uncredited/unOscared

When a performer decides to pass on taking credit for a performance in a film, does that performer also relinquish the opportunity to vie for an Oscar - or any other award for that matter? My friend Carrie Rickey, of The Philadelphia Inquirer, is of the opinion that, like the writing arm of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, one has to have official screen credit in order to qualify.

I'm asking because Colin Farrell turns in yet another accomplished, albeit uncredited, performance in Scott Cooper's "Crazy Heart" - one so good that he seems to effortlessly command the film every time he's own screen. For what it's worth, I think Farrell's is the outstandting performance in "Crazy Heart," not Jeff Bridges'. But that's just me.

Past "no screen credit" performances that were stand include a couple from two Sidney Pollack films - Bill Murray's wry turn in "Tootsie" (1982) and Gene Hackman's solid craftsmanship in "The Firm" (1993).

But getting back to Farrell, he continues to astound.

His work in Woody Allen's "Cassandra's Dream" (2007) and Martin McDonagh's "In Bruges" (2008) is among the best of any actor in recent years. He received screen credit for both but, alas, no nominations.