Top 10 Performances The 2020 Oscars Didn't Recognize

#10: Robert De Niro

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“The Irishman” (2019) This film, which languished in development hell for years, was a real labor of love for Martin Scorcese. Thankfully, the end result was well worth the wait, and has been called among the director’s finest work. No one was surprised when it wound up getting nominated in 10 categories at the Academy Awards, but what did leave fans flummoxed though, is the fact that a nod for the titular Irishman wasn’t among them. Co-stars Joe Pesci and Al Pacino were both nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and De Niro’s performance was right up there with them. De Niro admittedly plays Frank Sheeran as cold and a man of few words, but however understated, it’s a powerful performance nonetheless.

“Rocketman” (2019) There are a number of factors that go into predicting which actors and films will be nominated for the Academy Awards, but the Golden Globes are widely considered to be among the biggest predictors. Actors in “Musical or Comedy” category often get left out in the cold by the Oscars, but considering Egerton won the category and “Rocketman” was a musical biopic with plenty of drama to it, he seemed like a shoo-in. The film won over critics and cinemagoers alike, and that’s in no small part thanks to Egerton’s committed and moving performance, but for whatever reason, he didn’t make the cut. Oddly enough, the film earned just one Academy Award nomination (best original song) despite it receiving a standing ovation from Academy voters at their screening.

“The Farewell” (2019) This American comedian, rapper and actress is best known for her ability to make people laugh - both on and off-screen. But given her performance in “The Farewell”, we should all prepare ourselves to be seeing a lot more of this talented multi-hyphenate in dramatic films. “The Farewell” follows a family who, after discovering that the grandmother has just months to live, reunite for what they expect to be the last time that they are all together. The twist? They’ve decided not to tell the grandmother about the diagnosis. Awkwafina plays the lead role of Billi, a grand-daughter who understandably feels conflicted about the lie she’s being asked to keep. Her performance is both humorous and heartfelt, but sadly, “The Farewell” went entirely overlooked by the Academy.

#7: George McKay

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“1917” (2019) This war epic, directed and co-written by Sam Mendes is jam-packed with recognizable faces, but most of them only have a few minutes of screentime. “1917” is filmed in such a way as to make it appear as if you’re watching one continuous tracking shot and it’s George MacKay who’s largely responsible for carrying our attention as he navigates one incredibly tense scene after another. Though likely an unfamiliar face to North American audiences, MacKay received a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2014 and the Trophée Chopard at Cannes in 2017. Considering the performance he delivered in “1917”, many expected him to add “Oscar-nominated” to his list of accolades, but out of the 10 nominations “1917” earned, Best Actor wasn’t among them.

“Us” (2019) This talented actor plays not one but two leading roles in the 2019 film “Us”. And as both Adelaide Wilson and the terrifying Red, she manages to make each character feel fully-fleshed out, complex and -most crucially- relatable. Adelaide is a mother of two traveling with her husband on vacation to Santa Cruz, where she had a traumatic childhood experience. Unfortunately, this return trip proves far more troubled. Not long after arriving, the Wilsons are accosted by murderous doppelgangers led by Adelaide’s own mirror image. It could be argued that the heady themes and striking visuals distract from the performances, but when you rewatch a scene like this it’s hard to come up with a justification as to how Nyong'o got overlooked.

#5: Jennifer Lopez

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“Hustlers” (2019) We’re really upset about this one, not just because J.Lo deserved to be recognized for this incredible performance, but because her opportunities to be nominated are few and far between compared to most. J. Lo only seems to take on acting roles sporadically, and romantic comedies are, by and large, her bread and butter - and they rarely generate major award attention. As Ramona Vega, the stripper with a heart of gold turned criminal mastermind, Jennifer Lopez delivered the best performance of her career to date. She embodied the sort of fierce, unapologetic female empowerment that is still woefully under-represented on the big screen. Here’s hoping that, in lieu of an Oscar, this role at least brings her more opportunities to showcase her acting talent.

#4: Song Kang-ho

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“Parasite” (2019) Regardless of what happens come Awards night, this movie has already made history. It is the first South Korean film to be nominated for Oscars in the categories of Best International Feature Film, Best Picture and Best Director, for a total of six nominations. While that’s great, it really should have been seven. Though he plays a supporting role in this ensemble cast, and despite being an unfamiliar face to western audiences, Song Kang-ho is considered to be among South Korea’s greatest actors. Even in a film full of notable performances, he stands out. Song Kang-ho has been recognized by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, among others, but really… he deserves an Oscar nomination.

#3: Florence Pugh

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“Midsommar” (2019) Are we being greedy? Maybe! But if Scarlett Johansson can receive dual recognition for her two excellent 2019 performances, then why not her “Black Widow” co-star, Florence Pugh? The young English actress is already nominated in Best Supporting Actress category for her role as Amy March in “Little Women”, but her leading role in “Midsommar” was equally impressive. In filmmaker Ari Aster’s second feature-length movie, Pugh plays Dani, a young woman who, after a murder-suicide claims the lives of her family, travels to a commune in Sweden with a group of friends. Pugh is tasked with conveying a wide range of complex emotions as Dani navigates her recent trauma and the horrifying events that occur at the commune, and the end result is a captivating performance.

“The Lighthouse” (2019) After the success of “The Witch”, filmmaker Robert Eggers followed it up with “The Lighthouse”, a claustrophobic and thoroughly chaotic, uncomfortable film that follows two lighthouse keepers as they descend into madness during a lengthy storm. As the two men forced into tight quarters, cut off from the rest of the world with little to do but work, quarrel, eat and drink, both Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe deliver inspired performances. Each deserves a nod from the Academy, as they both manage to channel Daniel Day-Lewis levels of intensity. But of the two, Dafoe definitely feels the most wronged for having been omitted from the nominations. Like “Midsommar” we’re guessing “The Lighthouse” was just too odd of a film for the Oscar voters. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions Robert Downey Jr. “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) Ana de Armas “Knives Out” (2019) Paul Walter Hauser “Richard Jewell” (2019) Christian Bale “Ford v Ferrari” (2019) Alan Alda “Marriage Story” (2019)

#1: Adam Sandler

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“Uncut Gems” (2019) This iconic comedian has put out far more than his fair share of groan-inducing movies over the years. As such, it’s easy to forget that, when he applies himself, Adam Sandler is actually an extremely talented actor. He’s proven this multiple times over with his roles in films like “Punch-Drunk Love” and “The Meyerowitz Stories”. But his performance in “Uncut Gems” is without a doubt his greatest to date. He plays jeweller and gambling addict Howard Ratner as manic, infuriatingly deluded, and yet… he makes you care for him. Wendy Ides of “The Guardian” rightfully called it one of the best performances of the year, but as Sandler tweeted after the nominations came out “Sandman gets no love from the Academy.”