Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen a handful of superhero movies getting some recognition from Oscar voters outside of the usual technical categories (see the likes of Logan and Black Panther), and given its success at Venice, it seems that DC Films’ Joker could find itself right in the mix come awards season.
Marvel’s hopes of this year look to rest on the shoulders of Avengers: Endgame, although despite the fact it broke just about every box office record on its way to becoming the highest-grossing movie ever, there seems to be little in the way of Oscar buzz surrounding the big climax to the Infinity Saga.
Speaking to The Daily Beast about the film’s Academy Award chances, co-director Joe Russo has thrown his support behind Robert Downey Jr. for Best Actor for his final performance as Tony Stark:
“We don’t make movies for awards. Yes, making this was exceedingly difficult. We made the two most expensive movies ever back-to-back. But I just want to stump for one thing, and that’s Robert Downey. I don’t know if I have ever seen—in movie history—a global audience react to a performance the way they did to Robert Downey in that movie. There were people bawling in movie theaters, hyperventilating. I mean, that is a profound performance, when you can touch audiences all over the world to that degree. We’ve never seen anything like that, and if that doesn’t deserve an Oscar, I don’t know what does.”
SEE ALSO: Robert Downey Jr. on his Marvel Cinematic Universe exit
What do you make of Russo’s comments? Do you think Robert Downey Jr.’s performance is worth of Oscar recognition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us @FlickeringMyth…
Avengers: Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Josh Brolin (Thanos), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Benedict Wong (Wong), Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Vin Diesel (Groot), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Evangeline Lilly (The Wasp), Letitia Wright (Shuri) and Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie).
