Samuel L. Jackson Says He Should Have Won an Oscar for ‘Pulp Fiction’
- Samuel L. Jackson said his performances in “Pulp Fiction” and “Jungle Fever” deserved Oscars.
- However, Jackson said he was more interested in bringing audiences to the movies.
- “It’s about putting asses in seats,” he said.
Samuel L. Jackson told The Times of London he thinks he should have won an Oscar for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film ‘Pulp Fiction’, but he’s more interested in drawing audiences to the cinema than to win awards for his performances.
“I should have won that one,” Jackson told The Times of his “Pulp Fiction” nomination. Jackson was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in the Tarantino film. He lost to Martin Landau who won for his performance in Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood.”
Jackson went on to say that he also thought he should have won an Oscar for his performance in Spike Lee’s 1991 film “Jungle Fever.” In the film, Jackson plays a homeless drug addict opposite Wesley Snipes. Jackson didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for his performance in “Jungle Fever,” and he told The Times he was surprised to find that two actors who starred in Barry Levinson’s 1991 film “Bugsy” l took away.
“My wife and I went to see ‘Bugsy,'” Jackson said. “Shit! They got nominated and I didn’t? I guess black people usually win for doing despicable shit on screen. Like Denzel for being a horrible cop in ‘Training Day’. All the good things that did in uplifting roles like ‘Malcolm X?’ No, we’re gonna give it to that motherfucker. So maybe I should have won one.”
John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson starred together in “Pulp Fiction” in 1994.
Miramax
Jackson later added that he was professionally more interested in attracting audiences than winning awards.
“The Oscars don’t move the decimal on your check,” he said. “It’s about putting asses in seats and I’ve done a good job of doing that.”
Later in the interview, Jackson — who is set to receive an honorary Oscar at the 2022 Governors Awards on March 25 — told The Times that the American Academy should include an award for most popular film of the year.
“They should have an Oscar for most popular movie. Because that’s what it’s all about,” Jackson said before defending Marvel’s recent superhero hit “Spider-Man: No Way.” Home,” which grossed $1.8 billion at the worldwide box office.
“It did what movies have done forever – it brought people into a big, dark room,” he said of the superhero movie.
“All movies are valid. Go to the cinema to be moved. Some like superheroes. If someone has more butts on the seats, it just means your audience is not as large. There are people who have had successful careers but no one can recite a line from their parts I’m the guy who talks shit that’s on a t-shirt.
The Oscars take place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood and air live on ABC on Sunday, March 27.