What do you think of co-star Paul Giamatti being shut out for best actor?
I was very disheartened by that. It’s just that all of those other performances are extraordinary as well. I just think a lot of pundits have been saying for months that the actor category is pretty stiff. Javier Bardem, Liam Neeson, there are some great performances that were, not overlooked, but didn’t fit in. I was disheartened that Paul did not get a nomination. I’ll give him a call in a little bit. I don’t know if he’ll answer the phone. But on other side, I am absolutely thrilled for Virginia (Madsen). She’s remarkable and very happy she got recognized. Q: What does nomination mean to you? A: I guess it’s an acknowledgement. I’ve worked in the business for 16 years. It’s been well-documented that I kind of said goodbye to acting a few years ago and focused on other things, largely my life here in Texas. I had met Alexander (Payne) on a few of his other movies. I’d lived in Texas full-time for four years ago when I was sent the script. It was a bit of an anomaly given my life. I’m
