Who is ‘Messi’? the dog from ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ nominated for a 2024 Oscar
This unexpected four-legged actor has been stealing the spotlight from some of the big screen’s major stars in the days leading up to the Oscars.
With the Oscars just around the corner, Los Angeles is set, once again, to gather together all the biggest stars of the silver screen, from leading actors to those behind the films’ creation, including all the teams involved in developing both the blockbuster movies and the indie hits nominated for these prestigious awards.
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Each edition of the Oscar has a certain focus on one or two categories above all the rest, such as Best Picture, Best Director, or Best Leading and Supporting Actors and Actresses. And this year, an unusual star has been stealing the limelight on social media from big names like Robert De Niro or Robert Downey Jr., nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Who is ‘Messi,’ the dog from ‘Anatomy of a Fall’?
The name ‘Messi’ has once again been all over social media this past week, but not the Argentine footballer, rather the dog featured in the French film ‘Anatomy of a Fall.’ Under the direction of filmmaker Justine Triet, the role of this canine was crucial for the film securing five nominations at this year’s Oscars.
With audiences loving the the border collie there were calls for him to receive a nomination for Best Supporting Actor, as his role in the film required true acting chops and moved many viewers who grew fond of the loyal companion to Daniel, Sandra’s son and the protagonist of the film. And if he had been nominated and won, Messi wouldn’t have been receiving his first award, as critics at the Cannes Film Festival had already acknowledged his merit by awarding him the Palm Dog, the accolade given to the best real or animated canine.
As Messi’s owner, Laura Martín, said to Clarín, there were sequences that proved challenging to shoot: “The poisoning sequence, when he was ill and taking medicine. That took a lot of filming time. And also the start of the film, where there’s a very long shot...” Messi participated in the filming for 22 days, enough to be considered as another actor among the film’s crew.
In the weeks leading up to the Oscars, he caused a sensation among some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, who were eager to meet him and enjoy playtime together, including Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Stone shared an anecdote about the dog with Variety: “He pretended to be dead while everyone was worried. Then he got up to greet us, and everyone said, ‘He’s an actor!’”
One dog has in fact won an Oscar, as a screen writer no less. It’s quite the story.