The halls of most major retail operations have been decked with holly, cardboard snowflakes, and cartoon turkeys, which can mean only one thing: The Academy Awards are coming! In the spirit of the season, EW’s own Oscar prognosticator Dave Karger posted a gallery last week of early front-runners, but I was bummed to see that Steve Carell isn’t getting much buzz for his work in Dan in Real Life.
I know some of you probably think that’s an insane idea. Best Actor Oscar nods, after all, are supposed to be reserved for guys who play tortured heroes, morally ambiguous villains, and outsize real-life characters (bonus points if they’ve got well-documented quirks or accents). They don’t go to romantic comedy leads, right?
But as Dan, a widowed father of three who finds an unexpected (and unexpectedly complicated) chance at love, Carell is magnificent. His character’s repeated attempts to derail his teenage daughter’s love affair are hilarious without ever feeling forced, and yet his warbled last verse of Pete Townshend’s "Let My Love Open the Door" during a family talent show reduced me to tears. (Yeah, I’m an easy crier, but still…) As Owen Gleiberman points out in his A- review of Dan in Real Life, "the whole movie spins around Carell’s inspired performance as a man who is going quietly nuts because the universe has decided to toy with him." If that’s not worthy of a little Oscar love, then what the heck is?
What say you, PopWatchers? Do you think Carell deserves to at least be considered alongside Clooney, Hanks and Mortensen this awards season? And while we’re on the topic, what other loopy, longshot Oscar nominees are on your wish list?
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It’s a shame that no one ever gets recognised for voice work during awards season because Peter O’Toole’s performance as Anton Ego in Ratatouille was marvellous.
I’ve never seen a comic actor able to be so hilarious why so REAL. The realness actually makes everything he does even funnier.
Before the haters jump down my throat, I realize that his performance on The Office definitely veers outside believability. I agree…but despite that, Michael Scott is still human, and you root for him. I have no idea how he pulls it off.
Give him some statues.
Remember Bill Murray, a nod…for “Dan in Real Life” it sounds like a Hallmark Card disguised as a movie
Adrian Brody in The Darjeeling Limited and Keri Russell in Waitress are my picks to WIN Best Actor and Best Actress. These were the funniest and most surprisingly poignant movies of the year, and their performances showed entire new layers to their already well-noted talents.
its a sure-thing that he will not be nominated… he wouldve if the movie did well critically and financially but since it didnt his chances are slim to none… i dont even see a golden globe nomination… he would have had a better chance if he was a woman, hence why angelina jolie will be nominated for A Mighty Heart
While “Dan in Real Life” was a terribly awkward film, where the idea of “real” fell flat on mostly everyone who saw it, I do see Steve Carell being nominated for a multitude of reasons that go far beyond the movie. People love him as a TV actor and a writer, and given that he was in a movie that he was actually good in, his chances are up there with the rest. It will be a nod for his career so far, and not necessarily his film. It’s happened before.
As for other shock nominees, I can see John Travolta being up for supporting actor in “Hairspray.” I was surprised to see him omitted from the predictions; Oscar/The Golden Globes love a hunky actor in drag. And, since Oscar seems to love Johnny Depp, I see a nod going to “Sweeney Todd,” of course, it all depends on if he can actually sing. For actress, it’s a tough year, among a few mildly provocative performances. I can’t really think of too many that “wowed” me, beyond what was already mentioned in the list.
Carell’s performance in “Dan in Real Life” is what took me back for a second time. And a third time.
Carell’s performance in “Dan in Real Life” is what took me back for a second time. And a third time. Who knows? He could be the black horse for the noms.
He really was very good in Dan in Real Life. The only downer for me in the movie was Dane Cook who I think is a bad actor first of all, funny as hell as a comic, terrible as an actor. And secondly, I couldn’t follow the logic that a guy like him could land a girl like Juliette Binoche. Anyway, Steve Carrell is very good and carries the movie well.
Wasn’t “Dan” filmed QUICKLY after “Evan Almighty” bombed? Regardless, Carell will not get an Oscar nod for this film. As every actor knows, one minute you’re the toast of the town, then…not so much. The Academy voters will not be able to separate over the top “Michael Scott” from sad sack “Dan.”
It would be nice if The Hunting Party or one of its stars (Richard Gere or Terrance Howard) got a nom. I liked that movie a lot!
I also really want Casey Affleck to at least get a Golden Globe nom…though there’s buzz over him right?
It would be nice if The Hunting Party or one of its stars (Richard Gere or Terrance Howard) got a nom. I liked that movie a lot!
I also really want Casey Affleck to at least get a Golden Globe nom…though there’s buzz over him right?
ahah so nice I had to post it twice. ooops
Saw Dan last night and it was great. Even my friend with a very dry sense of humor loved it. I am recommending it to all.
