Unlikable characters that won Oscars

[RobertPius Joined: Nov 22nd, 2012 Topics: 258 Posts: 1745 View Predictions]

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Strikes me that Laura Dern could be the rare case where an unlikable character wins an Oscar.

What are some others you can think of?

There are of course out right villains like Hannibal Lecter and Nurse Ratched but they are sort of likable in that they are so outstandingly menacing.

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[ArtIsntEasy Joined: Dec 17th, 2011 Topics: 2 Posts: 1017 View Predictions]

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Jeremy Irons, Kathy Bates, Joe Pesci all won in the same year for playing unlikable characters. Seems like that isn’t as common an occurrence.

Although more recently you have Daniel Day Lewis, Tilda Swinton, and Javier Bardem all winning the same year.

“The art of making art is putting it together...”

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[GermanGuidanceSystem Joined: Jan 28th, 2014 Topics: 7 Posts: 149 View Predictions]

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RobertPius wrote:

Strikes me that Laura Dern could be the rare case where an unlikable character wins an Oscar.

What are some others you can think of?

There are of course out right villains like Hannibal Lecter and Nurse Ratched but they are sort of likable in that they are so outstandingly menacing.

Bearing in mind ArtIsntEasy’s reply, do you think the Laura Dern character is not deliciously or aspirationally unlikeabe?

I do agree that it would be striking for a ****ing divorce lawyer character to achieve an Oscar win!

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[Tooner Joined: Dec 8th, 2019 Topics: 2 Posts: 281 View Predictions]

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Monique and Alison Janney are big ones too

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[Seven Joined: Dec 21st, 2016 Topics: 9 Posts: 3189 View Predictions]

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Mo’Nique was the Devil itself. And no, her tearful scene at the end doesn’t excuse her in any way, she’s still evil

 

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[James Breheney Joined: Feb 15th, 2017 Topics: 11 Posts: 460 View Predictions]

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ArtIsntEasy wrote:

Jeremy Irons, Kathy Bates, Joe Pesci all won in the same year for playing unlikable characters. Seems like that isn’t as common an occurrence. Although more recently you have Daniel Day Lewis, Tilda Swinton, and Javier Bardem all winning the same year.

I wouldn’t say Pesci’s character in Goodfellas is unlikable. He’s so outrageous that he’s funny and scary at the same time.

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[James Breheney Joined: Feb 15th, 2017 Topics: 11 Posts: 460 View Predictions]

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De Niro (Raging Bull), Forest Whitaker and Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds).

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[RealLyre852 Joined: Aug 31st, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 207 View Predictions]

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Sam Rockwell (3 billboards) and J.K Simmons (Whiplash)

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[M: The Original Joined: Aug 5th, 2014 Topics: 57 Posts: 6496 View Predictions]

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Seven wrote:

Mo’Nique was the Devil itself. And no, her tearful scene at the end doesn’t excuse her in any way, she’s still evil

But who who was going to love her?

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[Dan Jo Joined: Aug 16th, 2017 Topics: 6 Posts: 765 View Predictions]

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James Coburn, Elizabeth Taylor in Virginia Woolf, Jon Voight

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[RobertPius Joined: Nov 22nd, 2012 Topics: 258 Posts: 1745 View Predictions]

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Lots more than I thought! Maybe I should have made this thread most irritating characters to win. Dern’s character is really grating. I guess that comes with the turf for divorce lawyers.

I wonder if she’ll lose any votes because she reminds divorced academy members of divorce lawyers they’ve had to deal with. (still predicting her for the win though.)

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[oscarin7 Joined: Dec 25th, 2016 Topics: 0 Posts: 278 View Predictions]

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• Kathy Bates in Misery
• Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs.
• Charlize Theron in Monster
• Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men.
• Mo’Nique in Precious.
• Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds.
• Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine.
• Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club.
• J.K. Simmons in Whiplash.
• Allison Janney in I, Tonya.

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[Teresa Chavez Joined: Jan 8th, 2020 Topics: 0 Posts: 229 View Predictions]

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Someone mentioned Liz Taylor for Virginia Woolf, you can’t top that.

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[fefface Joined: Jan 14th, 2020 Topics: 2 Posts: 522 View Predictions]

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RobertPius wrote:

Lots more than I thought! Maybe I should have made this thread most irritating characters to win. Dern’s character is really grating. I guess that comes with the turf for divorce lawyers. I wonder if she’ll lose any votes because she reminds divorced academy members of divorce lawyers they’ve had to deal with. (still predicting her for the win though.)

I think it’s been mentioned that she’s based on Dern’s actual divorce lawyer.

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[LLLhawks Joined: Dec 28th, 2018 Topics: 32 Posts: 762 View Predictions]

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I think you meant characters who are outright unlikable even in a villainous role. BTW, I don’t count Dern’s character as one of those. I didn’t mind her role in Marriage Story. Anyway…

Since this is now a more subjective thread than ever, here’s portrayals I disliked (because they’re annoying, etc) that won the Oscars

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards

Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener

Jack Nicholson, As Good As It Gets

Mercedes Ruehl, The Fisher King

LOL. But like I said, that’s subjective at this point.

 

I just love movies. And awards.

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