RICKY T INSIGHTS Oscar Nominations 2024 Part 2
Sometimes, MIDNIGHT REVIEWS owner and financier RICKY T takes over, providing all the showbiz facts, gossip, and insight that you need.
With the nomination list for the 2024 Academy Awards revealed [include link this time, Barbara], here is part 2 of our inside scoop on all the important nominees. Rest assured, I did a lot of hard work on this one and you should be proud of me, please.
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And if you haven’t checked it out yet, click here for part 1 of our Oscar 2024 coverage!
Mark Ruffalo — nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Supporting Role
Critics and fellow actors alike are praising Mark Ruffalo for his role in Poor Things. But we went on an investigation to dig deep and find out: How did Ruffalo, millionaire Hollywood actor, get himself into the mindset to play a rich, entitled man?
“I read the script. Sometimes they would tell me where to stand. Sometimes I had to wear clothes that weren’t mine. I asked them, ‘Can’t I do this in jeans?’ and they kept saying, ‘No Mark, there are costumes.’ Anyway, it was a real hoot! Like an owl.”
Ruffalo then proceeded to hoot like an owl for ten minutes. Just as expected: Ruffalo provides the unexpected.
But Mark Ruffalo isn’t just an actor. The nominee has garnered attention online for his research into global conspiracies and injustices, including into fracking companies and oil drillers. He’s also made contentious statements about conspiracy theories around the 9/11 attacks, stating he didn’t believe ‘buildings fell down like that’. Ruffalo winces.
“Look, I played The Hulk. I did my research into The Hulk and Hulk-type things and… I guess I just realised, after reading The Incredible Hulk #411, I realised Savage Hulk would be a 9/11 Truther, he’s just that sorta personality, and I guess I just got too into character and then I made those statements. I highly regret any hurt or offence I caused to anyone.”
When queried on the fact that he had made those statements years before playing The Hulk, Ruffalo waved his arms around and yelled, “Time travel!” before moving on to other research he’d done for the Marvel role.
“Professor Hulk, he’s more of a TikToker, more of a friendly online presence, probably does book reviews in his spare time, but Savage Hulk? Definitely a conspiracy guy. You ever think about the JFK assassination, the grassy knoll? That’s a green knoll, ain’t it? I got a theory for ya: Hulk smash.”
Ruffalo, 56, is nominated for Poor Things.
Jodie Foster — nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Supporting Role
Nyad, the story about an elderly woman swimming, was for some reason underseen by mass audiences. But recognition has come in the form of two Oscar nominations for acting, one for Annette Boeing and the other for Jodie Foster. We spoke to Jodie Foster about her thoughts and what it feels like to be on the list for a supporting role.
“It’s wonderful. I get such a rush, knowing I’ll be supporting Da’Vine Joy Randolph as she gets the award.”
What sort of applause is Foster going to give when Randolph goes up on stage? Whoops and cheers, or respectful clapping?
“Probably open with respectful clapping, but then maybe a whistle when she mentions something good in her speech? What do you think?”
We think it’s classic Jodie Foster. Unexpected, and high-class.
And what about rumours Foster was going to disguise herself as Randolph in order to upstage her and steal her award from under her nose?
“No way. Not tall enough.”
Foster, 61, is nominated for Nyad.
Ryan Baby Goose — nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Supporting Role
Hollywood heart throb Ryan Baby Goose, starring alongside Robbie Margot in the criminally underseen Barbie, really put the work in playing Ken. He told us all about it whilst Russell Crowe went to get him a coffee.
Baby Goose, according to sources close to the star, went full method with his performance in order to play the plastic toy. This included dyeing his hair, whitening his teeth, and paying top surgeons thousands of dollars to smooth his chest and torso into one solid piece of flesh. Any truth in this?
“It’s all true, except for the bits that aren’t,” he replies, pressing the button on his back that enabled him to karate chop. He hands over the slice of bread he’d just sliced for me. It was crumpled and torn. Baby Goose simply shrugs, slightly embarrassed.
“Having a karate chop action sounds like something everyone wants to have,” he explains, readjusting his plastic hair. “But people don’t really know what it’s like. Sometimes privilege comes with its downsides. I thought having this hand -” he motions with the smooth, plastic hand he’d ordered doctors to use to replace his real, human hand, “would be great for massages and stuff. But apparently not.”
