Saturday 31 January 2015

Alternate Best Actor 2014: Tom Hardy in Locke

Tom Hardy did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite winning LAFCA, for portraying Ivan Locke in Locke.

Locke is a compelling film set entirely in one man driving to London from a construction site in Birmingham after making a life changing decision. 

Tom Hardy plays the man, Ivan Locke, who we briefly see getting in to his car then for the rest of the film Hardy is only behind the wheel driving for the duration of the film. Hardy has two challenges presented to him from the start the first being that he will be the only person we see through the entirety of the film, this being a one man show, although not quite as there are other character who hear through phone calls, and the other challenge is that Hardy's performance must almost entirely be from the chest up since after he starts driving he never stops. Hardy as per usual gives himself a fairly off-beat accent to the character of Locke, and as usual for me I love Hardy's choice. Hardy is always particularly consistent in its uniqueness, but also it also uses to allude to Locke's personality. The accent Hardy uses though has something unusual about it that from the beginning helps to suggest the particular man who Locke is, and he as well as a most unusual sort in terms of his personal morality as well as his personal methods to work and life. 

Locke takes on a series of phone call as he makes a trip to a London hospital to see the birth of his child. The problem though is that it's not his wife giving birth. Hardy importantly shows very different sides of Locke as he deals with each caller, and suggests his time before the ride with each of them. One of the most important calls he gets repeatedly is from the woman who goes through the process of giving birth over the night named Bethany (Olivia Colman). Hardy is very interesting in the way he portrays Locke's interactions with her. Even though she's giving birth to his child Hardy shows a considerable distance to the way that he speaks with her. It's an intriguing dynamic that Hardy creates though because in his words of support Hardy does show Locke attempting to give her some comfort like a good man would, but he never takes a step past that. When she wants him to say that he loves her, Hardy plays Locke's reaction as a gentle rebuffing. Hardy presents this lack of love as merely the truth, since their relationship was merely a one night stand.

At the same time though Locke receives calls regarding his work because he was about to start a particularly important job. One of the callers is a man who is still on the work site and the other is from his immediate superior. His boss is standard enough, although certainly well performed by Hardy, as Locke just bluntly tells his boss the truth of his situation and keeps his resolve, although not without frustration, as his boss chews him out as well later informs him that he is fired since he won't be at the work site in time. The worker on the site, named Donal (Andrew Scott), is a different story. There are a few times, particularly when Locke admonishes him for drinking alcohol, where Locke himself performs his role as boss. Hardy does well to carry that sort of command as he gives out his orders while with sometimes a veiled angered tone when Donal screws something up or fails to listen to him. Hardy though does not leave at that though as he again alludes to the particular nature of Locke as he speaks with Donal about getting the job done, which is making the concrete foundation for a skyscraper.

Hardy is outstanding as Locke instructs Donal on the building as suggests Locke's particular method at his job. Hardy earns the reputation Locke is said to have had in the past as he portrays Locke completely in his element as he speaks to Donal about the need for a certain form of concrete or quickly tells him about how to go about a last minute fix. Hardy suggests the devotion Locke has for his construction work. An element that certainly could have easily fell flat is the way that Locke speaks about work which is treating something like concrete as though it is some sacred art. It works though because of Hardy's delivery of these scenes. Hardy brings such a powerful pride as he speaks about the eventual building and in the moment is looking as though he is seeing it already. There is such a devotion and passion that Hardy honestly expresses that he earns the almost spiritual quality which are in his words as he speaks of technically what is his just his job. This also plays into something in the final relationship of Locke's that's perhaps the most influential.

Locke of course also has to deal with his family. He speaks with one of his sons, who is more preoccupied with a sporting event, and Hardy is excellent in portraying Locke trying to say something meaningful to his son while the son is clearly thinking it is nothing more than a standard call from his father. He also speaks to his wife (Ruth Wilson) who he has to admit his adultery to. Hardy is excellent in these scenes as in his usual Locke style he does try to put it as straight forward as possible. Hardy does not portray this as though Locke is unemotional, but rather shows the explanation as fitting to his personal moral code which is to admit to what he has done. Locke does explain the technical meaninglessness of his act of adultery, as he did not love the woman, but Hardy is very moving by still quietly showing the guilt in Locke as he hears his wife's reaction to this portrayal. Hardy gives a incredibly poignant depiction by portraying this scene as Locke resigning himself to this fate, because he knows that it is the only thing he can do.

There is one other person Locke talks to, but it's not through phone or even to a living being, but rather to his dead father who he basically envisions in his back seat. In these "conversations" we learn the motivation to be there for his child's birth because his father was never there for him. Hardy is outstanding in these scenes because he presents a different side of Locke, a Locke who's not reacting in a way that goes with his personal code. Hardy effectively shows Locke in his most emotional state as he expresses the hatred in Locke for his father's actions, that is actually a motivator for Locke since he's purposefully avoided being like his deadbeat father. This extends to simply acting as a father, but Hardy also conveys the idea that his absolute distaste with his father's lifestyle has man him the man he is. Hardy is fascinating as he explains almost how a passionate hatred for a ghost has propelled him to be the exact man he is in both his personal life and his job. A great deal of that pride in his work comes from knowing he's not like his father. This is exceptional work by Tom Hardy and does not falter in his task to carry the film on his shoulders. He earns the sole investment into Locke keeping the film consistently intriguing throughout, and manages to allow us to know almost this whole man's life in just one car ride.

Friday 30 January 2015

Alternate Best Actor 2014: Philip Seymour Hoffman in A Most Wanted Man

Philip Seymour Hoffman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Günther Bachmann in A Most Wanted Man.

