Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2022: Nicholas Hoult in The Menu

Nicholas Hoult did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Tyler in The Menu. 

Let's think about a very tall man, a man with an eye for talent, and the ability to appreciate greatness, however, lacks the ability to achieve himself. No, not Adam McKay, though I think "Adam's bullshit" would be a much more accurate name for Don't Look Up, and would like to fashion a version of reality where he tries to explain his satirical brilliance to Stanley Kubrick, however no let's talk about Tyler performed by Nicholas Hoult. Nicholas Hoult, who, probably would not have been the first person I would've named as someone I would've willingly, in fact enthusiastically, reviewed for four separate performances at the outset of this endeavor. However, Hoult once again has proven, that put him in a proper character role, and not as a boring leading character, and you've got something special on your hands. That is the case once again in The Menu, as seemingly one of our entry characters along with his date "Margot" (Anya Taylor-Joy) go on a special course meal in a private island restaurant along with many rich patrons. However, that is not the intention of Tyler as a character, who really is best examined with spoilers in mind, since this performance plays all the better when you know from the outset that Tyler knows that, this special "menu" is planned with the head chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) planning a murder-suicide of all guests and his staff by the end of it. 

Hoult's performance is the most comedic performance in the film, which overall is a satire, however, his work doesn't approach really to any real drama. Hoult in the earliest scenes portrays the most fervent passion for food which Hoult presents as this point of fixation and the only point of concern as he speaks on every single thing regarding this interest of his. Hoult's performance conveys this single-minded focus quite hilariously as really a very nerdy overt enthusiasm for everything that is far too much at all times. Just from his wide eyes about everything that he hears about the food, and the sort of dreamy look he gives as he sees the dishes and upon Slowik as the purest of idols for him. Even the way Hoult performs consuming the food speaks to this and he is hilarious by just how much joy and how much he gets out of every bite that he takes. Hoult shows that Tyler is experiencing more than just satisfaction with every bite, every bite has this obsessive quality within his work, speaking towards a certain kind of demented madness that defines the character. Also defines him as just being hilarious as every little aside from Hoult is funny in presenting just how single-minded Tyler is about everything, and just how much he reveres Julian Slowik as a godlike figure to him. Something that Hoult has previous experience with here, however here presented even more humorously in every little glance of his of overt deep fascination with the word of the man, or even the mouthing of the same information as though he is evoking genius. 

As the night becomes all the direr for the guests, Hoult's performance in a way becomes funnier, though, in terms of that, it is really just the context of the situation where Tyler is insane and only cares about the food even though as people are being maimed or killed around him. Hoult's little bits of insertion though are pointed bits of comedy because of the contrast of his work against everyone else who conveys at least some hint of horror to their situation. Hoult's performance is wonderfully oblivious at all times, and really the only time he shows any genuine horror is when Margot expresses her dissatisfaction with the meal. Hoult's petulant frustration and horror, which is so disregarded again is comically cruel as he emphasizes how nothing matters to Tyler except the food and approval from Slowik. We see Tyler try to get as he names aspects of the food such as identifying part of the tea with such enthusiasm, that is hilarious as it comes in otherwise such a tension-filled moment around Tyler. All actions of Tyler are food fixation to the point even when the guests have the chance to escape, we see Tyler only wanting to get back in to have what the female guests were afforded, with Hoult presenting this longing as he sees the food. Eventually, he gets paid attention to as Slowik reveals that Tyler got in with the knowledge of the true nature of the night, initially receiving praise from Slowik, which Hoult's nodding, like a well-trained dog is pure gold, lapping up any praise he gets. Unfortunately, just as when a previous Hoult character idolized someone, things don't go well when he is put to the test, and that happens here as Slowik gives Tyler the chance to make a meal. Hoult's reactions are all pitch perfect as his physical manner becomes nearly petrified and his line deliveries of a man completely lost in this state of extreme anxiety. Hoult's complete fumbling in every moment is the perfection of failure as his face is a man completely overwhelmed. When Slowik tears down not only Tyler's terrible meal, but everything about Tyler, the face of resignation in Hoult is again one more bit of pure comedic gold, as it isn't depression, it is a man whose whole concept of existence has been shattered into this deep pit of sorrow, however, pitched in just the right way to be hilarious in this moment of hopelessness. A delightful performance by Hoult through and through, and just another reminder that the more Hoult we get in oddball supporting roles, the better.