The actor rolls his eyes and slaps his forehead. What was wrong with the star who has it all, including patented kung-fu grip?
“I keep forgetting; I shouldn’t say ‘and stuff’,” he says, twisting his plastic hand so he could use it to pick up a glass. There was nothing inside it, but he gulped it down all the same.
And what about rumours from other sources that revealed he had been seen frequenting a bowling alley throughout production? When questioned, staff let us know that he had been using their ball cleaning machine in order to buff his torso to a fine sheen.
“I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this interview,” Baby Goose laments. With a twist of the mechanism on his chest, a parachute explodes out of his back and he shoots out the window behind him, never to be seen again.
Baby Goose, 43, is nominated for Barbie.
Cillian Murphy — nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role
After spending an entire week with Robert Downey Jr., we spent fifteen minutes sitting down and talking to Cillian Murphy about his acting in Oppenheimer, which he’s nominated for an award for, for Best Actor. We spoke to the man on a sunny day while he was wearing a blue hat. It was windy.
“It was a great experience. You know, I’m not normally one for fame and attention, but it’s worth it for the work I got to do on this film.”
What was it like working with one of the modern-day greats in Chris Nolan?
“Of course, as soon as Chris asks you to sign up, you sign up, even if he doesn’t have a script to show you. Of course, he did have a script, because he’s super-prepared. But I had to read it there and then, in ten minutes, and give it back to him.”
Why was that?
“Secrecy is Chris’ game, even if it means there’s only one copy of the script and no electronic back-up. So I gave it back to him afterwards and he locked it in the briefcase shackled to his wrist. I think he had to re-write the script at one point after he accidentally dropped it in a thresher.”
And did you have access to the whole script before signing on?
“You know, Chris likes to keep things so secret that I didn’t even realise I was signing up for a film. I thought I was signing up for an avant-garde dance piece until I realised the script was in code. Chris told me they were watching him at all times, and he couldn’t let them get a hold of the script.”
And who’s they?
“The Secret Society, of course. Chris knows all about them, being the brilliant man that he is.”
And… what do this ‘Secret Society’ do?
“I don’t know, Chris wouldn’t tell me because it’s a secret, but like I say he let me have the script for a few minutes and I signed up straight after reading the title. Oppenheimer. Genius. Naming the film after the person who the film is about? The man’s leaps and bounds ahead of everyone.”
And… did Chris Nolan let anyone else see the script?
“No, secrecy was so tight that no one else knew their lines. As tempting as it was, he told me not to tell them because it was a secret. I remember one day, I remember because it was the day Justin Bieber was fired for stepping off his mark one too many times, Chris came up to me and told me that if anyone found out what their lines were, he’d know it was me. He repeated it. He’d know it was me. Then we shot the scene and everything went terrifically.”
Okay, let’s move on. What was it like to work with such a veritable cast?
“The entire production, all the cast and crew, were terrific, every single one of them. Not a foot wrong, on any day, no mistakes and no one argued or did anything bad.”
Nothing went wrong? Ever?
“Nope.”
The entire production?
“No.”
And no slackers?
“Not one.”
None at all?
“No, everyone really bought their A-game.”
Not even a runner or PA who was, like, ‘this is just a gig for me, I gotta pay the rent, really I wanna direct’?
“No. Chris wouldn’t stand for it.”
At this point, Murphy brought his voice down to a whisper. I felt like I was about to be let in on one of the great secrets of the movie industry. I leaned in close.
“He never stands for it. Oh hi Chris, I was just talking to -”
Murphy, 47, is nominated for Oppenheimer.
So there you have it, people. Part 2 of our inside scoop on the important Oscar nominees ahead of the awards ceremony, which is being hosted by Kimmy Jallon on March 10th.
Remember to check out part 1 here and subscribe to the blog to get instance and exclusive access to part 3.
Ricky Amadeus Taurus is the financier and chief operator of MIDNIGHT REVIEWS. He is also a full-time commenter, art critic, actor, philanthropist, and ski instructor.
