Sunday 25 January 2015

Alternate Best Actor 2014

And the Nominees Were Not:

Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler

Joaquin Phoenix in Inherent Vice

Matthew McConaughey in Interstellar

Brendan Gleeson in Calvary

Philip Seymour Hoffman in A Most Wanted Man

Predict Those Five or Predict These Five:

Jake Gyllenhaal in Enemy

Guy Pearce in The Rover

David Oyelowo in Selma

Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel

Tom Hardy in Locke 

Or predict both if you want.

110 comments:

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings & Thoughts on those that missed out.

Psifonian said...

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Phoenix
3. McConaughey
4. Gleeson
5. Hoffman

1. Hardy
2. Pearce
3. Fiennes
4. Oyelowo
5. Gyllenhaal

Anonymous said...

Both please

Luke Higham said...

Section 1
1. Gyllenhaal - 5
2. Phoenix - 5
3. Hoffman - 5
4. Gleeson - 5
5. McConaughey - 5

Section 2
1. Pearce - 5
2. Hardy - 5
3. Fiennes - 5
4. Oyelowo - 5
5. Gyllenhaal - 4.5 or 5

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Are you still reviewing Tatum.

Matt Mustin said...

Section 1
1.Gyllenhaal
2.Gleeson
3.Phoenix
4.Hoffman
5.McConaughey

Section 2
1.Pearce
2.Fiennes
3.Hardy
4.Oyelowo
5.Gyllenhaal

Michael McCarthy said...

Serkis... </3 I did expect it though.

1. Jake Gyllenhaal
2. Brendan Gleeson
3. Joaquin Phoenix
4. Philip Seymour Hoffman
5. Matthew McConaughey

I'll predict the other set when I see Enemy, which will hopefully be soon.

Michael Patison said...

Anonymous: Louis means that he's going to do all 10 of them, and you may predict both if you want to.

Louis:
Group 1:
1. Jake Gyllenhaal
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman
3. Brendan Gleeson
4. Joaquin Phoenix
5. Matthew McConaughey

Group 2:
1. Tom Hardy
2. Guy Pearce
3. Ralph Fiennes
4. David Oyelowo
5. Jake Gyllenhaal

Luke Higham said...

As long, as you review all your 5s, I'm happy enough with the ten you gave, the only one potentially missing is Tatum, although you'll probably do a Ribisi on him.

GM said...

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Gleeson
3. Phoenix
4. Hoffman
5. McConaughey

1. Hardy
2. Pearce
3. Fiennes
4. Oyelowo
5. Gyllenhaal

Anonymous said...

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Gleeson
3. Hoffman
4. Phoenix
5. McConaughey

1. Pearce
2. Hardy
3. Fiennes
4. Oyelowo
5. Gyllenhaal

Michael McCarthy said...

Whaddaya know, I did have time to watch it.

1. Ralph Fiennes
2. David Oyelowo
3. Tom Hardy
4. Guy Pearce
5. Jake Gyllenhaal

bondfan said...

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Gleeson
3. Hoffman
4. Phoenix
5. McConaughey


1. Fiennes
2. Hardy
3. Oyelowo
4. Gyllenhaal
5. Pearce

Maciej said...

Set 1:

1.Gleeson
2.Gyllenhaal
3.Phoenix
4.McConaughey
5.Hoffman

Set 2:

1.Oyelowo
2.Hardy
3.Fiennes
4.Pearce
5.Gyllenhaal

RatedRStar said...

At least this years oscar race is now not 100 percent predictable.

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Gleeson
3. Hoffman
4. Phoenix
5. McConaughey

1. Hardy
2. Pearce
3. Fiennes
4. Oyelowo
5. Gyllenhaal

JackiBoyz said...

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Phoenix
3. Hoffman
4. Gleeson
5. McConaughey

1. Pearce
2. Hardy
3. Fiennes
4. Oyelowo
5. Gyllenhaal

moviefilm said...

1) Jake Gyllenhaal
2) Philip Swymour Hoffman
3) Brendan Gleeson
4) Joaquin Phoenix
5) Matthew McConaughey


1) Ralph Fiennes
2) David Oyelowo
3) Tom Hardy
4) Guy Pearce
5) Jake Gyllenhaal

Lezlie said...

