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Josh Brolin has raised the stakes for the 2024 awards season, announcing his intention to quit acting if Denis Villeneuve, the visionary director behind Dune: Part Two, is once again overlooked for an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Villeneuve, who was previously snubbed in the Best Director category despite Dune receiving 10 Oscar nominations in 2022, has earned widespread acclaim for his ability to adapt the notoriously complex source material by Frank Herbert into a cinematic masterpiece.
Brolin, who stars in Dune: Part Two, was unapologetically candid in his criticism of the Academy. “It was a better movie than the first one,” he told Variety. “When I watched it, it felt like my brain was broken open. It’s masterful, and Denis is one of our master filmmakers. If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, they’ll recognize him.” His comments not only spotlight Villeneuve’s talent but also raise questions about the Academy’s selection process, particularly regarding the recognition of directors who helm large-scale science fiction epics.
Villeneuve’s reputation as a meticulous craftsman has been solidified with Dune: Part Two, which is already being lauded as a cinematic achievement ahead of its wide release. The director is set to be celebrated with honors at both IndieWire Honors 2024 and the Gotham Awards, further highlighting his influence on contemporary filmmaking. His work in Dune: Part Two reportedly expands the narrative while deepening the character arcs, creating what critics are calling an unparalleled science fiction experience.
Despite the accolades and critical acclaim, Villeneuve himself has maintained a measured perspective on awards recognition. In an interview with Variety, he explained, “As a filmmaker, you’re a lonely wolf. When your work is appreciated by the community, it feels like you’re part of a family. That’s what truly matters to me.” Villeneuve also shared a poignant reflection on the sacrifices involved in filmmaking, admitting that each project requires him to weigh his passion against the time spent away from family and friends.
Brolin’s bold proclamation, however, has reignited debates about Villeneuve’s exclusion from the Best Director category in 2022. At the time, Dune achieved significant recognition, including wins for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects, yet Villeneuve’s omission from the Best Director lineup was met with widespread criticism. Brolin, visibly frustrated by the oversight, expressed his disbelief in a video posted on social media, describing the snub as “unbelievable, almost numbing, flummoxing.”
As Oscar nominations for 2024 approach, Brolin’s passionate defense of Villeneuve underscores the broader conversation about how the Academy values directors of large-scale, genre-defining films. The actor’s willingness to tie his own career to Villeneuve’s recognition has placed additional pressure on the Academy to address what many view as a long-overdue acknowledgment of Villeneuve’s contributions to the art of filmmaking. Whether or not Villeneuve receives the nomination remains to be seen, but Brolin’s statement has ensured that the conversation will not go unnoticed.