A Most Wanted Man is an effective spy thriller about a small anti-terror unit in Germany attempting to track down a possibly suspicious Chechen Muslim who recently illegally immigrated into Hamburg.

A Most Wanted Man is based on a book by John Le Carré well known for his stories set in the dark world of international espionage. His best known character is perhaps the master spy of the cold war George Smiley who was played most recently by Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Günther Bachmann is in a similar vein although Bachmann works for German intelligence, and must deal with a different enemy, Islamic terrorists, who are maybe more visible yet perhaps even trickier than the Soviets dealt with by George Smiley. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives his final leading performance here in a role that that presents an interesting challenge right from the start. A Most Wanted Man is a film where all actors speak English in a foreign country, although it's notable in that besides Willem Dafoe, Rachel McAdams, and Hoffman the actors are the nationalities of the characters they are portraying. This presents something of a problem as right next to the real deal a false accent could be particularly noticeable. Well Dafoe stumbles a little bit although his accent seems like perfection compared to McAdams's constantly wavering work, but what about Hoffman?

Hoffman's accent work is terrific to say the least as he not only naturally even when he shares so many scenes with authentic Germans such as Daniel Brühl and Nina Hoss. Hoffman does not at all falter in this regard, but the accent Hoffman uses also is quite impressive. It's distinctive in just the right way as he makes Bachmann standout, and successfully makes you wholly believe that he is this long time operator. Hoffman amplifies this through his manner with his slouching posture and whole tired demeanor. Hoffman establishes Bachmann well as a man who's been through a great deal, and there is almost an innate exhaustion in him. Hoffman does not suggest this as Bachmann being lazy or bored towards his current job, but rather he effectively shows the way that Bachmann very much remembers his defeat not long ago that was caused by C.I.A. interference. Hoffman never needs a moment to actually have Bachmann cry out over that which sent him over to Hamburg to begin with, which some wrongly blame him for, because Hoffman so well exudes that history in his very being.

Bachmann though currently works with his small crew on a very particular and interesting method of dealing with the terrorist threat. Bachmann is not going around taking down potential targets, but rather takes a whole different method. This is first scene when he deals with a banker (Dafoe) who the most wanted man seeks to extract a fortune from due to an old account. Bachmann having information that proves the banker's father was corrupt and made problematic dealings with the mob confronts the man. Hoffman is outstanding in the scene as he casually lays down the threat of potentially releasing the information, but with just as much ease states as his position that he would rather have the man help him than have to turn him in. Hoffman is terrific in realizing this method in his performance because he does carry a certain menace in method, yet has such a delicate handle of it that it would be hard to turn down Bachmann's offer. The way Bachmann turns the man to his thinking, and proceeds to use him as an agent for the rest of the film is made absolutely believable through Hoffman's brilliant portrayal of it.

All the while though Bachmann has to deal with other men in his government as well as a C.I.A "observer" who want to expedite the process, but also just desires to take a harsher approach that likely has fewer gains for the future. Hoffman is great in portraying Bachmann's dealings with these people as he shows Bachmann as always somewhat defensive, as though he is keeping his full intentions close to chest to prevent them from mucking them up, and Hoffman also creates a well earned air confidence around Bachmann. Bachmann is indeed shown to always be the smartest man in any given room, and does seem to know this himself. Hoffman presents this though without a bit of smugness or self-righteousness making it simply a fact. Hoffman portrays Bachmann as well knowing in the game and conveys well the intelligence as Bachmann as he always seems to be analyzing the actions of those around him. He's particularly good in the scenes with the operative played by Robin Wright, as Hoffman shows Bachmann always looking past her words to see what it is that she really is aiming at, well he also tries to get her to do a few favors for him.

Another quality that makes Hoffman's performance stand out though is that he does not play Bachmann as detached even though he certainly is well aware of the darkness his world entails. One moment I particularly love is when he is getting the most wanted man's lawyer played by McAdams, and she tries to push him around. Hoffman is terrific by bringing such a sharp attack as he strikes her down calling her nothing more than a social worker for terrorists, and Hoffman in the moment shows that there is a strong passion in Bachmann for his cause. Hoffman never makes it some sort of numbers games or merely a list of people he needs to take down for Bachmann, unlike the way his colleagues treat the situation. One great scene for Hoffman is one he speaking to one of his informants who wants out of it all. Hoffman brings a surprising amount of tenderness and warmth though as Bachmann states that he never forced anything upon the man. Whether that is truly the case or not, Hoffman is really good in showing that Bachmann has considerable empathy for those he uses, and none of them are simply there for his personal disposal.

Philip Seymour Hoffman does wonderful work here as Günther Bachmann because he not only so effectively presents the unique manner in which Bachmann goes about his job, but he also makes him a hero we want to see succeed in his task. Hoffman although makes you invested in the plot he also let's become invested in Bachmann as well. The end of the film is another terrible defeat for Bachmann and it is soul crushing to witness. Hoffman is fantastic in the scene in portraying the anger and frustration of Bachmann as he sees his well orchestrated plans crumble due to the callousness of others. I will say the final image of the film is heartbreaking as we see Bachmann quietly walk away from the scene alone leaving his car empty, although I do think this is possibly even more devastating than even intended, well for me personally anyways, as the scene also depicts the very last time we will ever see Philip Seymour Hoffman lead a film. It is troubling to have to note that because his work here is one final sad reminder of his considerable talent, but at the very least it is a worthy sendoff for such a great actor.

