Joaquin Phoenix Says The Academy Awards Are ‘Bull’

Joaquin Phoenix’s name is practically on the tip of the academy’s tongue this year for his stunning performance in The Master as a broken man who gets caught up in a cult-like religion. However, don’t expect Phoenix to bow down and make nice during campaigning for what some are saying is his best chance to win the gold.

The two-time nominated actor obviously wants no part of the awards season that usually sees actors and actresses gearing up for a slew of press interviews before and after the Oscar nominations are announced. Phoenix recently took a chance to call out the Academy Awards as the “stupidest thing in the whole world.”

Phoenix spoke to Interview magazine this year about the whole award season process and the role the Academy Awards have:

“I’m just saying that I think it’s bulls—. I think it’s total, utter bulls—, and I don’t want to be a part of it. I don’t believe in it … It’s the stupidest thing in the whole world. It was one of the most uncomfortable periods of my life when ‘Walk the Line’ was going through all the awards stuff and all that. I never want to have that experience again.”

Although this is pretty normal behavior for the odd-minded Phoenix, in the past, the Academy has been more likely to push for people who fulfill promoting obligations. However, there’s certain exceptions to that rule, namely two time Academy Award winner Sean Penn who also doesn’t like to promote during award seasons and treats the ceremony as blase.

So while it’s safe to say that Joaquin Phoenix will receive a nomination, it’s unlikely that the actor will show up for the awards ceremony. Unless, of course, he has a change of heart.

Do you think Joaquin Phoenix will hurt his chances come awards night?