I know a lot of people are upset with me because I am upset with Michael Fassbender these days. My Fass-love took a major hit when he announced in GQ last year that he wouldn’t be Oscar-campaigning for his role in 12 Years a Slave, and then the Fass-love disappeared altogether when we found out that his current girlfriend is Gerard Butler’s famewhore ex. Some of you are mad at me because I stopped paying attention to Fassy for the most part. To which I have to say… it’s not really a choice I’m making. He’s barely been around. He’s filming projects back-to-back and hasn’t given any interviews in support of 12 Years a Slave in like three months.
The argument I’ve heard is “But if Fassy went all Anne Hathaway, you would hate that too.” True. But this isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. It’s not like Oscar campaigns are either “nothing” or “Hathaway”. There are many amusing, charming, pleasurable and non-famewhorey ways to campaign for an Oscar. The least obtrusive of which is to A) show up to the major events when you’re nominated, B) do a modicum of press, a few magazine interviews and some stuff in the trade papers, C) even if you don’t want to promote yourself, promote the film as a whole and D) don’t act like a petulant child still holding a grudge from all the times the Academy didn’t nominate you. Fassy has failed in all of these situations.
Anyway, I bring up all of this anger and angst because The Gold Derby – a site that discusses all of the Oscar races in detail – has a piece basically asking, “Would it have made a difference if Michael had campaigned or would Jared Leto still be breezing through the awards season?”
Despite receiving rave reviews for “12 Years a Slave,” Michael Fassbender decided early on that he wouldn’t participate in an Oscar campaign. And while he reaped a Supporting Actor bid, he skipped the academy’s official nominees luncheon on Monday. So, is it any surprise that he is ranked far behind frontrunner Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”) in this race?
Fassbender’s skittishness can be traced back to being snubbed by the academy in 2011 for a trio of acclaimed performances in “Jane Eyre,” “A Dangerous Method,” and “Shame.” That latter film, his second with “12 Years” helmer Steve McQueen, netted him Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. Reflecting on his continuous campaigning then, he told GQ last fall: “I won’t put myself through that kind of situation again … It’s just a grind. And I’m not a politician. I’m an actor.”
While “12 Years a Slave” leads our racetrack odds for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyongo) and Best Adapted Screenplay, Fassbender is a longshot at best. Would campaigning have made the difference?
Working the awards circuit certainly paid off for the likes of Octavia Spencer (“The Help”) and Kate Winslet (“The Reader”). Melissa Leo’s lobbying for “The Fighter” was infamous — she bought her own trade ads asking voters to “Consider …,” which caused such a controversy that there was concern she’d be the rare actor brought down by a campaign — but she held on to win Best Supporting Actress anyway.
Then again, Katharine Hepburn won a record four Best Actress awards but skipped all 12 Oscars at which she contended, only showing up once, in 1973, to fete her friend Lawrence Weingarten who was receiving the Irving Thalberg award.
Mo’Nique famously shunned the campaign trail when “Precious” was a major contender in 2009, but she won Best Supporting Actress anyway. In her acceptance speech said, “I would like to thank the academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics.”
Would Fassebender be in front had he been shaking hands and going to parties all season? Leto’s performance as a transgender woman in “Dallas Buyers Club” is the kind of radical physical transformation voters love. Add in the role’s social and historical importance and you have a winning combination. Indeed, he has taken home every major precursor prize: New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago critics, the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and SAG awards. He has reached a Mo’Nique level of inevitability.
But if there’s one chink in Leto’s armor, it’s BAFTA where’s “Dallas Buyers Club” was snubbed completely. Fassbender is the clear frontrunner to win at BAFTA with overwhelming odds of 1/4. Could he pull off an Oscar upset? The last person to win the Supporting Actor Oscar without at least a BAFTA bid was Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) in 2004. And Oscar does like its villains, especially in the supporting categories: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”; Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men”; and, again, Mo’Nique.
If Fassbender doesn’t win, we’ll never know if campaigning could have tipped the scale in his favor. His movie is the frontrunner to win Best Picture and he’s missing the party. That’s a real “Shame.”
