Friday 6 November 2015

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1995: Don Cheadle in Devil in a Blue Dress

Don Cheadle did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a SAG, for portraying Mouse Alexander in Devil in a Blue Dress.

Devil in a Blue Dress is a decent enough neo-noir about an unemployed man Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins (Denzel Washington) who takes on a job to find a mysterious woman, but things are naturally not as easy as they seem.

Don Cheadle, despite often being the most noted element of the film, actually does not make his full appearance until the film's final act, other than very briefly hearing his voice in a quick flashback. Cheadle suddenly appears to pull Easy out of a tight spot well after the case has become sordid enough that his own life is on the line. Luckily for Easy Mouse appears wielding two handguns that quickly calms Easy's assailant's aggression. Well once Mouse appears there's only one question that has to be asked, where's Mouse been the whole film? Cheadle in just a few seconds becomes the most interesting thing about the film, and the film is not a bad film otherwise. Cheadle though instantly establishes Mouse's personal style so well from the moment he appears. Cheadle carries himself as though he is a true bad ass in the way he points his gun, and just carries this menacing demeanor as though he is ready to kill any man who dares to cross him one way or another. Cheadle makes the whole thing have this certain ease about it though as though Mouse is the smoothest gunslinger in the old west, the only problem being that Mouse is far from the old west in both space and time.

Of course Mouse is about as problematic as he is useful because of his certain way of dealing with things, one of his first acts in the film is to shoot a man in the arm in order to interrogate him. Cheadle makes for a great hot head by making something quite alarming about Mouse, actually because Mouse isn't as good as he thinks he is. Cheadle is interesting in the way he plays it as though Mouse almost has to get too into that image Mouse has for himself. There is a certain desperation that Cheadle realizes in the whole performance of Mouse's that he pulls off in quite the interesting way. What Cheadle does so well is instead of making this simply make Mouse seem pathetic, and nonthreatening, Cheadle makes Mouse all the more dangerous seeming through his more pitiful qualities because there's such an intensity he brings with Mouse as he is someone who always seems like he has something to prove. One of my favorite moments in Cheadle's performance is when Easy has to calm a drunk Mouse down as he threatens to shoot Easy. Cheadle is great as he manages to be rather funny in portraying Mouse, even when drunk, still putting up that tough guy front, while still keeping a sense of danger as drunk Mouse seems more willing than ever to shoot someone.

What Cheadle capturs so well, and is essential to the part of Mouse is just how unpredictable he is. In his interactions with Easy, when nothing he really going on, Cheadle brings such a friendly demeanor to the man that is wholly honest. What's so good is about Cheadle's work is that he feels just as honest when Mouse threatens to shoot Easy. Mouse can go all over the place in a moments notice and Cheadle makes every one of these transitions, no matter how extreme, wholly natural because of his performance. What's also so remarkable about this is that even with all of his random behavior, which at times presents Mouse as quite the morally dubious man, Cheadle someone how makes him endearing possibly because of just how genuine of a mess that Cheadle makes the guy who can go from your best friend to your worst enemy at a moments notice. Now one could question how little Cheadle is in the actual film. He's only in that last third and even then he's used somewhat sparingly. Although I would have loved to see more of Cheadle's Mouse to begin with, Cheadle certainly does his best to make up for his late entrance. Not only does he makes the most memorable character in the film, in a very short amount of time, he also importantly energizes the last act by becoming the wild card the story needs.

222 comments:

1 – 200 of 222   Newer›   Newest»
Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings & Thoughts on the rest of the cast.

Anonymous said...

Louis: I know you haven't seen all of the Stewart-Mann Westerns, but what are your ratings for the ones you've seen? Since you already told me your thoughts on The Great Escape, is it a 5-star film for you?

RatedRStar said...

Louis: What would you say was wrong with this film that makes it merely decent, also the same question for One Nite in Mongkok which surprised me at the time when you said it was solid enough because I found it quite a suspenseful gut puncher (not enough Sam Lee in it maybe lol or)?

Luke Higham said...

Everyone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ogw1cSZO0I

Calvin Law said...

Actually quite happy with a 4.5, I feared his lack of screentime would bring him down to a 4.

Saw Brooklyn. All I can say is loving 2015. It completely captured that beautiful, poignant spirit and liveliness of the source material and I have to say now, my top 5 for actress will be an utter heartbreak to crack if need be later on in the year, as Ronan is fantastic.

Ronan: 5 (amazing, I need more time to think about how exactly to praise her but she's my new win now)
Cohen: 4 (verging on a 4.5, very, very surprised by how good he was after that awful performance he gave in The Place Beyond the Pines, although perhaps that was just a one-off atrocity. He has fantastic chemistry with Ronan and )
Gleeson: 4 (also tempted to go up with him, I think very few actors can make as much out of relatively little as Gleeson Jr. does)
Broadbent and Walters: 3.5
Walters:

Anonymous said...

Luke: It's a good trailer, Luke, but I'm not that interested in it.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Me neither. The CGI doesn't appeal to me, though it's exactly what they were going for.

Anonymous said...

Luke: You know, I've been thinking this for some minutes ago. Can you think of an alternate history in the world of cinema? You can list 10 things that happen in that alternate history.

Michael McCarthy said...

Because of all the talk about it on this blog, I decided to watch Bone Tomahawk yesterday. I can see why not everyone would go for it...but I kind of loved it. It managed to ground all of the insanity going on in the story with just enough realism and human relay ability, and there wasn't a single weak link in the cast.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous:
1955: James Dean survives Car Crash
1962: Peter O'Toole wins Best Actor for Lawrence Of Arabia
1963: Cleopatra was a critical and financial success
1971: The Devils is released Uncut
1976/7: Kubrick's Napoleon is released to critical acclaim and wins 8 Academy Awards
1983: James Mason receives a Lifetime Achievement Oscar
1990: Goodfellas wins Best Picture
2000: Star Wars: Episode I is released with Spielberg as the director and Kasdan the screenwriter
2008: Heath Ledger survives an Overdose
2009: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen bombs at the box office

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: Ratings for the cast.

Michael McCarthy said...

