Film fans have taken to social media to claim Ralph Fiennes was “robbed” of an Oscar as rival Adrian Brody swept to Best Actor glory at the glitzy LA ceremony on Sunday night.
The 62-year-old English actor won critical acclaimwon critical acclaim but few gongs for his role as Cardinal Lawrence in Edward Berger’s Papal thriller, Conclave.
In the 2024 drama, Cardinal Lawrence presides over the secretive ceremony to appoint a new pope after the previous pontiff dies.
He must manage the intertwined political intrigues and ambitions of the various churchmen vying for ultimate power over the Catholic Church.
Fans were disappointed to see Fiennes miss out on an Oscar
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Fiennes received a sleugh of award nominations for his performance but fell short of taking home any thus far.
The 62-year-hold lost out to Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown at the SAG awards.
However, Brody's latest award win sparked a fierce debate among viewers at home due to the use of AI in incorporating his character's Hungarian dialect into The Brutalist.
This year marks the third time Fiennes has been nominated for an Oscar, first for Best Supporting Actor in 1993’s Schindler’s List and then for Best Actor in 1996’s The English Patient.
Fiennes starred in Papal thriller Conclave
Black Bear Pictures
As the award was announced, fans took to social media to share their outrage over the snub of Fiennes.
“The fact that Ralph Fiennes hasn't won any major individual awards this season takes him from one of the most underrated actors of all time to the most underrated actor of all time,” one declared on X.
Another questioned: “Once again great actor Ralph Fiennes is snubbed by the Academy. What’s a guy got to do to win an Oscar? @TheAcademy @mrralphfiennes #Conclave #RalphFiennes #Oscar”
“The sublime #RalphFiennes is robbed year on year. Please, have some sense, people! #ITVOscars,” a third fumed.
Meanwhile, others raised the issue of The Brutalist's use of AI, with one even insisting it should've led to Brody's "disqualification" from the category.
"Using AI to enhance your performance should automatically get you disqualified from winning any awards but sure let’s award laziness!" they raged.
Brody won Best Actor despite protest from some fans
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“Adrian Brody winning with ai. art is dead #oscars,” another agreed.
A third sniped: “Adrian Brody should dedicate his award to AI then.”
Despite the controversy, not all agreed the Conclave star was snubbed by the Academy.
"Fiennes is amazing but Conclave didn't ask much of him," one wrote.
"That role wasn't anything special. He just said his line in a British accent like he always does. Brody put his soul in the role," another claimed. (sic)