Yeah… my takeaway is that maybe Michael wouldn’t have won even if had gone Full Hathaway, but at least he would have given Jared Leto a good fight. Does Fassy regret it now? Doubtful. But it was just announced this week that Fassy will deign to appear at the BAFTAs on Sunday. God knows, he might even win with Leto out of the race. Here’s my question at the end of the Oscar speculation: will Hollywood think differently about Fassbender after this no-campaigning thing? Will producers think, “Hey, maybe we should hire someone more willing to play the game instead of Fassbender”?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I think he could’ve win the Golden Globe which would’ve helped his momentum.
Young Robert DeNiro never campaigned for an Oscar and he won two of them. Fassy is a very good actor. He will have no trouble getting work.
Exactly! And an award doesn’t guarantee you work. It helps, but in the end isn’t talent or security.
Fassy will continue to work and do it consistently in great roles.
Ugh he’s still hot to me. I have a bias.
Personally, I think Leto’s performance was stronger.
+1. I don’t think it would have mattered what Fassbender did. Leto has this sewn up, and rightly so. Leto was incredible in DBC, there is no comparison.
Even Sarah Paulson was better than Fassbender in the movie.
If you had actually seen TYAS you wouldn’t have typed that.
Disagree. Fassbender is twice the actor. I really liked DBC but i feel it and the actors are the sentimental vote. I suspect in 10 years time. TYAS will be considered a classic. Reminds me of the situation with Brokeback Mountain vs Crash. No one talks about Crash anymore.
I agree that TYAS as a whole was better than DBC. But Leto’s performance was better than Fassbender’s.
Lupita seems to be the only one out of TYAS who is campaigning hard.
I saw TYAS. It was good, but over hyped. Fassy was great in it though and i’m a Paulson fan with AHS..
DBC was good too, but I think Leto sucks as a person so there’s my bias. Leto knows how to suck up so he might win, but only because he played the game and didn’t just let it be about the acting.
The only Picture contender that will truly be remembered and watched in 10 years is Gravity.
I disagree. Both were excellent but if I had to pic between the two I’d choose Fassy.
I am also a tad bit dissapointed with Fassy for not campaigning or showing up at Critics choice, SAG etc. but then again he should be allowed to lead his career the way he wants.
To answer the last question I doubt the not campaigning part would affect his chances at getting roles, I mean are producers that shallow?
I don’t think not campaigning for an Oscar, specifically, will matter, but more the perception that he did not show up for this film at all. I’m not saying that’s true, although he hasn’t really done much to support 12 Years, but it looks like he basically just left it in the cold because he was mad he didn’t get an Oscar nomination once, which no one owed him anyway. It looks petulant and petty, and while I think his talent is great enough to overcome most stuff like this, I bet some producers would side-eye him and want some assurances about participation before they seal the deal. Actors get paid a lot of money, and the higher that price tag gets, the more the producers/studio expect to get on the back end, when it comes to publicity. It’s not a coincidence that the highest paid actors are also the most visible come press time. So if they feel like they’re not going to get the biggest bang for their buck…
well it’s not like he didn’t promote it at all, he went to TIFF, Letterman, did some press interviews BUT that was not enough I felt.
I mean from September on everyone said 12YAS will win all awards, but come now the movie has lost so much momentum which is so weird. Fault kinda lies on Fassy as he disappeared after November and didn’t do much press from their on. He is the most known one among the cast and hence I felt he should have showed up more to support the movie, not for his campaigning but for the movie & co-stars.
Also now I think about it do you guys think that if Brad Pitt and Benedict came more often, the movie would have got more coverage to better the award chances??? I mean I was really happy that they both stayed away as they are not the leads of the movie but now the movie is not getting much recognition through awards as I thought it would…..maybe their presence would have helped, since Fassy didn’t do enough.
Let’s be real. If Fassy, Brad Pitt and Cumberbatch had been more visible, you all would be bitching about how the White actors are taking over the press attention for a movie with a Black lead about slavery.
Fassy promoted this film all the way until he had to leave for New Zealand to start filming. If FoxSearchlight had a problem they would have forced him back to the states. Weinstein just picked up his next film so I don’t know why people are tripping about producers are put off by him.
