r/Oscars • u/Somethingman_121224 • Feb 24 '25
News Guy Pearce: ‘I’m not going to win the Oscar – Kieran Culkin will’ | Movies
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/25/guy-pearce-im-not-going-to-win-the-oscar-kieran-culkin-will120
u/ProcrastinatingVerse Feb 24 '25
I mean fair play to him for being honest.
I will say that although I'm glad Kieran Culkin is gonna win, I'm also glad Guy Pearce is finally getting some recognition with this performance after having a long career that's largely gone overlooked.
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u/Striking-Treacle3199 Feb 24 '25
I agree with this! Kieran and Guy are my favorite performances tied with Clarence Macclin who I wish was nominated.
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u/Living-Mastodon Feb 24 '25
Temper your expectations in advance so you're not as disappointed on the night, Guy Pearce is one of the most underrated actors of his generation
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u/ohio8848 Feb 24 '25
Seeing him finally nominated was one of the true highlights of this award season. Same with Isabella Rossellini.
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u/thepomadeguy Feb 24 '25
And it’s a shame that this is the race that’s already over. Pearce’s performance was outstanding and imo he should be the front runner this year.
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u/AddisonDeWitt_ Feb 24 '25
Underrated as an actor for so long. I found his performance in the Brutalist to be persuasive and intellectually stimulating
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u/chadhindsley Feb 24 '25
Even the part when he went full Bill Cosby?
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u/AddisonDeWitt_ Feb 24 '25
This is why I never do business with reddit users. The spics of Europe.
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u/GardenStateKing Feb 25 '25
My friends and I (all Latin) sucked our teeth so damn loud when he said that. "Ofcourse he'd say that"
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u/jamesmcgill357 Feb 24 '25
As a huge Guy Pearce fan, I’m kinda sad this race has been so one sided. I like Kieran and his performance, but I don’t think it was SO good that he should have won every single award over Guy this whole season.
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u/tomhankspartyhat Feb 24 '25
I loved Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain and he’s a worthy winner, but Guy Pearce was probably my favourite thing about The Brutalist. I would love to see him win it, if not because he’s truly, truly earned it, then because the Oscar’s are going to be SO boring with predicable, samey winners in every category. 🙄
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u/sunflowerf0x Feb 24 '25
I love Kieran and am happy he's getting his flowers but at the same time Guy Pearce's performance was incredible. There was so much complexity to that character and his demeanor and he was such a solid antagonist. He should have at least won one of the major awards.
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u/Count3D Feb 24 '25
It’s unfortunate this recurring theme that despite Pearce having a “better performance”, Culkin win seems forgone conclusion. I’ve only seen The Brutalist but I really thought Pearce deserves an Oscar. His character is awful, full range. It’s a true supporting performance, matches Brody’s intensity. “Brave nastiness”… and he has a career of high-quality movies and good, unique performances. I really do want to see Culkin because I hear he is also really good. Does seem a bit like cheating that he’s in the supporting character category.
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u/Filmmagician Feb 24 '25
I don't even think Kieran should win. Nothing that blew my socks off. Seemed like 80% was just him / variation of Roman. We'll see I guess
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u/DavidKirk2000 Feb 24 '25
Having seen both movies, I think it’s flat out ridiculous that Culkin is dominating the award season this much. I’d be fine with either winning, but I do think that Pearce gave the better performance.
It’s also actually a supporting role, but I guess that doesn’t matter too much.
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u/reclamationme Feb 24 '25
I’d say Ed Norton as Pete Seeger was also a much more deserving performance than Culkin’s.
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u/ForgetfulLucy28 Feb 24 '25
I dislike Ed Norton and I’d still give it to him before Culkin. He gave a terrific performance.
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u/emiremire Feb 24 '25
Such an unremarkable performance and everyone’s drooling over him. This is truly the only hype I don’t understand this season and I can even see why some people are into Emilia Perez lol. Pearce is the better option by all accounts. People act like Culkin is entitled and owed an award. So weird. He must have a great pr team, from category fraud to this, all sound calculated tbh
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u/Theodore_Buckland_ Feb 24 '25
Culkin was great but it just felt like Kieran Culkin doing Kieran Culkin.
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u/ObviousIndependent76 Feb 24 '25
You’ve met Kieran Culkin?
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u/emiremire Feb 24 '25
Not op but I agree with the op. You don’t need to meet him. He just did a variation of his Succession character
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u/ObviousIndependent76 Feb 24 '25
It’s a huge departure from Fuller in the Home Alone movies. Wait. Is it tho?
