Brian Cox, the acclaimed actor from HBO's Succession, has recently expressed his disdain for the Academy Awards, dismissing them as "absolute nonsense."
He argues that the Oscars are overly focused on high-profile films released during the so-called awards season, rather than considering the full breadth of a year's cinematic work.
In a candid discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, as reported by Breitbart, Cox voiced his criticism of the Oscars' selection process. The Oscars are absolute nonsense because everything thats judged in the Oscars, its not a years work. Its just the work that comes out between Thanksgiving and Christmas, he stated. I think it makes those awards a fallacy quite honestly, because theres a lot of other good work that goes on outside of what they call Oscar season.
Cox's critique extends to the recognition of individual performances. He cited his role in the 2017 film Churchill, where he portrayed the iconic British prime minister. Despite the film's summer release and independent status, Cox believes his performance was superior to Gary Oldman's Oscar-winning portrayal of Churchill in The Darkest Hour. Our film came out in the summer, and it was a relatively independent film, so you havent got the power of the studios behind it, he explained. So my film never even got a look, and I still think my performance is a better performance [than Oldmans].
The Succession star also touched on the controversial topic of Kevin Spacey, whose career was derailed during the #MeToo movement. Despite Spacey's acquittal on assault charges in both the U.S. and the U.K., his return to work remains a contentious issue. Cox, however, advocates for forgiveness and a second chance for the actor. Maybe he got too out of hand, but I dont think he should be punished endlessly for it. There should be a case of forgive and forget. Lets move on. I think he should be given the opportunity to come back to work.
Cox's comments underscore the ongoing debates surrounding the Oscars' selection process and the potential for redemption in the wake of public scandal. His views reflect a conservative perspective that values individual merit and the capacity for personal reform.
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