1. Jake Gyllenhaal
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman
3. Brendan Gleeson
4. Joaquin Phoenix
5. Matthew McConaughey

1. Tom Hardy
2. Guy Pearce
3. David Oyelowo
4. Ralph Fiennes
5. Jake Gyllenhaal

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Hoffman
3. McConaughey
4. Gleeson
5. Phoenix

1. Hardy
2. Pearce
3. Gyllenhaal
4. Oyelowo
5. Fiennes

RatedRStar said...

@Luke, I should say that if I had won any of the recent requests it wouldn’t have been Chang Chen since Louis has seen him a few times, whereas now I am more interested in getting Louis to see Hong Kong actors that he hasn’t seen yet.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: It was a guess and I just had a feeling you would choose Chen.

Since, I believe you've seen all of the films for the lineup, can you predict what ratings Louis, will give to the ten performances in question.

I'm predicting 5s for all but maybe Gyllenhaal in Enemy.

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Gleeson (who honestly I found to be just okay)
3. Phoenix
4. McConaughey
5. Hoffman

1. Fiennes
2. Hardy
3. Oyelowo
4. Pearce
5. Gyllenhaal

John Smith said...

1.Gyllenhall
2.Phoenix
3.Hoffman
4.MaCounaughey
5.Gleeson

1.Gyllenhall
2.Pearce
3.Oyelowo
4.Hardy
5.Fiennes

John Smith said...

By the way guys, wo do you think is the better actor?

Duvall or Nicholson?

I think it is Nicholson since his performance in Five Easy Pieces is the greatest performance ever put on film, in my opinion.

John Smith said...

Even tough i really love Duvall

Luke Higham said...

John Smith: For me, I'll go with Duvall since, he's been the more consistent over the extent of his career, although Nicholson has had more 5 star performances.

John Smith said...

Luke, What would you say is Duvall's and Nicholson's best performances?

Luke Higham said...

John Smith:
Duvall - Apocalypse Now
Nicholson - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

John Smith said...

Luke: I agree with you about Apocalypse

Kevin said...

Group 1:

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Phoenix
3. Gleeson
4. McConaughey
5. Hoffman

Group 2:

1. Pearce
2. Hardy
3. Fiennes
4. Oyelowo
5. Gyllenhaal

I think all 10 performances will receiv 5s

Also, ratings and thoughts on Andy Serkis in Apes, Timothy Spall in Mr Turner, Channing Tatum in Foxcatcher and Christoph Waltz in The Zero Theorem

Scott Gingold said...

1. Gyllenhaal
2. Gleeson
3. Phoenix
4. Hoffman
5. McConaughey

1. Oyelowo
2. Fiennes
3. Hardy
4. Pearce
5. Gyllenhaal

RatedRStar said...

The difference between Duvall and Nicholson is the same as Clift Vs Brando, Duvall and Clift are more consistent and tend to always put 100 percent effort no matter the film.

@Luke: I think everyone will get a 5, Gyllenhaal could possbibly get 4.5 for Enemy but he could also get a 5.

RatedRStar said...

omg I am so excited and nervous about the 2015 season =D, to see Jake, Leo, Fassy and Hardy as potential nominees is just sexual =D please someone tell me I am wrong lol.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: You're not wrong, Dicaprio & Fassbender are great possibilities for Lead and we'll see what happens with Gyllenhaal & Hardy, I personally hope the competition is, as good as the past two years.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Just in case, have you seen Joe or A Most Violent Year.

moviefilm said...

RatedStar: What is the purpose in making Louis watch Hong Kong performances? I mean, unless he wants it. Because for instance I am from Slovakia and I don't have a need to make him watch slovakian actors. I'm not saying it's something bad, I just ask. (Though sometimes I am annoyed when I see your requested performance get reviewed in favor of some performances that REALLY was an alternate for Oscar)

Robert MacFarlane said...

Because there's a treasure trove of wonderful performances from other countries, Hong Kong included.

Robert MacFarlane said...

And trust me, when we get to bonus rounds I'll be suggesting nothing BUT foreign language performances for the most part.

Luke Higham said...

I've no problem with RatedRStar requesting HK performances, as long as Louis likes it over those supposed alternatives.

Luke Higham said...

KoooK160:
Mads Mikkelson in The Hunt, A Royal Affair and so on
Tatsuya Nakadai in Ran
Rahim & Arestrup in Un Prophete
Antonio Banderas in The Skin I live in
Anyone from The White Ribbon (although It's been a long while, since I last saw it.)
Mathieu Amalric in The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Lust Caution
Daniel Bruhl in Goodbye Lenin
Li & Leung in Hero
Alexandre Rodrigues in City of God
Etc

RatedRStar said...

