Multiple past Oscar rivals reunited at this year’s ceremony — did you notice?
One of the funniest moments at the recent Academy Awards ceremony occurred when Best Supporting Actress nominee Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”) and Best Supporting Actor nominee Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”) appeared together to pay a special tribute to the talented stunt performers who are so often overlooked for their indelible contributions to the motion picture industry. Blunt and Gosling traded barbs over their “Barbenheimer” feud — the result of their films competing against each other at the box office as well as the entire awards season. If their chemistry suggested anything, it’s that moviegoers are in for a real treat when their upcoming film “The Fall Guy” drops into theaters in May.
While Blunt and Gosling bluntly made light of their dispute, they weren’t the only Oscar presenters with scores to settle. There were several other big Hollywood stars who reunited on the stage alongside one of their past Oscar rivals, or with one of those rivals nominated in a category in which the other was involved. You may or may not have noticed. But in case you didn’t, here are the five most glaring examples.
1. Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer.
The two were on hand to announce the winners of the screenplay awards (Original and Adapted.) If only the show writers had scripted their banter to reference their shared Oscar history. The two were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress of 2011. McCarthy for “Bridesmaids” and Spencer for “The Help.” Spencer would help herself to the trophy as McCarthy would go home the bridesmaid. If only McCarthy had brought up her loss, and let Spencer know how much that it hurt her. Spencer could responded with the ultimate backhanded compliment. “Oh, Melissa. Can you ever forgive me?” McCarthy could have then come back with “Only if you eat one of your own special pies.”
2. Mahershala Ali and Sam Rockwell.
Ali was named Best Supporting Actor of 2016 for “Moonlight.” He relinquished the title to Rockwell for 2017’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” In a strange twist of fate, the two returned the following year for a Best Supporting Actor playoff. Ali contended for “Green Book” while Rockwell was cited for “Vice.” Ali picked up the bookend. Neither has been nominated since then, but the two were on hand for the inauguration of the newest Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer”). Ali should have told Downey, “Here’s hoping that you win this award again, just like me.” Rockwell might have then told Downey, “And here’s hoping that you don’t go up against Mahershala in a co-leading role.” Don’t get played again, Sam.
3. Robert De Niro and Christoph Waltz.
The tensions must have been soaring during the Best Supporting Actor introductions. Two-time winner Waltz (2009’s “Inglourious Basterds” and 2012’s “Django Unchained”) was on hand to salute Gosling for his turn in “Barbie.” It’s probably a good thing that he wasn’t asked to speak about De Niro. In order to unchain his second Oscar for “Django,” Waltz had to waltz past De Niro, who had been singled out for “Silver Linings Playbook.” And Waltz had been rewarded just three years earlier for “Basterds,” whereas it had been 32 years since De Niro had been honored as Best Actor for “Raging Bull.” (He had also taken Best Supporting Actor for 1974’s “The Godfather Part II.”) De Niro appeared to be in good spirits in the presence of Waltz, his former nemesis. But he might have been raging on the inside. Perhaps even thinking, “You inglourious basterd.”
4. Annette Bening and Jennifer Lawrence.
Bening was seated in the audience as a Best Actress hopeful for “Nyad.” (It marked her fifth nom and fifth loss.) Lawrence was on stage, singing the praises of a different Best Actress nominee, Lily Gladstone in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” But 13 years earlier, both Bening and Lawrence were trying the kill the competition for the Best Actress Oscar. Bening was there for “The Kids Are All Right.” Lawrence for “Winter’s Bone.” The two were left in the cold as Natalie Portman in “Black Swan” danced off with the title. Luckily for Lawrence, she would be back in two years to grab the gold for “Silver Linings Playbook.” Meanwhile, Bening is still without an Oscar. Had Lawrence been the one to brag about Bening, she would have had the perfect line. “Here’s hoping that you have your own silver linings playbook, Annette.” Bening could have hit back with “And if I don’t — no hard feelings, JLaw.”
5. Sally Field and Jessica Lange.
There might have been more drama amongst the Best Actress presenters than there was amongst the Best Actress nominees. Did you notice that Field and Lange were on the opposite sides of the stage? Did you wonder why? Let’s go back four decades to the Best Actress race of 1984. Field had placed for “Places in the Heart.” Lange contended for “Country.” Both were already in possession of Oscars. Field for Best Actress of 1979 for “Norma Rae.” Lange for Best Supporting Actress of 1982 for “Tootsie.” It was a tough contest, but voters decided that Field was the best in the field. (That led to the actress famously exclaiming to the audience that “You like me!”) Lange was liked enough to earn three more shots at Best Actress. She finally prevailed for 1994’s “Blue Sky.” However, the “Sky” was the limit for Lange. (She hasn’t been nominated since then.) But Field has fielded one more bid, for Best Supporting Actress of 2012 for “Lincoln.” Will Lange ever compete again? If she does, let’s hope that she faces off against Field. As the Oscars showed us, there’s nothing juicer than seeing former rivals come face to face.
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