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u/petry66 Feb 25 '25
There is an overlap in both characters, but saying "he just did a variation of Roman Roy" sounds dismissive and even absurd. Both Benji and Roman have something in common: they don't think much before speaking due to different reasons: Benji simply lives in the moment and doesn't think much about the consequences of his actions; on the other hand, Roman also didn't think much before speaking because he could get away with anything and never had to face consequences.
So yeah, this particular trait of both characters make it seem like it just felt "Kieran Culkin doing Kieran Culkin" but comments like this clearly show that the person saying this doesn't know anything about acting, writing or character development. Fortunately it's not a bunch of Redditors voting for awards.
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u/Economy-Chicken-586 Feb 25 '25
I haven't seen succession yet so to me it felt fresh and lovable. I definitely support Culkin but I admittedly haven't seen Brutalist yet.
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u/pelican122 Feb 24 '25
People confused best performance by “who is doing the most acting,” it’s the case with Culkin
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u/Correct_Weather_9112 Feb 25 '25
he’s still good but his performance makes a lot of sense with the character he plays in the context of his film. so its not like im mad at this win
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u/Shagrrotten Feb 24 '25
I like when actors have this kind of attitude and acknowledge what we all feel too. I remember Juliette Binoche being asked what she thought about her chances to win when she was nominated for Chocolat, and she kinda chuckled and said "I have no chance, Julia (Roberts) is going to win, and I'm fine with it."
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u/SirDrexl Feb 24 '25
Reminds of when Judi Dench declined to attend because she wasn't going to fly across the pond to watch them give Helen Mirren an Oscar (for The Queen).
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u/Shagrrotten Feb 24 '25
Yeah, nothing wrong with that, I think. Unless maybe when you’re Ellen Burstyn and you get so pissed off that you didn’t win for The Exorcist that you don’t attend the next year when you end up winning for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
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u/pralineislife Feb 24 '25
In reality she should've won. I adore her performance in Chocolat.
Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy JR in Erin Brokovich and it's not a bad win, but not the strongest female performance that year.
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u/JiveHawk Feb 24 '25
An interesting quote in there is him wondering if it’s okay that he has an Oscar nom lol
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u/jshamwow Feb 24 '25
He's right. I think he probably should've won over Culkin (who is great, but really? This performance isn't that special that it deserves to win every single precursor).
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u/CB_xo Feb 24 '25
Kieran Culkin plays Kieran Culkin in every role. I suppose it does help having Emma Stone be your cheerleader as she is so universally loved by everyone in Hollywood
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u/cobaltfalcon121 Feb 24 '25
I’d say Guy gave the better performance, but I enjoyed Kieran’s performance more, if that makes sense
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u/inokumas Feb 24 '25
I love Kieran and I don't even think I'd be upset if he won the Oscar (even if he's not personally my number pick) IF the race had been more up in the air and some of the other nominated supporting actors had taken home some hardware over the season. The fact none of the other nominees even seem like they're in contention is wild to me.
I haven't seen Anora yet so I can't comment there but Pearce, Norton and Strong were all great and deserve more buzz 😔
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u/Few-Lifeguard7750 Feb 24 '25
i really wish Kieran was just on lead instead of supporting because i think Guy Pearce gives THE supporting actor performance of the year imo
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u/KennedyWrite Feb 24 '25
Would be great if Jeremy Strong came out of left field and one it, he was better than both them
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u/MFBish Feb 24 '25
Kieran is in the same vehicle as Ryan Reynolds for me, one trick pony. Fast talking wise ass shtick gets old quick.
Guy deserves the win
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u/Striking-Treacle3199 Feb 24 '25
I mean, if I was nominated for an Oscar and had a great performance in the film I dedicated myself to, I’d be proud of that and if someone was sweeping all the awards I wouldn’t really be upset I’d like to think I’d be real about it too. He could surprisingly win, but it’s more likely Kieran sweeps and he gives a great performance so it’s not like there should be any bitterness. If I was winning all the awards or even just a few, I still would hope I wouldn’t be arrogant about it either. Most of the supporting actors have worthy performances and awards are nice but their work is why they are actors and I like when people have integrity in what they do. 😎
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u/TheClownIsReady Feb 25 '25
I absolutely loved Kieran in “A Real Pain” but his performance basically seemed like a near replica of his “Succession” character, with a little hyperactivity and A-D-D thrown in. Doesn’t he basically play the same fast talking, wisecracking joker role every time?
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u/ton_logos Feb 24 '25
What they did with this category this year was so boring. Could've been an interesting race ideally between Pearce and Strong.
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u/TakenAccountName37 Mar 02 '25
A four-way race between those two, Culkin, and Norton. That's how it should be or so one would think.
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u/im_rapscallion86 Feb 24 '25
Sigh. Kieran is great. But. He played himself, again. He needs to show a bit more range before he receives such a high accolade, something Pierce has been doing his entire career. But he isn’t the popular nominee.
