I take my fandom seriously, yo.  Sometimes I’ll watch a preview of a film and get immediate goose pimples.  The inner fangirl in me will call out in ecstasy, knowing THIS SHIT IS SPECIAL.  Three times this has happened big enough to keep certain fandoms alive, but only two of them were Oscar predicted by me.  The one that didn’t was Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  Well, it won a costume design Oscar, and maybe something else, but the heart and soul (and HOTNESS) of that film was denied.  I’m talking about Gary Oldman, obviously.  I saw him in the trailer to that film and my heart jumped a few extra beats.  Behold..

That movie changed my life.  And my hormones.  I became obsessed with Gary.  I watched almost all of his previous movies, and have always given a movie of his a chance.  It was great to see him join mainstream franchises like Harry Potter and Batman, and to finally get that Oscar nod for Tinker Tailer Solider Spy – WAY OVERDUE.

Back to the actual Oscar nominated movies that gave me forever fandom.  First up, Kevin Spacey.  I first saw him in The Ref.  He played a kidnapped, constantly arguing husband, and yeah, the movie wasn’t that memorable (it was the first film I saw in a theater high as hell), but Kevin’s face was unforgettable.  I sensed brilliance.  Of course The Usual Suspects happened, and  he won an Oscar.  Fantastic.  I knew he was capable.  But my fervor didn’t hit fever pitch until American Beauty.  God, what a spectacular film.  Lester Burnham’s malaise, eye rolling, contempt, and longing for something better was made for the artist formerly known as Kevin Fowler.  I knew he would win an Oscar the minute I walked out of the theater.

Kevin’s been one of my favorites ever since.  I wrote him a fan letter, before American Beauty came out, and I was rewarded with an autographed photo.  It’s a treasure in this house.  And now he’s Frank Fucking Underwood.  If you haven’t watched both seasons of House of Cards on Netflix, I feel bad for you, son.

Next is Russell Ira Crowe.  I don’t even remember what film initially drew me to his brawny, vulnerable, Aussie hotness, but I’m guessing it was LA Confidential.  I went for the Spacey, and got a bonus Crowe.  The guy doesn’t give two shits about what he says/does, will throw phones at people (and look good doing it, I’m sure), and will do the rock star thing occasionally (I almost saw TOFOG live, people), but when you see him ACT, look the hell out.  He won the Oscar for Gladiator, yes, and he was GREAT in that one.  Don’t get me started on that movie.  I love it.  I actually made a “I ❤ Russell Crowe” tshirt and wore it with pride at that Oscar party.  The same year, I took a public speaking class in college, and for my informative speech, yes, I talked about Mr. Crowe.  My visual aid was a clip from the film he should have won an Oscar for, The Insider.  Again, behold:

He will always be one of my guys.  And one time he tweeted me.  After I gave him shit for promoting his album.

I really felt bad after that.  I didn’t want him to think I was just trolling him.  That love is real, yo.

So those are my glorious Oscar men.  With a bonus Oldman.  I could go into how watching the Oscars the year The Return of the King swept everything, but that’s another post.  This was all about the special actor dudes.