@Moviefilm: I will explain, there are quite a few reasons why I often request HK performances.

1)Unpredictability, often when the oscar snubs for a year happen people tend to mention the same obvious performances that Louis has most likely already seen it, when its a film/performance that hardly anyone has seen its great to see if it is a disaster or a hidden gem.

2)Foreign language exposure, I have mainly suggested HK performances but I have also suggested many different kinds, Jean Marais and Jakub Gierzal were both winning requests, my main film knowledge comes from either well, the Oscars, or the Asian film industry so I feel confident in sharing hidden gems.

3) To introduce new and Underrated talent to the blog, not many people know of Lau Ching Wan and Nicholas Tse and plenty of others, I feel I am somewhat educating by showing everyone that there is hidden talent out there, not just the obvious actors that everyone thinks of, but hidden talent.

I should say, the main important thing I think is whether Louis has seen it, Moviefilm I imagine one of your well, annoyed reactions was probably at Jim Carreys miss in 98 since Tony Leung and Wong were reviewed instead, but at the end of the day, Louis still saw The Truman Show, its not like it was completely shut out from the blog, he still ranked him, you have to consider that =).

Robert MacFarlane said...

I was thinking Peyman Moaadi in A Separation, Sol Kyung-gu in Oasis, and Romain Duris in The Beat That My Heart Skipped as well.

RatedRStar said...

And its not like I am trying to shove HK down anyones throat lol, keep in mind my love for any film in general, my love for Claude Rains, James Mason and many other actors that I deemed underrated by public perception =D.

RatedRStar said...

@Moviefilm: If it makes you happier there arent that many more HK actors that I feel I need to show Louis just a few more =D.

GM said...

@RatedRStar What would you say that's the best female HK performance you've seen?

Anonymous said...

I should say I really liked some of these HK films, I mean Hard Boiled and The Longest Nite were just balls to the wall fun.

moviefilm said...

I know there are fatnastic foreign performances out there, for example Adéle Exarchopolous is my personal win for last year in her category. Jean Louis-Trintignant is my win for Amour that year. Massimo Troisi is my win for Il Postino. I loved Monica Bellucci in Malena, Marion Cotillard in Rust and Bone, or Ľuboš Kostelný in slovak film called Muzika. But I feel like this blog is then going away from its primar purpose, which was to review Oscar nominated performances. And now he's reviewing alternate nominees. That's why I'd like to read the reviews that at least had a small shot at getting nominated. (If it's a foreign performance, I don't complain.) I would somehow expect that Louis would review performances from film that were at least screened in the USA, therefore they were eligible for Oscar nomination. Because if this blog was about performances, it wouldn't be called "actoroscar", right? I don't mean it bad, I am just expressing my opinion that I would really rather read the review of a terrible Christoph Waltz's performance in Big Eyes (that was in consideration to get nominated), than a review a perfect performance given by someone I have never heard of in a film that I didn't know existed.

Robert MacFarlane said...

"I am just expressing my opinion that I would really rather read the review of a terrible Christoph Waltz's performance in Big Eyes (that was in consideration to get nominated), than a review a perfect performance given by someone I have never heard of in a film that I didn't know existed."

That's utterly absurd. Reading about little seen performances and movies is far more gratifying than reading about some unexceptional performance that we all saw.

RatedRStar said...

@GM: oh youve put me on the spot there =D umm, I would say I would tie with 3

Tang Wei - Lust Caution
Maggie Cheung - Comrades: A Love Story
Sandra Ng - Portland Street Blues

moviefilm said...

A performance that I don't know a lot of is probably the one I don't even want to know about.
OK, I am a huge Oscar fan/faollower. Everything, the atmosphere around the Oscars fascinates me. And I really want to read about performances that have something to do with the Oscars. I am not interested in great performances from Asian/European film. If I was, I'd read sites about them. I am interested in performances that are Oscar-realted (either were nominated, snubbed, worthy, or considered). That's why I won't even watch those films, even if they get requested/reviewed.

Robert MacFarlane said...

In case you haven't noticed, we're running on short supply of Oscar-bait here. Now we have to rely on the obscure, arguably better stuff. If you don't like it, stop reading the blog. Don't expect any sympathy from the rest of us.