Thursday 29 January 2015

Alternate Best Actor 2014: Guy Pearce in The Rover

Guy Pearce did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Eric in The Rover.

The Rover is an interesting film that takes place in kind of a less bombastic version of Mad Max's Australia, and depicts one man's bloody quest to retrieve his stolen car.

Guy Pearce plays the role of Eric who actually is never named during the film, only given one in the credits, and technically speaking he is a man with no name. Guy Pearce seems to be a fit for the part of the lone hero in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, in fact he played a last minute hero in The Road. Guy Pearce may physically look the part but Eric is not exactly dressed as you might expect. There's no cool heroic outfit, just a very casual shirt, shorts, and shoes, nothing to make him stand out exactly. Pearce though does carry himself partially as you might expect. Pearce has that steely gaze, and is completely effortless in the way he commands the screen. There is something so precise about Pearce's movements as Eric as he seems always abundantly certain of his next movement. There is no thinking about it he knows, and he certainly does not need to consult anyone else on any matter. Of course there is a distance Pearce creates in his manner, although in a different film you could view all of this as being just the manner of a bad ass hero, the thing is Eric's not a hero.

Eric's quest is caused by three criminals who swipe his car and make off with it, and Eric goes about trying to get it back. One of his first steps is to retrieve a gun from a dealer. Eric does not have any money to pay for it so Eric shoots the man in the head, who probably was not especially savory, but that's not the reason why Eric shot him, he just wanted the gun. Pearce is amazing in the part because of what he actually does is present a fascinating depiction of a certain amorality in Eric. His killings aren't for pleasure, nor for some sort of justice, but rather just something he just needs to do in terms of simply getting by. Pearce is very chilling by having such a detachment involved in the scenes where Eric goes about murdering people whether they were attacking him or not. There isn't a second thought in the process Pearce depicts it almost as just a job to do, but not really quite in that he seems to say that Eric isn't even that invested in the killing. Pearce is brilliantly disconcerting here as he kinda twists the usual sort of post-apocalyptic hero in something really quite brutal.

It's an interesting thing that Pearce somehow manages to not become someone that's too off-putting to become invested in. I suppose one could argue Pearce's considerable charisma allows this, but actually Pearce dials that down, although his particularly strong screen presence still obviously quite evident. I would say part of the reason is in his exact way that he shows that Eric's manner towards violence. Pearce is fantastic as he some how finds a different path as he's definitely not a cool action hero here, but he does not come off like the usual soulless killer type either. Eric is not an Anton Chigurh type. Pearce finds something else here that is very intriguing. The way Pearce interacts with everyone and everything has that same detachment, as he seems to even look past the people that may be speaking to them to something else. Pearce suggests Eric is almost of another mindset than anything else, and this is a brilliant approach on Pearce's part. Pearce's performance creates the idea that much of Eric's mind is another place so when he needs to interact with the present he does it without hesitation.

Eric's mind is somewhere though because this is not an unemotional performance despite Eric's cold treatment of the living. There is in fact a great emotional intensity within the technically calm reserve in Eric. Pearce probably does not even raise his voice once during his performance yet Pearce is absolutely searing in his depiction of Eric's emotional state. Pearce is spectacular though by how he has it all just right underneath the skin in Eric, and conveys an idea that Eric's mind mostly is in the past. This is rather compelling though because this is not a case of a man keeping his mind in the past in a nostalgic sort of fashion. Pearce instead is absolutely striking in depicting such a vigorous anger in him, and a palatable bitterness in the man. What may be the most remarkable though is that there is a great sadness as well. Pearce is spellbinding in the complexity of emotions he realizes while still keeping that constraint, and turns Eric into one captivating enigma. Eric is not without explanation though and there is a single scene where Eric reveals his past.

Pearce is extraordinary in the scene where Eric tells what happened in the past to a some sort of military man who took him prisoner. Eric reveals that he had murdered his wife and her lover after he discovered the affair. Pearce again still keeps Eric confined, as there is no reason for him to breakdown, as he's merely explaining something to the man. Pearce once again is marvelous as he internalizes the pain as Eric describes what he did. What is most notable about it though is that Pearce in this scene manages to explain the distance through his performance. Eric explains that no one came to prosecute him for his crime, nor did he face any scrutiny whatsoever for what he did. Pearce expresses that was perhaps the moment in which Eric detached himself from any sort sympathy, since committing such a heinous act meant nothing, therefore nothing he does in this present reality should mean anything. Explaining Eric very well might have backfired though but it does not because Guy Pearce is completely convincing in his explanation and creates one of most powerful scenes in the film.

To retrieve his car Eric rescues the critically injured brother of one of the men who took his car. Guy Pearce creates a believable dynamic relationship with the young man Reynolds (Robert Pattinson). Pearce starts out bluntly as Eric merely uses him to get to his brother and when he says he will slit Reynolds throat if he is lying to him, Pearce shows that this is merely the truth. Pearce is outstanding in the way he does subtly suggest a slight connection Eric develops with Reynolds. He never compromises Eric's nature, but in moments of recognition there is an understanding developed. One especially moving scene is when Reynolds laments having accidentally killed a young girl. Eric says it is good to remember those one has killed, and Pearce does not break Eric's reserve, but he does seem to discover a way of having a modicum of sympathy with another human being. Pearce builds this effectively until the climax of the film when there is finally a death that means something to Eric. Pearce's reaction is heartbreaking as he does finally make the emotions in the man leave from under his skin and come to the open. It's not even a loud breakdown but in the simplicity of Pearce's performance there is such poignancy. Even in the film's final twist regarding Eric's quest only makes complete sense due to Pearce's characterization. Guy Pearce creates a masterful portrait of a haunted man who seems to have lost all his humanity for the present due to it being trapped by the past.

