MovieChat Forums > Jacob Tremblay Discussion > How do you even begin NOT to nominate th...

How do you even begin NOT to nominate the kid...


I watched it last night and my hands were still trembling with emotion when I went to bed. Yes, Im a 33yo guy and I was touched by the movie, and I watch films almost every day, that's saying something.

Brie Larson was phenomenal and she deserves the Oscar they will probably give her, but I cannot believe that everyone talks about her performance more than that of Jacob Tremblay.

His perfomance as Jack is THE performance of the year, and probably the decade and I would dare say even more than that. I cannot understand for the life of me, how everyone was commenting on Larson's and not so much on Tremblay (even though yes, she was indeed phenomenal), and even LESS that he wasn't nominated for the Oscars.

What he did was more difficult and complex. First, he was an 8yo playing a 5yo. I have kids and anyone can tell you there is WORLD between a 5 and 8yo. I just watched an interview where he said he used his cousins (who were 5) as a reference and noticed how the jump all the time, so he did that to act like a 5yo. Outstanding!
Now, the thing with child actors is that they have to act like a child, and that's easy because that's what they are. But Tremblay had to act like a 3 years younger kid who did not know the outside world, and then is thrown into it and every discovery was a journey, and he did it SO convincingly I was in awe the whole movie, I could never see through his acting, the deep psychological endeavor he conveyed was incredible, like when he is on the truck, you believe he is seeing everything for the first time, and you believe he is, while coping with all these new things, trying to escape and follow his mums instructions, when he lands and doesn't even know how or where to run and just clashes into someone, and then assumes fetal position, when he is in the cop car, WOW, you really believe he is someone who never talked to someone else before and is mentally "limited", when he hears a phone ring for the first time and gasps, when he doesn't even know how to use the stairs, he so believable and he was 8 F*! years old. ANY actor would find it hard to pretend they don't know the world, and this kid did just that.

How!? I am so impressed. Sorry Leo, this kid got the better of you. I will still watch the oscars and be glad for Leo because he also deserves it, even though Tremblay gave the performance of the year, no doubt. I am in disbelief that he wasn't even nominated, to me is a real travesty.

Thoughts?

reply

I have four kids and eight grands. What you said of the difference between 5yo and 8yr couldn't be more true. Jake's mastery of that was ,to me, the most phenomenal part of his performance. Without that, nothing else would have been so believable. I don't think you would see an 8yo playing in the sunlight or screaming that loudly at his mom. They're just too 'cool' for that kind of 'kid' stuff.

Although I wouldn't take one thread of praise away from Brie, I still don't understand why Jake wasn't, at least, nominated for every award...

reply

I'm glad I am not the only one who feels this way. Jacob Tremblay's performance has to be one of the best I’ve ever seen from a child actor. Jacob Tremblay’s performance is so heartbreaking, it will devastate you. I was incredibly moved by his performance. His snub for an Oscar nomination has to be one of the biggest snubs in Oscar history. There is talk about the Oscars being racist yet no one wants to talk about how one of the best child performances of the twenty-first century got snubbed? It has been a few days since I have seen the movie yet I still think about it and his performance. That is how good it is.

I’m a grown man (21 years old at that) who doesn’t cry watching movies but I balled my eyes out watching Room. I cried like a baby. Room is such a devastating, heartbreaking film. At the same time, Room is so beautiful, inspirational, and even hopeful. The film shows how even when we face the most traumatizing, adverse experiences in our lives, we can overcome them to live better lives. That is how I felt about Room.

The movie's ending where Joy and Jack see Room for the last time with Jack saying goodbye to Room for good has to be one of the most tearjerker endings I’ve ever seen. I didn't want to force it but when Jack was saying goodbye to everything that was a part of Room, the waterworks came right out of me. It is so moving and hopeful but will drain you emotionally just watching it.

Jacob, if you ever read this, just remember that you were incredible in this movie and best of luck on future film/TV roles. Way to go!

reply

Jacob gave an amazing performance! He doesn't need an award to prove that but surely he will get recognized soon. Great job Jacob!

reply

He did get the Critic's Choice Award for Young Actor.
A SAG Awards Best Supporting nomination.
National Board of Review gave him a Best Young Actor award.
And he won Best Actor at the Canadian Screen Awards.

He was being pushed for Best Supporting at the Oscars,but he was really playing a lead role.


The Wizard Has Spoken

reply

I remember the look on his face when he's lying in the back of the truck looking at the world he's never seen before. Amazing moment... can't believe he put so much into that look.

Definitely deserved it more than Leo and wasn't even nominated.

reply

actually he was 7 when they filmed it

reply

Add ME to the list of people who feels that Jacob (and many other young actors) was cheated by the academy that refuses to recognize child performances as worthy of consideration.
If I could give him an Oscar myself, I would do so.
Before IMDB boards were taken down, I had a very glowing comment on Jacob and his performance. I also had very critical thoughts about the academy and their lack of recognition of young actors and actresses. It is absurd that with all of the categories they have awards for, they dont have one for young actor and young actress. The roles are very different from their adult counterparts and the demands are specific to their age group. For the most part, (with a few exceptions) only a child can play a child; particularly for young age groups. WHY should children go unrecognized or why should they have to compete with adult actors.
Room hinges on TWO main characters and neither can exist in their parts without the other. The movie couldn't exist without Jacob. His excellent performance is key to the success just as Brie Larsons part is key. What else needs to be said?
Jacob has gone on to do other compelling roles. I particularly liked Book Of Henry. He and Jaeden Lieberher were amazing. A movie called "Before I wake" was made right after Room. Jacob had a leading role. It has never seen a nationwide release.
YES JACOB has been cheated, MORE THAN ONCE.

reply