The Coen Clan: Steve Buscemi, John Goodman and John Turturro
They are three of the most idiosyncratic character actors of the last 30 years and many of their career highlights have come courtesy of Joel and Ethan Coen. Often compelling and unsettling at once, this trifecta of terrific actors has turned in some of their finest work for the Coens but also have such a sterling resume of outstanding leading and supporting roles filling their filmographies. The fact that none of these men have heard their name called is something the Academy should reverse… or spend the rest of their days atoning in the Hotel Earle.
Buscemi is one of the eclectic actors working today who takes roles equally smart and smarmy. A renowned actor at the Lee Strasburg Institute, he remains a dedicated talent in all sorts of films. He has even worked as a director for film and television (including beloved episodes of The Sopranos and 30 Rock). Although he reached a bravura leading-man status as Nucky Thompson on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Buscemi is best known for playing pesky, crazed criminal types. A scene-stealing supporting talent in films like Fargo, Reservoir Dogs, Big Fish and Armageddon, Buscemi’s unhinged characters are iconic and unforgettable. The closest he came to cranking out an Oscar nomination was as the sensitive, intelligent Seymour in Terry Zwigoff’s cult film Ghost World – a comedy that may have been too quirky for the Academy’s tastes.
Meanwhile, Buscemi’s animated rival in Monsters Inc. and bowling partner in The Big Lebowski (except on Shabbos) has also built a stellar career of work on film and television. John Goodman has appeared on the Academy’s radar with a variety of terrific roles. He even starred as Hollywood producers in the last two Best Picture winners, The Artist and Argo. Goodman’s first big role was on Broadway for the musical Big River, where he earned a Drama Desk nomination for his role as Huckleberry Finn’s dad. From there, he brought heft and humour to roles in Barton Fink (a career highlight, as the title character’s mysterious neighbour, Charlie Meadows), The Big Lebowski (as the stern, unhinged Walter Sobchak) and Flight (as ostentatious fixer Harling Mays). His darkly funny turn as an acerbic jazz musician in Inside Llewyn Davis could have sealed him a nomination, but the part was likely too brief to resonate in a crowded year.
Both Buscemi and Goodman received Golden Globe nods for Best Supporting Actor (for Ghost World and Barton Fink, respectively) but failed to earn an Oscar berth. Continuing that tradition among the Coens’ favourite collaborators is John Turturro, who got a nomination for Quiz Show at the Globes but not with the Academy (instead, the less deserving Paul Scofield got nominated for Redford’s terrific 1994 drama). His turn as a real-life game show contestant swindled out of winnings in a cheating scandal by Ralph Fiennes’ Charles Van Doren is just one of many electrifying parts in Turturro’s career. Among them are several outstanding turns for Spike Lee – especially in Clockers and Do the Right Thing. Meanwhile, Barton Fink is one of the finest characters in the Coen oeuvre, mostly thanks to the actor’s unnerving and multi-faceted performance. Even though he has not collaborated with the Coens or Lee in some time, Turturro is still one of the most overlooked actors by the Academy.
