The 91st Academy Awards was a star-studded event, with Hollywood’s biggest names in attendance. However, amidst all the glitz and glamour, one actor stood out and stole the show – Messi, the canine star of the acclaimed French drama Anatomy of a Fall. With a prime seat and every shot of him going viral, host Jimmy Kimmel even declared him to have given “the performance of the year.” This unexpected star of the awards season has captured the hearts of movie fans everywhere.
Messi, a 7-year-old border collie, has been owned and trained by Laura Martin Contin since he was a puppy. She describes him as a “very smart” and “good dog” who “learns easily.” However, his on-screen talents were not always recognized. According to Martin Contin, Messi was a misunderstood artist and had trouble getting roles due to his unusual look and eyes.
Despite this, Messi worked in commercials until he landed his big breakthrough role in the French courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall, directed by Justine Triet. The film follows a woman (played by Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller) trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death, with Messi cast as Snoop, the guide dog of the main character’s blind son. This was a dream role for a canine actor, and Messi got to showcase his thespian skills in pivotal scenes, including one where he nearly dies of an overdose after eating aspirin. This scene alone required two months of training, with Martin Contin carefully teaching Messi to appear inert and show emotions without moving.
All the hard work paid off as Messi’s performance in Anatomy of a Fall was met with widespread critical acclaim, and he even won the prestigious Palm Dog Award at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was later nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. While Messi was not eligible for any nominations, he still became a favorite during awards season. He even attended the annual Oscars Luncheon, where stars like Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper were eager to meet him.
Initially, it was announced that Messi would not be able to attend the Oscars, much to the disappointment of fans. However, it was later revealed that he would be part of the show after all. A preview clip showed host Jimmy Kimmel rehearsing jokes with Messi in his dressing room, and he proved to be the viral hit of the night. Kimmel even used Messi’s performance as the basis for some of his jokes in his opening monologue.
While it’s unclear how much of the ceremony Messi actually took part in, he was undoubtedly the breakout star of the evening. And even though he doesn’t have any roles lined up after his acclaimed performance in Anatomy of a Fall, it’s safe to say that he’s now one of Hollywood’s most beloved doggy actors.
Could Messi one day grace the Oscars stage? While the Academy currently has no category for animal actors, Martin Contin believes they should consider a change. After all, it takes a lot of work to make a performance look natural on screen, and recognizing animal actors would bring attention to the profession itself.
But for Messi, the most important thing is chasing balls and living a normal life like any other dog. As Martin Contin says, “For him, the ball is sacred!” Whether or not he ever receives an Oscar of his own, Messi has already given one of the best performances of the year in one of the year’s best films. We’re just glad he got his moment in the Hollywood spotlight.
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