This border collie is ready for his close-up!
The Anatomy of a Fall Dog star Messi, who played Snoop in the Oscar-nominated film, traveled from France to attend an Oscar nominees luncheon in Los Angeles on Monday, according to dog trainer Laura Martin Contini.
Messi was popular with other stars at the lunch, including Ryan Gosling, who was seen on video waving to the dog. NEON, which also distributed the film in the US shared a photo of Bradley Cooper’s meeting Messi.
The talented dog has been hailed as the star of a French courtroom drama. Justine Triet’s film — which she directed and co-wrote — centers on Sandra Voyter (Sandra Hüller), a famous German writer on trial in France, accused of pushing her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) to his death.
Their blind 11-year-old son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner) is caught in the middle of a grueling court process and media spectacle while also grieving for his father. Daniel and his guide dog have a strong bond and stand as the only two witnesses to Samuel’s death.
“Anatomy of the Fall” Messi at the Oscar nominees luncheon.
Neon/ Instagram
At the Oscar luncheon, Hüller said Diversity that she still wonders if her character was innocent – and suggested that “the only innocent creature in the movie is the dog.”
Hüller, 45, is nominated for best actress, while Treit, 45, is nominated for best director and best original screenplay. The film was nominated for best picture and best editing.
Anatomy of a Fall: Everything you need to know about the French courtroom drama for 5 Oscars
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‘Anatomy of the Fall’ star Messi at the Oscar nominees’ luncheon.
Neon/ Instagram
While Messi may not win an Oscar himself, he did win an award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. He won the Palm Dog, an award for canine performances in selected films of the festival.
After Messi received the award, Triet said The Hollywood Reporter that Messi’s character “isn’t just another character or some animal running around [but] as much a part of the film ensemble as any other actor.”
See all the stars arriving at the annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon in LA
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Messi, Milo Machado Graner, Sandra Hüller and Jehnny Beth in “Anatomy of a Fall”.
Neon
In the second The Hollywood Reporter interview, Hüller shared the same sentiment that Snoop is “a character like any other,” adding that the cast and crew were happy to work with Messi.
“This time we were lucky enough to work with someone in the business who trains animals for industry,” Hüller said. “Lady [Laura Martin Contini] who owns Snoop was really the key person for us to let him be the character, really just as much a part of the ensemble of the film as any other actor.”
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Contini told The Wildest that Messi joined the set 22 days into the shoot. “It was such a great crew, and he was everyone’s favorite on set, and we really took our time with every scene he had,” Conti said.
She explained how Messi and Milo Machado Graner had to forge a bond that was transferred to the screen.
“Even during filming, every time there was a break, they would play together,” Contini said.[Machado Graner] he was especially invested in bonding with the dog and nurturing and playing with it, which Messi needs as a dog. He needs to be taken care of and given attention and time to play.”
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Source: HIS Education