Saturday 24 October 2015

Alternate Best Actor 1995: Morgan Freeman in Seven

Morgan Freeman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Detective William R. Somerset in Seven.

Seven is an excellent thriller about two homicide detectives trying to catch a killer who bases his murders on the seven deadly sins.

Morgan Freeman plays the elder detective on the case who also just happens to be a few days away from retirement, who also has to deal with his fresh over eager new partner Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) who just transferred into what one would assume is the country. Somerset has obviously been the detective in the city for some time, what city exactly is never named. It seems to be a dank pit of place where it seems to always rain, and the dirt never seems to come off representing apparently the worst of any urban environment. Seven is very interesting in the way that it does actual have a very distinct style yet always feels as though it is in the realm of reality. This passes onto the main character of Detective Somerset who has a certain style about himself that it well realized through Morgan Freeman's performance. Somerset does have a way of speaking but what Freeman does so well to begin with is he never allows this to overwhelm his performance, or in any way make this seem a forced element in the character. The old time detective style of the man feels wholly natural in Freeman's performance, and he makes it simply the man who Somerset is. He completely internalizes the style in quite a fascinating way, by having it there, but never letting it define the character or his performance.

Freeman manages to do this, in part, in the way he brings it into the man created through the experiences that Somerset no doubt has had while as a homicide detective. Freeman presents the method of Somerset particularly well in his performance just in the way he maneuvers in a crime scene or examines a piece of evidence. Freeman portrays this in a particularly fluid manner as though this is just almost instinct at this point for Somerset in the way he goes about his duties. Freeman shows it as a man who is in his element as a detective, for better or worse, as it is something he seems wholly comfortable with in terms of going through the motions of his work. This is of course in stark contrast to how he feels emotionally about the work. Freeman is outstanding in depicting just how exasperated Somerset is. What's special about what Freeman achieves though is that he does not just play it like Somerset is just tired of everything and wants to quit. Freeman makes more than that in his presentation as something existential in terms of what the world of the city seems to represent more than even just his own experience, as every painful reminder he receives in random crimes, Freeman conveys a resigned understanding as though this is just the way things are.

As the investigation progresses the film also depicts the relationship between the two new partners as they try to work together despite their rather different personalities. The young Mills is a short tempered man though seemingly with a simpler and more optimistic view of the world which is well presented in Pitt's eager and energetic performance. This plays particularly well against Freeman's far more reserved work, and I love the way Freeman interacts with Pitt throughout the film. This is not a buddy cop duo who are trading insults between each other while carrying a mutual affection, rather the two are opposed and connected in a far different fashion. Where Mills seems extremely energetic in order to solve the case as quickly as possible, Freeman carries Somerset in a very stately manner as which fits his way to try to take each clue at a time to exhaust all possibilities. There is a harder edge, though interestingly he's the far less brash sort, that Freeman realizes in just the way Somerset seems to expect to see something horrible at all the crimes scenes. Freeman is excellent in the way he so honestly portrays Somerset's point of view as he so bluntly attempts to warn Mills away from his own job because he's too aware of what the job entails.

Freeman's work is remarkable as he does not make Somerset merely just someone who is merely trying to scare Mills off the job as well as apparently trying to change his more uplifting view of the world. Freeman, even while Somerset is telling Mills exactly how little he things of people's morality in general, brings still an abundance of warmth in this strangely enough. Freeman makes it extremely effective though and Freeman suggests always that Somerset is trying to tell Mills these things for his own good and not simply because he's bitter or something. Freeman always brings a genuine sense of concern in Somerset as he departs his wisdom to Mills both towards detective work as well as towards life. Freeman carries this past in a few scenes that Somerset shares with Mills's wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow). Freeman especially earns the bit of tenderness that these scenes entail because he does not compromise Somerset in the moment. His world view is never forgotten even in these moments as he still states his beliefs in such a somber matter of fact fashion. Nevertheless Freeman does again reveal that there is always a heart within this pessimism that in fact is what seems to pain Somerset the most, as Freeman shows that really he'd rather view the world with optimism but he just can't bring himself to do so.

