‘Good Boy’ has great chance at the Oscars thanks to Ben Whishaw

There are a host of big-name players in this year’s Best Live Action Short Film Oscar race with Wes Anderson‘s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” Pedro Almódovar‘s “Strange Way of Life,” and the John Travolta-produced “The Shepherd” all in the mix. But Tom Stuart‘s quirky British short “Good Boy” has a big name (and a big performance) of its own: Ben Whishaw.

The short follows Whishaw as a down-on-his-luck man who tries to turn his life around with the help of his anarchic mum (Marion Bailey) but figures from his past and a bygone tragedy threaten to consume and derail him. The short film blends multiple genres including comedy, drama, and tragedy and it is Whishaw’s powerhouse performance that is propelling this little indie film that could into a race full of the big boys.

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Indeed, Whishaw’s performance is the film’s MVP. Other shorts in contention this year have different assets — the style and pizzaz of a Wes Anderson film is the biggest strength of “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” the sensuality and style of Almódovar’s work is the biggest strength of “Strange Way of Life,” and the sheer human emotion of Misan Harriman‘s “The After,” another contender, is that film’s biggest strength. But no short movie includes the sort of tour de force lead performance that “Good Boy” does with Whishaw. He has always been a versatile actor and here shows a wonderful comedic touch combined with a heart-wrenching sadness at the heart of the character. It makes for a performance film with a wonderful sense of pathos.

Stuart also shows himself to be a director to watch out for. Stuart was previously an actor who appeared in small roles in big films such as “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “A Good Year.” “Good Boy” is his directing debut and it’s a film that promises huge potential for him. While shooting the short, he talked Whishaw through the film’s big emotional climax, proving his worth as a director, while his smart script deftly combines comedy and tragedy with a great British sense of humor. It marks him out as a director to watch.

And that’s the point. Yes, the works of Anderson and Almódovar are impressive but this category is so often about rewarding upcoming talent rather than lavishing praise on already established, A-list filmmakers. Yes, actor Riz Ahmed won in 2022 for “The Long Goodbye” but he won alongside Aneil Karia, a director who had mainly worked in TV and short films before. He’s still an unknown talent. Anderson or Almódovar winning here would be a massive departure from the profile of typical winners in this category. Stuart and “Good Boy” would very much fit the bill here.

“Good Boy” is currently on the precipice of securing that Oscar nomination is in sixth spot in our Oscar odds charts for this category, behind the predicted five of “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” “The Anne Frank Gift Shop,” “The After,” “The Shepherd,” and “Strange Way of Life.”

However, could the A-list support of “Good Boy” push it into the top five? Two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson recently joined the film as an executive producer, calling it “beautiful and moving and profoundly needed right now.” Plus, the short has garnered support from a bounty of highly-respected thespians. “The Crown” star Imelda Staunton claimed: “What a beautiful, moving, funny, succinct film. It feels like a much bigger piece of work, such is the depth of the storytelling, but somehow it is blessed with the lightest touch, which provides absolute delicacy in this remarkable and heartfelt film. Two remarkable actors. One extraordinary debut.”

Stephen Fry wrote: “An absolutely glorious film. In a sea of short films, it stands out as so memorable, quirky, funny, and piercingly moving. Bravo!”

Oscar nominee and “Saltburn” star Richard E. Grant observed: “A short film navigating the overwhelming impotence of death, movingly essayed by Ben Whishaw.”

And Oscar winner Olivia Colman exclaimed: “Gorgeous. I laughed and cried in the space of 10 mins. Beautiful, funny, AND heartbreaking. Marion and Ben are both brilliant. What a perfect pairing. What a treat.”

If this A-list support is representative of even a fraction of voters voting in this category, “Good Boy” could be in for a great year.

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