Kurt Russell: 5 (And he's only the third Lead Actor 5 I've given this year.)
Patrick Wilson: 4
Richard Jenkins: 5
Matthew Fox: 4.5
Lili Simmons: 3.5
David Arquette: 3.5

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: Thoughts on Russell, Wilson, Jenkins and Fox.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'll do some alternate history of what might have happened.
1. Lon Chaney survives lung cancer in 1930. Chaney decides to stick to leading and supporting roles in talkies like, eventually receiving a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 1958.
2. Jean Harlow survives kidney failure, stars in the Maisie movies which become a hit. Tired of making movies, Harlow decides to retire, enjoying life with husband William Powell.
3. At the Academy Awards in 1945, Double Indemnity wins ten Academy Awards.
4. James Dean survives car crash in 1955 and eventually finds a rival in Paul Newman.
5. Montgomery Clift avoids car accident in 1956.
6. Lawrence of Arabia wins 10 Academy Awards in 1963.
7. Marilyn Monroe survives barbiturate overdose and gets her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
8. Stanley Kubrick completes his biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1975. At the Academy Awards in 1976, Napoleon wins eight Academy Awards.
9. Apocalypse Now wins Best Picture
10. Goodfellas wins Best Picture

John Smith said...

Louis: Thought And Ratings on...

Mario Bello: A History Of Violence

Marisa Tomei: In The Bedroom

Wiona Ryder: The Crucible, The Age Of Innocence

Julia Roberts: Steel Magnolias

John Gielgud: Richard III (The movie was very good with great performances and i love the way the used the stage as sets. Laurence Olivier was brilliant, this is my third favorite from him the first one being The Entertainer and the second being Sleuth even though he was overshadowed by Caine.)


By the way i have som many male requests for bonus rounds, i will fall in a depression when i realise that they can't all be reviewed lol

John Smith said...

Louis: Thought And Ratings on...

Sally Fields: Places In The Heart

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: I admit freely that I was tired on my first viewing of Bone Tomahawk and my feelings toward the film have improved since.

My new ratings
Russell - 4.5
Jenkins - 4.5/5 (He was my favourite of the cast beforehand and I just love his chemistry with Russell)
Wilson - 4
Fox - 4/4.5 (He was terrific in his final scene)
Simmons - 3.5
Arquette - 3/3.5

Calvin: I saw Brooklyn, it's a moving film with a great final act.

Ronan - 5 (A terrific performance. I absolutely loved her final scenes with her mother & Miss Kelly and has great natural chemistry with her male co-stars)
Cohen - 3.5/4
Gleeson - 4 (A fairly brief performance, yet I wanted so much more of him. Major Film Studios, can you please give him a lead role.)
Broadbent - 3.5
Walters - 4 (She was very entertaining)
B. Brennan - 3.5
J. Brennan - 3/3.5

RatedRStar said...

John Smith: What would those requests be?

Anonymous said...

John Smith: Bello's a 4,5 for her performance in History of Violence.

Tomei in In The Bedroom - 4(Although her accent's slightly distracting she's rather effective in showing her character's weak willed state and is quite moving after the tragedy occurs. I do feel her impact is slightly diminished though as the film just kinda suddenly drops her as a character)

Ryder - 2.5(I always felt as if I could see the wheels turning with her as if she was always reminding herself to really play up that this character is an evil manipulator, yet I never completely bought her in the role)

He hasn't seen Age of Innocence nor Steel Magnolias.

John Gielgud - 3.5(Apparently Olivier disliked the way Gielgud almost sung his Shakespeare, but it works rather well here painting his character as just an entirely different sort from Olivier's Richard III)

I think he hasn't stated his thoughts on Field in Places in the Heart.

Calvin Law said...

I really want to see Bone Tomahawk now that Michael M. and Luke have been so positive about it.

Agreed about Gleeson, Luke, he should also make a film with pa, maybe a thriller with them as enemy hitmen or something :)

Robert MacFarlane said...

Saw Bone Tomahawk, and frankly found it kind of boring. Thought all four leads were great, though.

Calvin Law said...

RatedRStar: your top 10 HK films of the past 15 years, and top 10 performances?

1. A Simple Life
2. Perhaps Love
3. Lan Yu
4. Kung Fu Hustle
5. Election
6. Bodyguards and Assassins
7. Infernal Affairs
8. Exiled
9. In the Mood for Love
10. After This Our Exile
Hon. Mention: Unbeatable

1. Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Infernal Affairs
2. Liu Ye in Lan Yu
3. Yip Tak-Haan in A Simple Life
4. Hu Jun in Lan Yu
5. Zhang Ziyi in The Grandmaster
6. Lau Ching Wan in Mad Detective
7. Tony Leung Chiu Wai/Maggie Cheung in In the Mood for Love
8. Zhou Xun in Perhaps Love
9. Ronald Cheng in Vulgaria
10. Francis Ng in Infernal Affairs 2
Hon. Mention: Takeshi Kasheniro in Perhaps Love

Also, ratings for the cast of The Warlords please :)

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Anonymous: I have a couple alternate history moments as well.
1938: The Academy gives Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs an Oscar for Best Picture.
1941-1945: Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer have their brief retirements. They both reestablish themselves in film and are happily welcomed back.
1942: The plane meant to carry Carole Lombard and others breaks down before takeoff can be achieved. Lomabrd leaves and returns home to Gable. They have a few children together and remain happily married until Gable's death. Years later, she is presented with an Honorary Oscar for her notable contribution to the industry.
1944: Sleznick and Jennifer Jones end their brief affair and both remain happily married to their respective spouses. They make several more films together. In the 70s, both Jones and Walker retire and make frequent.
1944-1945: Gabriel Pascal, seeing Vivien Leigh has no stunt double in Caesar and Cleopatra, and seeing she is pregnant, orders one to be there for the most challenging scenes. She has a baby sometime later.
1951: Cinderella is given a Best Picture nomination and wins Best Score, Best Sound, and Best song for A Dream IS a Wish Your Heart Makes.
1956: Following the Success of Macbeth on the Stage, the Olivier's decide to make a film version. It is a huge success and stands as the greatest adaptation of the play. The following both of them are awarded Oscars for Lead Actor and Supporting Actress.
1961: King of Kings is an immediate commercial and critical success. Following this, Brigid Bazlen has her contract renewed and makes many more movies afterwards. She is currently living in Seattle. Jeffrey Hunter, after the success, has been offered the Part of Christopher Pike in Star Trek. He accepts the offer and plays the part throughout his career.
July 7, 1967: John Merivale reaches Vivien Leigh sooner and is able to get her to a nearby hospital, since she had suffered another attack of Tuberculosis. She survies and, after treatment, reconciles with Olivier, and remains friends with him until his death.
1969: Judy Garland survives her overdose.
1990: Ava Gardner survives battle with emphysema
1995: Lana Turner survives throat cancer.
2013-2014: Assume Ilene Woods never had Alzheimer's. At some point, Ilene Woods is brought out of retirement for one final swansong, a small, but important part in Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella. She is proudly welcomed back by the public and after the movie, goes back into retirement.