The problem right now is Chiwetel Ejiofor is a great actor but not very good at giving charming interviews or working a room. He is the lead actor, he should now be toe to toe with MM and Leo. Not Fassy.
I’ll be watching DBC tonight at work so I can’t comment on Leto.
As for Michael not campaigning, he’s been working nonstop, minus his trip to Italy. I don’t see the big deal tbh.
He has chosen to let the performance stand for itself, that’s how it should be, I’m not mad at him for it. He’s filming Macbeth in London, so yeah, I can see why he’s going.
As for who he’s dating, he’s a grown man and may do as he pleases.
He did the promotional stuff for 12YAS in the beginning, that’s all he’s obligated to do. Yes, Jared will probably get it, but I’ve no doubt he’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future.
+10000
It’s not even about Oscar campaigning. He didn’t promote the film hardly at all, which is a dick move that I’m sure the producers weren’t thrilled with.
If I was a producer looking to hire an actor and that actor publicly said he didn’t want to do promotion (yes I know there’s more that goes into an Oscar campaign but public promotion is part of it) because he was bitter about not receiving an award for an earlier film, then I would think twice about hiring that actor.
The whole point of hiring a name actor is so the actor will draw the public’s attention to see the film, but if that actor is unwilling to promote the film then there is no point in hiring that actor. Get someone who IS willing to promote the film.
You’ve got to be kidding. Fassy went to the festivals along with the whe cast to promote the movie. We went to David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon. He had an interview with the LA Times, Variety, USA today, and about 5 other print interviews to promote the film. He did more promotion of his film that both Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle but I see no one on this site ever given them a hard time.
Maybe because I’m film freak but – I never ever go to the cinema because someone was in tv show/do silly press inteview/look pretty in certain clothes. Films catch my attention because of the story/actors – are they good or not/directors/good reviews from my favourite film critics/certain film festival prizes – but definitely not Oscars lol – etc.
I really hate when showing your face in magazine and doing interview in which they barely ask you about your work in certain film is supposedly public promotion. I know this is how hollywood cinema works, but I still hate it. And honestly, films from other “ecosystems” are doing fine without all this.
I’m with you. I have a good idea of the films I do or don’t want to see and an appearance by a films lead or supporting actor/ actress or even the director/ producer/ writer on a talk show or an imprint interview will rarely make me change my mind.
Maybe we’re just weird???
As for Fassbender — he seems screwed no matter what. No one in 12YaS (beyond Lupita) seem to be Oscar stumping for the film. So why is Fassy getting crap for not doing it?
And IMO the Weinstein boys would be getting everyone out to stump if they really thought 12YaS had a chance too. OR the Weinstein’s are doing plenty themselves and don’t need the cast to do it. I don’t know — I’m just throwing ideas out. But it seems unfair to make Fassbender the scape goat when we don’t know everything.
@LadySlippers Not sure what you’re even talking about. The Weinstein Company did not produce 12YAS. They are not involved.
If he doesn’t want to campaign for himself that is his choice. But he owes it to the film and his co- stars to campaign for them. I would forgive him if there were interviews where he said he didn’t care about Oscar votes for himself, but asked voters to vote for Chiwetel and Lupita, or discussing he strength of the cast and film as a whole. As it is he just comes across as an ass. (And I am a huge fan of his acting and his looks)
I don’t understand campaigning for an award, if an actor needs to get down on his knees and pitch to the voting academy, outside their day-job he was paid to do then surely it is not an award for acting, but an award for kissing-ass.
I think Fassbender is a rough around his ears, and lacks a few good graces but acting is what he gives a pants about and if the Academy can’t recognise that, then so be it.
It is same with any award ceremony, if comes about pleasing sponsors, organisers etc then it becomes a joke. I for one won’t be watching the BAFTA’s this weekend, they’ve barely taken a look at films outside the safe circle of Oscars. It’s a slight to the British Film Industry -Philomena, Gravity/12 Years a Slave, have British connections, I recognise that, but the BFI needs all the boost it can get and following the Oscars copy-by-copy almost is plain dull.
The whole thing annoys me.
