The last of the 5 Best Picture nominee years ever and it is plainly obvious while watching all these films so far that this category definitely deserved and needed to be expanded. So many films that should have been nominated like Doubt, The Dark Knight and Wall-E were never given the chance to be a Best Picture nominee even though they deserved it. This also finally ends 2008 for me and I can't be any happier! I feel like I've spent years on these couple of categories and I am absolutely ready to move on to 2007. However, before I do that I am going to review the 2011 nominees while they are still fresh in my mind from their initial viewings so as to better capture the zeitgeist. Hopefully I can have at least one category done before the actual Oscar ceremony later this month. Fingers crossed, although I'm terrible at getting this done in a timely manner!
2008 Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire
This film rightfully won Best Cinematography as it is simply gorgeous to look at. The story follows young Jamal as he answers questions on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with flashbacks explaining how he was able to answer the questions. It's a simple structure that has been used before but is used here to great effect.It's a wonder how Dev Patel wasn't able to secure a Best Actor nod because I would have easily put him ahead of Brad Pitt. I don't understand the backlash for this film after it won, besides Milk what other nominated film could have been deemed the best? When Jamal and Latika meet again after many years apart, it's a very emotional moment and you can't help but root for Jamal to get his girl. It's not done in a cheesy, forced, or overly cliche way. It's a simple, universal love story that can be understood by anyone. It's a solid movie and one that I can keep coming back to and watching without ever getting sick of it, it only grows in how much I like it and dare I say that it is an instant classic that will only multiply in stature.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Right from the start, let's just get the fact that this is a very long and mostly dull movie out of the way. With that said, why does an obvious Oscar bait film with many distinguished actors fail to deliver on a simple premise? Probably because the premise was so simple to begin with and the idea of this film was left to be filled in with details later. Brad Pitt's character is born old and progresses through the early Twentieth Century while getting younger. This happens in a kind of vignette style with a young girl named Daisy who grows older in the normal way. The two connect almost immediately but their situations prevent them from interacting like they want and their lives weave in and out essentially saying that no matter what age you are, life will still have its problems. Benjamin Button doesn't say much more than that in its 3 hours and thus makes for a very tedious watch. The tone of the film is rather cold and ultimately uninteresting when the meaning rings hollow and could have been summed up in a much shorter time frame and a less self important way. The movie looks amazing and the technical aspects deserve a lot of praise, unfortunately these things outshine the story and characters.
Frost/Nixon
This film is at it's absolute best when Michael Sheen and Frank Langella's characters are facing off with each other, just talking for the interviews. You can see that the story came from the stage during these times and that they probably did really well, too. One can't look away during the rapport the two characters have established and continued to build from stage to big screen. Watching these two giants play off one another is a real treat for the viewer. I do feel the faux documentary parts cheapen an otherwise strong movie and takes away from the very real tension that builds throughout the interviews. There is some fine acting from the supporting cast but the two leads far and away make this movie work. If it had been just the two main characters, the whole premise still would have hit with the intensity that Frost/Nixon sometimes captures. The idea that the two are putting their reputations on the line in order to gain further acceptance by the public and others who doubt their sincerity makes for a film that can really hit home for the general public. Even on re-watch, this film remains as powerful as it is watching it for the first time, a remarkable accomplishment.
Milk
Milk is a movie that made me feel good as a person after watching it. And those movies are truly rare these days. However, the majority of this film really played out like a very well done sports movie. It had all the uplifting moments and the occasional overacting that plagues those types of films. The characters in Milk are definitely the shining moments. Penn and Brolin, and to a lesser degree, Hirsch and Franco, really set the tone of the film through their acting and really engage the viewer into investing their time to get to know the characters presented. What I personally liked about Milk was that the director made sure to let characters grow organically and let the audience make their own connections before he gently tugged on the heartstrings. Even though the pacing was a bit slow, the director let the audience feel what they wanted by the end of the film and didn't force any agenda which is key for socially and politically divisive films such as Milk.
The Reader
The first half of this film is mostly a film more into being a German sex film so to speak that it really hampers it from sticking out on it's own merits. We see way too much of Kate Winslet in the nude to take whatever it says about German guilt from then on into a real serious consideration. Once the first third of the film passes, we finally get what makes The Reader truly special as a film. We see the Michael character years later confronting his former mistress as she testifies on the Holocaust witness stand. He is devastated and this affects his personal relationships which is hinted throughout the film when Ralph Fiennes character (Michael when he is older) has an inability to connect with those around him including his daughter. So what should be an incredible treatise on German guilt because of WWII and how it influenced subsequent generations, turns into how one man was unable to cope with how his past indiscretions shaped his life. I can't say I'm a fan of how Stephen Daldry wants the audience to accept Hanna Schmitz's character as something more than a Nazi SS leader. It's a very middle-serious film that wants to be more important than it really is.
I am really glad that the Academy expanded the amount of nominees for Best Picture after this year. Both Benjamin Button and The Reader were lacking in real Best Picture qualities that I went over in my opening. So many other movies this year probably should have supplanted these two because they were so underwhelming. However, Milk and Slumdog Millionaire were definite highlights of this year and were rightfully rewarded. I contend that Slumdog is an instant classic that should be loved for all time. It's interesting to note that the buzz for Slumdog really started at the Toronto Film Festival and picked up steam when it started winning the Guild awards. It's interesting to me that a film that premiered at a festival that is so soon after the Academy Awards was able to take home the top prize nearly a year later. Anyway, 2008 was a year where I didn't exactly despise all the nominees but I know that there were more deserving films that could have taken their places.
Oscar Winner: Slumdog Millionaire
My Winner: Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Frost/Nixon
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Reader
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008. Show all posts
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Leading Actor 2008
I recently listened to a very interesting podcast about film criticism, where a critic was talking about how many of today's "critics" pretend that they are the authority on film and film criticism and don't allow for any type of discourse. Effectively saying that these writers tend to think that their opinion's are the end-all-be-all word for that particular movie or performance and won't listen to differing opinions or, worse, will attack those that don't agree with them. All of this made me think about my own little project and I wanted to say that I in no way feel I am an authority on anything even remotely having to do with film. I feel that this is more of a journey for myself to discover the history of mostly the Oscars but also a little bit of film in general while going backwards in time. Now going backwards probably puts me at a disadvantage for really feeling the full effects of the Academy's choices since I don't see how things have truly evolved, but I do feel it will still broaden my knowledge and allow me to have a deeper appreciation for more than just the mainstream. And I really hope that if I ever finish this that I can begin a more detailed look at film in general and try my best to become a snobby film guy that only likes art house pics, foreign films, and movies of yesteryear!
