I watched Pulp Fiction tonight and it reminded me how I thought Samuel L. Jackson was cheated out of the Best Supporting Actor award. Martin Landau won in 1994 for his role in Ed Wood. I feel his win was more a lifetime achievement award than recognition of his work in Ed Wood.

Though Jackson's performance was strong throughout the film, the final segment where he and Travolta are in the diner that is robbed by Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer is an award winner by itself. His progression from being a Bad MF (see the wallet, classic!) to turning the other cheek (though he has a 9mm in his hand) is a great actor working with a great script.

I guess the academy thought one Oscar for best original screenplay was enough for this flick. Perhaps the violence in his character was too much for them to handle.

-DavidCPA

I've always thought that the way Jackson was cheated with Pulp Fiction was by giving Travolta the best actor nomination and Jackson the supporting actor nomination. I guess Travolta has more screen time but Jackson stole every scene he was in.

That was probably a slight too as Jackson was better than Travolta IMHO. I suspect that Travolta's career being revived from the dead by Pulp Fiction played a part in deciding who to push for what award. If I remember correctly, the movie studio was pushing Jackson for the Supporting Actor Oscar so they would not have two Best Actor nominees or have one actor miss out on a nomination. In that year, everyone was dead meat in the Best Actor category as "My name is Forrest, Forrest Gump" won.

Though this opinion is for a different rant, The Shawshank Redemption and Morgan Freeman also got royally screwed in 1994.

-DavidCPA

I still think Pulp Fiction was Jacksons' best film to date. His later roles were poor (IMO).

Freeman on the other hand just keeps getting better with each successive film. He is a superb actor who really puts a lot of care and thought into his acting roles.

"Samuel L. Jackson was cheated out of the Best Supporting Actor award. Martin Landau won in 1994 for his role in Ed Wood. I feel his win was more a lifetime achievement award than recognition of his work in Ed Wood."

I loved Jackson but Landau was fantastic as Lugosi. A real impersonation and a delicate portrayal of heroin addiction. Anyway, I thought it deserved.

Travolta's nomination didn't make as much sense admittedly.

-Andrew

Martin Landau is and allways will be Commander Konieg.

By the way, there's a 2-DVD set of Space 1999 out there... saw it at Best Buy.

2-DVD ? How many episodes ?

Space 1999 was a classic sci-fi series even with the wacky storylines and '70s costumes/hairstyles. You would expect nothing less from the creator of Thunderbirds and UFO. :)

I think my favorite Martin Landau performance was in Crimes and Misdemeanors. That was my favorite performance that year, if I remember correctly. He was just wonderful in that film.

Amanpour

I agree Amanpour.
But it's not surprising his Oscar came from his wonderful Lugosi. The Academy loves impersonations (and drug addictions) and his performance was a nice warts n' all homage to a once celebrated actor sadly consigned to the Ed Wood movies and smack at the end of life.

-Andrew