There was an article around the time Jeff Bridges was nominated for Crazy Horse that laid out the whole Oscar campaign inner works. This was before the showcase events, special evenings, etc., were regulated. Now, these events are one or two per nominated film/actors. It basically boils down to perceptions and “story.” I’ve worked in media (as a journalist, later in various types of pr) and this made so much sense to me. Of course! It’s never been about the performance on film, but about the performance in public. I think the article appeared in Variety or the Hollywood Reporter. It was one of the trades.
Jared Leto turned in an amazing performance and if he wins it, it won’t be undeserved. I love most performances though that have been nominated this year.
That’s the thing about campaigning. People will say, “Ugh, why does it even matter?” but it matters for exactly this reason. By the time you get to the nominees, they’re all great! They’re all very good actors doing very good work. So they campaign, and it becomes a popularity contest, because the reality is at the top level, all the performances are good and worthy. But since you’ve established a system where only one can win, well, then you have to do something to separate yourself from the pack. It can get annoying when people go overboard and make it too obvious that they’re trying to win class president (ahem, Ms. Hathaway), but it makes sense to me that it comes down to the campaign, because if it was just judged on merit every category would be a five-way tie every year. Of course it comes down to personal preferences and who’s most popular.
Leto’s performance is sublime. Fassbender’s is good but it always seems to be that he is Michael Fassbender first and the character second. Don’t hate on me Fass Stans. Just my opinion.
You make a very strong point Kaiser: Why hire him when they know he won’t play the game and others will. Because no matter what, that Oscar, attached to their movie (although through the actor) is very good PR.
It might have made some difference, though I think that 12 Years a Slave has (unfortunately) lost a lot of momentum in general.
I don’t think this is going to hurt him in terms of getting roles, though. He was the guy everyone wanted to cast last year, and now he’s the same guy with an Oscar nomination. Plus, regardless of how others react to him, he’s McQueen’s darling and McQueen appears to be on a roll.
I just finally watched Dallas Buyers Club this morning expecting to be blown away by Leto’s performance. I wasn’t. It was good, and definitely worthy of a nomination, but for me Fassbender should be the winner here. He stole every scene he was in in 12YAS and had me truly terrified. I respect him for not “playing the game” with regards to the awards but agree for the sake of the movie and his co-stars he should have promoted more.
He’ll get the BAFTA but not a chance of winning the Oscar unfortunately.
I know! Fassbender just disgusted me. He was so creepy and skeezy in that movie–in the scene where they’re listing off how many pounds of cotton the slaves picked, and he goes up to Patsy, puts his hands on her shoulders–I looked away and cringed.
I can’t stand Fassy these days either but agree with his stance on not being all political for the nominating committees. It sucks since it is a popularity contest. He was better in 12YAS then Leto was in DBC. I still like both actors but think Fassy should win it. Though I do agree he could have at least been out there stumping for the movie and his co-stars though. That just makes him seem jealous.
AGREED.
I too watched DBC just last week
{i even got to watch on an Oscar disc 🙂 }
Fassy gave me the willies, bad. So scary-mean-mad.
Crikey.
Pretty sad when your winning depends on the games you play instead of how good your performance was. Good for this man – he won’t allow himself to be used in that way. But it is funny to watch the pathetic attempts of old grown men such as Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck and George Clooney work so hard. It must make them angry when a younger guy refuses to play.
Ben Affleck is only 5 years older than Fassbender.
I agree with most of the comments above. Nobody wanted or expected Fassbender to go all Anne Hathaway, but as a major actor in a major film, it is his JOB to help promote it. And that he did not do. It smacks of petulance and vanity. At first I found it kind of refreshing how he admitted to being upset at getting passed over for a nomination (though he should have known that ‘Shame’ was not the kind of film the Academy goes for), when most actors do the ”Oh really it’s the performance that counts and these awards mean nothing to me’ lie. But now he’s acting like a kid – you wouldn’t give me the toy last time I wanted it, so now I don’t want it anymore. So there!
Why does everyone think he didn’t do promotion? He did promote the film. He was in or on several magazines. He did Letterman and the Daily Show. He did Telluride, TIFF, NYFF and Q&As. That’s promoting a film. That’s his job. He’s not required to campaign.
