What's better than the same 5 guys being nominated for SAG, Golden Globes, and Oscars?
Maybe the same guy winning.
J.K. Simmons has swept his way through the awards season on the coattails of his now infamous character of Fletcher, the abusive jazz director that demands excellence and a commitment to honoring the greats. There's almost no chance of him losing now that the nominees have been finalized, and his race is one to take to the bank.
That being said, the flashy Simmons performance has a couple downsides if you're willing to pick a monstrous upset. He's not a big-name actor, and Whiplash was not the sort of film to galvanize the Oscar campaign troops, despite its solid critical response. An actor like Ethan Hawke, let's say, could try to shake and smile his way to a win behind the powerful performance in most-likely Best Picture winner Boyhood. Ed Norton is a small threat as well.
Yet, don't be too smart for your own good. Lock in Simmons.
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Will Win: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Could Win: Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Should Win: Simmons…He was bad-ass.
Should've Been Nominated: Chris Pine- Into the Woods. Pine's scene of singing “Agony” was one of my favorites of the year. Replace Duvall with him…Also, Andy Serkis…Apes….? Anyone?
Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.