Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2004: Bud Cort in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou

Bud Cort did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Bill Ubell in The Life Aquatic With Zissou. 

Since I had a few different options of who to cover for the last couple spots, thought I’d devote one them to give some time to Bud Cort, an actor who made a name for himself as the unorthodox leading man in the very early seventies, before working as a character actor for the rest of his career. A highlight of this section being his work here with Wes Anderson’s large trope of performers. Cort playing a role that in most films would not be of note and even more so the performer certainly wouldn’t be someone who deserves much mention. Cort specifically playing Bill Ubell the Bond company stooge that Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) must take on his new expedition in order to ensure funding for the trip. Cort’s first relatively short scene being one of my favorites in any Wes Anderson film, where Steve and Steve’s possible son Ned (Owen Wilson) just learned of Bill’s required presence and Steve instantly badgers Bill about not badgering him. Cort’s turn of curiosity has this perfect innocence to it, as does his follow up question “Why would I do that?” asked with genuine conviction. To which Steve notes him being a Bond company stooge, Cort’s reaction is both hilarious yet also genuinely moving as he so earnestly notes that he may be a bond company stooge but he’s also a human being, followed by just the perfect hangdog expression. Only made all the better when Steve apologizes and Cort’s face brightens so sincerely as being part of the time, right down to his eagerness to join hands with Steve and Ned. It’s a quick bit but honestly ideal character actor work where Cort makes it all so memorable so quickly, funny but also giving us a real sense of this character. 

Cort afterwards being part of the crew sort of where he manages to portray genuine enthusiasm in moments, with also a combination of some mild confusion, even worried concern when witnessing Steve’s decision to steal equipment from his rival. Cort brings an enjoyable directness about everything he does, including when the boat is invaded by pirates and Bill, being able to speak Filipino, negotiates with pirates. Cort’s practical manner is what is so great where he’s just direct with every line and so pure about it. Particularly the moment where the pirates take him as a hostage instead, and Cort’s “aw shucks” combined with a bit of “I guess I’ll go with it” is just great. As is his hostage call to the crew, where Cort’s whole delivery is so brilliantly matter of fact as just a practical business guy, nothing special including the kidnapping. I especially love the moment when Steve and crew are rescuing Bill, where Bill stops Steve from attacking one of the locals, where Cort’s bright smile and delivery of “he’s a friend” again paints immediately the sense of refuge in his situation and again reinforcing the funny but also heartwarming sincerity of his character. Something that manages to even extend when Bill is completely part of the crew even emphatically telling the man they stole equipment from that they stole it. Cort’s performance in the moment even sells the embracing of the chaos as even when admitting to stealing it is still of the utmost earnestness in showing Bill just as a guy who believes, even as a bond company stooge. Completing his arc of sorts in a way that is convincing and created just by his little bits throughout that are mostly funny, but there is something especially endearing out of Bill’s journey through Cort’s performance. A wonderful show of a character actor’s talent, because Cort’s not trying to steal the film, or steer it away from its course, he’s just elevating every moment he has and elevating the film that much more by giving real life to largely a bit part. And showing that while Bill may be a bit part, he can also be a human being.