I love yours and Luke's as well!

Anonymous said...

Is anyone aware of the Macbeth screening reaction at afi fest??

Anonymous said...

Anonymous: Nope.
Ruthiehenshallfan99: Thanks! You would really would have loved to meet Judy, Ava and Lana, wouldn't you?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: What happened exactly, because I looked at the AFI Fest twitter feed and found nothing about the reaction to the film.

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

Luke: I found nothing either.

JackiBoyz said...

RatedRStar: What are your thoughts on the recently announced Golden Horse nominations?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Can I have your thoughts on Spectre and any other films that you've seen in the past week, as well as your ratings and thoughts on the cast/s.

Anonymous said...

Luke: You know, I think that at the end of his career, Rylance will be the actor with most wins for Tony Awards.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I hope so. :) He has another 20 years in him in my opinion and the current record is six, which I believe is breakable.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think he could work till his eighties, perhaps.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Have you seen Wolf Hall. If so, your thoughts on it, as well as your rating & thoughts on Rylance.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Yes, it is truly an amazing series. It has so many great things from it, from Kosminsky's direction, the script, the art designs, the cinematography, and mostly the performances from all the actors.

Rylance: 5 (An amazing performance that you'll never forget it. Rylance is just Cromwell)

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Your ratings for the rest of the cast.

Anonymous said...

Foy and Pryce: 4,5 (verging on a 5)
Lesser: 4,5
Hill and Gatiss: 4

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: And Damian Lewis.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Lewis is also a 4,5 verging on a 5.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I really hope that Louis mentions watching it, as well as his thoughts on Rylance in his Bridge Of Spies review.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Don't worry, Louis will watch I think he would give Rylance a 5 for his performance. Rylance has done Hamlet, Henry V, Olivia, Richard II, Richard III and he'll likely do Macbeth, Shylock and King Lear, and I think it's plausible that he could win three more Tony Awards for those latter performances.

Anonymous said...

Luke: *watch Wolf Hall

Anonymous said...

Luke: *and I think he would give Rylance a 5 for his performance in Bridge of Spies.

Luke Higham said...

*I hope Louis watches and give his thoughts on Wolf Hall (And Rylance) when he reviews him for Bridge Of Spies.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I don't think anyone on this blog has a doubt about Rylance's rating. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: Like I said before, I don't have hope for movies based on video games, but Assassin's Creed could be the best adaptation, even though that's not saying much.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: That's fine by me. I hope Assassin's Creed does manage to exceed your expectations, as well as mine. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: It'll be okay, but watchable due to Marion's and Fassy's performances.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I'll predict ratings for the two.
Fassbender - 4
Cotillard - 3.5

Anonymous said...

Luke: I predict fours for both of them.

Luke Higham said...

*Cotillard - 3.5/4

Anonymous said...

Luke: You once said that Sonic never managed to be that great in 3D, am I correct?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I didn't enjoy them as much as they were in 2D. I remember playing about 30 minutes of Sonic The Hedgehog (2006) and I absolutely hated it.

Anonymous said...

Luke: There are Sonic fans who actually like Sonic 06.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: It's their opinion and have no issue with it. I wasn't a die-hard fan of the franchise, when I was playing it.

Anonymous said...

Luke: The game is considered the worst of the entire series, followed only by Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: When I was young, the platformers, that I got the most enjoyment from were Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper.

Anonymous said...

Luke: The Sonic fanbase is known for being really, really weird. That's all I have to say about it. I never played Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Sly Cooper (well I played Sly 3 once)

Anonymous said...

Luke: If there's one game I remember fondly to this day is Spider-Man (PS1). I still play it.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I played the first level of that game, when I was about 5 or 6 and I just couldn't get past it.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Actually, I was around 6 or 7. I thought it was released in '99.

Anonymous said...

Luke: At first, I couldn't beat the bomb level when I was 4 or 5.

Anonymous said...

Luke: So, you never managed to beat the entire game, right?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: The game belonged to my cousin, so no.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I'm quite sure, I could beat it now.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think that Sonic 3 & Knuckles was the best of the 2D Sonic games.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I remember playing 2 & 3 and they were great for their time.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I personally think that the Hunger Games movies are simply good, not great.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I like them well enough.
1. Catching Fire
2. Hunger Games
3. Mockingjay Part I

I'll be giving my thoughts on Part II, on the 19th/20th.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Your top 10 westerns?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous:
The Dollars Trilogy
The Assassination Of Jesse James
Unforgiven
Once Upon A Time In The West
Stagecoach
The Wild Bunch
The Magnificent Seven
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
The Outlaw Josey Wales

Anonymous said...

Luke: And top 10 noirs?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous:
The Maltese Falcon
The Third Man
Double Indemnity
Touch Of Evil
Laura
Chinatown
Sunset Boulevard
The Asphalt Jungle
L.A. Confidential
Out Of The Past

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'll do my top 10 westerns.
The Searchers
Stagecoach
The Good, the Bad and The Ugly
Once Upon A Time in the West
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Wild Bunch
The Naked Spur
The Assassination of Jesse James
Unforgiven
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Top 10 Noirs:
Double Indemnity
Sunset Boulevard
The Maltese Falcon
The Third Man
Touch of Evil
Chinatown
L.A. Confidential
Out of the Past
The Big Sleep
Laura

Anonymous said...

