Last week, Disney officially started its Oscar campaign by launching its For Your Consideration website. Avengers: Endgame, to no one’s surprise, is being pushed for an Oscar nomination in multiple categories (read the full list here). However, what shocked a lot of people was the absence of Robert Downey Jr’s name. After the release of Endgame, many, including directors Anthony and Joe Russo talked about how Robert Downey Jr deserves an Oscar nomination for his heartbreaking performance in the film.
So, many wondered why Disney decided not to include the highly talented actor in their Endgame Oscar campaign. As it turns out, it’s simply because Robert Downey Jr simply wasn’t interested. While appearing on The Howard Stern Show, RDJ was asked why he wasn’t getting championed by Disney in their 2020 Oscar campaign. The actor said:
“I’m so glad you brought this up because there was some talk about it, and I said ‘let’s not’. I’ll tell you the truth. I didn’t expect [the Marvel Cinematic Universe] to become what it became, and it is this very large, multiheaded Hydra at this point.”
Can’t say I blame RDJ. Oscar campaigns are known to be slightly pretentious and very tiring. It doesn’t simply involve The Academy watching a bunch of films and picking who/what they think is best. There’s a lot of networking involved — handshaking, chit-chatting and dinner parties. It looks like Robert Downey Jr is happy and content swimming in his pool of MCU money.
Apart from that, the actor was also asked about what he thought about Martin Scorsese’s comments on the MCU. Just to refresh your memories, Scorsese previously said:
“I don’t see them. I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema. Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”
Downey wasn’t really bothered by it and provided a very diplomatic response.
“It’s his opinion. I mean it plays in theatres. I appreciate his opinion because I think it’s like anything. We need all of the different perspectives so we can come to the centre and move on.”
“In his view — and by the way, there’s a lot to be said for how these genre movies, and I was m happy to be part of the problem if there is one — denigrated the art form of cinema. When you come in like a stomping beast and you eliminate the competition in such a demonstrative way, it’s phenomenal.”
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