John Malkovich Reflects on Decades of Change in the Oscars Race

Actor John Malkovich is receiving strong Oscar buzz for his role in Martin McDonagh's CIA black comedy "Wild Horse Nine," marking his first major Academy Award contender in thirty years. Speaking at the London Film Festival, the 72-year-old actor compared today's intense promotional circuit to the much simpler landscape of his previous nominations for "Places in the Heart" and "In the Line of Fire."

Malkovich observed that while movies once held a different cultural pedestal, modern campaigning has become the primary mechanism to draw audiences into theaters. Despite the current awards buzz, Malkovich has historically maintained a distance from Hollywood ceremonies, admitting he has only attended the Oscars once and found the massive event overwhelming.