Well I have definitely been suffering from post-Oscars burnout which is why it's taken a little bit for me to finish the last two categories. I actually had most of this written by Oscar night but trying to finish it after a few months of watching tons of movies and then re-watching the nominees sapped some fun out of it. But it's been highly educational and rewarding to experience the awards season with a more focused eye. So with the Actor category now here, I can anticipate another strong year as the last few have been. It's quickly becoming my favorite one to look forward to because usually they are all strong performances and/or from good films. This year was no different and the only one I haven't seen until now is Gary Oldman and I know that he's going to be great like he always is, so it should be fun to write about!
2011 Best Actor
Jean Dujardin - The Artist
It's hard not to like Dujardin in this movie. From the very first scene he oozes charm and charisma and you can't help but get sucked into it. His face is classic and legendary and would have no doubt made him a bonafide Hollywood star back in the 20's and 30's. He's dashing and disarmingly funny and he knows exactly how to make an audience feel good. I have read that his performance is merely emoting and this makes me laugh. Of course it's emoting, that's the point! He's a silent film star who has to convey his emotions and comedy through exaggerated faces and movements. He doesn't have the benefit of language and syntax and tone to move the story along. He does a great job of expressing the point while engaging the audience and not coming across as superficial. He displays a depth and nuance that is envious and is far from the one note actor some have said Dujardin is in this film. Sure he hams it up for effect and dances around and smiles his (soon to be) iconic smile, but he also plays the serious parts after the talkies take over and leave him by the wayside with a sincerity to match the former. We experience just how deep Dujardin's despair is right along side him and realize his serious acting is just as good as his lighter side which speaks to the broad range of his talent. The performance never feels too cloying or treacly and never gets out of hand when transitioning from light to serious to light again. Dujardin wins us over in the first few minutes and keeps us fully engaged in George Valentin for the rest of the film to the point where we are openly rooting for him to make his triumphant comeback. That is the mark of a truly great actor.
Demian Bichir - A Better Life
Bichir gives a quiet and understated performance as an illegal Mexican father raising a son in LA trying to provide while working as a lawn worker/gardener. There is nothing flashy or overly sentimental about Bichir in this role. He gives the performance an honest, hard working quality that makes the role feel extremely real -- as if watching a documentary. At times the character (Carlos) comes off as a bit hokey to me and the writing/directing verges on the melodramatic in the first half of the film. But the film and Bichir hit their stride in the second half as the desperation to retrieve his truck and get his life back on track becomes palpable and intensely compelling. The story and character can seem somewhat formulaic and cliche, since the immigrant story is one that always seems to play the same notes. But in the same respect, Bichir is then a jazz musician giving his own take on the same notes and beats, one that feels like wholly his own.The sentiment is heartfelt and the heartache is real thanks to Bichir.
George Clooney - The Descendants
After first watch, the issue I had with Clooney's performance was that it was simply another Clooney playing Clooney role. I really thought this character was Clooney's role from Up in the Air having moved to Hawaii and settled down but with most of the similar traits. It really is disturbing how accurate that description is! At times there doesn't seem to be much acting and that is both good and bad. Good because Clooney has reached a level of effortlessness where he can show up and pull off detailed characters with ease but also bad because it can be misconstrued as Clooney sleepwalking through a performance. Here it seems to be a mix of both in my opinion. He's so good at playing this type of character and it shows. The comedic moments are his best and the serious moments are when I feel he struggles. I laughed at the crying scene because it really did come off as a farce you might see on SNL or some other show making fun of Clooney. This all sorta works in the context of the film because his character deals with his wife being in a coma and the realization that she has been cheating on him and Director Thomas Payne doesn't dive too deep into the serious side; striking a light balance between comedy and drama which Clooney is able to pull off. It's a worthy depiction, but I wish that Clooney would challenge himself with roles that deserve a lot more than this one gets.
Gary Oldman - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
One word to sum up Oldman's performance in this film would be solid. It's an effortless take on a character that had already been developed in the mind of the general public through a BBC show starring Alec Guinness as Oldman's George Smiley. The fact that Oldman was able to take a character already established and leave his own mark on it speaks volumes to his ability as an actor. In this film, I likened Oldman as a judge presiding over a courtroom with a quiet, yet stern presence. It's not flashy or gimmicky, but when he speaks you perk up and pay attention. It is surprising that this is Oldman's first ever nomination because he has been in so many great roles and that also helps add to Oldman being at complete ease with his craft and character. You never doubt him as a dignified spy and he quietly without notice gets you on his side trying to solve the mystery of the mole. It's a wonderful performance that really highlights Oldman's ability to wow us in many different ways.
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
The first time I watched this film, I felt as if I were watching Brad Pitt as Brad Pitt playing Billy Beane. Meaning we were seeing more of Pitt than we were of Beane. After my second watch, I've grown to appreciate the performance a lot more than after my initial viewing. There's no doubt Pitt does a very solid job in what is basically a star vehicle for him. But instead of the movie being built around Pitt to showcase his stuff, he injects himself into every part of this film making it his own. It's a steady performance that at times can feel slick, which I think is due in part because of the writing, and Pitt can sometimes tiptoe the line of chewing the scenery, though never fully crossing it. I think that second point is also due to Pitt just being a flat out great actor and being able to take over scenes without really meaning to or even really trying. He makes the role look natural and believable and there are times when you can forget you are watching Pitt the actor because Pitt the baseball GM just seems to make sense. The movie is most effective when he is able to bring you into his world, making you think it's your own reality. He is able to play the role with a depth that is refreshing to see instead of being overly flashy or mawkish. We can see the conflict, the worries, the responsibilities, the frustration, and the joy all in his demeanor and that is what great actors are able to show us without being overwhelming.
Overall, this is another awesome group of Best Actor nominees. This is why I wanted to do this project! Every role is compelling in some way and worthy of the accolades. It's great to see 3(!) newcomers here even if it feels like Oldman has been nominated 5 times already. Dujardin and Bichir came out of nowhere (Bichir especially) to wow me and the voters. And no, Bichir's nomination does not feel like a token one at all, which I have seen online. Clooney and Pitt give their, arguably, best and most Oscar-y roles of their careers. I feel both men have been in better films and done much greater work but these are definitely two of the more buzzworthy roles with the voters. I was glad I liked Oldman's take on an already established character because he was the only potential wildcard once I started and really he was never going to be a wildcard anyway! A great group of actors that I hope continues as 2007 is the next one I'll touch on in this category. I loved, loved, loved Dujardin as he was my runaway favorite. I've really warmed to Pitt's GM and would rate Oldman and Bichir as about equal. I did like Clooney, although, it wasn't my favorite of the 5 here.
Oscar Winner: Jean Dujardin - The Artist
My Winner: Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Brad Pitt
Gary Oldman
Demian Bichir
George Clooney
