The announcement of the Oscar nominees is always a source of disappointment for many, and this year, it wasn’t just Josh Brolin, who was upset about the lack of recognition for Dune 2’s writer-director. In the documentary category, Will Ferrell was hoping for a nomination for his documentary Will and Harper, about his best friend and collaborator Harper Steele’s gender transition. However, not enough Academy members voted for them, and according to the comedian-actor, those who didn’t are "losers."
"It didn’t happen. F*** the Academy! Especially the documentary branch. Don’t hang out with the documentary branch. What losers! I hope some of them hear this now: if you’re a member of the documentary branch, f*** off!" Ferrell said a few days ago. In Will and Harper, which is available on Netflix, he travels across America with his friend after his coming out, in an effort to strengthen their bond and for Ferrell to better understand the struggles of transgender people.
Denzel Washington was not nominated for the Gladiator II early reactions, but the 70-year-old acting legend doesn’t let it bother him too much, probably because he already has two golden statues at home. The Academy didn’t seem to rate Gladiator II highly, as it’s only competing in one category (Best Costume Design). When asked if this bothered him, Washington sarcastically replied:
"Are you kidding? Aww, I’m so upset!" According to the actor, he’s completely satisfied with the film and himself, and doesn’t need external validation. "Look, I’ve seen too much. At this age, there’s a certain sense of reality that comes with it. Wisdom comes through understanding. I’m getting wiser, working on speaking less and understanding more, and that’s exciting."
