Thursday 1 January 2015

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1965: Oskar Werner in The Spy Who Came in From The Cold

Oskar Werner did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite winning the Golden Globe and being nominated for BAFTA, for portraying Fiedler in The Spy Who Came in From The Cold.

Oskar Werner started an unfortunate three year trend of actors winning the Golden Globe for best supporting actor but not even being nominated for an Oscar. Naturally the Academy had to ignore Oskar Werner and Richard Attenborough, but made sure they recognized Daniel Massey's breathtaking work in Star!. In all seriousness though there was an odd bit of thinking where Supporting Actor was considered lesser actor evidenced by some controversy at Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland's Oscar nominations for Judgment At Nuremberg where it was considered below a star to be nominated for supporting. That ridiculously foolish thinking is perhaps why Werner and Rod Steiger could not be double nominated, and if you look there is long period of time where no one was double nominated. That is unfortunate since Werner although was deserving for his work in Ship of Fools, there is no reason that should have made him be ignored for his work as Fiedler in this film.

Fiedler is an east German intelligence agent who interrogates the falsely disgruntled British agent Alec Leamas (Richard Burton). It's a technically friendly interrogation as Leamas has been made out to be a fake traitor to give Fiedler misinformation to take down his superior Mundt as a British agent. Werner seems to have a simple enough role as Fiedler begins to derive his information from Leamas. What Werner does so well is give a great deal of life to Fiedler through the margins. Werner conducts himself brilliantly in these scenes doing so much through the smallest moment. For example when Leamas mentions Mundt was a former Nazi to the Jewish Fielder, Werner's reaction is pure perfection. He reacts as a man with this knowledge already but there is a discontent within in this even though he feigns not caring not to lead on to Leamas that he has a problem with Mundt. It's a great piece of acting by Werner but every second of his scenes with Burton are great as he gives so much character to Fiedler in every little reaction he makes.

There is such a likability that Werner brings as he goes through the questions as Werner presents Fiedler to be essentially an honest man in a profession entirely made up of dishonest people. Werner shows a man who is actually genuine as he tries to deal with Leamas in a respectful way even though Werner still conveys the proper intrigue and intelligence as Fielder slowly deciphers the information. It an interesting trick Werner pulls here as Fiedler could have just been there to be a plot point, but Werner does so much more than that in this scene. His performance stands separately from almost every other performance in the film because Werner presents a man who says who he is. There are things he covers up for sure such as his dislike for Mundt, but Werner portrays this as something he has to do rather than something he truly wants to do. Werner does such a fantastic job of establishing Fiedler, and even creating a sympathy for the man that he makes his final scene something truly special.

The last scene is a trial in front of a East German tribunal where Fielder presents the information, false information he got from Leamas, to incriminate Mundt as a traitor. Werner is outstanding as Fiedler gives his case to the court as he brings so much passion in his pleading to the courts to sentence Mundt for having betrayed the cause. It's fascinating what Werner does in that he shows us the only true believer, which happens to be the enemy cause, but it's hard not to feel for him because Werner presents Fielder's as true to that cause, unlike every other man we see in the spy game. The only moment that trumps the power of that scene though is when the court learns of the British plot to set up Mundt revealing that they were only using Fiedler. Werner is heartbreaking as he shows the utter disbelief and shock as the truth comes out. In Werner's face you can see a man who knows he's suddenly just lost his life. This is marvelous work from Werner as he does something really quite interesting that was absolutely up to the performance. Fiedler is the whole target of the spy trick set up by British Intelligence, but when it is executed it is not a pleasant feeling elicited. Werner's performance creates the brutality of the espionage because he so wonderfully humanizes this enemy, and presented a tragic man who doomed himself by only doing what he thought was right.

96 comments:

RatedRStar said...

Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand =D.

I am not gonna change my prediction because I think Lemmon is the only one who wont get a 5 lol. Oh by the way I had the most unpleasant experience watching Star! because it was on tv and I was Ill so I just left it on while I laid in bed, I will never forgive Julie Andrews and Daniel Massey for this.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

Oh wow, was not expecting a 5. I think I'll stick with my predictions nevertheless.

I'm a big fan of Werner Louis, I hope you'll consider his performance in Jules et Jim (1962 lead)for a future review.


