I'm resuming my project after a couple week hiatus due to moving to a new apartment that was stressful and took up a lot of my time. Also got my film festival I work at coming up soon (and is probably over by the time this is actually posted) so that will be lots of fun. And this is only a day removed from the biggest Oscar flub in history which was hilarious to watch happen live. I'll go into more detail on my thoughts for that big moment when I do 2016's films. So a lot going on while I try to power through the 80s. There are a couple performances I've wanted to see for awhile in this group so let's get to it!
1984 Best Supporting Actor
Haing S. Ngor - The Killing Fields
This is an unbelievable performance. When you learn that Ngor himself survived the Khmer Rouge regime and had never acted before and was in fact a doctor, you might think this is a sympathy nomination and win to bring attention to the Cambodian struggle. I wouldn't put it past the Academy to do something like that but thankfully that's not the case here. Ngor is the clear winner even if he is more the lead of the film than Sam Waterston. The film is all about Ngor. In the beginning, we are introduced to Ngor's Dith Pran by way of Waterston because he is the interpreter for their group of journalists and his friend. Eventually the story shifts focus directly onto Ngor as he has to escape and survive the Khmer Rouge and we follow his struggle and journey and ultimate freedom. What makes the performance so good, however, is that Ngor is utterly believable (as he should be) as the Cambodian journalist. He's so natural and belongs in the story like it's a documentary. Obviously, having the first hand experience of living in Cambodia during that time frame and being imprisoned and escaping is put to great use. But the performance is more than just having lived the story, it's also just really good acting from someone that had never done so before. There is the big final scene where he reunites with Waterston and his face does more acting than a lot of Hollywood actors these days.There are a few more moments just like that one where Ngor's subtlety makes the performance shine even brighter. Sometimes I feel minority and especially Asian characters can get treated like props, getting a chuckle from their language and/or antics. But Ngor is a legit character who drives the film and is rewarded with an Oscar, wringing emotion from even the smallest of things. Honestly there is no false note in his performance, everything is pitch perfect. I was transfixed by Ngor which was very unexpected but I'm glad it was the case. I'm glad the Academy was able to reward him for this performance because it's not only incredible but incredibly memorable. I can't say enough good things about the performance so go watch it and experience it for yourself - you won't be disappointed.
Adolph Caesar - A Soldier's Story
At first I thought this was going to be a bad nomination. When you first meet Master Sergeant Waters, you think oh great, a whole bunch of overacting. Waters is loud and has a distinct deep, gruff voice and is very much a military man. But as the story plays out, Caesar gets a chance to really dive into the character and pull out something more than just a stereotype or caricature. His performance is helped along by a very engaging story that keeps you wondering who killed him. And that's not a spoiler since it happens in the very beginning of the film and is the whole set up for the film. What I really like about Caesar's character is that he's not just this one dimensional thing. He's not just purely evil sergeant and nothing else, he gets a chance to explain why his character acts this way and how deeply affected he is by what's gone on in his life. He is at times both superior to the men and inferior to them, as well. He has some self hatred but also hatred at one of his men who he feels is holding back black progress. It's a very complicated character and Caesar does a great job with the duality of it. He gets a monologue later in the film where he talks to himself but also his fellow soldier next to him espousing his hatred for a man he knew who played up the lowly black man stereotype to other white soldiers' delight. It's an intense piece of acting that personifies exactly what Waters is as a character. I just think that for being the center of the film with limited screen time after dying so early, that Caesar makes an impact on the film that is far more than just asshole NCO. I'm very glad he was nominated and in such a unique year for Supporting Actor, too. I think more people should see this forgotten gem of a film.
