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He may not have been nominated this year, but Michael Shannon probably enjoyed Oscar night as much as anybody else.
On March 4th, the 90th Annual Academy Awards aired. The movie The Shape of Water directed by Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro cleaned up, taking home the awards for Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Production Design and, finally, Best Picture. The film was also nominated for seven other awards.
The Shape of Water starred Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg and Octavia Spencer. The movie tells the story of a secret government lab that houses an aquatic fish-man and the mute maid, played by Hawkins, that eventually befriends and falls in love with the fish-man. Yes, the plot sounds a little bit strange, but when you’re watching a Del Toro movie, you’re bound to encounter films with storylines like this.
Much of the cast was in attendance at the Oscars ceremony to help celebrate the movie’s achievements. One notable absence was Shannon, who plays the movie’s villain. Shannon was in a Chicago dive bar, the Old Town Ale House, watching the ceremony on mute on a small TV just above the bar. The bar is well known amongst those in the performing community in Chicago, as it is located near some of the city’s theatres and comedy clubs. Shannon is currently in Chicago directing a play and was thus unable to attend the Oscars this year.
There is something to be said for enjoying a ceremony like the Oscars by yourself. No distractions, no fuss, just you and a TV screen, watching the best movies of the year get the awards they deserve.
Shannon’s performance in The Shape of Water earned rave reviews, deservedly so, but let’s make sure another brilliant performance of his doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.