Of course the film is entrenched in the investigation where every murder is almost absurdly grisly in nature all following a theme. Freeman presence carries us through each room of horror and is fascinating in the he manages an emotional connect in each. What's fascinating about it is that Freeman does stay reserved establishing Somerset's thick skin regarding what it is that he sees. Again though Freeman does not make Somerset a hollow man whose lost all connection to these things. Freeman instead brings such power just in very subtle moments that reveal Somerset's true feelings towards what he sees. He's especially poignant in just his silence in one point where Somerset interrogates a traumatized man who was forced to become a living tool in one of the killer's murders. Freeman brilliantly keeps this until the climax of the film where Somerset and Mills are sent with the killer to one final destination. Now Freeman's importance in the scene is made all the greater, because the finale happens to be the scene where Pitt unfortunately falters a bit. Freeman does not especially in the pivotal moment where Somerset opens a box containing the remains of the killer's last victim. Freeman makes the moment all the more chilling and devastating by showing that this one thing that even seems to break Somerset's reserve. Freeman continues to be amazing as Somerset tries to convince Mills to do the right thing as there is such a striking severity in his voice, and is incredibly moving as he also quietly conveys just how devastated Somerset is from the revelation as well. Somerset's final please are perfectly delivered by Freeman as he has Somerset so earnestly attempting to save Mills's own soul. This is a great performance by Morgan Freeman as he matches the strength of his material and being essential in realizing its emotional core in heart wrenching detail.

103 comments:

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings & Thoughts on the cast.

Calvin Law said...

Amazing performance. This sounds like a winner and I would not mind that one bi4.

RIP Maureen O'Hara

Calvin Law said...

Louis and anyone else: would Somerset be your ideal detective to solve any case of yours?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Calvin: I'd prefer Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes, (if he finds the case interesting). Somerset's a close second though.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Everyone: What are your favorite co-leads in films? Mine are:
1) Abraham/Hulce in Amadeus
2) Hoffman/Voight in Midnight Cowboy
3) Farrell/Gleeson in In Bruges
4) Clift/Lancaster in From Here To Eternity
5) Robbins/Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption
6) Jackson/Travolta in Pulp Fiction
7) Pacino/Hackman in Scarecrow
8) Newman/Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
9) Connery/Caine in The Man Who Would Be King
10)Bale/Jackman in The Prestige

Anonymous said...

Good list:

Hackman/Pacino in Scarecrow
Phoenix/Hoffman in The Master
Finney/Courtnenay in The Dresser
Caine/Olivier in Sleuth
Abraham/Hulce in Amadeus

Anonymous said...

Louis: What potential could you see in these dream trios?
Remick/Monroe/Hartman
Bancroft/Kahn/Leachman
McQueen/Eastwood/Garner
Loren/Magnani/Cardinale
Moore/Blanchett/Watts
Grant/Newman/Poitier
Garbo/Dietrich/Brooks

Robert MacFarlane said...

Hey Anonymous, *maybe* you should slow down on those for a bit. You just keep piling them up.

Luke Higham said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Luke Higham said...

1995 Alternate Best Supporting Actor Lineup Prediction
Kevin Spacey in Seven
Gene Hackman in Get Shorty
Patrick McGoohan and Angus MacFadyen in Braveheart (For The Prediction: McGoohan)
John Hurt in Rob Roy
Alan Rickman in Sense And Sensibility or Sean Bean in GoldenEye

Robert MacFarlane said...

If anyone should be reviewed for Braveheart, Angus MacFadyen would be the one I'd want to see. For my money the easy MVP.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: On Re-Watch, MacFadyen's my favourite as well.

Michael McCarthy said...

I still refuse to leave the David O'Hara train.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I predict that Spacey, Hackman, MacFeyden, Hurt and Rickman will be nominated.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I want to see one for Don Cheadle in Devil in a Blue Dress, since he's only gotten one review from Louis.

Anonymous said...