Wednesday 28 January 2015

Alternate Best Actor 2014: Brendan Gleeson in Calvary

Brendan Gleeson did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Father James in Calvary.

Calvary tells the story of a priest who is threatened by one of his parishioners and given one week to put his affairs in order before the parishioner plans to kill him. Although I do like the film it is a step below John Michael McDonagh's previous film, The Guard, as well as his brother's, Martin, similarly styled films.

Father James is a hard right turn from Brendan Gleeson's character from his earlier collaboration with McDonagh. In The Guard he played the terrible cop Gerry Boyle, although not really terrible in the usual way associated with bad cops, well here he plays a good priest Father James who lives in a small town in Ireland that seems to be crammed almost exclusively with sinners. Gleeson's performance here is considerably different from his rather flamboyant, and extremely entertaining performance as the crude Sergeant Boyle. It's a much more reserved performance which one can see from his first scene where Father James receives the death sentence sorts from the unseen man in the confessional. Gleeson's initial reaction effectively sets up the character of Father James as he stays particularly calm as he hears the man's threat, which the man claims is due to being abused by a completely unrelated priest. His reaction is not of great surprise, although perhaps some unease, but reflects that to James, at least at first, this seems to be not far from the normal behavior of his "flock".

After the confessional scene the film follows Father James as he deals with the various problems associated with each member of his congregation. Gleeson is great in creating the sense that Father James is a man who has the patience of a Saint. Although most of his people are at best slightly demented Gleeson presents James as always the good priest as he deals with each of them. Gleeson is good as in any of the situations he does present James as above all willing to listen to the evil that the people feel that they must espouse at him in any chance they are given. Gleeson does portray a discontent in James, as he definitely finds their behavior more than a little tiresome, after all who would not especially since they are seem to purposefully shove it into James's face. Gleeson though shows what it basically takes to be a good priest which is to not judge, after all unless he be judged, while still trying to attempt to present them the righteous path. Of course given the people he has to deal with this is not an easy to task to say the least.

After all Father James has to deal with a constant adulterer, her possibly abusive husband, possibly abusive boyfriend, a suicidal writer, a killing obsessed young man, his shallow fellow priest, and that does even consider the people outside of his parish who are as morally questionable such as the local bartender, doctor, inspector, prostitute, millionaire and naturally a murderer as well. I won't lie and I will say McDonagh lays it on a bit too thick, but Gleeson does not falter in his portrayal of James. Gleeson is particularly good in portraying the attempt as James to help these people in some way. Gleeson brings a great deal of warmth in words and presents a grand wisdom in James, which unfortunately is routinely ignored by all. Gleeson though exudes an honest goodness that is very worldly to be sure. As everything piles up, including some extra tragedies clearly meant to trouble James, Gleeson though does portray the wear on James as he can help but be worn down by the way that not only do the people have no shame they seem to enjoy showing that James's words mean nothing to them.

Like all the films in the collective McDonagh brothers filmography Calvary is a dark comedy. Gleeson here takes a different style than in The Guard where he was the direct source of all sorts of humor. Here Gleeson actually must be the straight man to the insanity seen from the community. I would again say the film does not thrive in this regard as its just not simply as funny as In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, or the Guard. Gleeson though still manages to be quietly entertaining in the role, and maneuvers through a particularly difficult challenge since he does have to fulfill the most dramatic points of the film. Gleeson though still manages to find the humor through minor tinges mostly in his exasperation found in James. He can't quite go for full hilarity because of the nature of the role, but he nicely finds the comic potential that's there without compromising the role. Beyond the humor the brighter spots for James comes in the form of his daughter Fiona (Kelly Reilly) who also attempted suicide, because of course she did.

Gleeson and Reilly create the history between the father and daughter which is made honest in their combination of some distance, caused partially be him becoming a priest, but an absolutely genuine feeling of love that is there. Gleeson is terrific in these scenes by portraying the grand appreciate for life that is in James, and nicely presents this bright spot amid the darkness created by the rest of the townspeople. What Gleeson does do so incredibly well here is by presenting the decay of a truly righteous man. Gleeson is terrific by portraying the way he internalizes the wear of his terrible predicament. Gleeson is especially good in the scenes where James does lash out, although technically speaking in a harmless fashion. Gleeson is great by playing these moments as understandable outbursts near the breaking point. Even in this Gleeson still presents the inherent charity as the outbursts are still somewhat deflected in manner, and far more charitable reactions than frankly what the people deserve.

Gleeson effectively brings James to the point where he is about to leave, which seems to the logical course, but decides to go back and face his destiny. Gleeson is outstanding in his final scene where he goes about speaking to a few of the people. In the moment Gleeson portrays James back to truly believing in his cause once again, and presents one less time the truly empathetic nature of James. He's moving as he portrays such a genuine quality particularly when he speaks to the millionaire and conveys such a strong passion in his belief that a second chance is possible. When James finally comes face to face with the man who had promised to kill him Gleeson is heartbreaking by again through his depiction of the decency of the man. When he pleads with the man Gleeson does not express it as a man who is pleading for his own life, but honestly pleading to the killer that there is still time for the killer to save his own life. Although the film itself somewhat misses the heights it's aiming for Brendan Gleeson's performance does not. He gives a beautiful and soulful portrait of a truly selfless man.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Alternate Best Actor 2014: David Oyelowo in Selma

David Oyelowo did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a Golden Globe and a BFCA, for portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma.

