Plummer's unique Oscar trajectory

Christopher Plummer seemed destined to be one of those great screen actors never recognised by the Oscars in their scrabbling to reward starlets and box office favourites. For six decades he beavered away, appearing in many memorable movies and giving plentiful award-worthy performances. Then, aged 80, he received what seemed like a token, late in life Oscar nomination. It happens occasionally that a well-liked veteran lucks into a throwaway, usually chanceless one-off mention (Sam Elliot did it just this year). Plummer never stood a chance of winning for The Last Station but he is a favourite of mine so I was happy at the recognition, although I certainly wouldn't count it among his best work.

Then two years later he swept the televised awards for his lovely performance in the slight but likeable Beginners - giving one of the best Oscar speeches in memory. As 'gold watch' Oscars go it was a worthy one.

And then just last year he became the oldest acting nominee in Academy history for stepping in and terminating Kevin Spacey in All the Money in the World. While I enjoyed his performance quite a bit, I'm pretty sure that was largely a good sportsmanship reward. His first mention that season was at the Golden Globes and I am pretty sure that must have been the quickest turnaround from shooting to a major award nomination in cinema history.

Very, very odd - a sixty plus year career, over 200 credits - then three Oscar nominations in his eighties. I doubt we shall ever see such a trajectory again.