It’s safe to say that when Josh Brolin gets riled up, he doesn’t mince words. The actor, 56, widely praised for bringing Thanos to life in the MCU, has recently stirred the pot over what he sees as yet another Oscar oversight. This time, he’s got his sights set on the Academy’s failure to nominate Dune director Denis Villeneuve for his visionary work on the 2021 sci-fi epic. And, let’s just say—Brolin is less than thrilled.
This year, Dune: Part Two is back and, according to Brolin, this sequel has only raised the bar. But hold on—this isn’t the first time the Academy Awards has left some serious talent out in the cold when it comes to nominations.
Remember The Dark Knight? Christopher Nolan’s legendary 2008 film redefined the superhero genre, giving us one of the most iconic portrayals of the Joker. Yet, despite its monumental success and critical acclaim, Nolan was snubbed.
Josh Brolin’s Bold Oscar Threat: A Stand for Denis Villeneuve
Well, sometimes, it takes a real shake-up to get things moving. And it looks like that’s exactly how Josh Brolin feels about this year’s Oscar race. The actor is throwing his full weight behind director Denis Villeneuve as the awards season heats up.
In an interview with Variety, Brolin made a dramatic promise: If Villeneuve doesn’t get an Oscar nomination for Dune: Part Two, he’s walking away from acting.
If he doesn’t get nominated this year, I’ll quit acting.
The sequel to Dune (2021) has certainly raised the stakes, and Brolin is quick to point out that it surpasses its predecessor. “It was a better movie than the first one”, he stated, as if it was obvious to anyone who saw it. And, after watching it, Brolin admitted his brain was “broken open”, a feeling he describes as profound, intense, and, above all, powerful.
If there’s any justice in the world, he said, the Academy will recognize Villeneuve’s brilliance. To quote Brolin:
When I watched it, it felt like my brain was broken open. It’s masterful, and Denis is one of our master filmmakers. If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, they’ll recognize him.
Villeneuve didn’t get a Best Director nomination at the 2022 Oscars for his work on the first Dune, though the movie earned nods for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and a whopping six wins out of ten nominations. Dune was nothing short of a visual and narrative triumph, so it was hard for many to understand why Villeneuve wasn’t part of the Best Director race.
The sequel, Dune: Part Two, has only upped the ante, with Brolin returning to his role as Gurney Halleck, the tough, battle-hardened mentor to Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. But if the Academy can look past the brilliance of Villeneuve’s direction, what’s stopping them from overlooking Brolin’s heartfelt threat to step away from acting?
Oscar Snubs: When Directors Like Christopher Nolan, Joe Wright, & Bradley Cooper Were Overlooked
But here’s the rub—this isn’t the first time the Oscars have dropped the ball. The Dark Knight didn’t get a nod for Best Picture or Best Director, and the lack of recognition for Christopher Nolan was downright baffling. Despite racking up eight nominations overall, Nolan’s name was glaringly absent from the Best Director race.
Joe Wright, for example, created Atonement, a visual symphony that left audiences breathless. This film should have sealed his Oscar nomination for Best Director, yet he was also left out in the cold.
Then there’s the case of Moulin Rouge!—Baz Luhrmann’s vibrant, boundary-pushing jukebox musical that still stands out as one of the most visually stunning films of the early 2000s. Despite the film’s many accolades, Luhrmann was still left out in the lurch for Best Director, even with eight nominations in other categories.
Then we have Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, A Star Is Born; it earned rave reviews and an impressive eight nominations. Yet, Cooper himself didn’t even get a nod for Best Director. According to Variety, The Hangover star, 49, admitted to feeling “embarrassed”.
While Josh Brolin’s stance might seem like a strong call to action, one can’t help but wonder: if the Academy ignored Nolan’s Oscar-worthy achievement, how likely are they to listen to Brolin’s impassioned plea?
Will the Academy recognize what’s truly groundbreaking? Maybe, just maybe, this is the year they finally get it right.
Stream The Dark Knight, Dune & Dune 2 on Max.
