John Cusack
What does an actor with such a rich and eclectic filmography as John Cusack have to do to receive some attention from the Academy? Does he need to stand outside of the Dolby Theatre with a boom box and crank up the Peter Gabriel until they come to their senses? That may be extreme, although hilarious. Even though Cusack is one of the most likeable and assured actors working today, it is bizarre that he is so hard to find. He has been in more than 70 films over 30 years, but he has kept a low profile. Cusack’s dense resume is filled with some terrific original screenplays (from Say Anything… to Grosse Pointe Blank). He can easily shift from horror (1408) to comedy (Hot Tub Time Machine) with that offbeat, sweet-natured underdog persona audiences have loved since his Lloyd Dobler days.
Among some of the highlights from a remarkable career include a devastating turn in the little-seen independent drama Grace is Gone and a darkly comic performance as sad sack Craig Schwartz in the absurd modern classic Being John Malkovich. One career highlight was his self-deprecating but heartfelt turn as music (and breaking up) expert Rob Gordon in High Fidelity. However, Cusack so cunningly inserts his own cocksure persona as Gordon that many did not realize the intense emotional range he displayed in Stephen Frears’ comedy-drama. Unsurprisingly, the actor has close to a dozen films on the horizon (according to his IMDb page). With an impressive track record, he is bound to get Academy recognition one day. It’s just a shame he has not been nominated yet.