Michael McCarthy said...

Hmmm....ok I'm gonna try this

1. Harry Andrews
2. Rod Steiger
3. Oskar Werner
4. Toshiro Mifune
5. Jack Lemmon

Luke Higham said...

1. Steiger
2. Andrews
3. Mifune
4. Werner
5. Lemmon

I saw The Babadook, great film, 5 star performance from Essie Davis.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

Has anyone here seen Mysterious Skin, I have just watched it and thought it a rather powerful film to watch, and I would love it if Levitt gets a bonus round review.

GM said...

1. Andrews
2. Mifune
3. Werner
4. Steiger
5. Lemmon

mcofra7 said...

GDSAO: Is Mysterious Skin intense and/ or disturbing? I kinda want to see it, but it looks like the kind of movie that might be hard to watch at times.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

mcofra7: It is very disturbing and depressing and yes, hard to watch, I would say even more so than films like The Woodsman, and there isn't much resolution but overall I would say it's worth a watch, though don't feel bad if you can't make it the whole way through. I think even Louis would be quite emotionally affected by some of the scenes in Mysterious Skin.

Anonymous said...

@GDSAO: Can I have your thoughts on Chastain in A Most Violent Year?

Anonymous said...

@Louis: what are your thoughts and ratings on Claire Bloom?

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

@Anonymous: Chastain is always solid, and here she has the right balance of sexual allure and desparation that fuels her performance rather well. It's not her subtlest performance nor her best, and I won't say she ever astonishes, but on the plus side though she does go quite broad in some scenes it never feels out of character.

RatedRStar said...

Louis can I ask, you said before that you were predicting David Oyelowo to win, I am interested in your thoughts on why you think he will win?

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Werner
2. Andrews
3. Mifune
4. Steiger
5. Lemmon

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Bloom - 4(Bordering on 4.5 actually. She is actually very much miscast in the part as she does look a bit mature for playing what is suppose to basically a naive young girl. Bloom though does her very best to overcome this hindrance though. While I can't say I completely forgot the casting problem Bloom actually did her best to overcome it as she did create the naivety in a natural feeling fashion. She also does carry a great emotional poignancy with her performance and she is great in the scene with Burton in the car at the end of the film)

RatedRStar:

Well my prediction will change in a moment if Redmayne wins Sag or Keaton wins BAFTA because then it is over. If Keaton takes Sag and Redmayne takes BAFTA though I could see a potential Adrien Brody style upset in Oyelowo's favor. Here's my reasoning. First the foreseen frontrunner Keaton is playing "himself" which unfortunately has never translated to a win. As for Redmayne the praise is strong for him but not enough to guarantee a runaway. Some of Oyelowo's praise has been very passionate and he benefits from playing the type of historical figure that the Academy loves to reward. That being the crusader for some sort justice like Lincoln, and Gandhi. He apparently has the performance and the character then there is the film. It is challenging Boyhood in terms of critical reception and it seems likely it will do well in terms of nominations. It is not pegged to win a single major category though and a win for Oyelowo would seem like the perfect way to reward the film even if Boyhood takes Picture and Director.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your top ten favourite actors and your thoughts on them.

Psifonian said...

I'm gonna have to disagree with this, Lou.

"First the foreseen frontrunner Keaton is playing "himself" which unfortunately has never translated to a win."

Keaton has said that Riggan Thomson is completely unlike him, despite the real-life similarities of their iconic roles. As for winning while playing "himself," Jack Nicholson did it three times, twice where he was unabashedly playing off of that "Jack"-ness. I'm surprised they even took the time to rename his "Terms of Endearment" character.

"As for Redmayne the praise is strong for him but not enough to guarantee a runaway."

It is strong, and I think he'll be the one BAFTA rallies behind (the problem with the Brits this year is that there's too damn many of them, which could majorly split the vote), but unless something changes in the race the next few weeks, I see that being as far as he goes.

Oyelowo's film may be challenging "Boyhood" in terms of critical reception, and he is playing an extremely prize role, but too many people are overlooking the simple truth that Keaton's performance, which is more tailored to the industry awards, has been picking up critical wins hand over fist. While critics don't vote for the big awards, they do create momentum, and other actors needed that critical surge.

