Congratulations, Benedict Cumberbatch. I raise my coffee mug in a toast to your Oscar nomination.
This morning I completed an annual ritual: sitting in bed (usually in my jammies) with a huge mug of coffee, eyes focused only on the Academy Award nominations announced live on television. Typically I squeal a bit if a Hobbit or an actor I admire receives a nomination, I take a few notes for one of my writing projects, and then I go to work. That was pretty much what happened this morning (although I haven't completed the "going to my office" phase yet)--but I was more anxious about the nominations than I've been since The Return of the King noms a decade ago.
Given The Imitation Game's shut out at the Golden Globes a few nights ago--and, granted, the lead actor field was crowded with excellent actors who gave brilliant performances--I was not quite so confident that all the film's Oscar promotion, Cumberbatch's exponentially increasing frequent flyer miles, and television interviews would get the desired result. Of course, the Golden Globes and Academy Awards have different voting membership, and success with one doesn't necessarily equate success with the other. Having a successful Oscar campaign is a political part of receiving recognition for exemplary work, although without giving such a moving performance, Cumberbatch would not have been considered for the nomination. After following the film's ups and downs during nomination season, I was pleased (and a bit relieved) to hear his name read this morning.
My mentor during my doctoral program used to say that you do the work for the joy of the work itself; if you receive recognition for it, that's just gravy. If you only do good work in the hopes of receiving recognition, then your priorities are severely skewed. Benedict Cumberbatch does indeed seem to enjoy his work and to take special pride in his role as Alan Turing, but I bet getting that gravy--or award nom--today was a special moment. Undoubtedly some people will suggest that he now will be on Hollywood's gravy train, but I don't believe that. His career track of choosing interesting roles and tackling many diverse projects in a single year, in addition to winning plenty of acting awards throughout more than a decade of professional performances, indicates that he'll continue to take on new acting challenges in the future.
The Academy Award nomination--or even the Oscar--is not likely to be the single high point of Cumberbatch's career, but it is certainly a moment to savor. As Ellen DeGeneres noted in yesterday's Ellen interview, "Now everyone knows your name."
Although I like the "fun" side of his public persona, I feared the photobomb at the Golden Globes looked more staged than spontaneous, and I consequently wondered if, after he received so much online publicity for this second Cumberbomb, he might become better known for his awards antics than his acting. Today's nomination is for the serious actor's seriously good work in a film that received eight Academy Award nominations. I'm a fan because of Benedict Cumberbatch's talent and entertaining, enlightening performances, then, now, and, I anticipate, in future.
Here's to you and The Imitation Game, Mr. Cumberbatch. I'll be watching on February 22.
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