As for the actors, again I've only not seen one of the performances so I pretty much know how my rankings will go. And by the time I am finished with 2008 I will have seen most of these films many, many times and I'll be glad to move on! I'm interested in how Richard Jenkins managed to sneak in and if it was a nod to his previous work or on the strength of an amazing performance. I guess I'll see soon.
2008 Best Actor
Sean Penn - Milk
Penn really gives his all, heart and soul, to this performance and makes it look easy. It helps that Penn looks eerily similar to Harvey Milk and seems to share his activist spirit. The best thing about Penn's portrayal of the somewhat selfish but well-meaning Milk is that he makes the character accessible to everyone, regardless of your political or moral leanings. If anyone has seen the great Oscar winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk you would have seen the amazingly effervescent personality come to life and Penn really brings that palpable energy to the screen. Even though the audience is dropped right in the middle of Harvey's life, we don't feel as if we've missed anything and are fully engaged in Penn's characterization. Milk's death is chilling and we feel a sadness of having lost a friend we made in only 2 hours.
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Jenkins' character in this film is a professor who comes back to his apartment in NYC to find an illegal couple squatting in his place who he eventually befriends. His performance is quiet, understated, not flashy, and done in a matter of fact style. It's essentially a character study for Jenkins to flex his acting muscles without being overpowering. Sometimes you want Jenkins to break out of his shell and deliver something powerful and when it finally does happen it hits hard. Though through the entire film it's like you're waiting for the anger to finally boil over but it never really does, it just gives way to sadness. I guess that has to do with this film eschewing the usual Hollywood tropes and instead of getting a comfortable, happy ending we get something that leaves us wanting more but is probably the closest thing to reality. You can tell he feels his life is unfulfilling since his wife passed and he wears it on his face quite noticeably. It's a very restrained performance that doesn't feel out of place and helps this film avoid being a cliche.
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
The Academy definitely likes when actors imitate famous people. Langella actually performed this same role on stage before it was adapted for the big screen and he does at times bear a resemblance to Nixon. His accent is most effective and helps the viewer fully accept that they are watching Richard Nixon in action. Langella is engrossing and powerful as he draws you into the narrative. The performance really shines during his tete a tete with Michael Sheen as the two match wits and verbally spar to save their reputations. You can see just how vulnerable Nixon truly was and that's due to the believability of of the performance, especially in the expressiveness of Langella's eyes and face. It's obvious that both Langella and Sheen are extremely comfortable in these roles and it shows in how easily they embody their characters. It's a strong performance worthy of a nomination.
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
How much of the make up and digital wizardry helped secure this nomination for Brad Pitt? I would say the novelty of the character had more to do it rather than Pitt's actual performance or the substance the character brought to the film. Pitt really didn't have all that much to work with as far as the story and script went so it is a testament to his acting abilities that he was able to garner a nomination. However, the character of Benjamin Button is very passive as he grows up and interacts with the world around, more like a passenger than anything. And this leads to an overall dull character that's hard to connect with. A lot of that is because Pitt's head/face is tacked on to another person's body when he's in his young and old states, so how much real acting is actually being done by Pitt? He does a decent job with what he has to work with but I can't help but think this is a classic case of style over substance.
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Even though Nic Cage was initially slated for this role, I can't imagine anyone else taking on the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson. No one. Rourke completely owns this character and imbues a lifetime of glories and failures into the soul of The Ram that the audience gets glimpses of from time to time throughout the film. It really feels like Rourke is exorcising some demons and using this performance as his own form of catharsis. The Ram's self destructive qualities clash with his need for emotional connections with anyone, including his estranged daughter and the stripper he "loves" but who only is fulfilling her job requirement in talking and listening to him. If The Wrestler had instead been a biopic on Rourke's demise in Hollywood and eventual resurrection, it might have looked eerily similar to this film. Rourke is powerful, magnetic, compelling, and warm all at the same time as he is emotionally distant, stubborn, scared, and vulnerable. This was definitely a role that was destined for greatness that only Rourke himself could have given it. Simply a masterful performance.
Another strong group for the Best Actor category. It seems this one has been the most consistent category since I've started doing this and that's really great to see. Especially when the other have some pretty terrible or weak roles nominated, this one delivers every year so far and I hope that continues. I'd say that Penn and Rourke are far and away the cream of this crop and I have had a hard time deciding which I would have wanted to win. I like both for different reasons and they are both incredibly strong actors. I think Rourke gets the nod because it's his once in a lifetime role that really defines him. But it's only a hair above Penn. As for Langella and Jenkins, they would be just a notch below the first two and I'm surprised (again!) at how good Jenkins was in his film. And then below them you have Pitt, which isn't a terrible performance just one where the technical aspects of putting his face on other people's bodies detracts from the overall work. You can still see he his talented just not as talented in this role as the others.
Oscar Winner: Sean Penn - Milk
My Winner: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Sean Penn
Frank Langella
Richard Jenkins
Brad Pitt
As for the actors, again I've only not seen one of the performances so I pretty much know how my rankings will go. And by the time I am finished with 2008 I will have seen most of these films many, many times and I'll be glad to move on! I'm interested in how Richard Jenkins managed to sneak in and if it was a nod to his previous work or on the strength of an amazing performance. I guess I'll see soon.
2008 Best Actor
Sean Penn - Milk
Penn really gives his all, heart and soul, to this performance and makes it look easy. It helps that Penn looks eerily similar to Harvey Milk and seems to share his activist spirit. The best thing about Penn's portrayal of the somewhat selfish but well-meaning Milk is that he makes the character accessible to everyone, regardless of your political or moral leanings. If anyone has seen the great Oscar winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk you would have seen the amazingly effervescent personality come to life and Penn really brings that palpable energy to the screen. Even though the audience is dropped right in the middle of Harvey's life, we don't feel as if we've missed anything and are fully engaged in Penn's characterization. Milk's death is chilling and we feel a sadness of having lost a friend we made in only 2 hours.