Also, "Birdman" has been just as strong a contender and player in the race as "Boyhood" (maybe a touch cooler in terms of critical reception), and it'd make more sense to reward it in Best Actor. If "Selma" is going to make a play, look to DuVernay.

Robert MacFarlane said...

So Simmons is basically going to win Supporting in a walk, right?

Robert MacFarlane said...

And to respond to Psifonian, I believe Louis was not talking about what Keaton actually did play so much as what audiences' perceptions of him were. I've had more than a few ignorant film buffs tell me his role wasn't challenging and he was playing himself, without realizing how stupid they sounded. Chances are there will be a few ignorant voters as well.

Psifonian said...

Oh sure, there will be some who will perceive him as playing himself, but I think that will be made up for by those who are supporting him (the sheer amount of goodwill Keaton has from his contemporaries is astounding; who knew there were that many "Night Shift" fans?). I think rather than being this year's Mickey Rourke, he's this year's Jeff Bridges.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Give me a minute I got something to take care of here.

Psifonian:

First off this is my no guts no glory type of prediction so I'm all set for being proven wrong. I also have not seen Birdman yet and I'm in no way wishing for Keaton to lose. I also don't believe Keaton is playing himself just as I don't believe Mickey Rourke was playing himself or Gloria Swanson was playing herself. I'm just looking at the perspective taken by some. Also on the note of Nicholson I would agree with you on his last two wins. The thing is I think the voters saw that as Jack being awesome rather being himself. Also in both of those cases who was he going to lose to?

I'll grant Keaton has been doing really well with the critics but he has not been quite Waltzing it though, so there is room for him to slow down if SAG breaks rank, or if his speeches go wrong.

I can't see DuVernay taking it only because I don't see the director breaking with picture continuing. I'd love if it did but Affleck would have won if he had been nominated, and clearly everyone in the academy wanted Gravity to win the "importance" of Slave just took over.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I do actually thing Keaton will win like Psifonian does, mostly because he's a well liked, popular man in the industry.

Psifonian said...

Oh, I'm not saying Oyelowo CAN'T win (it's a marvelously baity role and he evidently kills it by all accounts), but rewarding only him with no real precursor shift would seem a bit obvious, wouldn't it?

As for Jack, they were weak years (though I'd have opted for Duvall in '97).

Actually, Keaton has won everything he's been nodded for save for an LAFCA second-place and two critics circles. He kind of is Waltzing it. I agree that things could shake out differently once the big awards start handing out, but him suddenly losing momentum would be pretty unheard of. It'd be even worse than what they did to Albert Brooks.

I don't think DuVernay is winning; "Boyhood" is too powerful, alas. But I see a spoiler with her as being more likely than with Oyelowo; there's history to be made with Ava, and that has more appeal, I think.

RatedRStar said...

The funny thing there Louis is when you said "if his speeches go wrong" lol =D I don't think he will do a Johnny Depp and slur although that would be funny.

Redmayne is the safe bet for Bafta, but that could change, Bafta usually always backs British or European actors/actresses.

Louis Morgan said...

Psifonian:

I'm sure you will be right, but I'm sticking it out to the bitter end. That bitter end could be Oscar night, or it might be if one of the Brits win SAG, or just if Selma underwhelms Oscar nomination morning.

But let me ask what you think about this theory. Jake Gyllenhaal wins everything and the whole world breaks out into the Hallelujah chorus.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Bliss

RatedRStar said...

At least the race isnt 100 percent predictable =D which is always fun,

If Jake Gyllenhaal wins everything then people on this blog are part of the academy =D. Lets face it there are too many old people in the academy (no offense Louis) there needs more younger sexier people voting in =D.

RatedRStar said...

I believe I am one of the oldest people on the blog lol and I am only 22 =D.

Luke Higham said...

I'm only 20 1/2 and I guess Louis's in his late 20s/early 30s.

Psifonian said...

Gyllenhaal is actually my prediction for the Drama Globe. Redmayne and Oyelowo make sense but my NGNG is that they (and Cumberbatch) somehow split voting three ways and passion propels Jake into that winning slot. ;)

It's unlikely, I know, but stranger things have happened. But I think Keaton's all but locked in to win. "Boyhood" sweeping the way it has been only serves to strengthen his case for winning; it's the biggest and best place to reward "Birdman." I guess that there's a silver lining in all of this.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: What's your birth date again because we may share the same one.

