Like many who watch films regularly and find themselves at their local cinema(s) multiple times a month, I was very curious to see how this year’s Oscar nominations would play out. If you watched any of the films that came out this year, you would know just how many strong contenders there were for each category. Despite the pandemic, the film industry persevered and came out with some amazing titles.
However, the category I felt most passionately about was the ‘Best Actress category. Again, there were a lot of strong contenders–many felt confident that Lady Gaga would snag a nomination for her portrayal of Patrizia Reggiani in Ridley Scott’s other film released in 2021, House of Gucci. Personally, I was happy that she didn’t get nominated as her performance wasn’t anything that noteworthy. Another strong contender was Kristen Stewart for her role in Diana, which she (rightfully) ended up being nominated for.
One name, however, was excluded from the list: Jodie Comer for her role of Marguerite de Carrouges in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. Why she was excluded is anyone’s guess, but I put it down to the terrible marketing of the film that hindered its success.
Comer’s role must have been incredibly difficult and the lack of ‘Best Actress’ nomination makes no sense–especially considering the film’s content. For the uninitiated, The Last Duel features a scarring and brutal scene of sexual assault. Comer’s character is the heart of the scene, her performance is heartbreaking and incredibly realistic. Filming this scene alone should make her worthy of a nomination for best actress.
While this scene is the most notable in the film, Comer’s performance throughout the rest of the runtime is equally strong–something that is an incredible feat considering the amount of attention placed on her character. She is demure when she needs to be, fiery when the plot calls and as the stakes rise, she is the one to carry the film through to the end. While the other performances in the film are strong, Comer is the one that stands out the most.
If you read reviews of the film on the internet, notes about Comer’s incredible performance is a highlight in nearly every article. Why then was she not considered for this nomination?
As previously mentioned, I believe the film’s marketing is to blame. Most know that Scott directed House of Gucci in 2021. How many know that he also directed The Last Duel? Or even saw a trailer for the film at all? With a bizarre marketing scheme that nearly missed even me, someone who follows film news avidly, it makes sense that many individuals never learned about the film’s existence.
However, Comer did not deserve to be omitted from the best actress category due to a fault of marketing.
Do better Oscars (I’m aware that this isn’t a new sentiment, but it still is applicable). While I’ll be watching the ceremony this year, as per usual, I will have a far more critical eye as the winner for best actress is announced. Will the Oscars ever learn from their mistakes? Unlikely.