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Jenkins' character in this film is a professor who comes back to his apartment in NYC to find an illegal couple squatting in his place who he eventually befriends. His performance is quiet, understated, not flashy, and done in a matter of fact style. It's essentially a character study for Jenkins to flex his acting muscles without being overpowering. Sometimes you want Jenkins to break out of his shell and deliver something powerful and when it finally does happen it hits hard. Though through the entire film it's like you're waiting for the anger to finally boil over but it never really does, it just gives way to sadness. I guess that has to do with this film eschewing the usual Hollywood tropes and instead of getting a comfortable, happy ending we get something that leaves us wanting more but is probably the closest thing to reality. You can tell he feels his life is unfulfilling since his wife passed and he wears it on his face quite noticeably. It's a very restrained performance that doesn't feel out of place and helps this film avoid being a cliche.
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
The Academy definitely likes when actors imitate famous people. Langella actually performed this same role on stage before it was adapted for the big screen and he does at times bear a resemblance to Nixon. His accent is most effective and helps the viewer fully accept that they are watching Richard Nixon in action. Langella is engrossing and powerful as he draws you into the narrative. The performance really shines during his tete a tete with Michael Sheen as the two match wits and verbally spar to save their reputations. You can see just how vulnerable Nixon truly was and that's due to the believability of of the performance, especially in the expressiveness of Langella's eyes and face. It's obvious that both Langella and Sheen are extremely comfortable in these roles and it shows in how easily they embody their characters. It's a strong performance worthy of a nomination.
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
How much of the make up and digital wizardry helped secure this nomination for Brad Pitt? I would say the novelty of the character had more to do it rather than Pitt's actual performance or the substance the character brought to the film. Pitt really didn't have all that much to work with as far as the story and script went so it is a testament to his acting abilities that he was able to garner a nomination. However, the character of Benjamin Button is very passive as he grows up and interacts with the world around, more like a passenger than anything. And this leads to an overall dull character that's hard to connect with. A lot of that is because Pitt's head/face is tacked on to another person's body when he's in his young and old states, so how much real acting is actually being done by Pitt? He does a decent job with what he has to work with but I can't help but think this is a classic case of style over substance.
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Even though Nic Cage was initially slated for this role, I can't imagine anyone else taking on the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson. No one. Rourke completely owns this character and imbues a lifetime of glories and failures into the soul of The Ram that the audience gets glimpses of from time to time throughout the film. It really feels like Rourke is exorcising some demons and using this performance as his own form of catharsis. The Ram's self destructive qualities clash with his need for emotional connections with anyone, including his estranged daughter and the stripper he "loves" but who only is fulfilling her job requirement in talking and listening to him. If The Wrestler had instead been a biopic on Rourke's demise in Hollywood and eventual resurrection, it might have looked eerily similar to this film. Rourke is powerful, magnetic, compelling, and warm all at the same time as he is emotionally distant, stubborn, scared, and vulnerable. This was definitely a role that was destined for greatness that only Rourke himself could have given it. Simply a masterful performance.
Another strong group for the Best Actor category. It seems this one has been the most consistent category since I've started doing this and that's really great to see. Especially when the other have some pretty terrible or weak roles nominated, this one delivers every year so far and I hope that continues. I'd say that Penn and Rourke are far and away the cream of this crop and I have had a hard time deciding which I would have wanted to win. I like both for different reasons and they are both incredibly strong actors. I think Rourke gets the nod because it's his once in a lifetime role that really defines him. But it's only a hair above Penn. As for Langella and Jenkins, they would be just a notch below the first two and I'm surprised (again!) at how good Jenkins was in his film. And then below them you have Pitt, which isn't a terrible performance just one where the technical aspects of putting his face on other people's bodies detracts from the overall work. You can still see he his talented just not as talented in this role as the others.
Oscar Winner: Sean Penn - Milk
My Winner: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Sean Penn
Frank Langella
Richard Jenkins
Brad Pitt
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Leading Actress 2008
It's been taking a bit longer for me to watch and review movies than I initially thought, but some of that is due to being busy. Once I watch a few and get in the groove I start knocking out the categories pretty quickly. Bear with me. Part of doing the most recent years first allows me to automatically know which movies/performances I think are going to be tough to make it through. I'm excited for when I start getting into years I don't exactly know much about the movies/performances so I keep a fresh perspective. I really think this is the reason for the lack of consistent posts and the slow nature of my writing stuff out and posting them. The first time I watched Changeling I had to slog through it because it never really captivated me or made me want to keep watching let alone finish it. And that was back before the idea for this blog even came about, back when I was only trying to watch them all and not write about them. Now with trying to objectively watch without instantly saying a film is terrible or not fully paying attention becomes a chore for the ones I have already seen and not enjoyed. So definitely when I finally get into films I haven't seen or heard much about I think the pace will pick up (hopefully) since everything will be fresh. Of course, I'll eventually run into the problem of having to find ways to watch movies that doesn't take forever due to waiting on rentals to come in the mail or hard to find copies. Anyway, enough rambling and on to the Actresses! (forgive the terrible writing, also!)
2008 Best Actress
Kate Winslet - The Reader
Let's start with the fact that the first half of this film is mostly an adolescent German skin flick. Winslet is naked for most of the first third of the film and there is really no character development besides that she's a bossy, illiterate, Nazi. And that is the big revelation for the movie. Winslet and her boy toy have a tumultuous love affair that ends abruptly and then we see how Michael deals with it in the subsequent years. However, he never fully heals and eventually witnesses his lover on trial for war crimes and then can't function normally as a man. For Winslet, she succeeds in the beginning of the film when she is able to portray a woman who wants to be loved but is unable to give love in return. When they boy wants to love her she rebels and comes up with excuses that allows her to remain aloof and disconnected. Eventually she is put on trial and turns into an old lady. However, I hate her expression of surprise and shock. Her breathy gasps and wide eyed look is quite annoying and that may be superficial but Winslet's character never seems to get past that superficial phase for me, especially towards the end of the film. She plays the serious part a little too serious.
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
This film felt like a coming out party for Hathaway. After years of toiling in Disney movies, the role of Kym gave her a performance she could sink her teeth into. And sink her teeth into she did. Playing Kym, a recovering addict who has spent the last 9 months in rehab who has come home to be there for her sister's wedding, the character almost allows for Hathaway to indulge in a bit of overacting. There are definite times where her neurotic, chain smoking, talkative, sarcastic yet sincere look-at-me persona should be toned down and becomes more grating than adding anything to story. The film itself tackles how dysfunctional a family can be while still remaining a close family. Kym can't stand that her sister Rachel is getting all of the attention and so there are a lot of moments where Hathaway whines, pouts, acts inappropriately, and generally causes chaos. What makes Hathaway's performance compelling and worthy of attention is that she is able to not get caught up in the moment and chew the scenery every time she's on camera. You can really see the transition to becoming a serious actress for Hathaway in this strong performance.