RatedRStar said...

=D how, did you look at my FB or somemat lol, 15/06/1992.

Oh please I pray if Jake wins the globe then that means surely he gets Oscar Nominated, I dont want another Michael Fassbender in Shame incident or Bardem Skyfall incident.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: Yep, we share the same birthday

Robert MacFarlane said...

Hey Psifonian, what are your top 10 Supporting Actors for the year so far? Because I'm floundering to fill out just 5 let alone 10.

RatedRStar said...

@Luke: You should add me on FB sometime, it shouldnt be hard to find me lol.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

It's so tough to decide who I want to win Best Actor, I can make a case for Keaton, Redmayne and Gyllenhaal although I am rooting for Keaton for very personal reasons, sorry all :D Oyelowo will probably be a worthy adversary, gosh I really need to see Selma. It's much more straightforward in the other categories, I want Pike/Moore, Hawke, and Knightley to win (highly unlikely though for the latter two)

Also who are everyone's choices for 5 actors/actresses/directors etc. they want to see get nominated/win for their first Oscar, for me:

1. Donald Sutherland
2. John Goodman
3. Ewan McGregor
4. Julianne Moore (she is SO overdue and more importantly, SO good in Still Alice)
5. Ben Foster

Luke Higham said...

KoooK160: I'll give you mine
1. Michael Fassbender in Frank - 5
2. Richard Armitage in The Hobbit - 4.5
3. James McAvoy in X-Men Days of Future Past
4. Ethan Hawke in Boyhood - 4.5
5. Toby Kebbell in Dawn of The Planet of The Apes - 4.5
6. Bill Nighy in Pride - 4.5
7. Robert Duvall in The Judge - 4.5
8. David Thewlis in The Zero Theorem - 4
9. F Murray Abraham in The Grand Budapest Hotel - 4
10. Luke Evans/Martin Freeman - 4

Louis Morgan said...

Luke: In regards to the top ten actors I'll hold off on that for the moment as I have something planned for the future.

Psifonian:

I have to say I wish I was arguing for an upset in Supporting Actress, but I don't see that happening.

Robert MacFarlane said...

If I considered McAvoy Supporting, he'd be in my lineup. But he's not. I haven't got around to seeing the second Hobbit yet, so I can't really see the third until then. I very much want to see Frank and Pride, though.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

Do we reckon any actors read Louis' blog, like George Clooney tearing up after going through all his Oscar nominated performances and achieving an epiphany after reading his review of The American, one can dream :D

Luke Higham said...

GDSAO: Who I would like to see win an Oscar one day would be.
Male
1. Michael Fassbender
2. Tom Hardy
3. Brendan Gleeson
4. Jake Gyllenhaal
5. Ben Foster
I'm sure most would go with Dicaprio, but he is in my top ten.
Female
1. Naomi Watts
2. Jessica Chastain
3. Amy Adams
4. Carey Mulligan
5. Michelle Williams

Psifonian said...

Robert:

1. Gary Poulter, Joe
2. Edward Norton, Birdman, or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
3. Michael Parks, Tusk
4. Gene Jones, Sacrament
5. Chris Pine, Stretch
6. Shia LaBeouf, Fury
7. Zach Galifianakis, Birdman, or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
8. Ben Mendelsohn, Starred Up
9. Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
10. David Thewlis, The Zero Theorem

Still need to see several contenders, including my most anticipated film of 2014: Inherent Vice.

Louis,

Yeah, I wish "Boyhood" wasn't sweeping (and I certainly wish that if it had to sweep, Arquette wasn't sweeping with it). But I'm resigned to it.

Luke Higham said...

Forgot to put McAvoy's rating in, he'd be a 4.5.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: Found it. Also, I admit not being a huge fan of social media, but I'll try to interact as much as I can.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I really wish I could see the big deal with Norton like everyone else, but for me his and Stone's subplot was the only thing about Birdman I didn't like.

Anonymous said...

