Nine Actors Who Deserve Oscar Recognition This Year, But Won't Get It

The Academy Awards are a confounding presence in Hollywood, their awards have a major impact on any given winner or nominees life. However, the ceremony seems to have a stern refusal to give notice to anything that utilizes comedy, action or animation, a bizzare practice that means much of Hollywoods best features get no recognition. A similar lack of recognition is inevitable for these eight actors, whose roles this year were superb showcases of their talent, but due to numerous factors (release dates namely) won't be given proper recognition. Without further ado, here's Nine Actors Who Deserve Oscar Recognition This Year, But Won't Get It!

I'm diving this up into the four main acting categories, and all but one of them have two actors for each category.

Best Actor:

Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel): Fiennes fit right into the engrossing world of Wes Anderson, with his ability to mine both comedy and pathos out of M. Gustave being a wonder to watch. His dynamic with his new lobbyboy Zero was similarly terrific to watch, as was his proper attitude that (mostly) held up under any circumstances, even prison sirens.

Bill Hader (The Skeleton Twins): I was particularly impressed by this performance by how badly it could have gone. Instead of surpassing lowly expectations though, Hader gave vibrant life to a human being that's full of pain and sorrow, masking it with a distant and sarcastic personality. His monologue about a former bully in his schooldays is gut-wrenching, especially since Hader plays it in a more subtle way than other actors might have taken it. 

Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler): Oh Louis. Perhaps one of 2014's most distinctive cinematic characters, Leon is never without some witticism about hard work or some video he picked up of a terrible crime the night before. Gyllenhaal makes sure that there isn't just distance between Louis and the other characters in the film; there's an entire world of basic human functioning, including a care for human life, that separates him from the world he inhabits. Seeing Gyllenhaal perform that is a marvel to behold.

Best Actress

Shailene Woodley  (The Fault In Our Stars): The YA-novel resurgence in modern cinema has been called a terrible thing by many, but it's brought many great movies and performances to the screen, chief among them Woodley's turn as Hazel, a girl with cancer whose jaded attitude might have been irritating in another actors hands, but Woodley makes sure to play up the pain hidden beneath the confidence that makes Hazel a captivating creation.

Marion Cotillard (The Immigrant): Hey. This movie is incredible, and it's on Netflix, and you should watch it ASAP if you haven't. Cotillard is perhaps the best element of a film filled with great aspects, namely in the way she plays with the numerous tragedies the movie tosses at her in a devastating manner. Plus, she manages to be the rare actor who can match Joaquin Phoenix in acting capabilities when performing in a scene with the illustrious actor. 

Best Supporting Actor

 Tyler Perry (Gone Girl): I really have no idea why Gone Girl hasn't played a bigger part in the Oscar race so far, but along with Rosamund Pike's astonishing performance, Perry should be the one given some form of recognition on Oscar night from the Gone Girl cast (I'd also say Affleck, but the Best Actor category is insane this year). He adds in moments of humor into the film, but Perry's primary accomplishment in the film is in being the perfect "normal person" to react to the chaos unfolding in front of him. The more insane the case of Amazing Amy gets, the more Perry becomes a fascinating spot of tranquility in a sea of madness.

Bradley Cooper (Guardians Of The Galaxy): Vocal work has not been given proper dues in Hollywood and Cooper's obvious snub from the Oscars this year will be the next in a long string of failed opportunities to recognize the voiceover communities contributions to cinema. What a pity, as Coopers excellent performance as Rocket would have been a great chance to right that wrong. Rocket works in many moments as the ultimate bad-ass, but it's in scenes where he interacts with the other members of the ensemble cast that the true wonders of the performance come out, with moments of both comedy and emotions being executed in a potent manner.

Best Supporting Actress

Rene Russo (Nightcrawler): As the film starts, Nina is just looking for more scoops to put in her news programs. Louis has such scoops. Not much of a problem right? But as it slowly dawns on her that Louis might be much, much more than he seems, Russo plays Nina's dawning realization in a tragic manner, while also making sure the conflict she feels about potentially giving up these bountiful scoops is also conveyed brilliantly.

Tilda Swinton (Snowpiercer): There are subtle performances. There are over-the-top performances. Then there's Tilda Swinton in Snowpiercer. As Mason, she's got a get-up like no other and a personality even more outlandish. Seeing her act so out of her depth once things start going against her is a joy to watch, as is any other moment she commands the screen.