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u/Piss_Pirate44 Feb 24 '25
I hope Kieran's speech is 10 seconds max. All of his acceptance speeches have been cringe
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u/badfortheenvironment Feb 24 '25
They're booing you because you're right. Category fraud speeches should be played off after 10 seconds.
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u/ChartInFurch Feb 24 '25
Why?
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u/Piss_Pirate44 Feb 24 '25
Cause the supporting actors awards are normally the ones that lead the show. These opening categories have the chance to set the tone for the evening, and him going up there with his "awe shucks look at this hunk of metal I just won. Yippie for me ha-ha. But seriously tho uh ya" schtick is not enjoyable to watch. It can lead to some fun moments at times (him calling out Pedro at the globes) or it can lead to some rather awkward moments (him jinxing Brody at the SAG awards). If there is something you feel compelled to say then by all means use the platform you have earned and say it, if not then give your thanks to those you love and get move on. Going up there with nothing to say, and then using the entire time they've given you to say a whole lot of nothing is just wasteful imo. Maybe it doesn't mean a lot to you but it does mean a lot to a ton of people, treat the award and the ceremony with the respect it deserves
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u/jenneany Feb 24 '25
I think everything you’re saying is valid, it just comes across to me as someone who’s actually really nervous and uncomfortable and that’s how he plays it off. I get that it’s super annoying to some people and borderline disrespectful but some people are awkward weirdos who don’t know how to take compliments and recognition (source: I am one of those weirdos). And at least he’s funny 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Piss_Pirate44 Feb 24 '25
Very true. Everyone deals with success and compliments in their own ways.
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u/ChartInFurch Feb 24 '25
Why can't they just give a speech and leave the setting of "tone" to the producers? This jinxing thing is beyond ridiculous and he's not responsible for how that view turned out, not for giving a certain type of speech bc of where other people choose to put his category. Your dislike of a certain, vaguely described speech type doesn't make it disrespectful, and you definitely don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to "saying a whole lot of nothing".
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u/Piss_Pirate44 Feb 24 '25
You asked and I answered. Sorry you don't like my opinions. I agree the tone is ultimately up to the producers, but acting like the award winners play no role in that is disingenuous. I totally understand that the votes were already counted for and he didn't actually physically jinx Brody or change the outcome of the award in any way. But still, he found himself in that spot bc he didn't have anything to say and was trying to riff on the spot.
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u/ChartInFurch Feb 24 '25
And then I responded to your answer. Sorry that I don't consider assumptions (which are actually disingenuous) and what time an award is presented as valid reasoning.
And if you didn't think he jinxed anything, why say he did?
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u/dazzler56 Feb 24 '25
Wow I did not realize this was Pearce’s first nomination, I thought for sure he made it in for LA Confidential. I hope he’ll be back, if it were up to me he’d have like 10 nominations by now.
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u/ale_cat Feb 24 '25
I’ve always been a fan and I am so happy she’s nominated. Probably the only thing I was super happy about
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u/dpsamways Feb 25 '25
Have to agree, although Guy was amazing. Kieran is sweeping up all the awards.
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u/drspock06 Feb 25 '25
It reminds me of when Sterling K. Brown said last year in The Graham Norton Show that Downey will win.
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u/ObviousIndependent76 Feb 24 '25
He’s not wrong. I do think actors score a few extra points if people are anticipating a good acceptance speech. Kieran has that going for him too.
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u/Signiference Feb 24 '25
I think his final scene in the movie really takes away from his performance in voters minds, which was otherwise outstanding, but really sputtered out at the end.
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u/MLG32 Feb 24 '25
Very true, Pearce had the better role but Culkin had the better character.
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u/Signiference Feb 24 '25
I watched the brutalist two nights ago and I watched a real pain earlier in the week and man, I agree with everyone who has said that Culkin is definitely not a supporting character in this movie, he’s basically the main character. The scene with Guy Pearce, where him and Brody are just talking about Pearce‘s mother and they get interrupted in the middle of it is such a fascinating scene, I would watch two hours of that back-and-forth conversation. He really did a great job fleshing out that character and all the nuances in it and I really thought Culkin just played himself and then during the manic episodes I wasn’t buying his acting at all. I don’t think people are gonna look back fondly on this race and say that Culkin was the right decision here.
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u/AwTomorrow Feb 24 '25
Agreed about that dialogue scene. Pearce is able to say so much about his character through his performance, both that his character is aware of and that his character isn’t. It’s rich as fuck.
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u/kerblamophobe Feb 24 '25
Tbh Pearce’s performance was the truer supporting role. Kieran was more of a 2nd lead.