Oscars 2024: Cillian Murphy hails “perfect director” Christopher Nolan
At the Oscars 2024 press conference, Cillian Murphy hailed Christopher Nolan as the “perfect director” after scooping ‘Best Actor’ for Oppenheimer.
In addition to Murphy’s award, Nolan’s biographical drama based on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the film also picked up ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Director’, and Robert Downey Jr was named as ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his portrayal of Lewis Strauss.
Following the ceremony, Murphy spoke of his relationship with Nolan, who he previously collaborated with in the Dark Knight trilogy, Inception and Dunkirk before starring in Oppenheimer.
The Irish actor said at the press conference: “It’s very, very special. We’ve been working together for 20 years. I think he’s the perfect director, he’s extraordinary writer, he’s an extraordinary producer, he’s an extraordinary visually, extraordinary director of actors, he presents his films like nobody else does in the world.”
“I just can’t believe my luck. I did a screen test for him when I was a kid, and I thought that would be it, it would just be enough to be in a room with Chris for a couple of hours and here we are. I’m just so humbled and thankful,” Murphy continued.
Murphy’s landmark victory for ‘Best Actor’ marked the first time the award had been won by an Irish person. He beat off competition from actors including Paul Giamatti and Bradley Cooper, who were nominated for The Holdovers and Maestro, respectively.
In his speech at the ceremony, Murphy shared: “I’m a very proud Irishman standing up here tonight. We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb and, for better or for worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world, so I’d really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere”.
Far Out wrote in a four-and-a-half star review of Oppenheimer: “Nolan consistently delivers in whatever project he takes on; he knows his vision and style and creates a positive, intimate environment for his actors to provide their best work. But with Oppenheimer, he hasn’t just delivered an entertaining, thought-provoking movie as he had done with his previous efforts, but a thoroughly important one that informs even the most sheltered of us about the global situation we find ourselves in today.”
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