I rather loved Stone in Birdman. Her big scene with Keaton was amazing. kook, I know you didn't ask me, but I think that one of the best supporting performances from this year was Fabrizio Gifuni in Human Capital (Il capitale umano). Also, I'd put in my Top 10 both Tyler Perry and Neil Patrick Harris from Gone Girl and Joseph Gordon-Levitt from Sin City: A dame to kill for. I know I'm the only one, but I didn't care at all for Kebbel in Apes, a completely mediocre performance in my opinion.
As for actors I'd live to see winning an Oscar, I'd say for males Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, James McAvoy, Tom Hardy and Ryan Gosling, for women Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain, Julianne Moore, Carey Mulligan and Shailene Woodley.

Psifonian said...

Stone was my least favorite of the cast, but she was still incredible. "Birdman" is the rarest of ensembles; I nominate all of them. My supporting actress win, in fact, is the one member of the cast SAG snubbed in its ensemble: Lindsay Duncan.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I'm going to have to skip Tusk on account of my crippling allergy to Kevin Smith.

RatedRStar said...

@Luke: My FB is privatized, so which Luke is you lol,

Psifonian said...

I don't care much for Kevin Smith, but "Tusk" is worth the watch for Parks. Trust me; he plays it like a bizarre melange of Ernest Hemingway, Christoph Waltz and the Dos Equis guy.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: Ah well, I'd rather converse here anyway.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I don't doubt Parks is good, but the whole thing looks like something I would want to punch in the dick.

Robert MacFarlane said...

One last question to Psifonian: Has any of your choices for Best Actor/Supporting Actor changed since you put up your last videos for them?

Psifonian said...

A couple of them, but I'll keep them secret till the updated versions hit (along with the actress ones; I've been really bad about working on them).

Robert MacFarlane said...

Concerning your Best Picture updates, can you PLEASE go back to Se7en and Magnolia? Those two I could get behind, not Braveheart or The Green Mile.

Luke Higham said...

I'm going to give my other top tens as well.

Supporting Actress
1. Rene Russo in Nightcrawler - 4.5
2. Eva Green in 300: Rise of an Empire - 4.5
3. Jessica Chastain in Interstellar - 4.5
4. Imelda Staunton in Pride - 4.5
5. Melanie Thierry in The Zero Theorem - 4
6. Carrie Coon in Gone Girl - 4
7. Mackenzie Foy in Interstellar - 4
8. Sarah Gunning in Pride - 4
9. Dorothy Atkinson in Mr Turner - 3.5
10. Marion Bailey in Mr Turner - 3.5

Best Actress
1. Marion Cotillard in Two Days, One Night - 5
2. Essie Davis in The Babadook - 5
3. Rosemund Pike in Gone Girl - 5
4. Julliane Moore in Still Alice - 4.5
5. Jessica Chastain in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby - 4.5
6. Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Belle - 4.5
7. Felicity Jones in Theory of Everything - 4.5
8. Jennifer Lawrence in Mockingjay Part 1 - 4
9. Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow - 4
10. Angelina Jolie in Malificent - 3.5

Best Actor
1. Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler - 5
2. Guy Pearce in The Rover - 5
3. Tom Hardy in Locke - 5
4. Brendan Gleeson in Calvary - 5
5. Philip Seymour Hoffman in A Most Wanted Man - 5
6. Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel - 5
7. Timothy Spall in Mr Turner - 5
8. Matthew McConaughey in Interstellar - 5
9. Christoph Waltz in The Zero Theorem - 4.5
10. Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything - 4.5
Other 4.5s go to Channing Tatum in Foxcatcher, Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow, Ben Schnetzer in Pride and Andy Serkis in Dawn of The Planet of The Apes.

Best Picture
1. Nightcrawler
2. A Most Wanted Man
3. Locke
4. Calvary
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel
6. The Babadook
7. Pride
8. Frank
9. Interstellar
10. The Rover/Mr Turner

Psifonian said...

Sorry, man. Braveheart is there to stay (I'm kinda getting over Fincher anyway, man), and The Green Mile doesn't have Julianne Moore's overwrought ass killing an otherwise perfect film. PTA still takes Director, so be happy with that.

Robert MacFarlane said...

