Can an actor give an Oscar-worthy performance without ever appearing on-screen?
Fox certainly thinks so. Tom Rothman, co-chairman and CEO of the studio, has launched the campaign for Andy Serkis to receive an Oscar nomination for his performance as ape Caesar in "Rise of Planet of the Apes" — even though his face never appears in the film.
Rothman points out, "The emotionality — what you see and what you feel — he did it. I saw him. I watched him. Then they digitally overlaid — you can think of it as a costume — the skin and the hair of an ape. But I tell you the thing that people felt — and a lot of people were moved when they saw the movie — is because of his performance." He was quick to add, "Tom Hanks didn't have to say any dialogue in 'Castaway' for it to be a great performance." (OK, so Hanks did have a handful of lines… but we'll let it slide.)
Not everyone is happy with how the Academy treats these untraditional performances, however. The debate about what makes an actor an actor started back when Serkis played Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings," THR recounts. And it's no secret that James Cameron was annoyed that the "Avatar" actors were ignored by the voters.
But Rothman has hope. "I give the Academy much more credit than most people do," he said. "I don't think they are old and stodgy. I think they are smart and with it, and I'd like to think they are going to get it."
Only time will tell whether the voters are "with it" (and with him) or not.