+1
Yeah I’m a little confused at the comments here because Michael did promote the film. I think he’s been shooting Macbeth on location in Scotland and England so he’s kind of busy currently. I think he made it to the London Q&As because it was located relatively close to his current project.
I doubt Michael would leave the project high and dry since he has such a close bond with Steve McQueen.
+1 I was just coming to say this. I’m pretty certain that he did promotion for the film, in addition to what Renee28 mentioned I also believe he was on Charlie Rose. So for people to say that he did no film promotion is absolutely incorrect.
Exactly Renee. I’m so confused. I’ve been seeing him a lot promoting this film. What he hasn’t been promoting is himself.
On the other hand, his character is a vicious slave owner in the American South so I can imagine it being awkward campaigning through award season in North America and having to talk about that role, the history of slavery in America, its impact. I think if he had campaigned the opportunity to say something rather insensitive, damaging or ignorant would be too great to chance.
It is such a sensitive topic and I don’t think campaigning for an award based around that subject is a very smart move. So maybe that’s part of his reasoning I dunno.
This.
MTE, vv. Now I haven’t watched the movie, but I think the story is about the slaves, not the slave owners. Perhaps Fassbender feels the accolades should be about the story, the director, and the slave characters in the film. It is a Black experience, and perhaps he doesn’t feel he should outshine the Black stars in the film. Just a thought.
Totally agreed. I’m glad he didn’t campaign. His performance was great, and all too true to what we understand about sadistic slave owners in America.
Actors in I’m-a-disgusting-human roles rarely win. That’s the other thing. Ralph Fiennes was pretty amazing in Schindler’s List but he wasn’t winning for playing a Nazi.
No, as long as he stays a solid actor whether or not he campaigns is irrelevant. He’s not the first to withhold and he won’t be the last.
Can I just say though, the level of crap this guy gets from you guys is shocking. Just a few months ago (maybe a wee bit longer) you couldn’t get enough of him and now.. what a fickle, fickle fan base.
I agree. He said he wouldn’t campaign because he was disappointed he got so caught up the last time. But it has somehow turned into him being bitter about not being nominated, and that being the reason he is now non-compliant with award season campaigning.
I remember when he used to rule this land, too.
It’s a shame that this has become a thing now. He was a supporting actor in an ensemble film. He’s not the star of Twelve Years. He’s not the unknown up and coming actor. I sort of like that he’s stepped back and not gone all famewhore over this. Let Chiwetel and Lupita get their shine. It’s embarrassing when actors think the award is more important then the work itself. He’s not showing up and acting like Joaquin. He said he wasn’t really going to campaign. He’s been to a few award shows and he’s working on other projects. Why vilify someone for this?
Thank you, bammer! I said something similar upthread.
I’m piggybacking on this. So true!
What’s the campaigning part about? Kissing the right bottoms? I love watching movies but I can’t be bothered with following oscars, sags etc.
apparently its very important for you to beg for an award instead of letting your talent speak for itself. Ever since finding out that’s what goes on, my feelings about awards season have changed.
Sidenote, I’d like to point out the fact that Heath Ledger was DEAD during campaigning season and still won an Oscar…just saying.
Ok, got it. Thanks! It’s so ridiculous. I had no idea about this campaigning thing until I started reading CB.
He was so freakin’ amazing in that role.
Scary, horrid, greatness.
I, for one, am celebrating your Fassy-nation has dwindled – he was never good enough for you, Kaiser! (Cumby much better :D) x
I’m not even a huge Fassbender fan but I give him props for how he’s handled it so far.
Promote your movie.
Go on to next project.
Be grateful for the nomination but don’t ho yourself out. (*cough* Leo…sooo disappointed in him this year.)
Give it a rest already.
LMAO. Yeah he has whored himself out. Leo wants it but I think MM is going to take it.
I’m honestly surprised at this point that Leo hasn’t flashed his wahoo on a red carpet yet. “OOPs…wardrobe malfunction!
I think Matt’s got it in the bag as well. The only surprise will be Chiwetel.