RatedRStar said...

What I would say Moviefilm is, respect others differences, diversity is one of the things that makes films so wonderful.

Louis has done something so amazing by reviewing all of the Oscar nominated performances, that alone would be enough but he had the great idea of reviewing other performances for our pleasure and his.

Keep in mind most of Louis reviews on the alternates have been actors that have been snubbed by the academy, like often Louis has put " This actor did not recieve an Oscar nomination but did recieve a globe and bafta nom" I would call those very Oscar performances.

Anonymous said...

Louis what are your thoughts on this?

RatedRStar said...

I should say on a different topic..

I asked for a day leave off work just to watch the Oscars this year =D I feel like such a Boss =D.

moviefilm said...

I like reading this blog and I don't expect sympathy. You don't like me since I defended Carell and I realize you won't accept anything I write. It's just my opinion and I stand behind it.
As for Louis, I think he's been doing a great job. His reviews have always been great and I thank him for doing so. I just think that requesting strange performances that I and many other people have never heard of is taking place of someone who actually had a shot (maybe was terrible) and reading a review about him would be much more interesting...

Robert MacFarlane said...

I wasn't even the one THAT upset over Carell. Now I'm going to make it my goal to request nothing BUT obscure foreign performances whenever I win.

GM said...

@RatedRStar Thank you! Love Cheung in Comrades.



I also think that an Alternate Oscar is meant to explore films that the Academy never would care about.

RatedRStar said...

Look I dont dislike you at all lol I have no personal hate towards anyone whether I agree with them on a performance or not and I have always respected everyones opinion deep down lol =D I only do the whole anger rant thing for giggles =D I once told Louis when he reviewed Claude Rains for Casablanca that he farted in my face =D lol but I didnt actually mean it lol =D.

Luke Higham said...

MovieFilm: 4.5s & 5s and no garbage.

Luke Higham said...

MovieFilm: I don't hate you, but I do respect your opinion, like everyone else.

RatedRStar said...

Moviefilm lets move on from this because it doesnt really help anyone =D this is a lovely blog with deep down lovely people on it, big hugs for everyone ok =D.

Anonymous said...

I've just seen Under the Skin. I can understand why someone might hate it but personally I loved it. Such an artful film, beautifully directed, with a great score and great visuals. As for Scarlett Johansson, she is mesmerizing. She doesn't have much dialogue, but the body and the eyes tell everything about her character's transition from a heartless alien to a confused, self-doubting human being. I don't really know why, mostly because it's an almost silent performance, but she actually reminded me of Ryan Gosling in Drive.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

I personally don't mind whatever Louis reviews as long as he has something interesting to say, which is about 99% of the time, the only exceptions I can think of are performances where there is truly nothing to talk about like Teddy Savalas in Birdman of Alcatraz. Otherwise a very good performance, a middling one, overwhelming/underwhelming, or even terrible performances always have something notable to write about, I find.

I completely understand Moviefilm's view and respect it, however I do really like some of RatedRStar's HK recommendations, like Tony Leung in Infernal Affairs and Nicolas Tse in Bodyguards and Assasins.

moviefilm said...

RatedStar: I agree on that. Let's just hug. :D And by the way, I really like discussing with you guys, what would a discussion be about, if everyone involved agreed on the topic?
Robert: I don't have problem with that. You can do whatever you feel is right. Just as I requested Maguire and everyone else was against it. It's just I won't very much enjoy that, I probably won't even read those particular reviews. But if everyone else will, I'll be asbolutely OK with that.

GetDonaldSutherlandANO said...

If we all could pick an actor/actress pairing and put them into a film of any choice, who would we pick?

James Stewart/Celia Johnson (A Hitchcock would've been interesting)

James Mason/Deborah Kerr (The End of the Affair, replace Van Johnson with Mason, and John Mills with Richard Attenborough)

Sidney Poitier/Maggie Smith (Othello, much as I like Olivier, imagine Poitier doing Shakespeare, mind blown)

RatedRStar said...

@Moviefilm: HUGGGG =D, well any discussion on the Oscars or films goes well with me, like I should say, I am kinda somewhat happy Redmayne won SAG because that means the Best Actor race will be a great 2 horse race now rather than 1 sided which although Keaton is my favorite it is still nice to see compitetion since the other acting categories are pretty much locked in.

