And the least likable character is … how Oscar season became dominated by difficult people

The Oscars often favor actors playing lovable or hateable characters, but this year's nominees present a different trend. While some nominees like Michael B. Jordan and Benicio del Toro offer characters easy to root for, others are more complex. Likability is crucial for Oscar success, similar to its importance in politics and campaigns. Actors campaign for themselves and their characters to be remembered. Playing real-life figures is a common path to success, often because the audiences already admire those individuals. Actors embodying figures like Freddie Mercury or Winston Churchill gain an advantage through existing admiration. Suffering portrayed on screen also fosters empathy, increasing the likelihood of an Oscar win. However, this year challenges the typical trend with more complex characters. The Academy's choices reflect a shift in how they view and reward acting performances. This creates a fascinating dynamic in this year's awards season. The success will depend largely on how the judges perceive the candidates.