The Greatest Showman #1144 - Early Exit

At just twenty-two, Renly's breakthrough with Love Crazy earned him the top Oscar, signaling the start of a highly anticipated career. Many speculated that his awards season journey would slow in the coming years, which was expected, but no one anticipated how quickly the decline would come.

After Transcendence won the Silver Bear Award for Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival, it was rightly considered the front-runner for the awards season. Compared to his earlier works like Buried Alive, Crazy in Love, and I Am Fighting Cancer, Transcendence truly showcased Renly's immense talent. This film was an opportunity for Renly to cement his reputation and had every chance of winning various awards, especially with its Academy-judging-friendly nature.

However, just as the awards season began to unfold, Transcendence seemed to be fading from contention. The big stage had barely been set, and the war for accolades had not even truly begun before Transcendence was already withdrawing from the competition.

Despite this, film critics continued to praise Renly's performance.

When Roger Ebert attended the New York Film Festival, a reporter asked him, "Which actor's performance impressed you the most this year?" Without hesitation, Roger answered, "Renly Hall."

His response was so quick and sure that it caused a stir among reporters. Roger elaborated, saying, "When I first saw Transcendence, Renly's performance left a strong impression. I thought it would be another great performance, but it wasn't just that. For months, his performance stayed with me, constantly on my mind. It wasn't just the character of Henry Barth, but the life and fate of the character. Honestly, I went to Queens to see the educational system there, and the impact Renly's portrayal had on me is still fresh in my mind."

Roger continued, "Sometimes, it's hard to tell if it's the power of the film or the power of Renly's performance, but one thing's clear: the ending of Transcendence, amidst the ruins, with Renly reciting poetry, is one of my favorite moments in film this year."

Roger's unwavering praise underscored the recognition Renly was receiving, and he wasn't alone. In both New York and London, the consensus was clear: Renly's performance was exceptional, and the young actor was making waves.

Renly was slowly but surely breaking through the age and experience barriers and gaining the admiration of seasoned professionals.

For creators like Tony Kaye, who are passionate about film artistry, they care less about awards or box office performance. For them, what matters is pure strength. A good performance is a good performance, and it takes effort to achieve. However, the Oscars are never straightforward.

Awards seasons and film festivals are more than just competitions; they are complex systems where artistic judgment is mixed with public relations, commercial success, and sometimes, politics.

The three major European film festivals use juries to decide awards, which can lead to controversy each year, as these selections reflect the personal preferences of a small number of judges. However, the Oscars are more complex. With over 6,000 Academy judges, the process is less personal and more about comprehensive voting.

This complexity gives rise to Academy PR campaigns designed to sway voters, where strength is important, but luck can also play a major role in securing nominations.

In fact, the success of a film at the Oscars depends significantly on its publicity and commercial performance. For example, of the best picture Oscar winners in the first decade of the 21st century, only three films didn't gross over $100 million at the North American box office: Crash, No Country for Old Men, and The Hurt Locker.

Films vying for an Oscar nomination for Best Picture must also reach certain box office thresholds. Letter from Iwo Jima failed to meet the $8 million minimum required in North America, which helped explain its exclusion from the Best Picture race.

Thus, in the awards season, it's not just about talent; it's also about visibility, box office numbers, and media attention. The influence of money and public relations plays a large role in shaping the final results.

Unfortunately, Transcendence was falling behind in this arena.

Although Renly's reputation in the industry was steadily rising, this particular film failed to gain the necessary traction. With poor word of mouth, sluggish box office numbers, and increasing resistance from audiences, the film had little chance of remaining in the awards season race.

For an art film, especially one that had won the Silver Bear Award, this was a blow.

Objectively speaking, neither Tony Kaye nor Renly had aimed for awards season success. Tony had been largely inactive in terms of publicity, and Renly was busy filming in the UK. They had no regrets about missing the media frenzy.

But the media didn't let it go. They began to express regret over Renly's early exit from the awards race, considering it a missed opportunity for both him and the film. This marked the first real setback in Renly's career, a stark contrast to the successes of previous seasons.

Moreover, there was a tinge of disappointment that Renly would not be able to continue his rivalry with Harvey Weinstein, as they had faced off fiercely in past awards seasons.

The competition between Renly and Harvey in the awards race last year had been intense and dramatic. The Artist had the upper hand, but a backlash involving Hypegate nearly derailed Renly's chances. In the end, Renly staged a triumphant comeback to win the Oscar.

Now, it seemed that this year's rivalry between Renly and Harvey was never going to materialize, as Transcendence had already bowed out early. This felt like an anti-climax to a potential showdown.

Though Transcendence may not have earned the accolades expected, the journey it set out on will surely remain a notable chapter in Renly's career.