By Ben Miller
We're back, baby! After the Academy made the terrible decision to showcase the 2020 acting nominees without utilizing clips, the one good decision was to bring them back for the 94th Academy Awards honoring the films of 2021. So let's over-analyze it to death. Let’s get it!
You went with that?
My heartbeat is pounding in my throat."
20. Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick….BOOM!
19. Troy Kotsur, CODA
Both of these performances were great and plentiful with clip material. Instead, they went with clips that didn’t showcase anything that makes either performance great. Garfield’s clip was more about Robin de Jesus, while Kotsur’s clip is one that's hard to even remember from the film (and he has the film's best scene!). There were so many other opportunities and they chose very poorly.
Big and brassy
Believe me, you checked the wrong box."
18. J.K. Simmons, Being the Ricardos
17. Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
16. Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
This next step you're about to take, it would be hard for anybody."
15. Will Smith, King Richard
14. Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
13. Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Whoever chooses these clips usually defaults to these moments. The trio from Being the Ricardos had their clips picked out months ago, though I thought they could have given something better to Simmons. Smith’s big emotional scene was the one everyone was expecting, while Hinds’ warmth is predictable as well. Cumberbatch’s shouting on the other hand isn't really indicative of the complexity of his performance, but you can’t blame them exactly for going with what they went with.
Hard to grasp
I don't want him to be with Phil at all!"
12. Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
11. Penelope Cruz, Parallel Mothers
You'd better hurry, Phil."
10. Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter
9. Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog
Sometimes, the brilliance of a performance cannot be captured in clip form. In all four of these cases, there is so much more than what is encapsulated in a 20-second clip. Smit-McPhee comes out the best, but it’s much more difficult for the ladies.
Nailed It
Go. Go now. Don't look back."
Just to say how nice it is not being alone."
8. Judi Dench, Belfast
7. Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
It's seems they're circling just me, not you."
And how sad is that, that we as Christians, who are supposed to love everyone, are afraid so badly of an AIDS patient..."
6. Kristen Stewart, Spencer
5. Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Half the work of choosing clips is not overthinking it. These four have had the clips that everyone expected them to have, and there is a reason. Just because the choice is obvious doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Almost Flawless
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel"
No gracia"
It felt amazing"
4. Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
3. Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
2. Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
I was really worried when Denzel’s clip came up, but the longer it played, the better it got. Macbeth has plenty of chances to be clip-worthy, but they took a swing and it worked. DeBose got a quieter moment to shine with the “No gracias” line hitting hard. Former clip champion Olivia Colman almost came out on top again with her “…it felt amazing” speech. But, there can be only one victor…
The Champ
...and you better be glad, because if I was staying here for you, I would have been gone a long time ago"
1. Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
We all knew it was coming, but it still hit like a brick anyway. Not only is it a great clip from a great scene, it gets the nod because of how well it played in the room. Big cheers from onlookers go a long way. Congrats to Ellis, who joins Lesley Manville, Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, and Florence Pugh on a distinguished list.
Until next year!