Selma is a fine film about Martin Luther King's attempt to secure voting rights for African Americans in Selma, Alabama.

David Oyelowo plays Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. the sort of figure that could easily be only simply lionized like the way Stephen Hawking was for the most part in The Theory of Everything or the way Louis Zamperini was in Unbroken. One of the strongest elements of Selma is that it actually avoids this and Oyelowo's performance contributes to this greatly. Oyelowo does something very interesting in his depiction of King in terms of his vocal performance. Oyelowo gets the essence of his sound down, but what is most interesting is the way he shows the way King's speech differs considering the audience. When King is speaking in public or merely to people he has not yet been introduced to Oyelowo actually delivers every line as if he is giving a speech, putting almost an excessive degree of careful diction. Oyelowo by doing this suggests well that to a certain extent King does purposefully build up the ideas around himself, and that he does need to actively be the great man so many view him as.

When he is at home or with only his close associates Oyelowo effectively changes his speech pattern that is more fitting to just a normal man. It technically is more natural in that it seems more like how someone would normally speak, and Oyelowo just with the way he delivers his lines establishes that King is not merely just an icon for his movement he is a man as well. In terms of being the icon though Oyelowo is terrific. Oyelowo is one of the performances where he does exude the essence of the real life figure so well, that even if his performance technically is not a 100% perfect imitation, it feels as though it is. He never simply seems to be aping King, but importantly we always see The most important scenes may be the various speeches that King delivers throughout to rouse the people to action. Oyelowo is outstanding in every speech particularly since he smartly differentiates every one that he gives. There is not a single purpose technically for every speech, and that can be seen through the ways that Oyelowo's manner changes for each.

In his initial speech to the people of Selma, Oyelowo completely commands the screen as he should, this is a constant with every speech that he delivers. His first though Oyelowo keeps it directly as a tactical speech to basically activate the people to the cause. Oyelowo delivers it with a striking passion and pivots nicely in points with a discontent in certain points to get the people to stand up wanting to take back their rights. His speech after one of the people is murdered Oyelowo effectively changes the style to something more personal and rather than the anger being projected to incite the crowd, this anger seems to come from deep within. Oyelowo still keeps it an impassioned speech but more vicious as he expresses the personal disgust of King at the extreme actions taken against his movement. His final speech in the film is again fantastic as he takes on a less confrontational and more of a triumphant tone. There is a strong and rather powerful spiritual bent in Oyelowo's delivery and signifies the victory through his jubilant performance.

Of course King's work is not only about speeches though and an interesting thing about the film is bluntly showing basically the mechanics of their activism. There is a plan in the protest and their is a purpose in King's moves. Oyelowo is good in being the leader as well and again does well to not portray this as a single side. In the scenes with his inner circle Oyelowo does portrays some exasperation fitting for a man who has been at his work for as long as he has been, his heart still is in it to be sure, but Oyelowo does suggest the wear of the life upon him. On the other hand when he goes to speak with some of the activists local to Selma Oyelowo plays these scenes with a different style. He instead does create a bit of an act as he puts on King as absolutely a leader who puts his everything into his task. Oyelowo shows King as almost excessively direct as he lays out his plan to the men, as though he is in absolute charge of the situation and knows exactly what is coming. Again Oyelowo is great by creating the actual effort in King's campaign.

Some of his most remarkable scenes are at home with his family and wife Coretta (Carmen Ejogo). Oyelowo here is very compelling the way he actually presents King to be a somewhat cold figure and that the weight of his life has been detrimental to his home life. There is a strong distance between King and his family as almost you can see how his life rarely has been preoccupied with his family. What might be his very best scene in the film is when he is confronted by his wife over King's affairs with other women. Oyelowo is outstanding in the scene as he portrays King as almost shriveled to nothing in his guilt. His reaction is striking because Oyelowo shows that King knows he has done wrong, and that there is no explanation he can truly give. What perhaps stands out most is though Oyelowo does show a palatable shame in King, there is something about it in that he does not quite apologize even though he recognizes what he has done. Oyelowo does not portray King as a man who will reform himself in this behavior, rather as a man who is pained by this fault, but cannot change himself from these ways.

David Oyelowo gives a fascinating portrait of King by never making him some sort of legend. Oyelowo in a way he earns the victorious moments for King all the more by presenting the challenge. There is the scene where he turns back from the march, and Oyelowo does suggest that fear may be part of his motivation in that moment. Oyelowo makes it all the more powerful when the courage does come as he presents as something earned, not simply something that was always in him as though he was an otherworldly figure. Oyelowo reconciles the human weaknesses with the resilience and ambition in the man. David Oyelowo gives a great performance as Martin Luther King. He embodies the man as he should in terms of physical manner as well as his passion. Oyelowo does not stop there and does not just leave him as an image of King. Oyelowo bothers to go deeper with his performance realizing the man behind the icon, while still being absolutely convincing in creating the man who could be an icon.

Monday 26 January 2015

Alternate Best Actor 2014: Matthew McConaughey in Interstellar

Matthew McConaughey did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Cooper in Interstellar.

Interstellar is an ambitious but problematic film about a group astronauts trying to find a new home as earth is becoming uninhabitable. The film contains some of Christopher Nolan's very best as a director, but some of his very worst as a writer.

