Supporting Actor 1985

Looking forward to this group because it's always my favorite category. I have only seen one of these films so it'll be fun to watch the rest, especially Roberts which I hear is really strange.

1985 Best Supporting Actor

Don Ameche - Cocoon

I know that Don Ameche was a well respected older actor. But let's be completely honest, this win is because he's an older actor and only because of that reason. Figure out who he is in this based off performances and I bet you'll be wrong. The correct answer for who should be nominated is Wilford Brimley. Yes, the diabeetus guy. He's great here and the only person you could take in the film. No fucking clue why Ameche was nominated but Brimley is great. Now, what I'd actually like to talk about in regards to this film is that it was filmed in my hometown, St Petersburg, Florida. I knew growing up that it was filmed here but finally seeing it is really fun. I like seeing the old license plates that say Pinellas on them and the Don Cesar Hotel features prominently in the film (that actually might be Cocoon 2). There's even a scene where a guy wears a shirt that says Mad Beach something on it, which is Madeira Beach and I grew up literally a minute or two from there, so yeah, this film has great sentimental value even if I wasn't alive when it was filmed. I spent a lot of the film looking for landmarks and areas I knew and it kept me really engaged. And seeing all the old homes with the jalousie windows like we used to have and the palm trees and all of that just takes me back to my youth. I love it. This is a great film, though! It's funny and sentimental and light fair that's easy to watch and fall in love with. It's a lot stronger than you would ever think it should be. But still, Wilford Brimley, not Don Ameche. I don't care if Don gave a good Oscar speech and is really likable in Hollywood back then. Brimley is your choice from the film. This is purely the Academy wanting to reward one of it's own with an Oscar because they like him and not on the merit of the performance.

Klaus Maria Brandauer - Out of Africa

Technically, this was a dual role, as he plays two twins but the one is only seen in the very beginning before he dies. He plays Baron Bror Blixen, a member of the Danish aristocracy who has little wealth of his own. So he marries Streep's Karen Dineson out of convenience for the two because she is wealthy and he allows her to buy a farm in Africa. I wasn't all that impressed with the performance mostly because Brandauer is so blah. I guess he fits the part but he never really sticks out or does much to make you watch him, he just kinda exists within the film. He's the villain without really being a villain. He's a bad husband more concerned with being a big game hunter than helping the farm out and cheating on his wife and giving her syphilis. He also looks like the kind of guy who would cheat and be a total loser (even if he and Streep remain friendly in the film). His whole disposition is very stoic and emotionless, which might be his Austrian coming out? This just feels like a nomination that came along with the goodwill of the film. When you look at it on it's own, do you really vote for it? I'm not going to advocate for him to not be included, just that it's not the most impressive nominee in this category. It also seems like he may have been the favorite to win this because he won the Golden Globe but I just don't see what makes it a winner.

William Hickey - Prizzi's Honor

Everything I read online always talked about how bizarre Hickey looked and sounded and had me dreading having to review and watch this one. And I wasn't a fan at all of the film itself but surprisingly I didn't mind Hickey. Yes, he's odd looking and his voice is weird as hell but he was fine as a supporting player. He plays the Don of a mafia crime family and is exactly what you'd think a head of family would be minus the skeletal, gaunt, pale appearance and the death rattle voice. I have no idea if that's what Hickey really looks like or sounds like but if it's an affectation for the character, I don't get why but it doesn't really detract much besides saying it's weird. But the film is kinda weird anyway, so maybe he's just matching the tone. Hickey doesn't get too much to do in the film other than be the Don and he has a sit down talk with Anjelica Huston's character, his daughter. Really he just kinda screeches his way through the part and acts all Italian and I think it's supposed to be funny even when it all mostly falls flat - which is the film in a nutshell. Yeah, this is a weird performance but I don't think it's bad and certainly didn't hate it. It's just another forgettable Supporting Actor nomination which we are going to get over and over for the project. Did it need to be nominated? No, but I'm thinking it was a veteran/career nod to a respected actor. Can't be too mad at this one.