Luke: *be the alternate nominees of that lineup.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I think Louis' gonna review those 5, but from prior knowledge, I'll be surprised if he didn't review McGoohan alongside MacFadyen simultaneously, since he's done it on quite a few occasions, '89 Supporting especially.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: I forgot about Cheadle.
Spacey
Hackman
Cheadle
McGoohan and MacFadyen
Hurt

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I also want to note, that Louis chose McGoohan as a deserving performance alongside Spacey on the nominees page, which he did delete a while back.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think it's pretty safe to say that out of the alternate 1939 Lead nominees, the only one who will get a 5 is Laughton.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: That and Mason & Courtneay for '62.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Well, it's plausible that Mitchum could get a 5 for Cape Fear.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: My predicted ratings for '95 Supporting.
Spacey - 5
Hackman - 4.5
Cheadle - 4.5/5
McGoohan - 4.5
MacFadyen - 4.5
Hurt - 4.5
Rickman - 4
Bean - 4

Luke Higham said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Of Course, though Mason and Courtenay are guaranteed. I'n not as confident for Mitchum but he's still a strong possibility.

Luke Higham said...

O'Hara (Braveheart) - 4

Anonymous said...

Luke: Wait, I found more possibilities for 1939 Lead Alternate
Charles Boyer in Love Affair
Melvyn Douglas in Ninotchka
Boris Karloff in Son of Frankenstein (that's, if Louis decides to review him)
Burgess Meredith in Of Mice and Men
William Powell in Another Thin Man

Anonymous said...

Luke: *:

Luke Higham said...

*I'm Not as confident

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'll just predict the overall top 10 alternate lead ranking for 1939.
1. Laughton- 5
2. Cagney- 4,5
3. Fonda- 4,5
4. Wayne- 4,5
5. Karloff- 4,5
6. Powell- 4,5
7. Boyer- 4,5
8. Meredith- 4/4,5
9. Douglas- 4
10. ?????

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I think Louis' only gonna do 5 for '39 Lead.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Well, he could be reviewing either 5 or 10. But I can't think of a tenth alternate nominee.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Who would be your top 10 acting performances ever by an actor?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: No Particular Order. Don't worry, I'm not gonna shove my opinion down anyone's throats. :)
Abraham - Amadeus
O'Toole - Lawrence Of Arabia
Ledger - The Dark Knight
Shaw - Jaws
Hopper - Blue Velvet
McDowell - A Clockwork Orange
Caine - Get Carter
Attenborough - 10 Rillington Place
Ganz - Downfall
Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood

Anonymous said...

Luke: And actress?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous:
Leigh - Gone With The Wind
Watts - Mulholland Drive
Watson - Breaking The Waves
Johnson - Brief Encounter
Whitelaw - The Omen
Byron - Black Narcissus
Fontaine - Rebecca
Staunton - Vera Drake
Cotillard - The Immigrant
Spacek - Badlands
Hon. Ullmann - Face To Face

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'll give my top 10 leading female performances in no particular order.
Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity
Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire
Naomi Watts in Mullholland Drive
Greta Garbo in Camille
Joan Fontaine in Rebecca
Olivia de Havilland in the Heiress
Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose
Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue
Sissy Spacek in Carrie



Anonymous said...

Luke: So, I bet you're off to watch Bone Tomahawk, huh? Have fun. Oops, I meant to ask you your top 10 leading male performances. Sorry. :)

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I've decided to save that for Tuesday. I have an Application form to fill out and I'm rather busy tomorrow as well.

Anonymous said...

Louis what are your top 10 films of 1998 and 1997?

Anonymous said...

Luke: My top 10 supporting male performances in no particular order.
Robert Shaw in Jaws and The Sting
Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet
Edward G. Robinson in Double Indemnity
Claude Rains in Notorious
Dana Andrews in The Ox-Bow Incident
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Martin Landau in Ed Wood
George Sanders in All About Eve
Walter Huston in the Treasure of the Sierra Madre

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Luke and Anonymous: YES! Vivien Leigh is in your top 10! She would make mine too (and take first and second place)!

Louis: Your Top 5 "Best" (most tolerable) and Top 5 Worst Male Disney Channel Stars (they can be current or former)

May I also ask for your Top 5 "Best" and Top 5 Worst Female Disney Chanel Stars?

If finding the best is not possible, I would be perfectly fine with the worst (a lot of them are pretty bad).

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: For now, I'm just gonna stick with an overall top ten for each gender.

