The awards season of this year sparkled with top-tier talent, yet one standout stole the spotlight: Messi the dog from “Anatomy Of A Fall.”
This blue-eyed border collie from the French legal drama, featuring Sandra Hüller and directed by Justine Triet, captivated audiences and industry luminaries alike, including notable fans Ryan Gosling, Billie Eilish, and Bradley Cooper.
Despite delivering a scene-stealing performance as Snoop in the Oscar-winning film, uncertainties loomed over whether the talented canine would grace the star-studded awards ceremonies.
After a well-received appearance at the annual nominees luncheon, concerns emerged from several companies with nominated films. They worried that Messi’s attendance might inadvertently provide “Anatomy of a Fall” an advantage during the critical voting window, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Nevertheless, despite attempts to sideline Messi from the celebrations, the determined pup ultimately secured his spot at the Hollywood ceremony and exhibited impeccable decorum among his fellow luminaries.
To everyone’s delight, Messi was granted his own seat at the Los Angeles Dolby Theatre, where he was filmed enthusiastically clapping his paws during the ceremony.
However, behind the enchantment of Messi’s on-screen presence lay a little behind-the-scenes magic. A captivating new picture from the ceremony revealed a clever illusion: someone beneath the seats held prop dog paws to create the illusion of a clapping Messi.
Further scrutiny from another angle unveiled a small section of the audience filming a segment with Messi separately from the main ceremony.
Once again, Ryan Gosling expressed sheer delight at seeing his newfound furry friend grace the big screen.
Justine Triet and her partner Arthur Harari ultimately clinched the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for the film, which also received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Editing.
