Oscars
A border collie fascinates in “Anatomy of a Case”
Sandra Hülser as Sandra Voyter with dog Messi as guide dog Snoop in a scene from the film “Anatomy of a Case”, which was nominated for five Oscars. photo
© -/LesFilmsPelleas/LesFilmsDePierre/dpa
He is Sandra Hülser’s co-star: film dog Messi plays an important role in “Anatomy of a Case” as guide dog Snoop. In Hollywood he is in the Oscar spotlight.
It’s an Oscar-worthy performance: he had been trained for months to appear deceptively half-dead. In an important scene, the tongue hangs out of the side of the mouth and the eyes are rolled back. Messi is part of the cast for five Oscar-nominated film “Anatomy of a Case.” The border collie, who plays a guide dog named Snoop, has a celebrity following in Hollywood.
If on March 11th When the Oscars are awarded, leading actress Sandra Hülser and French director Justine Triet have a chance of winning a trophy, and the legal thriller is also nominated for editing, original screenplay and best film. If there were a “Best Animal Performance” division at the Academy Awards, Messi would definitely be among the contenders.
Dog dressed up with a blue bow tie
French film animal trainer Laura Martin Contini’s dog recently got a whiff of Oscar air at the nominees’ lunch in Beverly Hills. Dressed up in a blue bow tie, the four-legged friend mingled with the stars. There he unabashedly got up close and personal with Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and America Ferrera – videos of the encounter went viral.
Hülser also spoke about her barking co-star at the reception. The actress was asked by a reporter from the film magazine “Variety” whether she was often asked by people whether her film character was guilty or innocent. Every day she meets people who think one way or another, said Hülser. “I think the only innocent creature in the film is the dog,” she added with a smile.
Hülser plays the mother of a visually impaired boy who comes under suspicion of murder after her husband’s death and has to defend herself in court. Guide dog Snoop stands by the traumatized 11-year-old Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner). In a key scene, the four-legged friend must appear completely weak and terminally ill after being poisoned.
Messi already won the “Palm Dog” award
Messi had already been able to play dead, Contini told the industry publication “Variety”. But she worked every day for two months to ensure that the dog remained in this lethargic state. “I’m a little worried that he will now be assigned to roles in which he has to die,” says the trainer. They have now received many offers for this.
Messi is so stunningly good that he won the “Palm Dog” award at the Cannes Film Festival last year. One of the best performances, according to the jury’s praise. Director Triet told the US industry publication “Hollywood Reporter” at the time that Snoop was not just a dog, but part of the ensemble. But that’s not a ticket for a run on the Oscar red carpet. Coach Contini said at the end of February when asked by the dpa that they had not received an invitation.
Animal guests at the Academy Awards are actually the exception. Uggie made it big in Hollywood in 2012 after previously scooping the Palm Dog trophy at Cannes. He was famous for his appearance in the Oscar-winning, black-and-white silent film “The Artist” alongside French star Jean Dujardin. At the Golden Globe Gala in 2012, the Jack Russell Terrier walked across the red carpet with a black bow tie, and at the Oscar Gala he was on stage with the ensemble. The brown-spotted four-legged friend was the first film dog to be honored with a paw print in cement on the famous square in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
Not far away, barking colleagues had already received a monument. In 1960, three famous screen four-legged friends were immortalized with a star plaque on Hollywood’s “Walk of Fame” sidewalk: the German shepherds Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin and the long-haired collie Lassie. Maybe in this way Messie can “make room” in the film metropolis forever.
People animal trainer Laura Martin Contini on Instagram Variety Hollywood Reporter