Robert Redford, who can be seen on the cover of the latest issue of The Hollywood Reporter wearing you grandmother’s favourite knit blanket, was asked at the opening of Sundance about his feelings on not receiving an Oscar nomination this morning (like, how do you think one is going to respond? “I FEEL GREAT!” said no one). He, graciously, said it’s not bothering him, and wants to focus on Sundance. When pressed, he continued on saying “Hollywood is a business, and it’s a very good one, and I have nothing but respect for that…
we had no campaign to help us cross over into the mainstream.” This statement has some of you up in arms because it comes off as though he is disrespecting the film and everything involved. Is he though?
He’s not wrong. As I’ve said countless times here, the awards are 60% campaign, 40% talent (rough numbers). This is a game. So when Robert Redford says they had no campaign, he’s not wrong: they had no campaign. He didn’t throw it down. But here’s the thing: neither did Judi Dench. You know who did? Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson. They showed up to things, they did tons of press, Tom Hanks is the f-cking chair member of the ACADEMY ITSELF and wasn’t able to secure a nomination. So, yes, they didn’t have enough of a campaign for All Is Lost but I don’t really think that is the case here, it’s part of it, but not all of it. I think Leo gained unexpected momentum (with this campaign and with voters and the Academy). I honestly think people were torn between Hanks and Redford and they gave it to Leo. Are any of the three more deserving of the other? No: all great performances that received tons of praise and, at the end of the day, it just comes down to who earned it more. Whichever way you want to take that last statement is up to you.
