Samuel L. Jackson is getting real about what he believes are his most underrated performances that absolutely deserved to win Oscars, but didn’t.
In a recent interview with The Times of London, the 73-year-old actor opened up about his role in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film Pulp Fiction , and why it should have earned him an Academy Award.
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Samuel L. Jackson is getting candid about which of his performances deserved to win Oscars but for one reason or another, did not.
The 73-year-old wants credit where credit is due.
While speaking with The Times of London, the “Hitman’s Bodyguard” star revealed that he believes his performance in “Pulp Fiction” and “Jungle Fever” should have won him Academy Awards.
“I should have won that one,” he said of his role in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film Pulp Fiction .
At the time, Jackson was nominated for best supporting actor, but unfortunately, lost to Martin Landau for his role in Tim Burton’s film “Ed Wood.”
Jackson also thinks he was snubbed for his role in Spike Lee’s 1991 film, Jungle Fever .
Not only did he not win an Oscar for his role in “Jungle Fever”, but he also wasn’t nominated for an award in any category.
He admitted that he was surprised to learn that Barry Levinson’s Bugsy made the cut, but not him.
“My wife and I went to see ‘Bugsy,'” he said, adding, “Damn! They got nominated and I didn’t?”
He has a couple of theories, however, as to why he might’ve not been selected as a nominee that year.
“I guess Black folk usually win for doing despicable shit on screen,” he said, referencing Denzel Washington.
“Like Denzel for being a horrible cop in ‘Training Day.’ All the great stuff he did in uplifting roles like ‘Malcolm X?’ No — we’ll give it to this [expletive]. So maybe I should have won one.”
While he feels he may have been robbed of a few awards, he explained why he isn’t bitter about it.
“Oscars don’t move the comma on your cheque,” he said. “It’s about getting asses in seats and I’ve done a good job of doing that.”
He suggested that the Oscars should crown a winner for the most popular films annually.
“They should have an Oscar for the most popular movie. Because that’s what the business is about,” he said, noting Spider-Man: No Way Home .
“It did what movies did forever — it got people to a big dark room,” he added.
“All movies are valid,” Jackson went on, adding, “Go to the cinema to be moved dearly. Some like superheroes. If somebody has more butts on seats it just means your audience is not as broad.”
He pointed out that there are different definitions of success in Hollywood, but his includes having lines that fans have memorized, recited, and put on T-shirts.
“There are people who have had successful careers but nobody can recite one line of their parts. I’m the guy who says [expletive[ that’s on a T-shirt,” he said.
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