Luke: I, like you, don't take Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic or even IMDB, but I'm shocked at the rating for I Am Sam.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: It should be at 0-5%.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Penn should have never gone full retard cause you never go full retard.

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

Anonymous: He went home empty-handed. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: Indeed. Good God, when will Mr. Penn give a truly great performance?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I know one should say never say never, but I just can't see him giving an amazing performance.

Anonymous said...

Luke: To me, it seems like he just can't give one amazing performance either. Despite being a method actor, he just doesn't know subtlety.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I still think he's capable of doing it, but it's difficult seeing him not resort to his usual tendencies.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Well, the thing is, he needs a director that can restrain him.

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

Anonymous: And his ego.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Indeed. My big problem with actors that give wooden performances is that they seem to be too self-aware or something. It's like they're afraid of showing anger.

Anonymous said...

Luke: And yes, those types of performances can work for stoic characters, but when it comes to emotional characters, nope.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Did Jake Lloyd display any anger in The Phantom Menace. I remember him having a spat with Sebulba and that's about it.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I agree with you.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Did Gary Cooper show any emotion when his friend was killed by a grenade in Sergeant York? All I remember was that he then asked in a rather polite way to who killed his friend and then...he shot the man. There's no way that metalman091 idiot can convince me that scene was realistic and natural in every way.

Anonymous said...

Luke: In order to make an usual wooden actor showing anger, I would choose a demanding director.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I don't want to say M****, but his taste in film is certainly questionable.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: A Perfectionist is needed. Kubrick. :)

RatedRStar said...

Calvin Law: This list might change.

1. Infernal Affairs
2. The Mission
3. Election
4. Beast Cops
5. Lan Yu
6. The Stool Pigeon
7. Hard Boiled
8. SPL
9. In The Mood For Love
10. Bodyguards and Assassins
Hon. Mentions: Happy Together, Jiang Hu, Unbeatable, Mad Detective, The Beast Stalker, PTU, Running Out Of Time, As Tears Go By, The Longest Summer, Made in Hong Kong, One Nite in Mongkok, The Killer, A Better Tomorrow, 92 Legendary La Rose Noire, The Longest Nite, Exiled, Your Place or Mine, A Simple Life, Life Without Principle, Big Bullet, Chungking Express, American Dreams in China etc..

1. Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Infernal Affairs
2. Liu Ye in Lan Yu
3. Anthony Wong - Beast Cops
4. Maggie Cheung - Comrades: Almost a Love Story
5. Lau Ching Wan in Mad Detective
6. Anthony Wong - The Untold Story
7. Ronald Cheng - Vulgaria
8. Tony Leung Ka Fai - 92 Legendary La Rose Noire
9. Liu Kai Chi - The Stool Pigeon
10. Teddy Robin - Gallants

Anonymous said...

Luke: Kurosawa and Chaplin were also perfectionists.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Them as well and Cameron, though I don't trust him.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Well, he likes Paul Muni.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Call me crazy, but I love Terminator 1 and 2 to death.

RatedRStar said...

Calvin Law: Ah I forget you said 15 years, in which case the top ten films would be this.

1. Infernal Affairs
2. Election
3. Lan Yu
4. The Stool Pigeon
5. SPL
6. In The Mood For Love
7. Bodyguards and Assassins
8. Exiled
9. Unbeatable
10. Jiang Hu - The Triad Zone

1. Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Infernal Affairs
2. Liu Ye in Lan Yu
3. Maggie Cheung - Comrades: Almost a Love Story
4. Lau Ching Wan in Mad Detective
5. Ronald Cheng - Vulgaria
6. Liu Kai Chi - The Stool Pigeon
7. Teddy Robin - Gallants
8. Patrick Tam - Born Wild
9. Roy Cheung - Jiang Hu - The Triad Zone
10. Francis Ng - 2000 AD

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: If he was born before and directed during the 1930s, then sure.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I like them a great deal as well. :)

Michael McCarthy said...

Luke:

Russell: (He reminded me of some of Clint Eastwood's later performances in the way he used his onscreen persona. He still had every bit of the command, presence of the badasses he played in the 80s but with a much harder edge to suggest all he's seen in his years as sheriff. He carefully doesn't completely deprive his character of warmth, which can be seen in his scenes with his wife and Jenkins's character as well as whenever someone he knows is possibly facing their own mortality. Once the film takes a more bizarre turn, it's Russell's brutally realistic reactions that truly made the horror come alive for me. And then there his last scenes, where he truly gets to be the action hero again, but with an added poignancy appropriate to his situation, which are of course handled flawlessly.)

Wilson: (He definitely didn't have the most complex character but that never stops him from being a compelling co-lead. In the beginning he does well to show enough warmth with his wife and shame for his injury. He also gives a great physical portrayal of his handicap, making it impossible to forget the physical pain his character is in. Once his wife is kidnapped, he manages to make his personal plight to save her quite moving, especially when he finds out he can't continue on the rescue mission. His best scenes come towards the end where he gets to be the hero of sorts, because he doesn't play him as some sort of badass, but rather as a scared and inexperienced man who will do anything to save his wife.)

Jenkins: (Psifonian's really on to something here. Jenkins is barely recognizable for one thing, playing a seemingly much older and more feeble man than usual. Jenkins though infuses this wonderful enthusiasm into the character of Chicory as he seems so committed to being the sheriff's right hand man who wants to be there to help the sheriff with whatever he might need. Jenkins makes Chicory the one truly bright spot of the film, as the one man who clings to his optimism and idealism no matter what happens. This makes him the perfect foil for Russell's more realistic minded sheriff, with whom Jenkins has a terrific chemistry. The two suggest the history these men have wonderfully, so that you never doubt why these two incredibly different men would be such good friends. To top it all off, Jenkins has a monologue about a flea circus he saw once that perfectly sums up the character he has created, and manages to be absolutely heartbreaking when it could've been kind of silly.)

