Martin McDonagh has praised John Malkovich's performance in Wild Horse Nine during the film's UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
The director highlighted Malkovich's role as CIA officer Chris, who appears alongside Sam Rockwell in a story set around the 1973 Chilean coup and Easter Island.
According to the Press Association, McDonagh said Malkovich's performance could earn major recognition.
The film follows two CIA officers dealing with personal history and political events connected to Chile.
McDonagh Calls Performance One of the Best in Years
McDonagh described Malkovich's acting as exceptional during comments at the festival premiere.
"It's worthy of three Oscars," McDonagh said.
He continued discussing the range of Malkovich's performance, which combines humor, anger, sweetness and sorrow throughout the film.
"It's one of the best performances I've seen in years," McDonagh said.
"It's funny. It's angry in places, but it's very sweet and sort of sorrowful in places too."
"I don't think anyone else this year could beat him," McDonagh said.
Malkovich has previously received two Academy Award nominations for best supporting actor for Places In The Heart and In The Line Of Fire, according to the article.
McDonagh also addressed the film's political themes and its connection to current issues, despite the story being set in the 1970s.
"I sort of made four films that weren't political, and just the subject matter lent itself to being angry about it," McDonagh said.
"I'm intrigued to see how the politics go over and the anger goes over."
"A lot of what happens in the film is sort of mirroring what's going on in the present day."
Steve Buscemi, who plays bureau chief MJ in the film, said audiences could gain historical context from the movie while also seeing a story focused on personal connections.
"I think it is timely and I think if people don't know about this period, this is a great film to at least learn a little something about it," Buscemi said.
Buscemi added that the political setting supports a broader story about relationships and the bond between the main characters.
"The backdrop is political, but it's really a film about relationships, and it's a film about connections, regret, redemption," Buscemi said.
"I think the film tells its story a lot through humour. The relationship between John and Sam is really amazing."
The article also noted that Buscemi praised McDonagh's work as being "important" and entertaining.
Wild Horse Nine is scheduled for release in UK cinemas in November.
