Ethan Hawke: The Award Whisperer

Ethan Hawke, the man, the myth, the Oscar-nominated legend! With his recent nod for Best Actor in Blue Moon, he’s basically making a career out of collecting awards like they’re Pokémon cards. But here’s the kicker: our buddy Ethan knows just how much real talent gets overshadowed each awards season. I mean, let’s be real; the Oscars aren’t exactly perfect when it comes to spotting brilliance, right?

Feeling Disappointed and Naming Names

During his acceptance speech, Hawke couldn’t help but think about all those incredible performances that left the Academy shaking its head like a confused grandparent. “At 55, I’ve had my fair share of Oscar morning blues. It’s tough not to remember all the fabulous folks who crushed it this year!” And then he went on a bit of a rant—name-dropping like a pro!

Shining Some Light on Unsung Heroes

Among the many mentions, he gave a big ol’ shout-out to Jess Plemons, who’s downright magical in Bugonia. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it yet, what are you even doing? Hawke also lifted the curtain on Lee Byung-hun’s jaw-dropping performance in No Other Choice. And let’s not forget about Dwayne Johnson doing his thing in The Smashing Machine. Yes, you heard it right! And George Clooney in Jay Kelly? Come on, now!

Oscar Nominee Limbo

But here’s the catch: the Oscar realm is a bit of a chaotic house party—there’s only so much room for nominees! While ten films can strut their stuff in the Best Picture category, the acting nominations are more like an exclusive club with only five spots. So, in a year bursting with talent—from Michael B. Jordan dazzling in Sinners to Leonardo DiCaprio being, well, Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another—who ends up on the cutting room floor?

Applauding the Most Underrated

Plemons? A dreamboat! He’s played everything from a cold-hearted assassin in Breaking Bad to the sweetest dude ever in The Power of the Dog, and he’s nailing it all! In Bugonia, he swings from decent chap to a guy spiraling into paranoia after a family tragedy. And yes, we still root for him despite him totally losing it!

The Epic Lee Byung-hun Journey

Then there’s Lee Byung-hun, whose filmography looks like a buffet of incredible roles! Starting from his time with Park Chan-wook and the classic Joint Security Area, to his badass ninja days in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, he’s moved onto international fame with Squid Game. In No Other Choice, he does the impossible—makes a desperate murderer feel relatable. Seriously, I’m not sure how he pulls it off, but it’s genius.

The List Goes On

This is just scratching the surface! Hawke’s list could go on forever—think Joel Edgerton in Train Dreams, Vahid Mobasseri’s stunning performance in It Was Just an Accident, or Liam Neeson giving us a chuckle in The Naked Gun. The talent pool is endless, overflowing like my bowl of popcorn during a movie marathon.

The Final Wrap-Up

As fun as it is to celebrate the five shiny nominees, let’s not forget the treasure trove of talent that’s out there! Hawke’s wisdom is a much-needed reminder that there’s an entire galaxy of fabulous performances waiting to be recognized. Let’s keep those names in our hearts because one award can’t encapsulate the magic of the craft!