Luke Higham said...

Ruthiehenshallfan99: Ben Foster's almost certainly his #1

Anonymous said...

ruthiehenshallfan99: I don't think Louis watches Disney Channel.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Your top 10 films?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I don't think it really matters, if he never watched Disney Channel, It's only actors that were once associated with Disney, like Ben Foster and Ryan Gosling.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: This is the list I gave 4 months ago.
Amadeus
There Will Be Blood
In Bruges
Lawrence Of Arabia
The Lord Of The Rings
A Clockwork Orange
The Godfather Parts I And II
Apocalypse Now
Dr. Strangelove
Barry Lyndon

Anonymous said...

Luke: In no particular order:
Double Indemnity
Lawrence of Arabia
2001: A Space Odyssey
Dr. Strangelove
A Clockwork Orange
Psycho
Vertigo
It's A Wonderful Life
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Third Man

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Louis: By Disney Channel Stars I mean those who became famous due to Disney Channel, not necessarily their performances in the shows from there.

Calvin Law said...

Cheadle is BRILLIANT Louis has to review him, ideally:

Cheadle
Spacey
McGoohan/Macfayden
Rickman
Hackman

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Your predicted ratings for those 6 performances, as well as O'Hara, Bean and Hurt.

Calvin Law said...

Cheadle: 4.5
Spacey: 5
McGoohan: 4.5
Macfayden: 4.5/5
Rickman: 4.5/5
Hackman: 4.5
O'Hara: 4/4.5
Bean: 4
Hurt: 4

Robert MacFarlane said...

I've resigned myself that McGoohan is getting a 5. Probably going to take his win, too. As for Hurt, I don't even remember him in that movie.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: I've seen Rob Roy twice and he's a 4 for me.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I've seen it once and remember literally everything else except him.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Ratings & Thoughts on the cast of Rob Roy.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Pitt - 4.5(An overhated performance I must say since I see nothing to fault before about the last five minutes of the film. Pitt is terrific because he is able to realize the expected elements of the his brash young detective character but in a way that feels honest for his character. Like Freeman he manages to match a certain purposeful cliche, while managing to not become one either. Pitt is very effective in finding the sensitivity that actually drives his anger. In addition his chemistry with Freeman is great. Now of course there's "The Box" and the worst thing just is the way he delivers "What's in the box" line that's so bad. He actually is getting across the emotion quite well in his face, but just that delivery feels labored. Of course that does not ruin the performance since he's very good up until that point, and even then I don't think its as bad as some make it out to be.)

Paltrow - 4(On re-watch she really does do a lot in her brief screen time. She offers an genuine bright spot within the gloomy world, and aids in the ending as she makes us feel about her the way Somerset does)

Oser - 3.5(Quite effective in his single scene bringing the needed extreme distress as a living representation of a victim of John Doe.)

Ermey - 3(His role is quite simple but he handles his exposition well)

Calvin:

I'll take Somerset.

Tahmeed:

1. Abraham/Hulce - Amadeus
2. Hurt/Julia - Kiss of the Spider Woman
3. Phoenix/Hoffman - The Master
4. Gleeson/Farrell - In Bruges
5. Affleck/Pitt - The Assassination of Jesse James
6. Crowe/Pearce - L.A. Confidential
7. Hoffman/Voight - Midnight Cowboy
8. Connery/Caine - The Man Who Would Be King
9. Steiger/Poitier - In the Heat of the Night
10. Mifune/Shimura - Drunken Angel

Anonymous:

1997:

1. L.A. Confidential
2. Boogie Nights
3. Hard Eight
4. The Apostle
5. Jackie Brown
6. The Sweet Hereafter
7. Lost Highway
8. Austin Powers
9. The Full Monty
10. Donnie Brasco

1998:

1. The Thin Red Line
2. The Truman Show
3. A Simple Plan
4. Beast Cops
5. The Big Lebowski
6. Dark City
7. The General
8. Rush Hour
9. Saving Private Ryan
10. Shakespeare in Love

ruthiehenshallfan99:

I'm afraid I don't watch the Disney Channel.

Calvin Law said...