Fox: (I always knew Fox was talented and I really hope he gets more roles like this where he gets to prove himself. Fox is a very different kind of badass than Russell, he has this very coolheaded presence with just the right degree of cold menace, sort of in the vain of James Coburn or Lee Van Cleef. His character absolutely knows how good he is, but he does a great job of keeping his arrogance from reaching an obnoxious level. He's also a man of great prejudice and with just a general disregard for human life, but again he never uses this as an excuse to overact and just lets it be a natural part of his character. His last scene proves to be a terrific exploration into this kind of character, and Fox ends up becoming kind of sympathetic as he accepts that his arrogance and hatred ended up being his own downfall.)

Anonymous said...

Luke: Metalman091 also likes Cooper and Peck's wooden performances (I said that before in the 1976 review comments), hates Guinness and Mitchum for being wooden (I never considered these two wooden in any of their performances), loves Tracy's awful Portuguese accent and March's embarrassing over-the-top performance in Inherit the Wind.

RatedRStar said...

Calvin:Ah shit forgot about Comrades, I would change Maggie and put Francis Ng for Infernal Affairs II at 10.

Warlords Ratings

Li (3.5)
Lau (2.5)
Kaneshiro (4)
Jinglei (2.5)

JackiBoyz: My Golden Horse thoughts are, that its clear that Chang Chens award status is bizarre, HK film awards only recognize his supporting work, Golden Horse only recognise his lead performances. I have only seen 2 of the nominees, Port of Call and Gone With The Bullets, I expect the best actor race to be between Aaron Kwok (an awards favorite plus its likely he will do well at the HK awards as well) and Feng Xiao (they love it when a director acts).

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: He's the Anti-Louis Morgan.

Anonymous said...

Luke: The way he referred to Guinness cold and unemotional is just way too much, he's acting as if Guinness was some cold bastard, when he was actually a gentleman in interviews. But I think that Guinness was too harsh in asking a kid to stop watching Star Wars.

Anonymous said...

Luke: *as

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: He was but then again, he feared that the vast majority would remember him, only for his work in Star Wars.

He predicted James Dean's death as well.

Anonymous said...

Luke: But I kind of understand that Guinness was tired of being associated with Star Wars and that he wanted people to know him for other roles such as Colonel Nicholson and Prince Faisal.

Anonymous said...

Luke:...and after his death in 2000, many film fans around the world are discovering his great film work, realizing that he was just more than Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Thankfully. :)

Everyone: Has there ever been a day, where you didn't go on the blog and that's when you did have use of a Laptop or a PC. Holidays don't count.

Luke Higham said...

*Phone and Tablet.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Yes.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I have, though I mentioned before that I was on-off at one point.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I don't think I've ever given myself a break from the blog in nearly two years.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Like I said before, Shelley Winters should have known better about Franciosa as a person. And I don't think I'll ever understand what Harrison's wives saw in him. I guess girls like bad boys, right? But I don't understand the reason why would Carole Landis commit suicide over Harrison not divorcing his current wife at the time they met. I think that if she never commited suicide, and somehow Harrison divorced his current wife and married her, she would eventually hate him for being an arrogant prick.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I never heard of this story until now, but it's tragic and some men just are A-Holes.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Apparently, Harrison farted during a production of MFL on Broadway. For God's sake...

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: For shame!. :(

Anonymous said...

Luke: metalman091 also claims that Peck matched Olivier in acting abilities.

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

Anonymous: 'I hated metalman091, hated, hated, hated, hated, hated metalman091, hated him, hated every stupid, idiotic, reader-insulting opinion of his'. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: He hates De Niro, Pacino, Nicholson, Hackman and Duvall and only likes Hoffman.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: His liking for Hoffman doesn't bother me, though I'm amazed that he doesn't like Hackman or Duvall. I guess he doesn't like understated emotions.

Anonymous said...

Luke: He also believes that Olivier is matched by Robert Preston in his acting abilities, even though I can't remember of any masterful performance of Preston.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Ugh.

Anonymous said...

Luke: It's funny how he loves James Stewart yet he doesn't put him on the list of actors who match Olivier. Fonda, Massey (With the exception of East of Eden, I can't think of another memorable performance of his), Peck, Newman, Laughton, Hoffman, Mason, Tracy, Preston, Walter Huston, Muni are on that list.

Anonymous said...

Luke:...Welles and the Barrymores are also on that list.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: At least he loves Mason, which is something, though it doesn't keep him away from my list of enemies.

Anonymous said...

Luke: You and I think Marlon Brando and Richard Burton were great actors who just didn't care anymore. Metalman091 liked Burton only in My Cousin Rachel and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf because he likes De Havilland and Taylor, and they were in those films. He claims Brando in The Young Lions, but I think he only liked Brando in that film because he likes Dean Martin.

Anonymous said...

Luke: *claims Brando was outstanding

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Brando wasn't particularly good in The Young Lions, he didn't have a single scene with Clift and Monty left a greater impression on me.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I have watched Young Lions and I agree with you. Brando's German accent was ridiculously awful and Clift gave the better performance.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Name a fun fact about Brando and Clift.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'll name it. Both were born in Omaha, Nebraska.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Clift supported his friend Brando, even when his career was floundering.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Of course many actors aren't versatile, but metalman091 treats it as if it is a good or a bad thing. He criticizes Richardson for not being versatile, yet loves Bogart, Cagney and Robinson for not being versatile. And while he likes Harrison (who was arrogant), he dislikes Bogarde for being arrogant (even though we don't know exactly if he was truly arrogant or not).

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: Mourinho's gonna be fired. :(

Anonymous: Does he have an actual criteria in place.

Your Hunger Games and Twilight film rankings. :)

1. Eclipse (Horrible)
2. Braking Dawn Part 2 (Horrible)
3. Twilight (Horrible)
4. Breaking Dawn Part 1 (Horrible)
5. New Moon (Horrible)

Luke Higham said...

*2. Breaking Dawn Part 2 (Horrible)

Anonymous said...

Luke: I don't think he has, to be honest with you.
Hunger Games
1. Catching Fire
2. Hunger Games
3. Mockingjay Part 1
Twilight
1. Breaking Dawn Part 2
2. Breaking Dawn Part 1
3. Eclipse
4. Twilight
5. New Moon

Anonymous said...

