It’s Absurd That Ethan Hawke Didn’t Get an Oscar Nomination for This Brilliant 2010s Drama You Can Watch for Free

Ethan Hawke truly earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as Reverend Toller in Paul Schrader’s 2018 film First Reformed. Over three decades, across genres and budgets, Hawke has proven himself to be one of the most dependable actors of his generation.

Often described as a character actor in a leading man’s frame, his 2025 releases — Black Phone 2 and Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon — perfectly showcase this duality. He can transform into a chilling villain in a horror film or deliver deeply nuanced performances for visionary auteurs.

Hawke has always embodied the everyman, yet with an intellectual depth and elegance that set him apart. His artistic growth has paralleled his work in Linklater’s Before trilogy, evolving gracefully over time.

The Pinnacle: First Reformed

In First Reformed, Hawke delivers a career-defining performance as a tormented pastor in upstate New York. Collaborating with Paul Schrader, a master of complex character studies, he channels both anguish and restraint, crafting one of the decade’s most memorable portrayals.

“Despite proverbially setting the screen on fire with his simmering rage and haunted aura, Hawke was unjustly denied an Oscar nomination.”

The film’s harrowing meditation on ecological doom and spiritual crisis resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. Yet, in an ironic twist, Schrader’s screenplay earned his first-ever Academy Award nomination, leaving Hawke’s performance conspicuously overlooked.

“The stirring psychological drama about the fear of global apocalypse marked Paul Schrader’s first Oscar recognition, with the film nominated only for Best Original Screenplay.”

Author’s Summary

Ethan Hawke’s riveting turn in First Reformed stands as one of his finest works, unjustly ignored by the Academy despite embodying both raw humanity and refined artistry.

Collider — 2025-11-06