Ethan Hawke thinks the Oscars are "destructive."

The actor-and-screenwriter has previously received two nominations for the biggest awards in the movie business - for Best Supporting Actor in Training Day in 2002, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Before Sunset in 2004 - but he doesn't like the way the Academy Awards force films into being ranked.

"People want to turn everything in this country [America] into a competition ... So it's clear who the winner is and who the loser is. It's why they like to announce the grosses of movies, because it's a way of saying, 'This one is Number One' It's so asinine. If you look at how many forgettable, stupid movies have won Oscars and how many mediocre performers have Oscars above their fireplace. Making a priority of chasing these fake carrots and money and dubious accolades, I think it's really destructive."

Ethan is not the first actor to express his dissatisfaction with the awards - which take place in Los Angeles this Sunday - with Joaquin Phoenix memorably saying he thought they were the "stupidest thing in the world" last year.

Joaquin - who has also been nominated twice - said, "I think it's bull***t. I think it's total, utter bull***t, and I don't want to be a part of it. I don't believe in it. It's a carrot, but it's the worst-tasting carrot I've ever tasted in my whole life. I don't want this carrot. It's totally subjective. Pitting people against each other. It's the stupidest thing in the whole world."