If you thought "Deadpool" fans were upset about the lack of Oscar love for the offbeat superhero flick, just wait until you hear Jake Gyllenhaal's thoughts on the subject.

During an audience Q&A at a recent screening of his film "Nocturnal Animals" -- itself nominated for one trophy at February's Academy Awards, for Michael Shannon's supporting performance -- Gyllenhaal was asked to share his opinion on Oscar snubs, presumably to discuss his own for "Nocturnal Animals." But instead, the onetime nominee (for 2005's "Brokeback Mountain") decided to give a shout-out to the little movie that could, and its titular star, Ryan Reynolds.

"We talk about brilliant performances all the time, you know, the actors who tear themselves apart for their roles, which I'm a believer in," Gyllenhaal told the crowd. "But then I look at Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool and I say, 'No one can do that but him.' That is truly, purely him. As an artist he struggled for several years to figure that out and it's all there on the screen. And it's brilliant."

The actor also noted that just because the film had its origins in the comics doesn't make it any less worthy of recognition, and Reynolds's performance deserved every bit of recognition it could get.

"Sure it's a comic book movie and it's made a lot of money — but that doesn't subtract from Ryan's extraordinary work," Gyllenhaal said. "Because it's him. I mean, let's ask ourselves: What else do we want from people who create? Something that is truly them."

Gyllenhaal may be willing to go to bat for his pal, but Reynolds -- who had promised an epic reaction had the flick indeed scored a nod -- didn't seem too bothered by the omission, tweeting out a trademark joke and a gracious congratulations to the nominees. And "Deadpool" creator Rob Liefeld also put a positive spin on things, noting he didn't consider the lack of nomination a snub at all.

Maybe Reynolds can hire Gyllenhaal to run his For Your Consideration campaign when "Deadpool 2" hits the awards season circuit.

[via: Entertainment Weekly]