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
No subtlety, no depth, it's a superficial portrayal that does nothing to rescue a sub par script and it becomes very evident that Jolie's performance is wholly a one-note thing betrayed by Eastwood's directing ability. It's a supremely average take on a woman whose son was taken from her only to have a boy thrust on her by the LAPD who wasn't her son. It's a performance that offers little nuance, little believability. Some of the more compelling parts of the film are when Jolie isn't even in them, not to say this film is in anyway good, however. Amy Ryan actually outshines Jolie as a psychiatric patient in my opinion and I can't help but think that if this film focused on the murder portion of Jolie's son and the serial killer angle that maybe, just maybe, the film would have worked far better and Jolie's effort would have been rewarded in the Supporting Actress category instead. Focusing on her makes me wonder why the Academy sought to reward such a mediocre performance with a nomination until one looks at the 2008 class as a whole....not much there unfortunately.
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
This is a very gritty, non-glamorous role that Leo gives her all in. She brings a humanistic quality to Ray Eddy, a mother of two that is doing everything she can to provide for her kids and survive on the border with Canada. The performance is very real and authentic and I can easily see Leo as this mother who eventually finds herself smuggling humans into the US as one of her last options of maintaining a somewhat normal life. She's a good person deep down and even throws out a Pakistani's duffel bag because she thinks it could have poison gas (not realizing what was actually inside) and she stands up for herself and her Native American partner when they are being short changed. However, there are a few scenes where the writing and directing don't allow Leo to give her best and it ultimately keeps this film from becoming anything more than the low budget, first time directing piece it really is. When Leo is able to showcase her talents, she is really something to see but unfortunately through no fault of her own, the viewer isn't able to witness this from start to finish.
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Another year, another solid Streep performance. I'd be annoyed if her 16 nominations and counting were mostly based off reputation, but she turns in fantastic performances with regularity and maybe that expectation keeps her from actually winning more than 2 awards. As if the Academy and the voters acknowledge her ability without really looking at her performances as anything more than just another Streep nomination before handing the award to someone else. In saying that, her performance in Doubt as a headmaster at a Catholic school is a really solid and fantastic turn. I really can believe Streep could be an old crotchety, nun/principal that is a stickler for the rules. This quality is highlighted with Streep's subdued acting while trying to find out about Hoffman's possible indiscretions with a young boy. She adheres to the rules and would never accuse someone of anything without being absolutely sure. The main theme of Doubt can be seen in Streep's inner turmoil as she struggles with believing the priest could do such a thing and then how she can help the church/get rid of Hoffman. Her doubt and eventual realization are a real treat to watch her explore on screen and makes for a very nuanced and great performance.
I wouldn't exactly say this is a strong group, at least in my opinion. Streep delivers yet another great performance and would have been my winner. However, as far as Streep performances go, I don't think this one is as strong as she has shown in the past. I think Leo's performance was hampered by a script and director that never found their voice. Hathaway gave a strong performance that really didn't get me all that excited for her to be included, but at least it seems the Academy was able to take some chances on the two actresses. Which I think is key for years like this where no one really stands out as the best and there is no sure thing front runner. I also can't help but think that Jolie's nomination and Winslet's win were due to producers or studio heads who campaigned for them. Jolie's inclusion has me scratching my head because I didn't think there was anything noteworthy about it and I feel Winslet's win may be because of the Weinstein effect and possibly her having 2 performances that could have made the Best Actress list and was thus a win for the 2 combined. Really it was a less than stellar group that I'm glad to be finally done with!
Oscar Winner: Kate Winslet - The Reader
My Winner: Meryl Streep - Doubt
Melissa Leo
Anne Hathaway
Kate Winslet
Angelina Jolie
2008 Best Actress
Kate Winslet - The Reader
Let's start with the fact that the first half of this film is mostly an adolescent German skin flick. Winslet is naked for most of the first third of the film and there is really no character development besides that she's a bossy, illiterate, Nazi. And that is the big revelation for the movie. Winslet and her boy toy have a tumultuous love affair that ends abruptly and then we see how Michael deals with it in the subsequent years. However, he never fully heals and eventually witnesses his lover on trial for war crimes and then can't function normally as a man. For Winslet, she succeeds in the beginning of the film when she is able to portray a woman who wants to be loved but is unable to give love in return. When they boy wants to love her she rebels and comes up with excuses that allows her to remain aloof and disconnected. Eventually she is put on trial and turns into an old lady. However, I hate her expression of surprise and shock. Her breathy gasps and wide eyed look is quite annoying and that may be superficial but Winslet's character never seems to get past that superficial phase for me, especially towards the end of the film. She plays the serious part a little too serious.
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
This film felt like a coming out party for Hathaway. After years of toiling in Disney movies, the role of Kym gave her a performance she could sink her teeth into. And sink her teeth into she did. Playing Kym, a recovering addict who has spent the last 9 months in rehab who has come home to be there for her sister's wedding, the character almost allows for Hathaway to indulge in a bit of overacting. There are definite times where her neurotic, chain smoking, talkative, sarcastic yet sincere look-at-me persona should be toned down and becomes more grating than adding anything to story. The film itself tackles how dysfunctional a family can be while still remaining a close family. Kym can't stand that her sister Rachel is getting all of the attention and so there are a lot of moments where Hathaway whines, pouts, acts inappropriately, and generally causes chaos. What makes Hathaway's performance compelling and worthy of attention is that she is able to not get caught up in the moment and chew the scenery every time she's on camera. You can really see the transition to becoming a serious actress for Hathaway in this strong performance.
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
No subtlety, no depth, it's a superficial portrayal that does nothing to rescue a sub par script and it becomes very evident that Jolie's performance is wholly a one-note thing betrayed by Eastwood's directing ability. It's a supremely average take on a woman whose son was taken from her only to have a boy thrust on her by the LAPD who wasn't her son. It's a performance that offers little nuance, little believability. Some of the more compelling parts of the film are when Jolie isn't even in them, not to say this film is in anyway good, however. Amy Ryan actually outshines Jolie as a psychiatric patient in my opinion and I can't help but think that if this film focused on the murder portion of Jolie's son and the serial killer angle that maybe, just maybe, the film would have worked far better and Jolie's effort would have been rewarded in the Supporting Actress category instead. Focusing on her makes me wonder why the Academy sought to reward such a mediocre performance with a nomination until one looks at the 2008 class as a whole....not much there unfortunately.