I totally agree, Steve was incredible. I cried during “Let My Love Open the Door” too.
I also think Glen Hansard deserves a Nod for Once.
Comedic performances tend to get bypassed, which stinks. I would love to see Taraji Henson get a support nod for “Talk to Me.” She was hilarious. Ryan Gosling was perfect in “Lars and the Real Girl.” Haven’t seen “Dan in Real Life” yet, but the buzz about Carrell’s perfomance it what makes me want to. Otherwise I would have totally passed that one by.
I absolutely agree with this. I thought Steve Carell was phenomenal. Well, I always think he’s phenomenal, but especially in this movie!
I also agree with Erin’s pick for best actress: Keri Russell in Waitress. She was so good! Felicity who?
Didn’t care for Carell or the film, and there’s so many other better performances this year that deserve the recognition more. Cheadle and Ejiofor in Talk To Me, Hoffman in The Savages, Pinsent in Away From Her, Gere in The Hoax, Gosling in Lars and the Real Girl, just to name a few. Personally, between Dan in Real Life, Evan Almighty, and The Office slumping hard this season, it’s been a bad year for Carell
Absolutely – I loved this movie so much and it was mostly due to Steve Carell. He made me laugh (as usual) but I also bawled during the song and I walked out of the theater in awe! He’s amazing.
The odds aren’t with Travolta or Depp to even get nominated. Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor were both passed over for Chicago and Moulin Rouge. The Academy does not reward guys who sing.
Carrell never ceases to amaze me with his versatality (sp?). I cried three times during this movie, twice during the entire “Did My Love Open The Door” sequence (with and without Dane Cook). How Carrell was able to make me laugh, pity, and cry both with him and at him the entire duration of the film shows what kind of actor he is. I’ll bet money on a definite Golden Globe nod, but my fingers and toes are crossed for an Oscar nod. This would be fully deserved!!
Nods deserved:
Best Director: Ben Affleck, for the best career turnaround since George Clooney post-”Batman and Robin”
Best Actor: Casey Affleck, for Gone Baby Gone; and Steve Carell (should’ve gotten a nod for Little Miss Sunshine)
Best Actress: Keri Russell, Waitress
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem has got this locked, and it’s about time–but I’d love to see Chiwetel Ejiofor
Best Supporting Actress: Taraji P. Henson from “Talk to Me”–she stole every scene she was in. It’s a lot like Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny, but she’s still brilliant.
Steve should have been nominated for “The 40-Year old Virgin.” He made that character lovable, and avoided the easy task to make him someone to make fun of.
As for other noms, I hope the academy doesn’t forget the movies that came out earlier in the year and those performances. (“Once” and Angelina Jolie come to mind).
So far these are the people I feel should get nominations, some are obvious long shots but their performances were so effective that I feel they deserve recognition:
Best Actor- Don Cheadle (Talk to Me), Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe (American Gangster), Samuel L. Jackson (Black Snake Moan), Benecio del Toro (Things we Lost in the Fire)
Best Supporting Actress – Ruby Dee (American Gangster), Taraji P. Henson (Talk to Me)
Best Actress- Nicole Kidman (Margot at the Wedding), Ashley Judd (Bug), Christina Ricci (Black Snake Moan)
P.S.- Haven’t seen “Margot” yet…but I love Nicole Kidman and thats really all I have to say on that subject. lol
If I could pick some nominees for Best Supporting Actress, I would include Margo Martindale for her moving performance in the final segment of Paris Je T’aime and Zoe Bell’s exciting work in Death Proof.
I’m not holding my breath for the Academy to agree with me on either.
This year’s Best Actor statue will go to John Cusack for “Grace is Gone”. Mark my words.
Longshots that I’d like to see:
Adam Sandler in Reign over Me
Michael Cera in Juno
Seth Rogen in Knocked Up
Richard Gere in Hoax/Hunting Party
Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the Lookout
Chris Cooper in Breach
Robert Downey Jr. in Zodiac
Also, how great would it be if Hot Fuzz was nominated?
It won’t happen because it will likely win its own category, but I would LOVE to see “Ratatouille” up for Best Picture.
When I saw it in theatres, I knew for sure it was the best movie I’d seen all year, and almost five months (and a DVD viewing) later, that hasn’t changed.
40 year old virgin was great but in anything else, Carell annoys the hell outta me. The movie looks like utter crap and I positively hate that tv show of his. Im pulling for Christian Bale in Rescue Dawn and Ashley Judd in Bug. Those were the only memorable performances I can recall this year.
Ashley Judd in BUG, I second that Dylan!
Good call!
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