John Malkovich - Places in the Heart
This was Malkovich's first Oscar nomination. He plays a blind man who moves into Sally Field's house to help her with money by paying rent and is also the bank manager's nephew I believe. I think the first time you see Malkovich act, you kinda get swept up in his theatricality. He's articulate and captivating because he is clearly a well trained actor and almost unlike anyone you've ever seen before. So it's easy to see why the Academy would give him a nomination in a film they clearly loved because he stands out with his acting and makes himself memorable. It's why he succeeds in a film like Dangerous Liaisons where he doesn't feel too out of place.The funny thing is, Malkovich doesn't have all that much to do in the role and the film. He has some moments but other than those he just exists as a secondary character. It's telling that Malkovich can do so much even with so little and still be someone you think about for the film. I think it's this that got him nominated over Danny Glover's character who is given a lot more to do and is even more integral to the plot of the film. If Glover was nominated I'd feel it was justified but I also can't say I'm against Malkovich being nominated, either. Both give good performances and create memorable characters.
Pat Morita - The Karate Kid
I mean, come on, it's Mr. Miyagi. You know all the lines: Wax on, wax off. Sweep the leg. Daniel-san. Bonzai! All that stuff. He's a great, classic character who has been parodied so much that when you watch this performance that's almost all you see now. But he did this first, portraying the stoic, dryly humorous karate teacher. Morita is flat out hilarious at times which helps the character and performance because without the goofy humor and jokes it would just be a boring cliche of a role. It's hard to think of anyone else in this role which makes it timeless to me and I think Morita elevates something that in other films would probably be forgettable. He has his serious Oscar moment when he breaks down thinking about his wife and shows that Mr. Miyagi isn't completely unemotional. We see he is hurt and sad and dealing with it in his own way. It humanizes him and makes him sympathetic to us and not just a funny, stoic, karate dude. Morita is memorable and while most people don't consider this Oscar worthy, I don't see the harm in nominating him. It's obviously not as good as Ngor but it's still a great achievement for Asian actors. I love the nomination because it shows that at times the Academy has a sense of humor and will go off the board for a non traditional nominee. It's hard to really hate this character and performance and it's a fun little footnote in Oscar history.
Ralph Richardson - Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
I hate to break it to you but there is really only one reason Mr. Richardson is nominated here and that's because he died shortly after filming. The Academy liked him (he had his only other nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1949 for The Heiress), he was a veteran, well respected actor, and he had recently passed away. That was enough to bestow upon him one of the very few posthumous acting nominations. It's a feel good story but not very well deserved. Yes, Richardson is good enough in the role that any other older English actor could have played but he doesn't stand out and is not very memorable. He plays the Early of Greystoke who is Tarzan's grandfather and we see them reunite and then Richardson die as the character in a ridiculous fashion. And really that's all the performance is. If you watch the film, which is utterly ridiculous but somewhat intriguing, the standout supporting actor would be Ian Holm as a Belgian explorer. That's really the only option in the film at all. And by the way, the film is kinda creepy and weird. In the beginning we get two young boys playing Tarzan at different ages who run around naked and nothing - I mean nothing - is left to the imagination and I feel like I got put on a watchlist. It's frankly disturbing. But then there's the apes who are actors in costume and it's just weird looking. Then you've got actual Tarzan hooting and hollering and it's all weird and fascinating at the same time. Anyway, this is purely a nod to Richardson's career and nothing more.
Besides being a historic year, this year is also really, really great. I dislike Richardson's posthumous nomination because it is wholly unearned. It's a career nom for not much work and work that any other actor could have done. We could have had any number of other interesting choices so that's where my ire comes from. It's a weird movie, too. Malkovich gets on for his combination of the work from Places in the Heart and The Killing Fields. He's good in both, though I think better in the latter. Caesar was surprisingly good and a little more nuanced than just straight up evil Army sergeant. I was glad he turned out to be pretty good. Morita is Morita. He's an awesome choice and I enjoy watching him. But Ngor is the standout winner. He is tremendous and I was blown away. I wasn't expecting him to be that good and I'm glad he lived up to the win. All in all this was a pretty great year.
Oscar Winner: Haing S. Ngor - The Killing Fields
My Winner: Haing S. Ngor - The Killing Fields
Pat Morita
Adolph Caesar
John Malkovich
Ralph Richardson