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
This is a very gritty, non-glamorous role that Leo gives her all in. She brings a humanistic quality to Ray Eddy, a mother of two that is doing everything she can to provide for her kids and survive on the border with Canada. The performance is very real and authentic and I can easily see Leo as this mother who eventually finds herself smuggling humans into the US as one of her last options of maintaining a somewhat normal life. She's a good person deep down and even throws out a Pakistani's duffel bag because she thinks it could have poison gas (not realizing what was actually inside) and she stands up for herself and her Native American partner when they are being short changed. However, there are a few scenes where the writing and directing don't allow Leo to give her best and it ultimately keeps this film from becoming anything more than the low budget, first time directing piece it really is. When Leo is able to showcase her talents, she is really something to see but unfortunately through no fault of her own, the viewer isn't able to witness this from start to finish.
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Another year, another solid Streep performance. I'd be annoyed if her 16 nominations and counting were mostly based off reputation, but she turns in fantastic performances with regularity and maybe that expectation keeps her from actually winning more than 2 awards. As if the Academy and the voters acknowledge her ability without really looking at her performances as anything more than just another Streep nomination before handing the award to someone else. In saying that, her performance in Doubt as a headmaster at a Catholic school is a really solid and fantastic turn. I really can believe Streep could be an old crotchety, nun/principal that is a stickler for the rules. This quality is highlighted with Streep's subdued acting while trying to find out about Hoffman's possible indiscretions with a young boy. She adheres to the rules and would never accuse someone of anything without being absolutely sure. The main theme of Doubt can be seen in Streep's inner turmoil as she struggles with believing the priest could do such a thing and then how she can help the church/get rid of Hoffman. Her doubt and eventual realization are a real treat to watch her explore on screen and makes for a very nuanced and great performance.
I wouldn't exactly say this is a strong group, at least in my opinion. Streep delivers yet another great performance and would have been my winner. However, as far as Streep performances go, I don't think this one is as strong as she has shown in the past. I think Leo's performance was hampered by a script and director that never found their voice. Hathaway gave a strong performance that really didn't get me all that excited for her to be included, but at least it seems the Academy was able to take some chances on the two actresses. Which I think is key for years like this where no one really stands out as the best and there is no sure thing front runner. I also can't help but think that Jolie's nomination and Winslet's win were due to producers or studio heads who campaigned for them. Jolie's inclusion has me scratching my head because I didn't think there was anything noteworthy about it and I feel Winslet's win may be because of the Weinstein effect and possibly her having 2 performances that could have made the Best Actress list and was thus a win for the 2 combined. Really it was a less than stellar group that I'm glad to be finally done with!
Oscar Winner: Kate Winslet - The Reader
My Winner: Meryl Streep - Doubt
Melissa Leo
Anne Hathaway
Kate Winslet
Angelina Jolie
Friday, December 9, 2011
Supporting Actor 2008
I actually had written a very long and very awesome post here already that I was very proud of, but like an idiot I accidentally deleted the whole thing right before I finished it. Suffice to say I was beyond pissed at myself. And it unfortunately cooled my zeal to write again for awhile since I knew it would be really difficult to re-write everything I had already spent a good deal of time on and capture exactly what I was thinking after watching these movies. So in saying all that, I don't think this post will be my best unfortunately and I do apologize for that.
When I did finally come to this group, I was beyond excited since I had already seen 4 of the 5 films and loved them all. Knowing I'd get to watch them all over again and write good things instead of criticism really had me pumped to do this one. Micheal Shannon's inclusion was the wild card for me. I wasn't sure what to expect out of his performance but was hoping he would make it a perfect 5 for 5 in great nominations. I definitely already know that Ledger's performance will be my favorite, though. I think I will try a more direct approach that's less flowery than I how normally write since I don't want to try to re-write word for word what I already wrote.
2008 Best Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
I just want to say, this is the quintessential Joker ever for me, in any medium. I've read in some places that people feel this was a sympathy award for Ledger, but I frankly feel that is pretty insulting to the performance he made. It's an instant classic and is nothing short of brilliant, captivating, gripping, memorable, and downright mesmerizing. When the Joker is on screen, you can't look away because you don't want to miss a second of his twisted and demented actions, even if you've seen the film 20 times. That's how great Ledger's performance is. It goes way beyond just a comic book character and even further beyond being just another caricature of a zany, kooky Joker. It's real, it's gritty, it's powerful. He's an amoral psychopath that seems like he has a plan to plague Gotham and hound the Batman but you soon realize he really has no plan and essentially makes things up as he goes along. He is not concerned about money or power per se, more about just causing mayhem and chaos in a world that is there for the Joker to bend to his will. The Joker comes off in a very controlled crazy way and there's many scenes where Ledger expertly teeters on the edge of sanity/insanity. In one scene the Joker can play either side of this line and it never feels too over-the-top or uncontrolled. Even the movements of the Joker factor into how creepy and psychotic he can be. The way Ledger moves quickly when he walks, smacks his lips when he's annoyed, the sometimes rhythmic cadence of his speech, the intensity of someone determined to bring the Batman to his level...all make for one of the greatest performances of all time.
Josh Brolin - Milk
Brolin does a great job in working under the confines of his character. From the beginning when we first meet Brolin's character, we instantly get the feeling we won't like him as the film progresses. The audience is able to see through his thinly veiled good guy persona and see the bubbling animosity underneath. He's a fearful individual who feels he's being demeaned which really sets him off and pushes him towards the edge and possibly over. Brolin has very few scenes in which to transform from family man to cold blooded killer but he does a great job in selling us the abrupt change in personality. The viewer never feels comfortable with Dan White on screen which is a testament to the script and Brolin's acting ability. It's an arresting performance of a chilling character.
