Pop & Circumstance: Justin Timberlake snubbed by Oscars

Pop & Circumstance: Justin Timberlake can ‘Cry Me A River’

Justin Timberlake is no method actor. AP Photo/Columbia Pictures, Merrick Morton.

Justin Timberlake is no method actor. AP Photo/Columbia Pictures, Merrick Morton.

It’s true that Monday, Jan. 24 is historically the worst day of the year, though we have to wonder how Justin Timberlake was feeling on Tuesday morning.

The Oscars were all the buzz yesterday, and while “The Social Network” wrapped up with a whopping eight nominations — including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Original Score (Trent Reznor FTW!!) — Justin Timberlake’s name was no where to be seen.

After taking a break from music to focus on his film career, JT landed a supporting role in “The Social Network” as the pompous Sean Parker, Napster co-founder and general douchebag of the early 2000s. Naturally, Timberlake had hoped that taking the part in a highly-anticipated movie would give him mucho respect among the Academy.

Rumors last fall hinted that Timberlake would start heavily campaigning for an Oscar nom for Best Supporting Actor. At the time, a source close to Timberlake told the New York Post, “He’s hell-bent on getting a nomination this year, even though he has tough competition from his co-star Andrew Garfield. . .Justin is also doing things his own way, including attending Academy screenings on his own and privately reaching out to award winners and Academy darlings Tom Hanks and Kevin Spacey for campaigning advice.”

So, what happened?

In the celebrity-crazed world we live in, Justin Timberlake can easily be a music mogul or a movie star. He can take over SNL skits, apologize for “wardrobe malfunctions” while winning Grammys AND he can bring sexy back (from wherever it went). He can date Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Biel or Olivia Munn. He can get everything he wants and desires, he’s effin’ JT! But you know what? It is arguable whether or not he was any good in “The Social Network.” Some say it was the perfect role for him — perhaps too perfect. But was it really a stretch to play a smooth-talking hot shot? Hardly.

Timberlake’s acting skills have barely evolved in the past 10 years, as his model-boy character Jason Sharpe in Disney Channel’s “Model Behavior” (2000) sounded freakishly similar to the cocky Sean Parker in the Facebook flick.

Tell me I’m not the only one to experience schadenfreude from Timberlake’s Oscar snub. I will gladly admit my smirk of satisfaction that he didn’t get it; I think it’s alright to take JT down a notch.

Timberlake’s first few films, including “Alpha Dog” and the Mike Myers comedy “The Love Guru” didn’t exactly earn him much acclaim — but that’s not to say he couldn’t, perchance, advance his film career. Yes, “The Social Network” was a much more legit step forward than his previous films and he’s still going forward with three films slated for 2011.

He’ll start with “Friends with Benefits,” a romantic comedy along the lines of Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman’s “No Strings Attached,” which came out this month. “Friends with Benefits” co-stars Mila Kunis, another actress who supposedly got snubbed from this year’s Oscars for her supporting role in “Black Swan.” Anyone find it precious that the two sex-friends movies star real life friends and competitors?

Fans shouldn’t get too upset about the JT snub. If anything, this experience might encourage him to write a sad song and finally bring his ass (and sexy, for that matter) back into the studio.

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Allison Berger is a Philadelphia-based writer and a Pop music columnist for Reverb. Check out more of her writing here.

Categories: Articles, Columns, Home, Pop, REVERB
  • Lltracyhawkins

    You are wrong when you say JT did not get critical acclaim for Alpha Dog. He was also good in Black Snake Moan and Open Road (with a quiet nuanced performance that should have received more attention). I am an unabashed fan but I did not want to see him get the award as it feels too soon for him to get awards. And even though I thought he did a great job with this role, bringing much needed excitement to the movie, there were better supporting performances this year. I have total faithnthat some time he will receive accolades for his work. Next time you write about JT make sure to include his work for Shriners Hospital.

  • juju

    past year bliss, next year karma:D

  • http://twitter.com/Yaya_LTL Yaya

    I have to agree with the article. I did think Justin did good in the film better in some parts than other, but it was not Oscar worthy. I think Justin was greatly helped out by a great scripts and probably the 99 takes. He will get to prove himself in the other films he has coming up.However, I do think Justin can become a fine actor if he sticks with it. I don’t know if he will ever be award worthy, but he can have a solid career in films.

  • http://twitter.com/Yaya_LTL Yaya

    I have to agree with the article. I did think Justin did good in the film better in some parts than other, but it was not Oscar worthy. I think Justin was greatly helped out by a great scripts and probably the 99 takes. He will get to prove himself in the other films he has coming up.However, I do think Justin can become a fine actor if he sticks with it. I don’t know if he will ever be award worthy, but he can have a solid career in films.

  • Chachee

    Allison, where have you been? You act like JT is some cocky asshole that doesn’t work hard for what he gets. You act like he has no talent. He is multi talented and works ALL THE TIME. He said that he knows he’s learning and he’s picking up pointers as he goes. Have you ever noticed some of the people he’s been in movies with? You don’t think JT doesn’t take advantage of that? Yes, he does. He has said that he purposely has picked indie films and supporting roles. I am quite sure he could be making silly teenage romps and make lots of money but he wants to be a serious actor. Everyone that works with him, whether in music or on SNL or in movies say that he is incredibly talented and good at everything he does. You act like campaigning for an Oscar is bad. Don’t most of the actors do it? Why else would he be asking Tom Hanks and Kevin Spacey for advice. Even if he was campaigning, it doesn’t mean he thought he had a chance but he takes advantage of everything that happens to him so why not try to get some votes? He works with big directors & producers and they all rave about him. He definitely has improved as an actor and I think he will continue to do so. From your article it seems you are kind of jealous of JT’s ability to always land on his feet or maybe you think it’s all just handed to him. He’s been working at being an entertainer for 20 of his 30 years and it’s been pretty non-stop. Give him a break.

  • http://www.dinnerwarecenter.com/ Martin

    I dont hate JT’s acting. He is not a bad actor nor a very good one but he can act.

  • http://www.weddingfavourskingdom.co.uk/ Anne

    JT sure can act but I also have to agree that it’s not Oscar worthy. Was he really expecting for the nomination?

  • Roku

    Don’t worry, he’ll get the Oscar he deserves. We all know that at least he can act:)