Matthew McConaughey plays an average Joe hero for the film, although technically not all that average considering he is a former spacecraft pilot. When the film opens though he is merely a farmer attempting to do his best to take care of his family. This is an interesting character for McConaughey to take on as it is sort of a blend for him from his former days as the leading man, and his more intense character driven work. In the early scenes it mostly stresses McConaughey to once again be the semi straight forward leading man to invest in. McConaughey is quietly charming in his usual way that he hones in properly to fit into a guy like Cooper. He's particularly good in portraying Cooper as a father. McConaughey has particularly great chemistry with Mackenzie Foy as Cooper's daughter Murph. McConaughey and Foy both are terrific in creating the needed natural ease and warmth between the two. They are absolutely convincing in creating the needed bond between the two which is truly an essential part of the film.

An idea behind Cooper in the early scenes is that he seems to constantly still have his head in the stars even while it seems that the rest of society has become particularly worldly minded. McConaughey is great at being a bit of a personification of an individual exceptionalism. McConaughey carries this incredible passion around the ideas that Cooper holds dear that it's hard not to sympathize with the character's dreams involving them. McConaughey, for the lack of a better word, is properly spunky in the role. Cooper basically wants to save the day for his family and the earth as a whole, and McConaughey makes this a sensible idea through his performance. McConaughey is very important in creating the sense of excitement in seeing the mission through as he conveys such a powerful desire in Cooper to find the way. What matters the most is that McConaughey makes it such a genuine fervor and allows this to be such an inspiring idea. McConaughey makes Cooper's objective, even though he leaves his family, a noble endeavor.

McConaughey's performance becomes all the more essential once the mission takes off and the film does indulge in a great deal of expository dialogue in order to explain the various scientific concepts involved in the film. McConaughey always grounds the film whenever he is onscreen as he never becomes lost in the words. He perhaps has less of it to deal with, and the some that he does have McConaughey handles in a particularly natural fashion. More necessary though is the way that McConaughey always conveys what it is that the others are talking in terms of emotional means. When they speak of something relating to completion of the mission, what way they are going to complete the mission, or simply whether or not they will lose more time, McConaughey always reflects what this means to the story of Cooper and what he cares most about. This being of course his family and McConaughey always keeps that human quality within the larger spectacle of the film, and never loses it for a moment even during all of the film's sound and fury.

Now as good as McConaughey is in showing how Cooper is always remembering his family that seems like almost nothing compared to the scenes where the film focuses right on it. There is one long scene where Cooper watches messages from home after having lost a considerable amount of time caused by gravitational time dilation. Which means that while Cooper explored one of the planets decades went by on earth while Cooper was only on the planet for a few hours. McConaughey is absolutely heartbreaking in the scene. He is outstanding as he reflects just how every message forces Cooper to see what he has lost over the years, and realize the lives he's left his children of. The intense emotional devastation McConaughey depicts is incredibly moving, and makes one the remarkable scenes in this epic just a man watching a monitor. All of the real weight of the time loss is completely expressed by McConaughey's performance, and this whole idea is never lost for a moment due to his presence.

The emotional poignancy of McConaughey's work brilliantly carries the film and is never overwhelmed by the larger vision of the film. McConaughey treads so efficiently through every turn that it is something amazing to behold. There are even a few moments where McConaughey does throw in a light bit of comedy particularly in Cooper's interactions with the robot TARS, that McConaughey never overplays this but does bring some much needed humor to the film. He also never allows any scene that he's in to completely fall flat because of his performance. Even the very divisive ending scene where Cooper spends his time in a time bending bookshelf, McConaughey still does not lose it. McConaughey does his absolute best to make this a believable result of the journey through his depiction of the emotional state of the moment. Again McConaughey is absurdly moving in the scene as he shows Cooper desperately pleading with himself to stay home, and even if you don't buy the scene as a whole you can certainly believe McConaughey's performance.

The film does have more than a few pitfalls along the way, but Matthew McConaughey never falls into one of them. Although McConaughey is even in scenes that don't entirely work, such as the demented guest appearance by Matt Damon, McConaughey never falters in his portrayal of Cooper. The missteps going on in the scene such as Damon getting much too of an over the top of a villain speech as well as villainous performance. The character frankly would be more fitting for a Star Trek episode than this sort of science fiction, but McConaughey does not lose his mark as he keeps Cooper's reactions wholly honest. He acts as the perfect guide for the film's literal journey as well as its emotional one. McConaughey makes for a likable hero who we want to see survive and succeed his mission. In addition McConaughey brings that intensity he's more currently known for in portraying simply the devotion a father has for his daughter. I could actually easily see none of the film working if it were not Matthew McConaughey's performance which stands as the dramatic core which holds the far reaching story together.

Sunday 25 January 2015

Alternate Best Actor 2014

And the Nominees Were Not:

Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler

Joaquin Phoenix in Inherent Vice

Matthew McConaughey in Interstellar

Brendan Gleeson in Calvary

Philip Seymour Hoffman in A Most Wanted Man

Predict Those Five or Predict These Five:

Jake Gyllenhaal in Enemy

Guy Pearce in The Rover

David Oyelowo in Selma

Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel

Tom Hardy in Locke 

Or predict both if you want.

Best Actor 2014: Results

5. Steve Carell in Foxcatcher - Steve Carell unfortunately portrays his character as an obvious psychopath when a subtler approach likely would have been more effective. His performance is not without merit, but even the best elements are hurt due to his work being fundamentally flawed.

Best Scene: John du Pont does a training session while his mother watches.
4. Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything - His film's depiction of Stephen Hawking might be a bit inadequate, but Redmayne's performance never is. He gives an especially remarkable and convincing depiction of the decay caused Hawking's disease.

Best Scene: At dinner with Jane and Jonathan.
3. Bradley Cooper in American Sniper - Like Redmayne his film does leave something to be desired. Bradley Cooper though elevates his material by giving a powerful portrayal of the toll of war on a both on the battlefield and at home.

