Guy Pearce (‘The Brutalist’): Oscar nominee at last after years of close calls?
As of this writing this year’s five predicted Oscar nominees for Best Supporting Actor are Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”), Clarence Maclin (“Sing Sing”), Guy Pearce (“The Brutalist”), Stanley Tucci (“Conclave”), and Denzel Washington (“Gladiator II“). Pearce is particularly worthy of note. He’s currently in second place with 5/1 odds according to the combined predictions of Gold Derby users, and after a long career he’s looking to finally become a first-time Oscar contender.
In “The Brutalist,” Pearce plays Harrison Lee Van Buren, a wealthy industrialist who becomes the most important client for architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody). Ever since his breakout role in 1994’s “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” Pearce has delivered a number of acclaimed turns over the years, but has never been recognized by the academy.
For 1997’s “L.A. Confidential,” he earned a SAG Award nomination as a member of the ensemble cast, and the film went on to receive nine Oscar noms including Best Picture, but he failed to score one for himself. Then for 2001’s “Memento,” he got quite a few critics mentions, and the film received Oscar noms for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing, yet again he failed to crack the Oscars lineup.
Pearce went on to play supporting roles in two Best Picture winners in a row: 2009’s “The Hurt Locker” and 2010’s “The King’s Speech,” but he wasn’t nominated for either of them. However, the latter did at least win him a SAG Award as a member of the cast. Arguably the greatest recognition he has gotten from any peer group award to date was an Emmy for his supporting performance in Todd Haynes‘s 2011 limited series adaptation of “Mildred Pierce.”
Several critics agree that Guy Pearce’s performance in “The Brutalist” is Oscar worthy. David Rooney (Hollywood Reporter) called him “the supporting cast’s real standout,” adding that he’s “in commandingly chilly form.” Meanwhile Peter Bradshaw (The Guardian) says that the sinister Van Buren is “wonderfully played” by the actor. Owen Gleiberman (Variety) comments that “Pearce is often a riveting character actor, but it’s been a long time since he popped in a role the way he does here.” And Stephanie Zacharek (Time) describes it as a “fine, flinty performance.”
So if all goes according to plan, Pearce will finally get the honor that has eluded him for 30 years.