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Good for the Academy in recognizing a comedic role in having more than just the ability to make us laugh. This is what is at the heart of Downey's portrayal of an Australian method actor who churns out Oscars that actually undergoes a skin pigmentation to play the role of a black Vietnam War soldier. There is no doubt that Downey can easily make us laugh in this movie with his great one-liners and over-the-top accent. But he also succeeds in making this role more than just a caricature of blacks and gives is some pretty remarkable depth. He lampoons not only those actors who submerge themselves into the roles they get in hopes of awards but also the hypocrisy of non-minorities receiving roles meant for minorities. Downey also treats the racial aspect of the role with some very deft handling by having Kirk Lazarus come off very sincere in playing a black man and trying to avoid stereotyping himself too much. Of course, we also laugh hard when he sometimes fails to realize how far he has or hasn't gone in his method acting, too. What was so great about this performance for me was that Downey really avoided making the role offensive or even come off like a white guy trying to be black and it totally worked.
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
I'm amazed that this film was able to garner 4 acting nominations while not being nominated for Best Picture. A great reason why I love the decision to increase the nominees for that category. Hoffman plays this role of a Catholic priest perfectly. It's such a joy to watch him match wits against Streep in this film that lives up to it's name. As much as we doubt Hoffman's innocence every time Streep's character seems to think he is guilty of corrupting the only black kid in the school and acting inappropriately, possibly sexually, with him, we also doubt whether or not we believe Streep when Hoffman and the two cross paths multiple times. Hoffman is able to portray his character as the beloved priest that is only helping a disturbed young boy and mentoring him after hours. We never really know which side to believe, the loved priest who is looking to modernize his parish or the smarmy, quick tempered, power monger who preys on the young boys. This is all due to how effortlessly Hoffman can change from one persona to the next which leaves the audience unsure of what is truly going on in this church. The believability of Hoffman in this role speaks to his acting prowess.
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
I had no idea what to expect from Shannon in this role as I didn't know much about him or what he was capable of besides his awesome work in Boardwalk Empire. I'll admit I was sorta expecting to be letdown but am glad to state that wasn't the case. This is a powerful performance that blew me away because Shannon steals the two short scenes he's in (maybe 10 minutes total in the film) and really saves the movie from itself. And this is pretty incredible since DiCaprio, Winslet, and Kathy Bates were all in the scenes with Shannon. I loved this role because it really grounds the two main characters in reality as Shannon's just released from a psychiatric hospital character delivers the caustic truth and is able to sense all the lies and BS that's floating around and call it all out without caring about pretenses or decorum. He's a kind of controlled crazy that is very refreshing. You can tell he's still somewhat normal but is able to use his "illness" as a way to say whatever he wants, which in turn makes everyone else seem crazy for trying to lead normal lives while hiding all their demons. A masterful performance that kept this move from caving in under it's own self importance.
I am really surprised that the Academy got this group so damn right. Every performance is amazing and Ledger absolutely earned his posthumous win. It was actually only the second posthumous award ever presented and the first in the Supporting Actor category. It was also fantastic to see the Academy reward a comedic performance since I know those have been few and far between in the later years of the Oscars. I would have been happy to see Downey win if Ledger's Joker hadn't been such an instant classic. Shannon's performance really surprised the hell out of me in how much I actually liked it. I thought it would easily be 5th out of the 5 but felt it was powerful enough to be right in the middle of them. Brolin and Hoffman could have easily won this award if they had been nominated in any other year, which says a lot about how strong this group really was. This is the reason I decided to start this blog; to find these amazing groups and see how often the Academy really got things right.
Oscar Winner: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
My Winner: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Robert Downey, Jr.
Michael Shannon
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Josh Brolin
When I did finally come to this group, I was beyond excited since I had already seen 4 of the 5 films and loved them all. Knowing I'd get to watch them all over again and write good things instead of criticism really had me pumped to do this one. Micheal Shannon's inclusion was the wild card for me. I wasn't sure what to expect out of his performance but was hoping he would make it a perfect 5 for 5 in great nominations. I definitely already know that Ledger's performance will be my favorite, though. I think I will try a more direct approach that's less flowery than I how normally write since I don't want to try to re-write word for word what I already wrote.
2008 Best Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
I just want to say, this is the quintessential Joker ever for me, in any medium. I've read in some places that people feel this was a sympathy award for Ledger, but I frankly feel that is pretty insulting to the performance he made. It's an instant classic and is nothing short of brilliant, captivating, gripping, memorable, and downright mesmerizing. When the Joker is on screen, you can't look away because you don't want to miss a second of his twisted and demented actions, even if you've seen the film 20 times. That's how great Ledger's performance is. It goes way beyond just a comic book character and even further beyond being just another caricature of a zany, kooky Joker. It's real, it's gritty, it's powerful. He's an amoral psychopath that seems like he has a plan to plague Gotham and hound the Batman but you soon realize he really has no plan and essentially makes things up as he goes along. He is not concerned about money or power per se, more about just causing mayhem and chaos in a world that is there for the Joker to bend to his will. The Joker comes off in a very controlled crazy way and there's many scenes where Ledger expertly teeters on the edge of sanity/insanity. In one scene the Joker can play either side of this line and it never feels too over-the-top or uncontrolled. Even the movements of the Joker factor into how creepy and psychotic he can be. The way Ledger moves quickly when he walks, smacks his lips when he's annoyed, the sometimes rhythmic cadence of his speech, the intensity of someone determined to bring the Batman to his level...all make for one of the greatest performances of all time.
Josh Brolin - Milk
Brolin does a great job in working under the confines of his character. From the beginning when we first meet Brolin's character, we instantly get the feeling we won't like him as the film progresses. The audience is able to see through his thinly veiled good guy persona and see the bubbling animosity underneath. He's a fearful individual who feels he's being demeaned which really sets him off and pushes him towards the edge and possibly over. Brolin has very few scenes in which to transform from family man to cold blooded killer but he does a great job in selling us the abrupt change in personality. The viewer never feels comfortable with Dan White on screen which is a testament to the script and Brolin's acting ability. It's an arresting performance of a chilling character.
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Good for the Academy in recognizing a comedic role in having more than just the ability to make us laugh. This is what is at the heart of Downey's portrayal of an Australian method actor who churns out Oscars that actually undergoes a skin pigmentation to play the role of a black Vietnam War soldier. There is no doubt that Downey can easily make us laugh in this movie with his great one-liners and over-the-top accent. But he also succeeds in making this role more than just a caricature of blacks and gives is some pretty remarkable depth. He lampoons not only those actors who submerge themselves into the roles they get in hopes of awards but also the hypocrisy of non-minorities receiving roles meant for minorities. Downey also treats the racial aspect of the role with some very deft handling by having Kirk Lazarus come off very sincere in playing a black man and trying to avoid stereotyping himself too much. Of course, we also laugh hard when he sometimes fails to realize how far he has or hasn't gone in his method acting, too. What was so great about this performance for me was that Downey really avoided making the role offensive or even come off like a white guy trying to be black and it totally worked.