Always been surprised how Fincher let that particular take of Pitt's slip by, surely he must have noticed something amiss.

Matt Mustin said...

Calvin: If you know anything about the way Fincher directs actors, every aspect of their performance is exactly what he wants.

RatedRStar said...

Louis: Wow you liked Beast Cops more than I thought you did lol, I always got the impression from the 1998 reviews that you liked The Longest Nite more.

Also, high five for having the original Rush Hour on the list and having it ahead of Saving Private Ryan cause I actually really like the original Rush Hour.

RatedRStar said...

I don't even think Saving Private Ryan would be in my top 10 if I'm perfectly honest lol =D.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on:
Kevin Costner in No Way Out and The Untouchables
Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney in National Velvet
Joan Leslie in Sergeant York
James Garner, Miriam Hopkins and Veronica Cartwright in The Children's Hour

Luke Higham said...

Calvin. Anonymous & RatedRStar: For The Bonus Rounds, are there any Male Supporting performances that you could see getting a 5 from Louis. The only one I could think of at the moment is Ghassan Massoud for Kingdom Of Heaven.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I can definitely see Massoud getting a 5.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: If he were to get a five, I could see him coming 3rd in the overall for that year.

RatedRStar said...

Luke: Erm not off the top of my head but I am pretty certain there will be.

RatedRStar said...

Ricky Gervais is hosting the Golden Globes again YESSSSSSS =D, the best ever globes host is back =D =d

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: I'm really happy with this announcement. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: You know, I'm starting to think that Keaton won't win for The General. Chaney in Tell it to the Marines could take the win.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: We Shall See. :)

Calvin Law said...

I'm seeing Spectre on Saturday :)

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I'm seeing it tomorrow. :)

Calvin Law said...

Hope it'll be good :)

Also forgot to mention, over the weekend and tonight I watched The Program, and The Lobster. The former was a deeply flawed but nevertheless at points, quite engaging biography. Also I'm starting to think am I being too lenient with my 5's this year, because:

Foster: 4.5/5
O'Dowd: 4
Canet: 2
Plemons: 3.5
Pace: 2.5
Hoffman: 3
Menochet: 2

(and my revised top 10 for lead,
1. McKellen
2. Damon
3. Segel
4. Hardy
5. Fassbender
6. Depp
7. Courtenay
8. Foster
9. Edgerton
10. Eisenberg)

As for The Lobster, it was a quirky, enjoyable enough watch. It does kind of lag in the middle and is a bit too clever at times for its own good, but had some genuinely quite inventive moments.

Farrell: 4
Weisz: 3
Colman: 3.5
Whishaw: 3

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Of course not. Your 5s are just about right to me. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: Have fun watching Spectre.

Louis Morgan said...

I saw Steve Jobs.

Anonymous:

Costner - No Way Out - 2(He's actually decent enough in providing some tension by portraying the anxiety of his character as he tries to trick those he's working with to find himself. Unfortunately he has to deal with that awful twist which he does nothing to build to, and is terrible in the scene as he shows the real nature of the character)

The Untouchables - 1(Perhaps his worst performance as he's just so terribly bland in the role, and just makes Ness seem like such a wimp even when Ness is suppose to become tough. There are many awkward moments throughout his performance, and he's thoroughly overshadowed by Connery, and I'm not even exactly in love with that performance either)

Elizabeth Taylor - 3(She's charming enough in the role, I don't think there's anything too notable about her work, but she does well with what she has)

Mickey Rooney - 2.5(Standard enough Rooney, as usual I don't mind it though I don't think all that much of him either)

Leslie - Sergeant York - 2.5(Her role is limited as just a charming love interest which she fulfills well, and actually if someone needed to be nominated as best supporting actress for the film it should have been her)

Hopkins - 3(She's just fine in playing up the eccentricity of her character while revealing the shallowness of her. I don't think she makes too much of an impact but she's just fine)

Cartwright - 4(A very much needed performance to try to make up for just how bad Karen Balkin's performance is. In fact the film would have been much better off if Cartwright had played Mary. Cartwright does very well in her role making the motivation for the lie very believable by revealing such an honest child's vulnerability. Also it has to be said once again that Cartwright just is a magnificent crier.)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on the film and ratings and thoughts on the cast.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Saving Fassbender of course. I'll also save Rogen and Daniels for the moment. Although I will say if a supporting actor is nominated for the film it should be Daniels.