Best Scene: His first kill.
2. Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game - The film demands that Cumberbatch be a delightful eccentric genius and a tragic suicide. Cumberbatch mends these differing tones by being an endearing hero, and a heartbreaking victim. 

Best Scene: Turing after his chemical castration.
1. Micheal Keaton in Birdman - Good Prediction mcofra7. Michael Keaton easily stood above his competition for me with his great portrayal of a superhero actor proving himself. Whether the allusion is intentional or not, Keaton certainly proves himself here. He guides the film brilliantly with his multifaceted performance that meets every challenge presented to him. He attains greatness with this entertaining and truly inspiring work.

Best Scene: Kinda all of them, but I'll say....Riggan's flight of fancy.
Best Actor Ranking:
  1. 2013
  2. 1962
  3. 1939
  4. 1964
  5. 2002
  6. 1978
  7. 1965
  8. 1974
  9. 2014
  10. 1970
  11. 2012
  12. 1976
  13. 1954
  14. 1966
  15. 1982
  16. 1960
  17. 1983
  18. 1967
  19. 1979
  20. 1955
  21. 2011
  22. 1986
  23. 1973
  24. 1972 
  25. 1994
  26. 1940
  27. 1950
  28. 1963
  29. 1975
  30. 1952
  31. 1980
  32. 1953
  33. 1959
  34. 1987
  35. 1977
  36. 1968
  37. 2006
  38. 1938
  39. 1969
  40. 1992
  41. 1961
  42. 1971
  43. 1956
  44. 1951
  45. 1984
  46. 1943
  47. 1958
  48. 1948
  49. 1998
  50. 1999
  51. 1988
  52. 1944
  53. 1936
  54. 1946
  55. 1957
  56. 2007
  57. 2005
  58. 1942
  59. 1947
  60. 1993
  61. 1981
  62. 1989
  63. 1995
  64. 2004
  65. 1937 
  66. 2009
  67. 1941
  68. 1997
  69. 1931
  70. 1996
  71. 1949
  72. 2003 
  73. 2010
  74. 1990
  75. 1945
  76. 1985
  77. 2001
  78. 2008
  79. 1991
  80. 2000
  1. F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus (1984)
  2. Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  3. James Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 
  4. Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
  5. Laurence Olivier in The Entertainer (1960) 
  6. Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
  7. William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) 
  8. Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot (1989)
  9. Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954) 
  10. Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
  11. George C. Scott in Patton (1970)    
  12. Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (1975)
  13. Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies (1983)
  14. Jack Lemmon in Save the Tiger (1973)
  15. Peter O'Toole in The Lion in Winter (1968)
  16. Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969)
  17. Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
  18. Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
  19. Paul Newman in The Verdict (1982)
  20. Laurence Olivier in Sleuth (1972)
  21. Peter Finch in Network (1976)
  22. Laurence Olivier in Hamlet (1948)
  23. Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter (1978)
  24. Clark Gable Gone With the Wind (1939)
  25. Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend (1945)
  26. Ernest Borgnine in Marty (1955)
  27. Joaquin Phoenix in The Master (2012)
  28. Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)
  29. Bob Hoskins in Mona Lisa (1986)  
  30. William Holden in Stalag 17 (1953)
  31. Paul Newman in Hud (1963) 
  32. Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club (2013)  
  33. Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) 
  34. James Stewart in Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
  35. Michael Keaton in Birdman (2014)
  36. Richard Burton in The Spy Who Came in From The Cold (1965)
  37. Montgomery Clift in From Here to Eternity (1953)
  38. Stuart Whitman in The Mark (1961)
  39. Paul Newman in The Hustler (1961) 
  40. Richard Burton in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)  
  41. Jack Lemmon in Days Of Wine And Roses (1962)
  42. Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
  43. Kirk Douglas in Lust For Life (1956)
  44. Laurence Olivier in Richard III (1956)
  45. Rod Steiger in The Pawnbroker (1965)
  46. Tom Hulce in Amadeus (1984)
  47. Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980)
  48. Laurence Olivier in Rebecca (1940)
  49. Leonardo DiCarpio in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
  50. James Cagney in Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) 
  51. Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood (2007)
  52. Michael Caine in Alfie (1966)
  53. Paul Scofield in A Man For All Seasons (1966)
  54. Giancarlo Giannini in Seven Beauties (1976)
  55. Jeremy Irons in Reversal of Fortune (1990)
  56. Jean Dujardin in The Artist (2011)
  57. Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun (1951)
  58. Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall (1937) 
  59. Charles Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)
  60. Jack Nicholson in Ironweed (1987)
  61. Clark Gable in It Happened One Night (1934)
  62. Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven (1992)
  63. James Woods in Salvador (1986)
  64. Alec Guinness in The Lavender Hill Mob (1952)
  65. Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
  66. Spencer Tracy in A Bad Day At Black (1955)
  67. Art Carney in Harry and Tonto (1974)
  68. Peter O'Toole in Becket (1964)
  69. Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2002)
  70. Jack Nicholson in Chinatown (1974)
  71.  Victor McLaglen in The Informer (1935)
  72. Al Pacino in The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
  73. Bruce Dern in Nebraska (2013)
  74. Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
  75. James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes Washington (1939)
  76. Anthony Quinn in Zorba the Greek (1964)
  77. Walter Huston The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)
  78. Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
  79. Rod Steiger in The Heat of the Night (1967)
  80. Jack Nicholson in The Last Detail (1973)
  81. Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
  82. Burt Lancaster in Elmer Gantry (1960)
  83. Laurence Harvey in Room at the Top (1959)
  84. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote (2005) 
  85. James Dean in East of Eden (1955)
  86. Ronald Colman in A Double Life (1947) 
  87. Jon Voight in Coming Home (1978)
  88. Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights (1939)
  89. Tom Wilkinson in In The Bedroom (2001)