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
I'm amazed that this film was able to garner 4 acting nominations while not being nominated for Best Picture. A great reason why I love the decision to increase the nominees for that category. Hoffman plays this role of a Catholic priest perfectly. It's such a joy to watch him match wits against Streep in this film that lives up to it's name. As much as we doubt Hoffman's innocence every time Streep's character seems to think he is guilty of corrupting the only black kid in the school and acting inappropriately, possibly sexually, with him, we also doubt whether or not we believe Streep when Hoffman and the two cross paths multiple times. Hoffman is able to portray his character as the beloved priest that is only helping a disturbed young boy and mentoring him after hours. We never really know which side to believe, the loved priest who is looking to modernize his parish or the smarmy, quick tempered, power monger who preys on the young boys. This is all due to how effortlessly Hoffman can change from one persona to the next which leaves the audience unsure of what is truly going on in this church. The believability of Hoffman in this role speaks to his acting prowess.
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
I had no idea what to expect from Shannon in this role as I didn't know much about him or what he was capable of besides his awesome work in Boardwalk Empire. I'll admit I was sorta expecting to be letdown but am glad to state that wasn't the case. This is a powerful performance that blew me away because Shannon steals the two short scenes he's in (maybe 10 minutes total in the film) and really saves the movie from itself. And this is pretty incredible since DiCaprio, Winslet, and Kathy Bates were all in the scenes with Shannon. I loved this role because it really grounds the two main characters in reality as Shannon's just released from a psychiatric hospital character delivers the caustic truth and is able to sense all the lies and BS that's floating around and call it all out without caring about pretenses or decorum. He's a kind of controlled crazy that is very refreshing. You can tell he's still somewhat normal but is able to use his "illness" as a way to say whatever he wants, which in turn makes everyone else seem crazy for trying to lead normal lives while hiding all their demons. A masterful performance that kept this move from caving in under it's own self importance.
I am really surprised that the Academy got this group so damn right. Every performance is amazing and Ledger absolutely earned his posthumous win. It was actually only the second posthumous award ever presented and the first in the Supporting Actor category. It was also fantastic to see the Academy reward a comedic performance since I know those have been few and far between in the later years of the Oscars. I would have been happy to see Downey win if Ledger's Joker hadn't been such an instant classic. Shannon's performance really surprised the hell out of me in how much I actually liked it. I thought it would easily be 5th out of the 5 but felt it was powerful enough to be right in the middle of them. Brolin and Hoffman could have easily won this award if they had been nominated in any other year, which says a lot about how strong this group really was. This is the reason I decided to start this blog; to find these amazing groups and see how often the Academy really got things right.
Oscar Winner: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
My Winner: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Robert Downey, Jr.
Michael Shannon
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Josh Brolin
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Supporting Actress 2008
I am back! And hopefully writing these reviews with some regularity now. Playoff hockey is gone (but a new season has arrived) and my infatuation with Netflix has since waned. This year's crop of supporting actresses only gave me one movie to watch that I haven't seen which means I pretty much know what my order of liking these roles will be (and that is somewhat anti-climactic for me). Hopefully I don't have too much rust to knock off while writing these. Enjoy!
2008 Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I must say I expected a lot more out of this performance. It was decent, sure, but I'm not sold on it being Oscar worthy. Cruz's character does breathe some life into this incredibly cliche and stale movie but I also felt her character suffered from being built from a very worn out mold. She was the only thing that actually felt real and authentic about this film due to the fiery passion she exudes while onscreen. But like every other character in this movie, she is a cookie cutter representation of what Allen thinks of, in this case, a Spanish woman is. Meaning she is loud, emotional, violent, fiery, and irrational. This does help break up the monotony of the movie at times and Cruz deftly portrays her character without it seeming too much like a cliche. I just don't think even Cruz's best can elevate this role to anything more than a decent portrayal of a terrible character.
Amy Adams - Doubt
This is the type of role that suits Adams perfectly and I feel she is at her best in these innocent, almost precocious, performances. In Doubt, she does a great job of doing what is required of her character. Her role is essentially to be the go-between for Streep and Hoffman's characters. It is almost like Adams' character is just like the audience: being preyed on and plied by the other two characters so that she'll believe their version of events surrounding the boy and his troubles. For this reason, I feel Adams becomes mostly a blank canvas on which anyone to paint what they want (including the director) and getting the audience to feel a certain way thus making her performance hit without any real effect. Adams does well with what she is given but ultimately cannot elevate it into something other than a vessel to move scenes along.
Viola Davis - Doubt
I think Davis' performance really encapsulates what Doubt is all about. In her very brief role, she is able to further make the audience doubt not only whether or not her son is being abused by the priest, but if it is even a good thing to try and punish the priest which would surely bring to light the boy's actions in a negative way. It makes one wonder if Davis is a good mother protecting her son or a careless mother more concerned about not getting involved in any kind of drama at the school. At first, I wasn't exactly wowed by this performance but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to capture the movie's point. Davis conveys a lot of different emotions in her very short scene and all of them while remaining very collected and deliberate in her words. It's a powerful performance that really takes the movie to another level.
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This nomination felt like it rode the Benjamin Button wave in making its way on this list, since that movie had the most nominations this year. When I was trying to remember anything interesting or memorable about this role before I re-watched it, I honestly could not remember anything about it besides she was the one who raised Brad Pitt's character. Henson does a decent enough job of portraying the caring mother figure, but it just never stood out past the supporting role it is. She makes the relationship between Pitt and herself seem very genuine but I feel that any other actress could have produced the same result. And I'm not so sure one of the other supporting actresses in this movie (Swinton, Blanchett, etc.) couldn't have easily taken her place here.
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
One thing is obvious about this film from the start, Mickey Rourke gives an amazing and powerful performance as an aging pro wrestler. Marisa Tomei's character, however, really helps to humanize the larger-than-life Randy "The Ram" Robinson persona. Her character is somewhat vulnerable herself as an aging stripper and Randy mistakes her trying to make a buck for actual friendliness. Tomei displays such a depth to this character when she agrees to help him buy a gift for his estranged daughter and they end up having a good time together. When Tomei's character realizes she is letting a client get close to her and that she is letting her own personal guard down, she takes off. The next meeting is tempestuous at best and it is clear she is conflicted inside about being a stripper and a friend to Randy. Tomei really balances playing Rourke's emotional outlet with maintaining her need to make money very delicately and is what makes this a strong performance.
