“I woke up that morning and heard I didn’t get it, and said, ‘Oh, that’s fine.'” Sandler said of Oscar nominations morning. Then he got funny.
George Clooney reveals why film festival scene in ’Jay Kelly’ was so emotional for him
George Clooney shares why watching his own clips in the film festival scene in “Jay Kelly” was deeply emotional for him.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Netflix’s “Jay Kelly” was the kind of prestige movie that seemed destined to propel both George Clooney and Adam Sandler deep into the movie awards race.
Yet after Golden Globe nominations for both superstar actors, a Critics Choice nomination for Sandler, and an inclusion in the American Film Institute’s Top 10 movies of the year, writer-director Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly” was snubbed entirely during last month’s Oscar nominations.
Sandler, 59, who has never received an Oscar nomination for an overlooked body of work (“Punch Drunk Love,” “Uncut Gems” just to name a few), was at peace with the latest film academy pass, while speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Thursday, Feb. 6.
“I didn’t get an Oscar nomination, that’s all good,” Sandler told film historian Leonard Maltin onstage while receiving the Maltin Modern Master Award. “I don’t sit and think about that too much. I woke up that morning and heard I didn’t get it, and said, ‘Oh, that’s fine.'”
Sandler said he felt even better after seeing who did get a best supporting actor nomination — including Delroy Lindo (“Sinners), Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn (“One Battle After Another”), Jacob Elordi (“Frankenstein”) and Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”).
“I was like, ‘Whoa!’ so it made sense,” Sandler said humbly.
The actor said he feels nothing but “pride” for the “Jay Kelly” role, especially a powerhouse climactic scene with Clooney, who plays the titular self-absorbed actor in the drama. Sandler plays his constantly overlooked manager, Ron, who reaches a breaking point.
“Watching that scene kind of broke my heart, because I remember how hard we worked, and how much that scene meant on paper,” said Sandler. “And you want to make sure you crushed it when you’re shooting it.”
Sandler also had fond memories of shooting in Italy, which is famously Clooney’s backyard. His co-star was always coming up with hole-in-the-wall places well off the beaten track.
“Clooney knows everything about Italy,” said Sandler. “I remember for two nights in a row we ate at this place before we shot that Clooney recommended. And it was just like, ‘Show me more, Clooney!'”
Sandler sends up Oscar snub in hilarious acceptance speech
Comedian Sandler also lampooned the Oscar miss during his acceptance speech for the Maltin honor, a golden trophy.
“Thank you for my fortune teller who told me in 1982 I would win an Oscar for a movie called ‘Jay Kelly,'” Sandler said, as the crowd roared in laughter. “Is it possible that you didn’t say the full title and actually meant, ‘Jay Kelly 2’?”
Sandler continued by thanking “everyone who got an Oscar nomination” this year.
“Congrats, you earned it. I truly believe you are better at acting than me,” said Sandler, before joking again. “I also truly believe you are better at ass-kissing the academy than me.”
The crowd went deliriously wild as Sandler, known by his nickname The Sandman, ended his speech with a knock-out joke.
“And I have to say, to my fellow thespians, I think next year I’m gonna whup your ass,” said Sandler. “I’ll show the world the deep, darkest Sandman you have seen yet…in ‘Grown Ups 3’!”
With that, Sandler dropped the mic on the Oscar discussion.