Playfully self-aware yet surprisingly poignant, the letter calls on the Academy to expand its acting categories to include animal performers. Signed “with love (and a paw print)” by Indy himself, it reads like both a plea and a protest: a wagging tail with a serious point.
“Despite my critically acclaimed role in Good Boy, I have been deemed ineligible for the Best Actor category,” Indy writes. “Apparently, I am not a good enough boy for you.”
Behind the furry-faced statement lies a serious campaign. IFC’s Good Boy has become one of the studio’s biggest box office wins, opening to $2.2 million, the company’s second-best debut ever, just behind Late Night with the Devil ($2.8 million). It’s also the third-highest opening in IFC Entertainment Group’s history, trailing only Clown in a Cornfield under its RLJE Films label.
A “paws-itively” overdue conversation
Indy’s letter, obtained by Variety, points to a long legacy of unacknowledged animal artistry: Jed, the wolf-dog in White Fang; Keiko, the whale in Free Willy; and, of course, Babe the pig, whose film was nominated for Best Picture, even as he himself was snubbed.
“How many great performances must go overlooked before the Academy throws us a bone?” Indy asks, channelling both humour and heartbreak.
The question resonates. Critics have already hailed Indy’s performance as one of the year’s most affecting. IndieWire even described him as “one of the most emotive actors of his generation”, a review most human actors would kill for.
What began as a modest film quickly became IFC’s unlikely juggernaut. The Good Boy trailer and poster, released in July, racked up over 100 million views across platforms, a record-breaking feat for the studio. What followed was a nationwide rollout and a wave of affection from critics and audiences alike.
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Now, with the Oscars campaign in full swing, Indy’s open letter has become both a satire of awards-season politicking and a sincere push for change.
In one of the letter’s sharpest closing lines, Indy appeals directly to the Academy:
“We ask that you stop lifting your leg on the contributions of myself and the many great animal actors whose work continues to go unrecognised.”
Whether the Academy will actually rewrite its rulebook remains to be seen. But, Indy’s campaign is a refreshing reminder of the heart and humour that make cinema worth celebrating.
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