SubscribeClooney drops back to supporting race for 'Syriana'
This time he means it: George Clooney will campaign for the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in "Syriana," reports The Envelope exclusively.
Initially, Clooney was positioned to campaign in the supporting race for his role as a bedraggled C.I.A. agent caught up in a U.S. conspiracy over Arab oil. It was clear to his Oscar campaigners and studio reps that the role was his best shot at a statue, since "Syriana" is a big-cast ensemble pic.
But recently Clooney pulled a shockeroo by overruling his peeps and proclaiming his candidacy for top gold.
Now Clooney's Oscar campaign strategy has flip-flopped.
The reason: A studio rep explains, "We've been listening carefully to members of the Screen Actors Guild, National Board of Review, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and to film reviewers. Everyone decided, because this was best for the movie."
One of those reviewers was the Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan, who declared that director Stephen Gaghan "fiddles with the norms of studio storytelling in ways both nervy and unnerving, including treating all his stars like supporting players, the better to grapple with one of today's biggest stories, the ramifications of the fight to control the planet's dwindling supply of oil."
It was unlikely that Clooney, with limited screen time, could have squeezed into the crowded best actor category, which is dominated by more than a half-dozen strong front-runners. His chances are vastly improved in the supporting lineup, which seems wide open now.
Since Clooney also has a supporting role in "Good Night, and Good Luck," which he directed, many Oscarologists have been calling this "The Year of Clooney."
"Good Night" is a small pic though, and his role as a TV news chief is less showy emotionally. If blockbusters end up ruling the top races for best picture and director, voters will still have the option to hail Clooney for "Syriana."
It also helps that the role looks like classic Oscar bait, calling upon the handsome matinee star to uglify himself by donning a scruffy beard and packing on 30 pounds.
Photo: Humility could pay off for the "Syriana" star.
(Warner Bros.)
I think it's a good thing, too. First off, the Best Actor race IS too crowded...especially with the likes of my top 5 estimates so far (Heath Ledger, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Strathairn, Ralph Fiennes, Joaquin Phoenix...not to mention the possibilities of Eric Bana, Jeff Daniels, Tommy Lee Jones, Cillian Murphy, Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Tom Wilkinson, Terrence Dashon Howard, Jake Gyllenhaal, etc.).
So, with Clooney sliding down, commendably, to Best Supporting Actor, it gives a stronger outlook for that category as well. I can now add him to my top 5 so far (George Clooney will join Jake Gyllenhaal, Frank Langella, Bob Hoskins, Christopher Plummer...in addition to such dark horses as Barry Pepper, Daniel Craig, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Giamatti, Oliver Platt, Jesse L. Martin, Ken Watanabe, etc.).
Also, I think another, possibly more significant, reason for Clooney taking the plunge to the Supporting race is so that the lead in his directorial debut, "Good-Night, and Good Luck", David Strathairn, won't have to compete against him. Then again, to reiterate the aforementioned, there are far too many, and much stronger, Lead candidates for Clooney to knock-out.
And one last thing....I agree with the above poster: This is more "the year of Ralph Fiennes" than of George Clooney. However, if some think that Ralph won't be remembered as much for his more youth-oriented pictures, then "the year of Jake Gyllenhaal" is also applicable, since he has a supporting part in the murky "Proof", a phenomenal performance in the lead role of "Jarhead", and a reportedly splendid turn as the object of Heath Ledger's affection in one of this year's most anticipated films, "Brokeback Mountain". I can't wait until next month's movies debut! That, and all the awards that will be dished-out. It's about time...this year feels incredibly slow.
Posted by: James D. | November 27, 2005 at 03:03 PM
This story makes me sick. I agree with Brendan...Oscar campaigning is a disease. So much for doing films just for the art. I thought people like Clooney were above this sort of thing. And by the way...its not the year of Clooney....it the year of Fiennes. Four films...count them. "The Constant Gardener" , "Wallace and Gromet"(voice), a memorable cameo in Goblet of Fire...all critical and commercial successes ....and I haven't mentioned "The White Countess yet. Its the year of Fiennes...not Clooney.
Posted by: nancy | November 26, 2005 at 07:03 PM
I think, when an actor does something he is proud of, it will show and AMPAS will respond. Unfortunately, Oscars are seen as being quite tainted by a lot of people because of all the politics and canpaigning.
Posted by: janet | November 25, 2005 at 11:26 AM
So George Clooney has "Oscar handlers", does he? Just who are these people? Oscar campaigning is a disease and the mere idea that someone like Clooney spends a great deal of time thinking about this is vile. You do your work, and if your peers see fit to give you a nomination, then that's that. The Academy Awards should be (and supposedly are/were) based on merit and nothing more. Let the critics and your peers argue about who should be nominated for what. Nobody should be campaigning for themselves.
Posted by: Brendan BW | November 23, 2005 at 06:25 PM