Luke: Like I mentioned before in the 1976 review comments, Mr. Metalman091 has a disturbing and unhealthy obsession with Judy Garland. Here's one quote of his praising her and insulting others:

What Judy really had was honesty. She was 100% real in everything she did. There was also a natural and vulnerable sex appeal that she had that very few had. Whereas Doris Day was staid, Judy was alive with emotion and she made sure people always knew she was a woman with needs.

The reason Judy remains so beloved is because she was the real deal. She was a part of that great acting tradition that looked so effortless. Sometimes people only observe the acting talents of people like John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave or Alec Guinness without thinking that acting comes in all forms from Judy, James Stewart, Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy and Humphrey Bogart, etc. There was more honesty in the lot of them then in the others put together.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: He's close to being Enemy #1.

Anonymous said...

Luke: If there's one thing I hate the most about this guy is that he uses quotes from critics and actors to prove you that you're wrong about an actor you don't like and that he likes. It's like he thinks the critics and actors know better than everyone. He'll prove you wrong (On Cooper being wooden) by saying he was praised by Chaplin, Harrison, Lancaster, Preston and John Barrymore as being one of the most naturalistic actors of all time. It's fine to check out a movie that critics praised, but proving people they are wrong and forcing you to like them by quoting critics and actors? No thanks, man. And I think you, me and Louis will still have to see the greatness from Muni, Harrison, Peck, Cooper and Tracy.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: In terms of consistency, I completely agree with you, though I mustn't forget Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird or Tracy in Bad Day At Black Rock.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Don't worry, I won't forget about Peck's To Kill A Mockingbird and Tracy's A Bad Day at Black Rock either.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think I feel a little tired talking about that metalman091, so who do you think Louis will review next?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I'm quite exhausted as well. :)

I'm incredibly eager for the Braveheart men, so I'm going with them.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think that he could review them next as well. I'll just name another fun fact: Muni was one of Brando's favorite actors.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Which performance from 2015, are you seriously hoping to get a five from Louis.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'm seriously hoping DiCaprio in The Revenant to get a 5.

Anonymous said...

Luke:...when the film's released, of course. :)

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: We shall see, though I have an incredibly positive feeling for Hardy's performance.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Another fun fact: Garbo is De Niro's favorite actress.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Saw Bridge of Spies. Wasn't in love with it. Surprisingly limp in the writing and themes. Found the cinematography irritating (Kaminski NEEDS to lay off the filtering), and Spielberg's direction felt surprisingly workmanlike for him. That said, I was very impressed with Hanks (who I don't always like) and especially Rylance, though I'm not sure if I like Rylance for the same reasons as everyone else.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: He made a great choice. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: Now a little question: Who was Marilyn Monroe's favorite actress and inspiration?

JackiBoyz said...

Robert: What are those reasons that everyone likes Rylance, and what are yours?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Garbo or Rogers.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I think he adds a LOT to what's essentially a blank cipher on paper. The entire conception of Abel feels like a vague idea, but Rylance manages to at least make him seem like he had purpose despite the script failing to make him much more than a living MacGuffin/comic relief.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Nope. Jean Harlow. :)

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Damn it. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: Who was older: Brando or Clift? Guess this one.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Clift.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Correct! Who was the first Method actor working in Hollywood?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: John Garfield.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Why don't you two friend each other on Facebook and play this game through PM's?

Anonymous said...

Robert: Sorry. Don't have a Facebook account.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: I don't care for Facebook, plus I'm not trying to lengthen the page.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Who was considered the greatest Hamlet of the 20th century?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Gielgud.

Robert MacFarlane said...

@Luke: Except you ARE lengthening the page.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: I'm sorry.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'm starting to think that we should wait for Louis' answers to our questions.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Yes.

Luke Higham said...

Robert: One question, before I go. What are your top 5 films of the year so far.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Right now?

1. Mad Max: Fury Road
2. Diary of a Teenage Girl
3. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
4. Ex Machina
5. Inside Out

Feel bad leaving out The Martian and It Follows.

RatedRStar said...

Louis: Before I go to bed, I have two questions for you, one is a tricky one.

What are your thoughts on The Brothers Karamazov? and....

The 1998 Hong Kong Awards, you probably saw that Anthony Wong won best actor while Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Lau Ching Wan were nominated while Patrick Tam won Best Supporting Actor while Sam Lee was nominated (Alex Fong as well), this might be tricky to answer but would you say they were easy decisions in terms of voting, as Beast Cops, The Longest Summer and The Longest Nite would probably not be awards bait films?

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Washington - 4(Very solid work from him with his usual presence and charm in abundance here. He's good in playing it as a man whose not quite in his element as he's only trying to be a detective the whole time while clearly not being quite sure what exactly is it that he should be doing. His best scenes though are with Cheadle as they make for a fun and rather unusual crime solving duo)

Sizemore - 3.5(Brings the needed sleaze and menace to his part, I would not have minded if he got a bit more screen time since out of the players in the actual mystery Sizemore is the only one who makes much of an impact)

Beals - 2.5(She's not actively bad but I feel like being the titular character she should be a lot more dynamic than she is. She's just kind of there for the most part, which seems wrong considering the character)

I'll be watching Bone Tomahawk soon.

Spectre - (It's interesting to note that the lesser received (by critics) Craig films are on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of style with Quantum being at its least Bondlike and this one being its most Bondlike. Its very old fashioned Bond in the vein of certain Connery and Moore entries though still with some touches of what defines the Craig Bond, such keeping the personal backstory and attachment for Bond being pivotal to the story. It is old fashioned in its almost ridiculous map jumping, the brevity of the villain as well as his whole set up in just how welcoming he is and the fact that he makes sure to reveal every part of his plan to Bond, which was not the case for the previous Craig villains. This also extends to the romantic interest which in older Bond form is treated as far more than one would imagine it is, though I think there is something in Craig's performance that subverts that, but I'll get to that down below.

