods and Kings, since, let’s face it, everything about that project was unfortunate for all concerned.) And his role in Loving, to the extent that it has no sinister dimensions, no hidden darkness, is a bit of playing against type for him – even if the character’s stoicism is not.
Why not him? The lack of capital-A Acting and the character’s reserve may not resonate with Oscar. As a lead role, it doesn’t reach out and grab you. The fact that it’s not supposed to doesn’t help its chances; what some see as restrained others may see as inert. The problem’s compounded by how understated Loving is as a whole, as reflected in the complete lack of SAG lovin’ (sorry) for the film.
Who would he displace? Probably Garfield, whose performance may arguably be the least broadly loved of the five SAG nominees. In the end, it may well come down to the simple question of whether Academy voters respond more strongly to Hacksaw Ridge or to Loving.
How do you rate Edgerton’s Oscar chances and would he make your ballot?
Reader Comments (17)
I saw Loving and found it amazing. I don't understand the apathy/hostility towards it. I liked Jeff Nichols' understated approach, and the acting to match. Joel Edgerton's outstanding work is every bit the equal of Casey Affleck's and Denzel Washington's. I wouldn't want to see him replace Ryan Gosling, either, whose performance is also being underrated. But Andrew Garfield? As likable an actor as he is, his work in Hacksaw Ridge is nowhere near as good. I haven't seen Viggo Mortensen, but he's always good, too, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Too bad self-effacing performances are so undervalued. Just ask Michael Sheen and Peter Sarsgaard.
YES to this. Replace Andrew Garfield with him. While you're at it, replace Amy Adams with Ruth Negga.
Definitely replace Garfield with Edgerton. (Sure, I haven't seen Hacksaw Ridge or Silence yet, but I have seen Loving.)
You can't make a list of Edgerton's best performances and not include Warrior. C'mon!
I think Edgerton did what he was asked with a shallow, passive role in a spitefully boring film. He wouldn't make my personal ballot and I can think of at least ten performers I prefer to him
God. I don't want to see Hacksaw Ridge.
I was one of the few people to see Captain Fantastic when it came out and I thought Mortensen's performance was good but not essential. The story's about a man who's really intense and outside the norm in terms of his methodology to life and parenting and if the actor was able to portray it as a little less over the top I think it all would have worked better.
If Tom Hanks and Joel Edgerton are going to be shoved out of the race (though I confess I haven't seen Loving, it went in and out of the theater too quickly, but the preview of his performance looks great), i hope it's not for Mortensen.
By the way, does anyone know whjen Awards Daily does their big simulated Oscar vote?
He would definitely make my ballot; as authentic a performance I saw this year.
I am picturing Jeff Nichols grinning and rubbing his hands in the editing room.
For me it's Edgerton and Washington at the top of the Best Actor heap this year.
shawshank - my bad, I totally meant to include "Warrior," not sure how it got dropped. Fixed! (Of course, that wasn't an exhaustive list; I also left out "Jane Got Her Gun" and "The Odd Life of Timothy Green," among several others.)
Paul Outlaw - hahahaha
I just found Negga more compelling.
I feel that Edgerton & Negga operates as a team, they either get nom together or none at all.
They might hav betta luck at getting a BAFTA nod each.
As I mentioned after seeing "Loving", I really admired Edgerton's staying true to the character and resisting an actor's impulse to make the character more ingratiating, more empathetic, more "interesting", so that the actor is more likeable and the performance more noticeable.
He's fantastic, and the movie is in my top 3 for the year. I'm amazed at those who call it "boring" -- the first half is as gripping as any suspense film released this year.
Hollywood/Oscar won't acknowledge Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga because of the demographics of the Oscar voters. They are Caucasian/Men/Average 60 years olds. Think about it, the movie was released in limited screening. Not to mention the promotion or advertising time was limited also. When the court case was happening they were not born or infants/toddler. They can't relate to this amazing movie. The incredible and amazing acting of Ms. Ruth and Mr Joel. Watch their press junkets... Cannes Festival, Hollywood Reporter and so on. You Tube it. You will appreciate it. So, genuine.
Edgerton most deservedly should knock out the hammy, poorly directed turn by Garfield in Hacksaw Ridge. Would love to see both Negga land Edgerton surprise. And get Davis out of Supporting so the *BEST* performance wins, that of Naomie Harris.