@GM: Your welcome I loved Comrades =D.

Michael McCarthy said...

Moviefilm: I see what you mean about wanting to read more about the oscars, but I don't think that's all tho. Blog is about. Lately it's more about recognizing performances that should've been recognized by the academy and other awards bodies, but for whatever reason weren't. Although every now and then I really enjoy reading reviews of a bad or underwhelming performance, I and I think many others on this blog think the one of the coolest things about it is discovering interesting, sometimes great performances and films we likely would never have heard of otherwise.

RatedRStar said...

@Donald: I would pick

Michael Fassbender and Rosamund Pike in a gritty romantic drama

Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich
in a comedy about strippers =D lol

Tom Hardy and Marion Cotillard in any Brando remake that wasnt very good.

Clark Gable and Viven Leigh (Hitchcock film)

Luke Higham said...

GDSAO: This is a random one,
Ben Foster/Carey Mulligan - Star Wars Prequels, also they have to be made now instead of 15+ years ago and a far fucking better script/characterization.

Michael McCarthy said...

This isn't exactly what the original question was, but I think it'd be really cool to see a UK remake of Infernal Affairs/The Departed with Tom Hardy in Leung/DiCaprio role and Michael Fassbender in the Lau/Damon role.

RatedRStar said...

@Michael McCarthy: OMG yes, that is orgasmtastic =D.

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: I'd be in heaven, if that were ever to happen.

RatedRStar said...

I am dieing to see Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender in a film together, Id gasp like a girl if I saw both of them at the same award ceremony let alone in the same film =D.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I demand Michael Fassbender and Tom Hardy play Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

@RatedRStar: Laughton and Dietrich, that'd be lovely. I can definitely see the first one occurring somewhere down the line.
Hardy + Cotillard in a remake of Last Tango in Paris, can the world handle all that sex appeal lol. On a serious note, I know I'm commiting cinematic blasphemy here but they could probably pull off a On the Waterfront.

Marlon Brando/Hardy
Eve Marie Saint/Cotillard
Rod Steiger/Casey Affleck
Lee J Cobb/Jeff Goldblum
Karl Malden/Michael Shannon

Luke: That would've been great. Skip all the young Anakin/Jar Jar bullshit, put Ben as Anakin I suppose, badass and all with a dark side, Mulligan would be brilliant, keep McGregor as Obi Wan, and you're right, MUCH better script and characterization needed.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: As of now, it's a shame they only have one credit together, they don't even interact once with each other.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

@Michael: That's fine, I meant actor on actor pairings as well haha my bad

RatedRStar said...

I honestly believe Tom Hardy is a better actor than Marlon Brando, I know Brando has done amazing work and Hardy is still a fairly young actor but man Hardy just has this something about him.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: Well, he doesn't strike as one, who would phone it in on the rare occasion, where as Brando, did it quite often.

RatedRStar said...

I would love to see Casey Affleck nominated again alongside Fassy, Hardy, Jake and Leo possibly in my dreams, although his only nomination so far is just amazing =D

Michael McCarthy said...

Have any of you guys ever thought of retroactive remakes? Like more modern movies as if they were made in the past with classic actors? For example, a 1950s version of Drive starring James Dean, Eva Marie Saint, and Clark Gable.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke: Not yet in regards to the film. I guess I'll hold off on Tatum for the moment, as he would have been instead of the request, but I won't guarantee an extra review at the moment.

Spall - 4.5(A mannered performance to be sure with every grunt and breath he takes, but in a good way. He turns Turner into an engaging peculiar character without falling into caricature. Spall's performance does express the way in which Turner is involved in his mind that seems to transcend normal human thought as well as human decency. Spall makes the cruelty of his character feel right to the nature of Turner as man. He smartly conveys just a bit of love in the man in small subtle ways towards the widow and his father, but effectively shadows this with Turner's self-indulgences. Spall conveys most importantly the brilliance of the man as he expresses his visions simply in his portrayal of the way how Turner looks upon any setting, but Spall never excuses Turner's shortcomings)

Waltz - 4.5(Bordering on a 5. Where Big Eyes is probably his most over the top performance he gave probably his quietest in The Zero Theorem. Waltz though creates a compelling and oddly convincing portrayal of his character's eccentricities. He never let's us in so to speak, by having his character less distant, yet there is such an emotional vulnerability he brings to his character's introversion that is quite remarkable. It's a moving performance that very nicely grounds the weird science fiction film in a needed humanity)

Serkis - 4(Although I kinda want to wait for a potential Rise review for my thoughts)


Michael McCarthy:

I would actually say Gable would be perfect for Cranston's role, and throw say Jackie Gleason into Albert Brooks's.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

@Michael McCarthy: Interesting you ask that Michael haha. What other thoughts did you have in mind, I like that term 'retroactive remakes'. The Drive idea sounds great.

