Thursday, March 28, 2024

Oscars Irony: Michael Keaton Moves Up to Lead in Race from “Spotlight”

Share

Thanks to the New York Film Critics. They gave Michael Keaton Best Actor in “Spotlight.” They moved him up from supporting actor status. Now he goes straight to the top of the list for the Academy Awards as “Spotlight” is the favored film.

Keaton will win the Oscar in lead. It’s a make up from last year’s loss in “Birdman” to Eddie Redmayne in “Theory of Everything.” Of course ironies abound: Keaton was directed in “Birdman” by Alejandro Innaritu, who now brings Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Revenant.” But Keaton, who’s been waiting longer than Leo for his gold statue, will win. Mark my words.

Moving Keaton out of supporting gives Mark Ruffalo a chance to win in supporting for “Spotlight.” He’ll be pitted against today’s NYFCC winner Mark Rylance, and Sylvester Stallone. Close race, too close to call right now. If Stallone gets the Golden Globe, that may end his Oscar chances. The Academy will swing back to Ruffalo.

The “Spotlight” cast all wanted to be in supporting out of loyalty to one another. But they would lose a lot that way. Case in point: “Boyhood” couldn’t score Best Picture last year because it had no lead actor. (“Birdman” won because it had a best actor candidate, even if Keaton didn’t ultimately win.) “Spotlight” needs Keaton to captain them to gold. And Keaton should– his character, Robbie, holds the answer to a question asked in that movie. He’s the linchpin.

It’s all good for Leo, his day will come. And “The Revenant” will score many prizes. Remember: Some days you eat the bear, some days the bear eats you.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
spot_img

Read more

In Other News