Get Out marked Jordan Peele's directorial debut, and nearly a year after the movie first hit theaters, it's still a popular topic of discussion in the film community, with Peele earning praise for both his directing and the script. However, actor Daniel Kaluuya has also been commended for his performance as Chris Washington, the main protagonist. As is usually the case with horror movies, Get Out required to Kaluuya to get into weird head-spaces for certain scenes, but there was one particular scene that he had not trouble whatsoever relating to: the party where Chris is being introduced to his girlfriend Rose's extended family and friends. The actor recalled:
That party scene was just like, 'Oh, I've been in that party. I'm going to that party. Like, that kind of racism that isn't seen as racism, that isn't seen as, kind of like, mainstream racism. It's just life. And to explore that is quite an uncomfortable conversation. And Jordan just spoke his truth. He cinematically articulated an experience that millions of people go through and they are made to feel crazy for going through that. But he just said, 'No, actually, you're not crazy.'
While Daniel Kaluuya couldn't really call back on past experiences when pretending to be stuck in the Sunken Place during Get Out, as he told EW as part of the publication's SAG Awards Spotlight, it wasn't hard getting into character for a scene where Chris was meeting a lot of new white people for the first time and dealing with their subtle racism, as he's dealt with that at least a few times in his life, be it at a party or in a different scenario. Of course, if you've seen Get Out (and if you haven't, obligatory SPOILER warning), then you'll remember that the reason the other attendees were so interested in Chris (complimenting him on his physique, expressing interest in black celebrities to him, etc) was because he had been selected for one of them to put their consciousness into his body, with Stephen Root's character, Jim Hudson, later winning the secret bid for Chris' body.
Along with being a massive commercial hit, making over $254 million off a $6 million budget, Get Out earned heaps of critical praise, ranking at nearly 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was nominated for two Golden Globes, and while it didn't win any at the ceremony earlier this month, it could still be an Academy Awards contender (we'll know for sure when the nominees are announced on January 23). Get Out has also been nominated for two SAG Awards: Daniel Kaluuya is up for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, and the overall cast is up for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. That ceremony will take place this upcoming Sunday.
Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on Get Out's accolades and Oscar chances. For those of you interested in what movies are hitting theaters this year, consult with our 2018 premiere guide.