But The Green Mile has aged so... poorly. I'm not even going to get into the obvious racism the film presents, but just basic storytelling cheats that I can't even get behind it's emotional draw anymore. Also, I will call Braveheart out as the narcissistic piece of crap that it is until my dying day.

Psifonian said...

Fair enough, but I think both films are among the best of the 1990s. Braveheart may be narcissistic, but it's also one of the most invigorating and awe-inspiring cinematic experiences I've ever had. The Green Mile has also aged exceptionally well, and while I'm not a big fan of the "magical Negro" trope, it handles it quite well regardless, mostly thanks to its wonderful ensemble.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I guess it's fair, considering you hate Fight Club. Do you hate Before Sunrise too? Because that's my 1995 win.

Psifonian said...

No, I quite like "Before Sunrise" (and the other two films in the series). I wish Linklater had gotten notice for them instead of the three-hour third-rate odyssey of ponderous navel-gazing, forced melodrama and bad, bad acting that he's going to win for.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Again, I didn't mind Boyhood. The only time the navel-gazing bothered me was at the end. The only performance that bothered me was Marco Perella and the only time I found the film melodramatic was during his portion of the movie. Do I think it's overpraised? Yes, but not without merit. And I'll defend Ethan Hawke as one of the best performances this year. He deserves FAR more praise than he's getting, from both the film's fans and detractors.

Psifonian said...

Hawke is the only thing worth mentioning about that film. He was legitimately great, and the only thing keeping me from calling "Boyhood" a total wash. Shame he's the one major thing about it that won't win; I'd trade Arquette's impending Oscar for one for him in a heartbeat.

Luke Higham said...

Boyhood is the most overrated film I've seen this year, Apart from Hawke (who has improved for me on a recent viewing) and maybe Linklater's daughter. the acting is ungodly awful from most of the cast including Marco Perrella and Pre-Descendants Nick Krause, Arquette was ok at best and Coltrane bored me to death with his dullness. As a viewer it was ok, nothing more, nothing less.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Can you PLEASE squeeze Hawke into your top 10?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Coltrane didn't bother me. He was a typical teenager, and really more of a canvas for Linklater than an actor playing a role. As a result, I don't feel one way or the other about him

Arquette I admit is a tad overpraised, but Is till liked her. I thought she hit the notes even when her arc became redundant and melodramatic. Even her breakdown worked for me. Do I think she should win? No, but I won't complain.

Which one did Nick Krause play again?

Luke Higham said...

Koook160: He played one of the teenagers in the basement, offering beers to Mason and some other kid, as well as calling that other kid a pussy.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Ohhhh yeah, he was terrible like he was in The Descendants. Perella's far more detrimental, though.

Luke Higham said...

Koook160: Agreed, I had to suffer 40 minutes with that irritable motherfucker and just wanted Ethan Hawke to shoot him, I mean that would've pushed him into 5 territory, no problem.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Hawke is already a 5 for me. The second best performance I've seen this year behind Essie Davis.

Luke Higham said...

Koook160: Well, you probably know that in my personal opinion, Richard Linklater should've made Fatherhood instead and Hawke would've been all the better for it.

Luke Higham said...

I made a mistake on my top tens
It was Jessica Gunning, not Sarah.

Anonymous said...

Louis I've just seen Les Diaboliques for the first time - great movie, strong work by Vera Clouzot and amazing performance by Simone Signoret. I know you said you'd put Signoret in the leading category, but can I ask you why in particular? Because I really can't decide her category placement.

Luke Higham said...

And I would give a 4.5 to Jack O'Connell in Unbroken.

Luke Higham said...

KoooK160: Your thoughts on Davis in The Babadook.

Matt Mustin said...

luke: I'd give a 4.5 to O'Connell as well, despite his first few scenes being pretty shaky.

Luke Higham said...

Matt Mustin: O' Connell was the perfect fit for the role and he definitely had the potential to go into 5 territory if it weren't for Jolie's heavy handed direction. His best Scene was obviously his last act of defiance against The Bird.

Matt Mustin said...

Louis, this isn't a request, so much as a suggestion, but could you consider reviewing Viggo Mortensen in The Prophecy for 1995 supporting?