For me,

Django Unchained (1950s)
Sidney Poitier as Django
Claude Rains as Dr King Schultz
Joseph Cotten as Calvin Candie
Paul Robeson as Stephen

Gladiator (1960s)
Robert Shaw as Maximus
Tom Courtenay as Commodus
Boris Karloff as Antonious

The Prestige (1940s)
Trevor Howard as Alfred Borden
Joseph Cotten as Robert Angier
Henry Travers as Cutter
Clifton Webb as Tesla

In Bruges (1940s)
James Mason as Ray
Barry Fitzgerald as Ken
Robert Donat as Harry

Collateral (1950s)
Burt Lancaster in the Tom Cruise role
Tony Curtis in the Jamie Foxx role


GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

What do you think of these haha

Luke Higham said...

Yep, at the moment, everyone apart from Gyllenhaal in Enemy is getting a 5. I do hope you review Tatum, Louis, although, it would be fine with me if you reviewed him as a bonus, on the supporting lineup, ala Cruise in Collateral.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: So, we have to wait another year for your thoughts on Serkis.

Michael McCarthy said...

Only a 4 for Serkis? *heart violently shatters*

GDSAO:
I love your Django cast, as well as Courtenay as Commodus, Fitzgerald as Ken, and Travers as Cutter.

How about this:
Watchmen-1960s (I know it doesn't make sense but I've got some good ideas I think)

Rorschach - Anthony Perkins
Dr. Manhattan - Paul Newman
Silk Spectre - Faye Dunaway
Nite Owl - Stuart Whitman
Ozymandias - Max von Sydow
The Comedian - Eli Wallach

Robert MacFarlane said...

I think he's pretty damn good in Dawn. He absolutely oozes gravitas in every scene. Picks the perfect voice and posture for the role. He's an easy 4.5 for me.

That being said, the MVP is easily Toby Kebbell as Koba.

Luke Higham said...

I'll be surprised, if Kebbell doesn't get a 4.5, also, Serkis getting a 4 doesn't really surprise me since it's similar enough to the original performance in Rise.

Michael McCarthy said...

I think he's a lot more fully realized in Dawn than he is in Rise. Also unlike Rise, this isn't just Caesar's story, so his character arc is a lot more subtle and less aided by the actual plot. Even with these challenges, Serkis realizes the changes in Caesar's attitude perfectly.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

@Michael McCarthy: Not to be too vulgar or anything, but that is one fucking awesome cast, especially von Sydow as Ozymandias.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

I have some alternatives however, don't feel offended Michael yours are great.

Rorschach-Richard Widmark would be a good choice too, though maybe a bit too obvious.

I also think Monty Clift could be an awesome Comedian.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

Or how about a Japanese version of Watchmen haha :D

Toshiro Mifune as Rorschach
Tatsuya Nakadai as Ozymandias
Masayuki Mori as Nite Owl
Tsutomu Yamazaki as Dr Manhattan
Takeshi Shimura as The Comedian
Machiko Kyō as Silk Spectre

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

Also, for the UK remake of Infernal Affairs/The Departed with Tom Hardy in Leung/DiCaprio role and Michael Fassbender in the Lau/Damon role, have Ray Winstone in Jack Nicholson/Eric Tsang's role, Jim Broadbent in the Martin Sheen/Anthony Wong role, and (since going through The Departed supporting cast is more fun for me) James McAvoy and Stephen Fry in the Mark Whalberg/Alec Baldwin roles, and Felicity Jones as the love interest.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

Or maybe Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in the Mark Whalberg and Alex Baldwin roles, that'd be nice :)

Luke Higham said...

GDSAO: What about Peter Capaldi (Malcolm Tucker Mode) in the Baldwin role alongside McAvoy in the Wahlberg role.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

@Luke: PERFECT. Capaldi would be equally good in either role. Maybe him and Steve Coogan could work too, Malcom Tucker v.s. Alan Partridge, golden.