This was a very interesting group to me. The performances all seemed to be of the same sort of caliber, so to speak, as nothing really stood head and shoulders above the rest. Viola Davis' performance really shocked me because on my first watch, I was really perturbed to find out such a short role was nominated and thought it had to be one of those Oscar token nominations given to someone for their past body of work. So I think re-watching these films and doing this blog has really helped me to see things a different way than I'm used to and it's pretty awesome to be able to say that. I like to think I don't pretend to get things or not get things just because it's the trendy thing to do and I definitely don't try to be "deep" with my choices in hopes of someone somewhere thinking I'm really smart or hip. I just really enjoyed her performance as much as that surprised me. Honestly, the other four nominations could easily be arranged in any order and I wouldn't fight too hard for a performance to go either way. I knew what to expect already from Tomei, Adams, and Henson and was somewhat annoyed that Cruz wasn't as amazing as I thought (and was led to believe by many Woody Allen lovers that that hide as film critics) she was going to be in a Woody Allen movie, which was my first by the way. Another one of the things I can continue to look forward to as I work backwards is finally seeing movies and directors I've heard about for ages but have never seen. Anyway, that was way longer than I intended but I'm definitely glad to be back writing and excited for such a great Supporting Actor group to come!
Oscar Winner: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
My Winner: Viola Davis - Doubt
Marisa Tomei
Amy Adams
Penelope Cruz
Taraji P. Henson
2008 Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I must say I expected a lot more out of this performance. It was decent, sure, but I'm not sold on it being Oscar worthy. Cruz's character does breathe some life into this incredibly cliche and stale movie but I also felt her character suffered from being built from a very worn out mold. She was the only thing that actually felt real and authentic about this film due to the fiery passion she exudes while onscreen. But like every other character in this movie, she is a cookie cutter representation of what Allen thinks of, in this case, a Spanish woman is. Meaning she is loud, emotional, violent, fiery, and irrational. This does help break up the monotony of the movie at times and Cruz deftly portrays her character without it seeming too much like a cliche. I just don't think even Cruz's best can elevate this role to anything more than a decent portrayal of a terrible character.
Amy Adams - Doubt
This is the type of role that suits Adams perfectly and I feel she is at her best in these innocent, almost precocious, performances. In Doubt, she does a great job of doing what is required of her character. Her role is essentially to be the go-between for Streep and Hoffman's characters. It is almost like Adams' character is just like the audience: being preyed on and plied by the other two characters so that she'll believe their version of events surrounding the boy and his troubles. For this reason, I feel Adams becomes mostly a blank canvas on which anyone to paint what they want (including the director) and getting the audience to feel a certain way thus making her performance hit without any real effect. Adams does well with what she is given but ultimately cannot elevate it into something other than a vessel to move scenes along.
Viola Davis - Doubt
I think Davis' performance really encapsulates what Doubt is all about. In her very brief role, she is able to further make the audience doubt not only whether or not her son is being abused by the priest, but if it is even a good thing to try and punish the priest which would surely bring to light the boy's actions in a negative way. It makes one wonder if Davis is a good mother protecting her son or a careless mother more concerned about not getting involved in any kind of drama at the school. At first, I wasn't exactly wowed by this performance but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to capture the movie's point. Davis conveys a lot of different emotions in her very short scene and all of them while remaining very collected and deliberate in her words. It's a powerful performance that really takes the movie to another level.
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This nomination felt like it rode the Benjamin Button wave in making its way on this list, since that movie had the most nominations this year. When I was trying to remember anything interesting or memorable about this role before I re-watched it, I honestly could not remember anything about it besides she was the one who raised Brad Pitt's character. Henson does a decent enough job of portraying the caring mother figure, but it just never stood out past the supporting role it is. She makes the relationship between Pitt and herself seem very genuine but I feel that any other actress could have produced the same result. And I'm not so sure one of the other supporting actresses in this movie (Swinton, Blanchett, etc.) couldn't have easily taken her place here.
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
One thing is obvious about this film from the start, Mickey Rourke gives an amazing and powerful performance as an aging pro wrestler. Marisa Tomei's character, however, really helps to humanize the larger-than-life Randy "The Ram" Robinson persona. Her character is somewhat vulnerable herself as an aging stripper and Randy mistakes her trying to make a buck for actual friendliness. Tomei displays such a depth to this character when she agrees to help him buy a gift for his estranged daughter and they end up having a good time together. When Tomei's character realizes she is letting a client get close to her and that she is letting her own personal guard down, she takes off. The next meeting is tempestuous at best and it is clear she is conflicted inside about being a stripper and a friend to Randy. Tomei really balances playing Rourke's emotional outlet with maintaining her need to make money very delicately and is what makes this a strong performance.
This was a very interesting group to me. The performances all seemed to be of the same sort of caliber, so to speak, as nothing really stood head and shoulders above the rest. Viola Davis' performance really shocked me because on my first watch, I was really perturbed to find out such a short role was nominated and thought it had to be one of those Oscar token nominations given to someone for their past body of work. So I think re-watching these films and doing this blog has really helped me to see things a different way than I'm used to and it's pretty awesome to be able to say that. I like to think I don't pretend to get things or not get things just because it's the trendy thing to do and I definitely don't try to be "deep" with my choices in hopes of someone somewhere thinking I'm really smart or hip. I just really enjoyed her performance as much as that surprised me. Honestly, the other four nominations could easily be arranged in any order and I wouldn't fight too hard for a performance to go either way. I knew what to expect already from Tomei, Adams, and Henson and was somewhat annoyed that Cruz wasn't as amazing as I thought (and was led to believe by many Woody Allen lovers that that hide as film critics) she was going to be in a Woody Allen movie, which was my first by the way. Another one of the things I can continue to look forward to as I work backwards is finally seeing movies and directors I've heard about for ages but have never seen. Anyway, that was way longer than I intended but I'm definitely glad to be back writing and excited for such a great Supporting Actor group to come!
Oscar Winner: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
My Winner: Viola Davis - Doubt
Marisa Tomei
Amy Adams
Penelope Cruz
Taraji P. Henson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)