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous: In regards to Signoret's placement I feel the film, at first, almost focuses on both women as one as they perform their actions together, and continue to watch what unfolds together. There is an eventual break in this, but never to the point where Signoret becomes truly less important or supporting of Clouzot, even though she starts to share fewer scenes with her.

Matt:

I'll certainly consider him.

Robert MacFarlane said...

See anymore movies, Louis?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I really hope you see The Babadook at some stage.
I'll give you the link as well.
www.putlocker.tw/watch-the-babadook-2014-online-free-putlocker-hdhq.html

Matt Mustin said...

Just for the record, William Friedkin himself said that The Babadook is the scariest movie he's ever seen.

Louis Morgan said...

Robert:

Nothing new yet but I have been meaning to see the Babadook since it sounds like my type of horror film.

Robert MacFarlane said...

If you don't give Essie Davis a 5, you're dead to me.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

@Matt: Glad you made that suggestion, Mortensen was such an inspired casting choice for Lucifier. It's one of my guilty pleasure films.

Matt Mustin said...

I haven't actually seen it, but Mortensen's always reliable and I've heard good things about this performance.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

It's pretty much a one scene wonder, but a rather strong one at that. Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz are rather good too.

Well I've seen both Inherent Vice and Pride (I actually saw the latter a few days ago but forgot to give my ratings), so anyhow:

Pride (it's not quite in my top 5 for the year but it's close, I found the film as a whole more moving than funny, though it was rather entertaining in bits, and I really felt a connection to Considine's character as you will see):
Nighy - 4
Staunton - 4
West - 3.5 (It was odd but nice to see him go out of his comfort zone, since I usually find him quite boring as an actor)
Scott - 3.5
MacKay - 3
Gilgun - 3
Schnetzer - 3.5
Dolan - 2.5
Gunning - 3.5
Considine - 4.5 (my favourite)

Inherent Vice (as someone who really didn't 'get' the novel, at all, I quite enjoyed the film. Definitely lesser Anderson, but there is a very entertaining)
Phoenix - 4
Waterston - 2.5
Brolin - 4.5
Wilson - 2.5
Witherspoon - 3
Roberts - 2.5
Del Toro - 3
Malone - 3
Short - 4.5 (the MVP, he's a riot)
Williams - 3


GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

*there are some very entertaining interludes throughout that are unfortunately not very cohesive, but I enjoyed the film as a vigenettes of madness, some definitely more entertaining than the others.

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

Actually re-thinking it I think I'll give Schnetzer a 4, he was very endearing and I know someone in real life just like him :)

Anonymous said...

@GDSAO: surprised by the 2.5 to Waterston, she was well liked by critics and even had a nom by the Satellite Awards. What did you dislike about her?

GetDonaldSutherlandAnOscar said...

Anonymous: I just didn't care much for her character's plight. I would have much rather the film have absolutely no plot at all, since it was haphazard and incoherently messy anyway. Just put Phoenix, Short and Brolin together in a car and see what happens.

John Smith said...

Has anyone seen Inherent Vice?

Anonymous said...

Louis, what are your thoughts and ratings on Vera Clouzot in Les Diaboliques? I thought she was pretty great, although not as great as Signoret who, in my opinion, had a much more difficult character to pull off despite the character's much subtler nature.

Luke Higham said...

Seen 71 & Starred Up
71
O'Connell - 4 (leaning towards a 4.5)
Harris - 3.5
Wilmot - 3
Dormer - 3
Starred Up
O'Connell - 4.5
Mendelsohn - 4
Friend - 4

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Clouzot - 4.5(I think she is somewhat overshadowed by Signoret, but I think that is almost needed as she is suppose to be manipulating her. Clouzot though is very good in playing the meekness of character without becoming a caricature, and effectively builds the anxiety as the film progresses. She enables the final twist with her final reaction which properly matches the imagery)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: When is the review.

Luke Higham said...

I've also seen The Drop, Joe and Enemy.
The Drop
Hardy - 4.5
Rapace - 3.5
Gandolfini - 3.5
Schoenaerts - 3.5

Joe
Cage - 5
Poulter - 5 (As of Now, My Supporting Win for 2014)
Sheridan - 4.5

Enemy
Gyllenhaal - 5
Gadon - 3.5
Laurent - 3