I could see how this might cause some tonal whiplash if one was expecting another Skyfall or Casino Royale, but that has nothing to do with whether it works or not. For my money it works, it works very well. I kinda loved the idea of throwing Craig's Bond into the more normalized Bond formula, it does not hurt that Sam Mendes directs again and he really knows how to make thrilling action scene (who could have guessed filming a plastic bag would have been such good preparation for the series.) I found the film to be a whole lot of fun in that traditional Bond vein. For me I would rank it third behind Skyfall and Royale, but if you know my opinion on those films that's not a knock against this one.

Louis Morgan said...

Craig - 4.5(This I would say is his least emotionally charged performance as Bond, but I think part of that is actually him continuing the character basically as though he's growing into becoming the true Bond (that being of the Connery style I suppose). Not to say Craig does not have some vulnerability still, but in this case he plays it as though Bond is becoming particularly good at hiding it. What he is more interested in now is the charm debonair spy qualities which he realizes really well as though Bond is truly becoming Bond at this point. Continuing on that point this is not a simplification of the character by Craig, but rather a growth. He's far more assured and commanding than in any of the previous films. I like how he basically deals with Waltz with that cool wit, as though he's done with becoming broken down due to his dealings with Vesper, and M. The same extends with Seydoux and I think Craig actually plays it as though Bond isn't in love with her as she is with him, particularly in their goodbye scene, where he's pretty okay with just saying "okay see you later" Craig is the best Bond period, I say that without reservation now because he's actually managed an arc throughout the series, where as this was where Connery's engagement started to wain.)

Waltz - 4(Waltz does have the least screen time out of the Craig villains, again like an older Bond film. Although as SPOILERS Blofeld's go he has a decent amount, perhaps the most. I was hoping he was going to go very introverted to completely avoid being Landa like at all, like the way Bardem was so extroverted as Silva which was the complete opposite of Anton. That's not the case and this is not Waltz's most daring work. It is a good performance though, though I think one might say he's kind of detached for having the personal vendetta against Bond. I thought it worked as though he was a full sociopath, which made sense considering the way he describes how he faked his death. Its not my favorite Craig Bond villain by any stretch, or Waltz's best villain, but it's still good work that well suited for the film's style)

Seydoux - 3(I have to admit I do feel that hers and Bellucci's characters could have been easily merged, and I will also admit I would have preferred that Bellucci was the primary Bond girl (she unfortunately is only in two scenes). I liked Seydoux just fine here though, even if I did not love her.)

Whishaw - 3.5(Again great chemistry with Craig, and I only wanted to see more of him in the film. I particularly loved when he briefly got to get in on the action, I only wish there had been more of that. He's again just very entertaining in realizing so well just that perfect dry wit for Q.)

Bautista - 3.5(Bautista is a very good actor actually as he really has something in just his physical movements here that convey character, there's something lightly comedic, while still menacing about it. The silent henchmen (Jaws really), well almost silent, done right)

Scott - 3(A good enough weasel)

Fiennes - 3.5(Kept wishing he'd go full blown action hero himself at any point. Fiennes though certainly adds a lot of weight to the film with his presence actually bringing his usual intensity to the role making his M a guy you probably shouldn't mess with)

Harris & Kinnear - 3(I liked the bit of support they both brought as well, and kinda would love to see a whole film with Bond, M, Q, Tanner, and Moneypenny as a team the whole time)

Christensen - 3.5(Memorable one scene wonder as he also seems to suggest the whole set of films so far in his eyes as we see what Mr. White's dealings with Bond have brought him to)

Anonymous said...

Louis: Cast and director for:
The Usual Suspects (1930's version)
Lord of War (1940's version)
The Godfather (1950's version)
Devil in a Blue Dress (1960's version)

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Winchester '73 - 4.5
Bend of the River - 4.5
The Naked Spur - 5
The Man From Laramie - 4

Very strong 4.5 I'd say.

RatedRStar:

Well not enough Cheadle for one. The actual story just never comes to life say in the way the story does with L.A. Confidential, Chinatown or The Maltese Falcon. Most of the characters in the mystery are not particularly memorable with the film mostly getting by on its style, Cheadle, and Washington.

As for One Nite in Mongkok the stuff with Alex Fong, and his cops is very good unfortunately the leads kind of sink the rest of the film. The worst part being the performances, not the characters as written, is the problem.

Outside of Cobb I found Brothers to be both an overblown and forgettable melodrama.

Not well enough versed with the Hong Kong Awards to say.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Is Craig's performance your second favourite behind Casino Royale.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: *Craig's tenure as Bond, not overall.

Calvin Law said...

Glad you liked Spectre Louis. I would disagree with this being Craig's least emotionally charged performance though, I think gives an equally emotionally driven journey with Seydoux's character only this time round with more of the style of the old Bond films to temper it with.

Completely agree with Whishaw though, I'm kind of hoping for the next Bond (and potentially Craig's last entry) he'll get to show off some more of hid dramatic prowess too, although I do love him anyway as comic relief.

Calvin Law said...

Hope if you rewatch though, to examine Seydoux's performance again. It's disarmingly complex when you really look into it.

Calvin Law said...

As for Waltz's approach, I wouldn't be quite disappointed yet. They're obviously holding onto him for a sequel, and the have a feeling they might examine the sort of arc Blofeld goes into when imprisoned, perhaps becoming a more introverted, less charismatic and grotesque shell of his former self.

Matt Mustin said...

Louis, regarding Spectre, what did you think of the Sam Smith song?

Calvin Law said...

Hope he loves it as much as I did :)

John Smith said...

RatedRStar:

My Bonus Requests would be...