I am a huge Fassy fan, but not of Leto; however, I was blown away by the realism, and sensitivity of his portrayal in DBWC. I forgot I was looking at Leto who I find slightly swarmy, and was totally drawn into the tragic character he was portraying. Leto for the win. I am also confused by Fassy’s behavior….his failure to support the film of the man he always cites as being responsible for his career sucess. Bad form Fassy!!!!!
I wish he would have campaigned… Jared Leto grates my nerves
I haven’t seen Dallas Buyer’s Club yet, but my mom has and says Jared Leto deserves it more. Out of Fassy, Jonah Hill and Bradley Cooper (the only BSA performances I’ve seen), I would give it to Fassy.
I don’t understand why Leto is being put on an equal footing with Fassbender. He doesn’t have much to do in DBC, except act all campy and he’s not there much. I don’t see what’s so amazing about his performance. But I know the Academy looooooves that kind of “transformation” and “oh it’s so brave to portray a transgender person”. I thought Fassy was absolutely amazing in 12 Years and he totally deserves the Oscar, more than Jonah Hill (ugh), more than Cooper, and certainly more than Leto.
for once ive seen all the fliks in the major categories basket, and i too vote Fassy.
BTW this article is assuming that Fassbender isn’t going to win an Oscar. Now, I agree that his film has lost some momentum, and that he personally probably isn’t very popular with the Academy, but you never know. Fassbender isn’t the favourite, but anything could happen.
No people will still work with him, him not promoting himself for a silly award doesn’t mean he won’t promote a movie.
It’s just people on the internet over analyzing nothing.
Yeah, the not wanting to work for him anymore is a bit much. He is currently working now, right?
Sigh…I know I’ve commented on this on another post but here it goes again. (I work in film so I get to see how this all works first-hand.) It’s not up to Fassbender to run his own campaign for an Oscar. Oscar campaigns are planned, directed and funded by the film’s distributor – not the actor or the film’s director or the film’s producer.
12 YAS is being distributed by Fox Searchlight which notoriously does not spend a lot of money on Oscar campaigns compared to other distribs. They went for an early push with the movie at Festivals (where Fassbender did work his ass off promoting the film) hoping those accolades would be enough to carry it and it didn’t work. Now they’ve settled on making Lupita, a.k.a. their best shot at a trophy, the most visible and attractive to voters.
In terms of whether or not he would have had a shot had Fox Searchlight opted to spend the bucks flying him from his movie sets to various events on his days off, it’s questionable. He’s part of a high pedigree ensemble and word on the street is that there’s a contingent of Academy members who aren’t even interested in watching 12YAS (for whatever irresponsible reason) so chances are he was going to get lost in the shuffle. He got the nomination because people in the industry respect his talent (and maybe also a bit of recompense for not giving him the nom for Shame).
Leto’s performance is a stand out in a mediocre movie (that’s a much less taxing watch than 12 YAS) and that’s going to make him memorable for the voters. It’s as simple as that. It won’t hurt Fassbender’s future career prospects because Producers understand how this all works.
My God woman…pull yourself together!
There is no place for reason, first hand knowledge, and/or common sense here!
Now be gone with you.
LOL you’re funny.
this too made me LOL
thank you
Thank you Molly for sharing your insight. I continue to fail to see what all the hubbub is over this. Like it’s been said Fassy DID promote 12YAS ALOT. He had to stop to film Slow West in NZ and Macbeth in Scotland. He just did another Q & A with Steve McQueen in London. Besides, if he was out there wh*ring himself out to every media outlet, he’d be accused of trying to hog the spotlight from Chiwetel & Lupita.
As long as Fox Searchlight & the producers are happy with him I don’t see where he hurt his career long term. I’m sure Michael will get more shots at an Oscar in the future. He has a great rep in the biz. His coworkers adore him and (so far) there are no negative stories about diva tantrums or unprofessional behavior on set. I think he will continue to be one of the most sought after actors for awhile.
Besides, who will look worse the day after the Oscars? Michael who lost for not campaigning or Leo who campaigned his ass off and still lost?
Sorry. I am cranky. The news coming out of my country are bleak– which is why media narratives are on my mind so much lately.
The other comment I was responding to got lost in moderation but basically said something about how media narratives are extracted from bits like this one where Fassbender’s original comments meant that he did not want to be pulled into the hype of award season. But this has somehow ended up being that he is “bitter” about not being nominated for Shame, and that being the reason he is not actively campaigning for the Oscar now. And how, from this point on that’ll be part of his narrative, which is bunk.
