Paul Giamatti turned the tables on Leonardo DiCaprio when Oscar nominations were announced, with Giamatti nominated for Best Actor for “The Holdovers” while DiCaprio was snubbed for “Killers of the Flower Moon.” But 19 years ago it was the other way around.
In 2004 the Oscar lineup for Best Actor consisted of Don Cheadle (“Hotel Rwanda”), Johnny Depp (“Finding Neverland”), DiCaprio (“The Aviator”), Clint Eastwood (“Million Dollar Baby”), and the eventual winner Jamie Foxx (“Ray”). Someone who was notably absent that year was Giamatti for “Sideways.”
Prior to the nominations announcement DiCaprio was recognized at every major precursor for his performance as Howard Hughes, a real-life filmmaker, pilot and businessman, in Martin Scorsese‘s “The Aviator.” Among those plaudits, he won the Golden Globe for Best Film Drama Actor. The movie itself received 13 Oscar noms overall, including DiCaprio’s Best Actor bid.
Meanwhile Giamatti received bids from the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards for his performance as a depressed teacher and writer in Alexander Payne‘s “Sideways.” Yet he was snubbed by the BAFTAs. Then on Oscar nomination morning his movie received five bids, but Giamatti was overlooked.
Now, 19 years later, the reverse happened. The Oscar lineup for Best Actor consists of Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Colman Domingo (“Rustin”), Giamatti (“The Holdovers”), Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer“), and Jeffrey Wright (“American Fiction”). This time the notably absent performer is DiCaprio for “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Prior to the nominations announcement Giamatti was recognized at every major precursor for his performance as a curmudgeonly history teacher in “The Holdovers,” another Payne movie. Among his achievements, he won the Golden Globe for Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor and the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor. The movie itself received five Oscar noms overall, including Giamatti’s Best Actor bid.
Meanwhile DiCaprio received nominations from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards for his performance as Ernest Burkhart, a real-life murderer, in “Flower Moon,” another Scorsese film. Yet he was snubbed at both the SAG and BAFTA Awards. Then on Oscar nomination morning the movie received 10 bids, but DiCaprio was overlooked.
Perhaps the next time DiCaprio teams with Scorsese and Giamatti joins forces with Payne in the same awards derby, they’ll get to be nominated together.
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