15 Awesome 2014 Performances That Deserve Oscars (But Won't Get Nominated)

The actors that deserve the gold, but won't even get a nod.

As with practically any year in film, there have been more awesome performances than there are spots to include them in the upcoming Academy Awards. With 20 slots comprising the nominees for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, a large number of the year's best performances just won't make the cut for a host of reasons. Perhaps the performances weren't "classically" Oscar-worthy, maybe the film itself just wasn't good enough outside of the performance, or the actors and their PR team haven't campaigned hard enough, but whatever the reason, these 15 magnificent performances are going to surely miss out on the Academy Award recognition they so clearly deserve. This list includes one of the best horror movie performances of the decade, exceptional supporting work that has been completely overshadowed by a volcanic lead turn, superb performances in under-the-radar indies that just haven't gotten the traction they need, a marvelously chameleonic effort in a biopic, and even a brilliant lead performance in the movie that may very well win Best Picture at the end of the day. These are the 15 movies that, if you haven't seen them already, you absolutely need to: these movies need the support and the fanfare that their higher-profile, sure-to-be-nominated rivals absolutely don't. When those 20 performances get the Oscar nod, many will doubtless be crying foul that these efforts, many of them superior to what will actually get nominated, didn't get the rub. Without any further ceremony, here are 15 awesome performances that deserve Oscars, but won't get nominated...
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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.