Luke Higham said...

Malcolm Tucker and Bruce Robertson in the same scene would be cinematic gold.

RatedRStar said...

Since I am so excited about Jake Gyllenhaal for Nightcrawler, I thought I should get some preparation, by revisiting his sole Oscar nomination, Brokeback Mountain, funnily enough on this blog I won the predictions for that category as I did believe William Hurt was better at the time, but I have a feeling that might not be the case this time when I watch it soon.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

What about a Departed in any other decade Luke, Michael, anyone else

1930s
James Cagney in the DiCaprio/Leung role
Pat O'Brien in the Damon/Lau role

1940s
Robert Mitchum in the DiCaprio/Leung role
Edmond O'Brien in the Damon/Lau role

1950s
William Holden in the DiCaprio/Leung role
Burt Lancaster in the Damon/Lau role

1960s
Steve McQueen in the DiCaprio/Leung role
Paul Newman in the Damon/Lau role

1970s
Al Pacino in the DiCaprio/Leung role
Robert Redford in the Damon/Lau role

1980s
James Woods in the DiCaprio/Leung role
Gary Oldman in the Damon/Lau role

1990s
Nicolas Cage in the DiCaprio/Leung role
Ray Liotta in the Damon/Lau role

Luke Higham said...

GDSAO: I'll do the 60's onwards
60s
Same as yours
70's
Pacino - Good Mole
Nicholson - Bad Mole

80's
William Hurt - Good Mole
Harrison Ford - Bad Mole

90's
Russell Crowe - Good Mole
Gary Oldman - Bad Mole

Michael McCarthy said...

GDSAO: I like your Japanese cast, although I'd personally switch Mifune and Yamazaki.

As for other casts for Infernal Affairs, I actually had that idea a while back and I did it for every decade, but the only one I can remember clearly is Brando as the Good Mole and Clift as the Bad Mole, with Edward Arnold in the Tsang/Nicholson role. ALSO NEW IDEA

Birdman-mid 1980s

Riggan-Adam West
Mike-Dustin Hoffman
Sam-Meg Ryan
Lesley-Faye Dunaway (can you tell I'm a fan?)
Sylvia-Jane Alexander
Jake-Beau Bridges
Tabitha-Angela Lansbury

Louis Morgan said...

Luke: Might not be that long.....


Michael McCarthy:

I second on the Mifune/Yamazaki switch.

Birdman - early 60's (Horror Icon instead)

Riggan - Lon Chaney Jr.
Mike - Maximilian Schell
Sam - Elizabeth Hartman
Lesley - Shirley MacLaine
Sylvia - Deborah Kerr
Jake - Peter Ustinov
Tabitha - Bette Davis

Michael McCarthy said...

Ahhh nice one Louis, Ustinov and Davis would be a riot.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Birdman, 1990

Riggan: Christopher Reeve
Mike: Michael Keaton (how's that for a mindfuck?)
Sam: Jennifer Jason Leigh
Lesley: Michelle Pfeifer
Sylvia: Laura Dern
Jake: Robin Williams
Tabitha: Debbie Reynolds

Louis Morgan said...

For some more fun a couple more of the Best Picture Nominees:

The Imitation Game (60's)

Alan Turing: Dirk Bogarde
Joan Clarke: Jean Simmons
Hugh Alexander: Richard Attenborough
Stewart Menzies: Cyril Cusack
Commander Denniston: Jack Hawkins

Boyhood (50's-60's):

Mason: Brandon deWilde
Mason Sr.: Paul Newman
Olivia: Patricia Neal

The Grand Budapest Hotel (50's):

Gustave: James Mason
Young Zero: Omar Sharif

Alec Guinness as Everyone Else.

Whiplash (70's):

Neiman: Jeff Bridges
Fletcher: Gene Wilder

Michael McCarthy said...

That idea for The Grand Budapest Hotel was so good I almost cried at the thought that it can never happen.

Michael Patison said...

The Departed (90s):
Guy Pearce-good
Oldman-bad

Also, it's a real shame Tatum O'Neal isn't 5-10 years older because she'd have made a great addition as the sister in Louis's Boyhood

I also think Ralph Fiennes as Turing would be awesome

Michael McCarthy said...

Louis, I just looked it up and it seemed to me The Zero Theorem would actually be 2013 by your rules, am I right?

Louis Morgan said...

I guess it is. I had not seen the Norway release.