Just wanted to clarify since the comment seems to come out of nowhere.
Thanks from me here as well. As someone with (limited) experience in the entertainment industry (but currently doing something way different and somewhere else) it’s nice to get some insight. I am surprised and amused at how much is adjudicated to the talent when they are in fact a small part of a bigger process/system. And it explains why the Weinstein bros throw their support behind certain nominees over others with comparable distribution rights/agreements.
I agree with your comments almost entirely. I do wish he had done a little more promo after the festival circuit but how his campaign is run is mostly up to the studio.
I also think a lot of academy voters will not see 12 Years a Slave. It is taxing, gruelling, harsh, dark. a gut-wrenching experience. I loved the movie but I doubt I will see it more then two or three times in my lifetime- it is hard to re-watch.
I think the studio is backing Lupita and I bet a host of voters will vote without seeing the film.
I have seen all the performances in the supporting actor category, and Fassbender’s is the best of the bunch. He is vile, evil. ferocious, self-loathing,… having said that Leto is very good in a type of role the Academy loves and can feel good about.
Even though Fassbender’s work in 12 Years is superior he was never going home with Oscar. As to campaigning for the film, I think that is best served by Brad Pitt and the producers with more star power. As for campaigning for Lupita and Chiewtel, I do wish he had tried to support them a little more but the brilliant Chiewtel has only a small chance and Lupita had this locked up since the festival circuit.
These awards are rarely based on performance and it is who you know, what the narrative is, and how hard the studio pushes for you, and does your movie have momentum.
Thank you!
Nothing more to add.
Sooooo… he wants to win on the merits of his performance, as opposed to how much a** he kisses. SHAME ON HIM!!!
C’mon people… really?
Seriously. I hate those never ending Oscar campaigns too. Everyone liked Natalie Portman and Anne Hethaway. And then they started those Oscar campaigns and now everyone hates them. Even after year or two. Oscar campaign can kill career. Reese Withespoon’s career of A-lister ended after her Oscar win. Halle Berry went downhill, Kate Winslet basically vanished after she got Oscar. I still don’t understand why. One moment she was in every movie and then disappeared. People still hate Anne and Natalie.
I’m already getting annoyed with Mathew and Jared after this years campaigns. And I liked them before. Jennifer Lawrence knew that she has to disappear after her win to escape that curse and hate. And she escaped even this year from spotlight. I’m sure that she has smart people around that tell her to stay low because people would get tired of her if she will be in their face all the time. Fassbender did smart thing and did not campaign. He would not win anyway.
She has stayed low (while Lupita has been literally everywhere) but is still winning the damn awards, lol. I guess the voters really enjoyed her performance. People will find any reason to hate on people, tbh. I feel bad that Anne and Jen felt like they had to disappear.
I know this comment can be unpopular. After watching 12 YAS I had the feeling that, doesn’t matter how brilliant is, Fassbender won’t win an Oscar for that role. Why?
Yes, AMPAS loves villians in supporting categories, but these villians are completely different to Fassbender. They love: a. Charismatic albeit cartoonish villians (Hans Landa, The Joker), b. Terrible people with moments of redemption or humanity (Mo’Nique in the last act) or c. Villians with violent antiheroes (Bardem with Brolin as dark antihero with dubious motivations). A despicable villians with classic victims/heros NEVER win or even get nominated (Just ask Ralph Fiennes, Albert Brooks or Laurence Olivier). Having Ejiofor and Nyong’o as the hero/victim and Fassbender character being repulsive and horrible didn’t help with their chances.
Another point in consideration is the political controversy if Fassbender wins playing as a slave owner. With Ejiofor frontrunner status being unsurpassed since January, having Fassbender as a frontrunner would make a lot of backlash and controversy with his Oscar especially with African-American critics and “liberal” bloggers -Example Sasha Stone-. Remember how many people were angry to Meryl Streep? Imagine the headlines like: “Fassbender steals Ejiofor chance” or “Of course AMPAS rewards the villian and not the hero”. Finally, Leto character, whatever you like it or now, have the best light for being “politically right”.
