Martin McDonagh Says John Malkovich Deserves Three Oscars for Wild Horse Nine

London-Irish filmmaker Martin McDonagh stated that John Malkovich is worthy of three Oscars for his performance in the upcoming feature film Wild Horse Nine, rte.Info reported.

Director Martin McDonagh Backs John Malkovich for Oscars

The film stars 72-year-old American actor John Malkovich alongside 57-year-old Sam Rockwell as CIA operatives Chris and Lee. Set shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup, the narrative follows the two agents as they are dispatched from Santiago to Easter Island. Chris, recently diagnosed with cancer, grapples with his dark role in past Central Intelligence Agency interventions. If successful, Malkovich would follow in the footsteps of co-star Sam Rockwell, who won his first Academy Award for McDonagh’s 2017 feature Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Malkovich secured the Best Actor prize at the Venice Film Festival last month. During the UK premiere of Wild Horse Nine at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday, writer-director McDonagh praised Malkovich for delivering one of the finest performances he has witnessed in years. Speaking to the Press Association at London’s Royal Festival Hall, McDonagh remarked that the portrayal is worthy of three Oscars.

“It’s funny. It’s angry in places, but it’s very sweet and sort of sorrowful in places too,” McDonagh said. “I don’t think anyone else this year could beat him.”

Wild Horse Nine Opens in Irish Cinemas

Wild Horse Nine opens in Irish cinemas on Wednesday, 4 November. Prior to its commercial rollout, the film screened in competition at the Venice Film Festival, where it earned a 13-minute standing ovation, and later played as a surprise screening at the Telluride Film Festival, according to Variety.

Malkovich has previously received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, for 1984’s Places in the Heart and 1993’s In the Line of Fire. Despite those nominations, he has not returned to the Academy’s acting conversation in over three decades.

Ensemble Cast Explores Human Connections and Redemption

Co-star Steve Buscemi, 68, echoed those sentiments at the London premiere, pointing out that the film uses a political backdrop to explore human connections, regret, and redemption. The ensemble cast also features Parker Posey and Chilean actress Mariana di Girolamo.

Wild Horse Nine opens in Irish cinemas on Wednesday, 4 November, as Searchlight Pictures positions the project for the upcoming awards season.