My Case to Academy Voters on Behalf of Jared Harris!

Yesterday the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences placed nomination ballots in the mail to be delivered to the voting body of 5,783 members, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. This means that the majority of Academy members will be receiving them today and the remainder will receive them throughout the end of this week. They then have until January 13 to submit their completed nomination ballots.

In the miniscule chance that any voting member of the Academy happens to follow Film Misery, I would like to invite any reader to post their own For Your Consideration ad for a particular category. Make your case in the comments for why the particular film or performance that you favor should be written down on an Academy member’s ballot and submitted.

That was taken verbatim from the offices of one Alex Carlson of Film Misery, and it definitely got me out of the funk I've been in for the past couple days, and I'm here writing again so I might as well take him up on his challenge. I'd suggest the same for you. So here's my plea, after the jump of course.

Dear Anonymous Academy Member,

I understand that the race is pretty much locked and sealed at this point with scarcely a mention of this particular performance, but please consider Jared Harris in the Best Supporting Actor category for his shaking and meticulous performance as Moriarty in "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows". The film arrived to solid, but unastonishing box office numbers and few really pushing for the film in the higher categories, but it's fresh enough in mind for people to be aware of it.

Jared Harris' performance was far from the showy and extravagant nature that landed men like Javier Bardem, Heath Ledger, and Christoph Waltz this award in the past. Instead, Harris uses an innate physicality in his performance, gleaning slight emotional and psychological ticks that register through the grizzle of his inescapable face. Each line of dialogue, however unextraordinary, is delivered with extreme relish and passion, with not a dot out of place.

The one sequence of the film in which he truly goes extravagant, singing passionately while simultaneously torturing Sherlock Holmes, is arguably one of the most unnerving displays onscreen this year. Jared Harris has had a strong history that has been equally overlooked. While mostly taking on recurring appearances in television programs like "Mad Men" and "Fringe", he's had supporting performances in films like "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", as well as taking on the role of Ulysses S. Grant in Steven Spielberg's current film production, "Lincoln".

Here's hoping you hold him with as much attention as you are his competitors.

Sincerely,

Duncan Houst

Film Addict