The Academys choice in 2001 echoes in eternity …

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For most people, Russell Crowe broke into the American film scene as detective Bud White in 1997sL.A.

crooked L.A. cop inTraining Day.

Crowe winning the Oscar forGladiatormade sense.

He was the star of the Best Picture winner.

The role leveled him up from a respected actor in movies likeL.A.

ConfidentialandThe Insiderto a bona fide Hollywood leading man.

Plus Hanks was already a two-time Oscar winner.

Still, he had won the Golden Globe, while Crowe hadnt won any major precursor award yet.

Then there was the news about theFBI tracking a kidnapping plotin which Crowe was the target.

So maybe voters took the possibility of giving Crowe an Oscarnextyear to heart.

What if theProof of Liferumorsdidturn some voters off?

Where do things go from there?

From this moment, Denzels second Oscar becomes a question of not if but when?

The possibilities for that when branch the timeline off in multiple directions.

So the search for Denzel Washingtons elusive Best Actor Oscar continues.

In 2013, hes nominated forFlight, an okay movie in which Washington is excellent.

Unfortunately, hes once again up against Day-Lewis, giving yet another iconic transformation as Abraham Lincoln inLincoln.

Fast-forward to 2016, when Washington is back in actor-director mode with the August Wilson adaptation ofFences.

At this point, the When will Denzel win sentiment has reached a fever pitch of DiCaprioinThe Revenantproportions.

Thats enough momentum for her to eke out a win overFencess Viola Davis.

Fret not, though!

Timeline C: Are you not entertained?!

Lets back up again.

Maybe theFencesthing doesnt happen.

Just as withTraining Day, his villain role would be seen as the co-lead it is.

And an irresistible full-circle narrative begins to form.

In this alternate timeline, the 202425 Academy Awards are a coronation nearly 25 years in the making.

On Oscars night, Emma Stone opens the envelope and declares Denzel Washington the Best Actor winner.

But thats not all!

Lets go back to the 20012 Oscars.

Mirren winning in 2002 means theres perhaps less of an impetus for her to win in 2007 forThe Queen.

Any one of those performances was good enough to win.

Its more than a little cringey, but it works.

Its her fourth nomination, and Oscar voters figured it was time.

If this happens, then there is no longer a mandate for Winslet to win in the 20089 season.

But thats not all.

It influences what movies get acquired out of festivals and how awards-season budgets are allocated.

An Amy Adams Oscar win in 2009 would save us aton of heartacheover the years.

It might also have freed Amy from taking parts that seemed good for nothing but chasing an Oscar.

And maybe she passes on the script for Ron Howards adaptation ofHillbilly Elegy.

With Adams not onboard, Howards production hits a snag, and its forced into turnaround.

And thus the author and main character of that memoir, an Ohio Senate hopeful named J.D.

So … thanks, Academy?