At the end, campaign or not, Fassbender doesn’t have any real chance to win to this character.
I’m sure that Michael Fassbender would lost his Oscar to Jared Leto even if he would campaign. Sometimes campaign does help, sometimes nothing can help. Those critics take one actor/actress and then give them every movie award during that season. And no one can do nothing. Like it was with Mo’Nique, Jennifer Hudson, Heath Ledger, Anne Hethaway, Natalie Portman, Daniel Day-Lewis etc. It happens with Cate Blanchett . It’s annoying and people lost interest long before the ceremony.
And it happened with Jared Leto this year. They chose him and decided to give him every award. And even if Michael would campaign day and night it would not help. And I feel sorry for Fassbender. When movie premiered everyone said that he was so good and that he has that Oscar in the bag and no one can challenge him. Then Jared Leto showed up with his movie and they all decided to give Best Supporting Actor this year to him. Michael understood it at the Golden Globes and didn’t bother to show up on other award shows. I hope he will not come to Oscat too. Why bother? They will give it to Leto 100%.
Those other nominees, can you imagine – they have to go to every awards show, knowing that there is zero chances that they will win, then have to sit, do brave and neutral face, then clap when winner in announced and pretend that they are so happy for the winner….
Only Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto, Lupita Nyong’o, Jennifer Lawrence, Matthew McConaughey and Leonardo DiCaprio should prepare speech. Others know that they only have to show up, smile and clap to the winners. You know turns out that Golden Globes are the most interesting show. Because it’s the first one and no one knows who will get it this year. After Globes they just basically repeat the same winners.
Hard to campaign if you are shooting a movie at the same time all this hoopla is happening, he has to be cut some slack for it. Directors will give some time off for award season but not that much time.
One has to keep cognizant of the fact that many a great actor has either never been nominated for an Oscar or never won one.
The fact that Fassbender isn’t Oscar campaigning won’t hurt his chances. What hurts him is the comments he made about why he isn’t campaigning, like he deserved to win an Oscar for earlier work. That annoys the other voters. Actors do have to play nice to some extent, attend the luncheon or whatever, but people in the industry understand work schedules. His attitude hurts him most.
If he doesn’t want to campaign, I’m not really sure what the big deal is. I personally don’t care that much if an actor decides to promote his/her latest movie or not. I rarely watch any nominated movies anyways. It’s all a popularity contest in the long run, and not who gave the best performance and it happens every year. In the long run, winning an Oscar doesn’t mean much.
Case in point: Anna Paquin was one of the youngest ever to an Oscar for The Piano–this is hardly ever mentioned when people talk about her these days. Same goes for a lot of actors. Just my two cents.
Can someone explain the appeal of Fassbender? I know he’s a good actor, I’ve seen a few of his films, but I don’t usually enjoy his interviews. I just wanted some more input. Thanks.
Awards should be given for the performance not for the interviews because you are nominated. This is why I find the oscars fake
I don’t get why some ppl. are saying that Fassy is bitter about not being nominated for Shame in 2011 (for which I think he was robbed of a nom. btw.)
If I were him, I wouldn’t want to raise my hopes so high again and end up being disappointed to and I might not campaign either cause it seems tiresome and it is sad that actors have to campaign hard or kiss ass like cough*Portman and cough*Hathaway, for example, just to win an Oscar.
I would like it if Fassbender won the award cause I thought he was great in TYAS but when Leto wins, (and I know he will) I won’t be surprised and I actually will NOT be sour about it cause he was quite good in DBC however…………..
Fassbender will still have a more successful acting career than Leto regardless.
Well, if Fassbender can’t win in UK without Leto and having the British support… Yes, even if he was campaigned he would still lost the awards.
Awards should be given for the performance but the fact is, people simply forget about movies if they aren’t right in front of them. Hence, the reason people campaign. It only really backfires on them when they overdo it. Anne was practically manic last year, and it was made even worse because that was a very weak category and she really didn’t have any competition. Jessica Chastain had photogs taking photos of her walking to the theater every.single.day to try to work it. People who don’t campaign simply get left behind more often than not.