Hollywood legend John Malkovich is turning heads with his gripping performance in the new film Wild Horse Nine, with director Martin McDonagh boldly claiming the actor deserves three Academy Awards for the role.
The 72-year-old actor stars alongside Sam Rockwell as CIA officers dispatched from Santiago to Easter Island just before the 1973 Chilean coup.
What Happened at the Premiere
Speaking at the UK premiere during the BFI London Film Festival, McDonagh didn't hold back his admiration for Malkovich's work. The filmmaker—known for The Banshees of Inisherin and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri—hailed the performance as one of the finest he has seen in years.
"It’s worthy of three Oscars," McDonagh told the Press Association. "It’s funny. It’s angry in places, but it’s very sweet and sort of sorrowful in places too. I don’t think anyone else this year could beat him."
In the film, Malkovich plays Chris, a CIA operative recently diagnosed with cancer who begins wrestling with his dark past involvement in past agency interventions.
Why It Matters for the Oscars
Despite a storied career, Malkovich has never won an Academy Award. He holds two previous Best Supporting Actor nominations for Places in the Heart (1984) and In Line of Fire (1993).
If current critical praise translates into awards momentum, this could finally secure the Hollywood veteran his first Oscar. Interestingly, his co-star Sam Rockwell previously won his first Academy Award under McDonagh’s direction in 2017's Three Billboards.
Inside the Film's Timely Themes
Set against the backdrop of 1970s South America, the movie also features a star-studded cast including Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey, and Mariana di Girolamo.
Though historical in setting, McDonagh noted that the narrative unexpectedly mirrors contemporary political tensions. Buscemi echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that while the political backdrop is vital, the core of the movie focuses on human connection, regret, and redemption told through humor.
As Wild Horse Nine makes its festival rounds, anticipation is building to see how audiences and award voters respond to Malkovich’s heavily-tipped performance.