There is perhaps more than a little missing in parts, and the daughter subplot seems a tad heavy handed at times. That being said I found myself consistently engaged by the film, and I actually found Danny Boyle's direction to be quite astute, except perhaps with the choice of final song, in bringing the needed life to the material without falling back onto his bag of tricks. Aaron Sorkin I think should stick to non-political subjects since his writing feels so much more natural without that complicating factor, which I find brings out the worst in him. Like in The Social Network with Mark Zuckerberg, here now with Steve Jobs the accuracy of the character could be debated for sure, but what matters far more is the way he crafts an unusual yet extremely compelling figure in the world of technology, that could come off quite dull in the wrong hands. The film itself I think is perhaps a bit like one of Steve Jobs's products. It might not do everything you think it should, but it looks good, is quite engaging, and it works.

Winslet - 4(Again on the matter of accents, it is another reasons why I find it foolish to be an excessive stickler about them, since Winslet's accent here I've seen bashed by some in its wavering quality, which happens to be just like the real Joanna Hoffman's accent. It's well done past that because Winslet makes it feel like a natural part of her character. Now for the rest of the performance this is the most traditional sort of supporting role as she really is just there is supporting Fassbender all of the way. Winslet does this well providing the right measure of warmth, with just a certain measure disdain that makes her appropriately the moral guide for Jobs in the film. Winslet does well with the dialogue adding some nice minor humorous moments, while meeting her big emotional scene, which I feel too much is actually asked of her in that single moment, but she pulls it off.)

Stuhlbarg - 3.5(Now there definitely seems to be something missing writing wise for his character in regards to his character's relationship with Jobs's daughter since it really isn't set up. Past that though Stuhlbarg does some fine work on mostly singular note, but a very well handled note. That being exuding the best smile and optimism on the surface, while exuding an inner hatred all the same when dealing with Jobs's constant abuse towards him)

Waterston - 3.5(Also one note, but also again for a reasons since we only see her when she's fighting with Jobs. Waterston is very good in just bringing such palatable bitterness and emotional desperation in every one her scenes as she pleads or admonishes Jobs over his refusal to recognize that he's the father)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Well, I'm relieved that you seem to like Fassbender quite a lot, and I'm looking forward to the film as well.

Rating Predictions
Fassbender - 4.5
Daniels - 4
Rogen - 3/3.5

Michael McCarthy said...

Still don't think Fassbender's getting higher than a 4. I love the guy but I'm not sure anyone could've sold me that total 180 that Jobs pulls at the end.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I was less enthusiastic about Steve Jobs. More or less thought it was Social Network Lite. Didn't appreciate the pop psychology or usual Sorkinisms. Probably would have liked it a little more if not for the last act. For me the easy MVP is Winslet.

Michael McCarthy said...

I also defy anyone to tell me that Jobs wasn't completely static in the first two acts.

John Smith said...

Louis... you have to do bonus reviews for Joseph Gordon Levitt in Brick and Mysterious Skin... Amazing performances.

By the way thoughts and ratings on the cast L.I.E (Except for Brian Cox of course)

Anonymous said...

Louis: You forgot to say your thoughts and ratings on Garner. And also, ratings and thoughts on Balkin.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Anonymous: Balkin was so bad. Horribly outclassed by Cartwright and, well, everyone else.

mcofra7 said...

John Smith: I believe I requested him in Mysterious Skin

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: In regards to Fassbender's rating for Steve Jobs, I like to say that whatever happens, happens and I won't be disappointed if he got a 4. :)

Luke Higham said...

I'm gonna see Spectre at 8pm (4pm Est) tonight.

Anonymous said...

John Smith:

Luke: I hope it's good

RatedRStar said...

Luke: Tell us about it when your next on =D.

Luke Higham said...