Johan Widerberg-Under The Sun
Joel Kinnaman-Snabba Cash
Rolf Lassgård-Under The Sun
Takeshi-Fallen Angels
Takeshi- Chungking Express
Jan Malmsjö-Fanny And Alexander
Jack Nicholson-The Crossing Guard
Elliot Gould-The Long Goodbye
Brad Pitt-Snatch
Vincent Cassel-La Haine
Daniel Auteuil-Caché
Ray Winstone-The War Zone
Ray Winstone-Nil By Mouth
Bill Murray-Broken Flowers
Owen Wilson-Bottle Rocket
Howard Sterm-Private Parts (Howard Stern thinks this movie is the greates movie ever made and claims that he should have won the oscar, would be an intresting review lol)

Daniel Day Lewis-The Crucible
Pierce Brosnan-The Matador
Eddie Axberg-Uvandrarna
Max Von Sydow-Utvandrarna
Max Von Sydow-The Passion Of Anna
Erland Josephson-Scenes From A Marriage
Jack Nicholson-Carnal Knowledge
Nawazuddin Siddiqui.Gangs Of Wasseypur
Aaamir Khan-Rang De Basanti
Shahrukh Khan-Swades
Hrithik Roshan-Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Farhan Akhtar-Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Akshaye Khanna-Dil Chahta Hai
Abhay Deol-Dev.D
Abhay Deol-Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Ronit Roy-Udaan
Tommy Berggren-Raven's End
Shahid Kapoor-Haider
Shahid Kapoor-Kaminey
Kang-ho Song-Memories Of Murder
John Travolta-Blow Out
Max Von Sydow-The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Mikel Nykvist-Tilsammans
Saif Ali Khan-Omkara
Dil Se...-Shahrukh Khan
Woody Allen-Manhattan
Samuel l Jackson-Unbreakable
Woody Allen-Husbands And Wives
William H Macy-Edmond
Joseph Gordon Levit-Mysterious Skin
Patrick Wilson-Hard Candy
Joaquin Phoenix-Two Lovers
Stellan Skarsgard-Insomnia
Steallan Skarsgard-Den Enfaldige Mördaren
Ranbir Kapoor-Wake Up Sid
Joe Pesci-JFK
Denzel Washington-American Gangster
Sean Connery-The Name Of The Rose
Marlon Brando-Reflections In A Golden Eye
Thomas Turgoose-This Is England
James Spader-Crash
Michail Sarsgard-An Education
Andrew Garfield-Boy A
John Malkowich-Inside The Head Of John Malkowich
Zach Galifianakis-The Hangover
Woody Allen-Manhattan
Mark Wahlberg-Boogie Nights
Paddy Considine-Dead Man’s Shoes
Antonio Banderas-The Skin I Live In
Benicio Del Toro-Che
Vincent Cassel-Mesrine
Vincent Gallo-Buffalo '66
Bogart-In A Lonely Place

Anonymous said...

John Smith: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't you think that's too much for poor Louis to review? By the way, Louis doesn't like Bogart's performance in In a Lonely Place.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

The Usual Suspects (1930's directed by James Whale)

McManus: Wallace Ford
Keaton: Leslie Howard
Fenster: John Carradine
Hockney: Lee Tracy
Verbal Kint: Lew Ayres
Agent Kugan: Walter Huston
Mr. Kobayashi: Boris Karloff
Rabin: Lionel Barrymore
Redfoot: Louis Calhern

Lord of War (1940's directed by Billy Wilder)

Yuri: Ray Milland
Vitaly: Richard Attenborough
Jack Valentine: James Whitmore
Ava: Anne Baxter
Weisz: Herbert Marshall

The Godfather (1950's directed by Elia Kazan)

Again one must go about it a certain way because Anthony Franciosa must not play Michael.

Vito: Vittorio De Sica
Michael: Montgomery Clift
Sonny: Ernest Borgnine
Fredo: Eli Wallach (although he and Clift should reverse roles in the late 50's)
Tom: Rod Steiger
Clemenza: Lee J. Cobb
Tessio: Cesar Romero
Kay: Elizabeth Taylor
Connie: Wanda Hendrix
The Turk: Timothy Carey
McCluskey: Lawrence Tierney

Devil in a Blue Dress (1960's directed by Norman Jewison)

Easy: Sidney Poitier
DeWitt Albright: Peter Falk
Daphne Monet: Dorothy Dandridge
Mouse: Harry Belafonte

Luke:

I'll have to think about it.

Calvin:

Well what I meant was in terms of an external sense, in other words he does not have a moment here he actually falls apart emotionally here, not that there's not a strong emotional element to his performance.

Matt:

I wasn't enamored with it.

RatedRStar said...

John Smith: I would probably advise you to choose the performances that havent been seen if you win a request, since it would be a bit odd perhaps that say Daniel Day Lewis for the Crucible gets in but a hidden gem misses out, plus Louis has talked about all of them pretty much so the predictions contest would be too easy. I think they are Indian performances you have put on? its highly unlikely they will appear on the blog in general so I highly suggest you request those that are unlikely to get on first, that is why so many HK performance appear here because they wouldn't otherwise =D.

Calvin Law: I believe it was you who wanted me to watch this film, but I lost the video for it, but no worry because I will be buying it now.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outcast-Islands-DVD-Trevor-Howard/dp/B007BL63FM/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1446982106&sr=1-1&keywords=outcast+of+the+islands+dvd

Calvin Law said...

Can't wait till you check out some more Trevor Howard :D

RatedRStar said...

Calvin: I am looking forward to it, helps to have Ralph Richardson, Robert Morley and Wendy Hiller who can all do wonders =D.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Just one final premake question.
Who would be your cast and director of:
The Usual Suspects (1940's and 1950's version)
A History of Violence (1930's version)

Anonymous said...

Louis: So when's the next review coming?

Anonymous said...

Just saw Youth. I think it's a movie pretty capable of resonating well with the older academy members - artists looking back to their lives thinking it was not that worthy but finding some significance at the end. It's like if Birdman had its redemption moments quite stretched. Just to clarify: I don't like neither Birdman nor this one.

Anyway, I'm the first one here to think that Caine is MVP. Also liked Fonda's cameo, but just hope that she doesn't get the nod, it's not that memorable. Keitel and Dano are fine, but Weisz... I actually think it's more the screenplay's fault, her arc is the weakest point in this very flawed film and her performance doesn't overcome it. To be fair, her outlow scene is good, better than Emma Stone's one in Birdman, btw.

Caine: 4
Keitel: 3.5
Fonda: 3.5
Dano: 3
Weisz: 2.5

But my wish is that this movie gets completely snubbed. Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to happen.

Oh, I'm the anonymous who commits grammatical errors, rs.

Anonymous said...

John Smith

RatedRStar: You have a good point (;

Anonymous said...

Louis: your ranking and thoughts on all David Lynch's films.

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