Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2022: Wagner Moura in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Wagner Moura did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Wolf in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. 

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is probably the biggest cinematic surprise I've had in some time about the adventurer thief attempting to reclaim his 9 lives through a magical wish, though more than just the titular hero is after it. 

One of the many remarkable features of the film is its particular success in developing not one, not two, but three compelling villains, from the sympathetic group of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the unabashedly evil Big Jack Horner, and Wolf. Wolf differs from the others as he's not even interested in the map that will take one to their magical wish, he's just here to kill Puss in Boots. In itself a particularly intense motivation for this theoretical family film. That speaks to the character of Wolf as a whole, who, except for the fact that he is an anthropomorphic wolf, would be befitting a proper western. An essential part of the reason for this is Wagner Moura's vocal performance as the character. Wolf's first appearance is as he tries to kill Puss, who has just found out he's on his last life, and Moura's voice has a mocking tone as he praises his next intended victim as the "great" Puss in Boots. Moura takes this extra time to accentuate everything he says, to punctuate certain words, particularly his most mocking such as when calling him "Puss in Boots". Moura creates this ideal hectoring figure that instantly establishes Wolf as not only lacking any respect for Puss's reputation but also wanting to ensure he is aware of this mockery. Moura's voice though has a tremendous menace with a certain deep register, that isn't deep in an obvious way rather it creates a guttural sort of growl, that could sound silly yet Moura makes sound absolutely sinister. He makes Wolf's manner genuinely terrifying by presenting everything very much as this delicious, for the lack of a better word, prospect for Wolf as he hunts his prey. That would probably be enough for this to be striking vocal work, but he goes one step more when Wolf wounds Puss, causing Puss to become fearful. The sheer vicious jubilation of Moura's voice as Wolf tastes Puss's fear sells the idea even more than the statement was needed. That sense of someone having a perfect, lustful meal at the moment is felt in every utterance of his voice. What is remarkable about the character and Moura's performance is Wolf actually isn't in the film much, but much like Puss, you never forget that opening scene. To the point when you see him again just in a crowd looking Puss's way, he's genuinely terrifying as a presence. Moura continues to impress as Wolf comes closer to tracking Puss down, literally revealing himself to be death. Moura delivers every word of Wolf's with a bit more frustration and just annoyance, right in his announcement of who he is, as though to affirm that "No Puss I'm just death and you're going to die".  Setting up one of the most epics of duels in recent years and earlier really between Puss and Wolf. Love Moura's final few deliveries as in it he establishes Wolf's change in mind, first in his exasperation at himself for having not killed Puss sooner, before he had matured, and then accepting that Puss can live for now. Moura's delivery though only shifts in that there is now a sense of respect in his voice, the mockery went, though still with a certain sinister chill still showing for it all Wolf still remains as death. Moura nor Wolf have that much screentime or lines, yet they make a tremendous impact. Is a truly captivating and menacing villain, not just as family animated films go, but just as film villains go in general. It is fantastic vocal work and just another reason why Puss in Boots is such a cinematic achievement.