Robert Loggia - Jagged Edge

This is Loggia's only Oscar nomination, sadly. He is a great actor that you've seen in a ton of films as more of the supporting player than leading man. He is perfectly supporting in his performance here. He plays a private investigator hired by Glenn Close to look into whether or not Jeff Bridges is telling the truth that he didn't kill his wife. Yep, this is one of those 80s thrillers and it's a fun watch if you like those types of films. Loggia is the typical private eye kind of guy. He's gruff and he cusses a lot and is always drinking a beer. He's been doing it so long that you can see it on his face. What I like about the character is that Loggia just says whatever he wants, no matter how crass or out of place it is. He asks Close once after going to her house why is she sitting alone in the dark, is she playing with herself. It's a funny line but it builds a lot of the character just from that simple line which is why I think Loggia is so good. From that line you learn a ton about who he is as a person couple with everything else going on in that scene and it almost fully develops a picture of who this private investigator is and what he's all about as a man and that he cares about Close (which is more on the good side than the line would have you think, out of context). It's a good supporting performance from a great actor, certainly more deserving than Don Ameche. It also probably helps that Loggia is in Prizzi's Honor as well and was very visible in some high profile films this year. I can't help but like and enjoy Loggia but he does a great job here separate of my like for him and is worth checking out.

Eric Roberts - Runaway Train

Okay, so you'll notice immediately when watching that this is an odd nomination. But it's one that I actually really like in some strange way. Roberts plays a prisoner in a tough Alaskan prison who escapes with Jon Voight into the wilds of Alaska and onto a train to nowhere...dun, dun, dun! I think the first thing you notice is Roberts' ridiculous accent that reminds me a ton of a retarded Matthew McConaughey. Seriously. The way he says maaaan with a stoner, surfer, southern, stupid bend to it is like Matthew. You can't unhear it now. It's also a fun performance in an action adventure film. Roberts' character doesn't ever shut up and is always saying some dumb shit that annoys Voight and it's such a pretty boy supporting nomination. Did I mention it's just ridiculous all over? Because it is. From the voice to his gung ho idiot persona to the concept of the film itself. Roberts doesn't exactly offer up an amazing performance, it's just fun in a stupid way. He doesn't have much to do besides be the stupid sidekick to Voight and try to prove himself a tough guy at every turn. I do think Roberts does a good job in making his character act that way but I also feel like Roberts thought he was doing some really inspired, deep acting. That's the vibe I get. Either way, it's fun to watch and I also feel like maybe the Academy was trying to make him a star in a way and crown him early in his career, which they've done over and over in their 89 years. It could be they just like the Roberts family since sister Julia became so beloved soon after this. This film, though, is a lot of fun to watch. I'm okay with the supporting categories having these kinds of nominations.


Yikes, this year really sucks! There is no runaway winner and no one even really competes for the win. It's a bunch of average to likable performances but nothing award worthy. Ameche wins without any precursor support at all which tells you that is purely a veteran/career win. He does nothing in the film and is my 5th overall. Hickey is next because even though he has a presence about him and is memorable for his voice and looks, it's nothing all that interesting performance wise. Brandauer is 3rd because his role is nothing all that interesting or noteworthy though he does what is needed of his character. But it just does nothing for me. As far as my top two - I don't even know. Loggia plays a crude private eye but besides being somewhat funny with his old gruff demeanor if it won I'd be asking why. I like the idea of Loggia having an Oscar and maybe his two performances add up to a decent win, but is that what I want to do? Roberts at least gives the most memorable performance out of all of them because it's just so strange and entertaining and actorly. It feels weird to give my win to a performance I made fun of, but I do enjoy the hell out of it because it is so stupid and fun. I hate to not reward Loggia, but his role just wasn't enough. This is a very strange year and I'm glad the Academy doesn't get it so wrong like this more often. Roberts winning would be just as weird as Ameche, yet here I am.

Oscar Winner: Don Ameche - Cocoon
My Winner:  Eric Roberts - Runaway Train
Robert Loggia
Klaus Maria Brandauer
William Hickey
Don Ameche