One of the best mentions on Oscar nomination morning was for Kodi Smit-McPhee for Best Supporting Actor for Jane Campion’s masterpiece, The Power of the Dog. The young talent has been racking up notices from various critics groups, but it’s not like the type of performance that is generally talked about when debating Oscar chances. People always talk about “the Oscar clip” as if the bigness of a performance is a guarantee at awards glory. What Smit-McPhee does in Dog, however, is controlled, quiet, and fascinating. Smit-McPhee’s performance will haunt you and leave you with more questions than answers.
I was tempted to ask for certainties in my conversation with Smit-McPhee, but I also didn’t want to know things. There is a beauty in the grey area and the unknown, and he agreed that you can interpret a lot of his character’s actions in various ways. Was Peter solely protecting his mother? Is Peter gay or performing? Was there something between his Peter and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Phil that runs deeper?
We need to embrace the mystery. Let Kodi Smit-McPhee lure you in and haunt you.
Over the last 41 years only 4 men in their 20’s have won the Oscar for Supporting Actor – the youngest being (and ever) Tim Hutton at 20 years old. Cuba Gooding Jr and Heath Ledger were 28. So it would be quite the achievement for Kodi to win at 25.
Also his win would only be the 5th Australian man to win an acting Oscar – Peter Finch, Russell Crowe, Geoffrey Rush and Heath Ledger (two of these posthumously).
Critics are certainly passionate for his performance, hence receiving so many critics awards. Globe win is a great boost too. He also hit all other precursors but remains to be seen if they’ll go his way (fingers crossed).
If TPOTD is to win Picture, than Director/Adapted/Supporting Actor is a good combo. So he obviously has a path to a win.
The best acting performance of the year. His critics sweep & AACTA & GG wins was such an unexpected surprise.
As Casey Afflecks’s win showed, you can win with a quiet, nuanced performance, it doesn’t have to be a shouty Look At Me role.
Kodi is unironically the only win I care about this year.
It’s been so gratifying to watch his maturity and growth as an actor, from being a child in Romulus My Father in 2007 to now. I hope this acclaim brings him even more diverse and challenging roles.
Great performance all around very quiet and humble