Spectre
Craig - 4.5
Waltz - 4
Seydoux - 3.5
Fiennes - 3.5
Whishaw - 3.5
Bautista - 3
Scott - 3
Christensen - 3.5

It's a good film with a tremendous opening sequence. I wasn't bothered by the running time, though the third act felt somewhat unsatisfactory.
Craig's great and the opening title sequence alluded to the end of an era. Waltz was enjoyable, yet he's pretty much into his comfort zone here, which I'm a bit disappointed by, especially after Bardem's work in Skyfall.

Louis Morgan said...

Michael McCarthy:

I'll save more on the character of Jobs and Fassbender's performance for another time, but right now I will say I don't think he had to pull as much of 180 as you said. He only really did the right thing in regards to his daughter, and even then I don't think it's made quite that easy, again that use of song is the worst thing in the film since it simplifies the moment. He certainly does not do so with Wozniak or Hertzfeld. Then with Sculley he really just decides not to gloat, too much, as his last remarks are still kind of a "I told you so".

John Smith:

In regards to L.I.E. outside of Cox I found the performances to be either dull (Masterson), excessively mannered (Terrio), or rather over the top (Altman). Then there is Dano who I do think has some good moments in there, but in typical Dano form (although it seems like he's either moving away from that or becoming better at it) he certainly is mannered as well, in a way that seems too obvious for the film it is.

Anonymous:

I believe I covered Garner before.

Balkin - 1(You don't believe for a second she could manipulate Cartwright's character let alone a whole community the way she does. Balkin plays it as a one note brat, but completely without any sort of underhanded charisma needed for the part. In addition she just has some plain horrendous moments in there particularly that unbelievably over the top final reaction of hers when her lie has been discovered.)

Michael Patison said...

L Rime:
On the topic of Doctor Who, I just finished The Woman Who last night, and The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived is now my #8 DW story. I should also add that The Impossible Planet would make my HMs, but is held back by the mediocrity of The Satan Pit.

Luke Higham said...

I want to note, that some scenes in Spectre either linger on too much or are rather pointless. Monica Belluci's in particular should've been cut.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Louis, what's your rating on Michael Caine in Austin Powers: Goldmember?

Michael McCarthy said...

Louis: When I said Jobs pulls a 180, I don't mean the actions he takes towards his daughter as much as the presence he creates around her. He just has this over abundance of warmth with her in their last scene together that didn't feel wholly earned. One could say that he hinted at how much he cared about her early on but I'd argue he only showed interest in her when she did something to validate him. It also bothered me that the script insisted that Jobs respected Wozniak without giving Fassbender any scenes to really support that idea.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Just one more question. What are your ratings and thoughts on:
Lauren Bacall in Written in the Wind
Lana Turner in Imitation of Life

L Rime said...

Michael:

Honestly, I'm not even sure if it's a legitimate two parter. Lol. But regardless, both episodes make a pretty good story either way. They don't quite make my top 10, either as standalone stories or as a two parter.

Luke:

Did you get around to watch Bone Tomahawk? I'm curious about it.

Luke Higham said...

L Rime: I'm watching it shortly.

Luke Higham said...

Bone Tomahawk
Russell - 4
Jenkins - 4/4.5
Wilson - 4
Fox - 3.5
It's a fairly effective horror western and slightly profound as well. It has a good ensemble and Russell and Jenkins have great chemistry with each other.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Anonymous: I know you did not ask me, but I must give my opinion on Lana Turner in Imitation of Life. She was excellent, in my opinion, giving one of the greatest performances of 1959 and is a very easy 5 for me (I also am a huge fan of the movie). In total, she has at two or three 5s. The others are for The Bad and the Beautiful, and Peyton Place. I am aware Louis is not that big on her, but her performance in Imitation of Life cemented her a place as one of my favorite actresses.

Louis Morgan said...

Robert:

Caine - 3(Thinking about it I did actually laugh at his scenes, which was not the case for the rest of the film, I particularly enjoyed his suave dressing down of the henchmen who had no chance against him)

Anonymous:

I think I covered Written on the Wind before.

Turner - 3(I have to admit the racial sub-plot I did think was the best part of the film. Turner for her credit does well enough in the part, though I did think she was overshadowed fore the most part, though she was just fine in the scenes that focused directly on her)