J
Jenn The Editor

Best Actor or Lifetime Achievement Award?

With the news of Demi Moore getting an Oscar nomination for her role in The Substance, it begs the question of if these performances are really Oscar-worthy or is it more like a lifetime achievement award?

 

It seems like the industry likes to give-in and award Hollywood veterans for playing the long game rather than the awarding based on the actual merit of their performances. I think Demi is great in The Substance and she will likely take home the Oscar—but did she really out-act all of the other nominees or is this the Academy's way of saying thank you for your years of service?

 

Other examples of this include Brendan Fraser in The Whale, Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer, Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once, and even Leonardo DiCaprio winning for The Revenant (should have been for Gilbert Grape, or Catch Me If You Can, or Wolf of Wall Street, etc, etc).

 

Do you agree? Is it a game of politics, or are these truly outstanding performances?

 

 

Mentioned in this piece

Demi MooreBrendan FraserRobert Downey Jr.Jamie Lee CurtisLeonardo DiCaprio

Comments 4

B
Bob WoolseyJanuary 25, 2025
Oh, I totally think the actor's body of work factors in. Same with other categories like director too. It can also work the other way where if someone has won, it's that much harder to win again because they already have one.
L
Lucas.January 24, 2025
I agree with the Downey Jr. award but I think Fraser earned it. 
I don't love the "lifetime achievement" theory but I guess I get it. If you give it to who's the best, then Chally would have like 5 already. Not to mention veteran heavy hitters like DiCaprio or Merryl Streep. Streep was nominated a bunch of times but only has won Best Actress twice. I guess they just don't want it always going to the same ppl. Politics as usual
I
IshikaJanuary 24, 2025
Award shows especially like the Oscar’s will always play a game of politics. If it was up to me I’d base it off merit and a mix of viewers choice. If an actress/actor is getting it only because it’s long overdue, I feel like it negates the entire purpose o their career like they only acted to get this one award. There’s countless directors and actors who are going on to make tremendous films without ever winning an Oscar. I like Demi Moore but her acting in the substance and life time career achievements shouldn’t grant her the award. But Oscar’s never usually does what you should either so who cares. the Oscar’s also never gives the award to anyone younger than 30 from what I’ve observed because I don’t think they appreciate actors in their 20s as much as high stakes established actors.
J
Jenn The EditorJanuary 24, 2025
Replying to Ishika: periodd