  90. Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt (2002)
  91. Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler (2008)
  92. Sidney Poitier in Lilies of the Field (1963)
  93. Richard Harris in This Sporting Life (1963)
  94. Albert Finney in Tom Jones (1963) 
  95. Marcello Mastroianni in Divorce Italian Style (1962)
  96. Gene Hackman in The French Connection (1971)
  97. Edward Norton in American History X (1998)
  98. Demian Bichir in A Better Life (2011)
  99. Marlon Brando in Julius Caesar (1953)
  100. Robert Donat in The Citadel (1938)
  101. Charles Boyer in Gaslight (1944)
  102. Paul Lukas in Watch on the Rhine (1943)
  103. James Mason in A Star is Born (1954)
  104. Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator (1940)
  105. Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr Chips (1939)
  106. Leslie Howard in Pygmalion (1938)
  107. Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove (1964)
  108. Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver (1976)
  109. Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972)
  110. Peter Sellers in Being There (1979)
  111. Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
  112. Robert Duvall in The Apostle (1997)
  113. Emil Jannings in The Last Command (1928)
  114. Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
  115. Walter Huston in Dodsworth (1936)
  116. John Hurt in The Elephant Man (1980)
  117. Ben Kingsley in Gandhi (1982)
  118. Jack Lemmon in The Apartment (1960)
  119. Laurence Olivier in Henry V (1946)
  120. Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game (2014)
  121. Nicolas Cage in Adaptation (2002)
  122. Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker (2009)
  123. Kirk Douglas in Champion (1949)
  124. Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda (2004)
  125. Tom Courtenay in The Dresser (1983)
  126. Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1943)
  127. Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
  128. Fredric March in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)
  129. Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises (2007)
  130. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator (2004)
  131. Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption (1994) 
  132. Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York (2002)
  133. Gene Hackman in Mississippi Burning (1988)
  134. Bradley Cooper in American Sniper (2014)
  135. William Hurt in Children of Lesser God (1986)
  136. Ronald Colman in Bulldog Drummond (1930)
  137. Richard Burton in Becket (1964)
  138. Marlon Brando in Viva Zapata! (1952)
  139. Bing Crosby in The Country Girl (1954)
  140. Dudley Moore in Arthur (1981)
  141. Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
  142. Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond (1981) 
  143. Barry Fitzgerald in Going My Way (1944)
  144. Nigel Hawthorne in The Madness of King George (1994)
  145. Charles Laughton in A Witness for the Prosecution(1957)
  146. John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever (1977)
  147. Oskar Werner in Ship of Fools (1965)
  148. Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
  149. Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking (1995)
  150. Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)
  151. William Powell in The Thin Man (1934)
  152. Monty Woolley in The Pied Piper (1942)
  153. William Hurt in Broadcast News (1987) 
  154. Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie (1982)
  155. Maximilian Schell in The Man in a Glass Booth (1975)
  156. Hugh Jackman in Les Miserables (2012) 
  157. Alexander Knox in Wilson (1944)
  158. Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters (1998)
  159. Tom Hanks in Cast Away (2000)
  160. James Stewart in Harvey (1950)
  161. Gary Busey in The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
  162. Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
  163. Robert Duvall in The Great Santini (1980)
  164. Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  165. William Holden in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
  166. Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network (2010)
  167. Jose Ferrer in Cyrano De Bergerac (1950)
  168. Daniel Day-Lewis in In the Name of the Father (1993) 
  169. Leonardo DiCaprio Blood Diamond (2006)
  170. John Travolta in Pulp Fiction (1994)
  171. Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind (2001)
  172. Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate (1967)
  173. Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
  174. Peter Fonda in Ulee's Gold (1997)
  175. Paul Muni in I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1933)
  176. Alan Bates in The Fixer (1968)
  177. Anthony Quinn in Wild is the Wind (1957)
  178. Albert Finney in The Dresser (1983)
  179. Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything (2014)
  180. Albert Finney in Under The Volcano (1984)
  181. Sidney Poitier in The Defiant Ones (1958)
  182. Tony Curtis in The Defiant Ones (1958)
  183. Orson Welles in Citizen Kane (1941)
  184. Sam Waterson in The Killing Fields (1984)
  185. Michael Douglas in Wall Street (1987)
  186. Brad Pitt in Moneyball (2011)
  187. Russell Crowe in The Insider (1999)
  188. Richard Harris in The Field (1990)
  189. Roy Scheider in All that Jazz (1979)
  190. Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou (1965)
  191. Topol in Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
  192. Colin Firth in A Single Man (2009)
  193. Melvyn Douglas in I Never Sang for My Father (1970)
  194. Clark Gable in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
  195. Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  196. Marlon Brando Last Tango in Paris (1973)
  197. Peter Finch in Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
  198. David Niven in Separate Tables (1958)
  199. Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson (2006)
  200. Richard Jenkins in The Visitor (2008)
  201. Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby (2004)
  202. Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992)
  203. Lionel Barrymore in A Free Soul (1931)
  204. Gary Cooper in High Noon (1952)
  205. Jack Lemmon in The China Syndrome (1979)
  206. Spencer Tracy in Father of the Bride (1950)
  207. Dan O'Herlihy in Robinson Crusoe (1954)
  208. Peter O'Toole in The Ruling Class (1972)
  209. Paul Newman in A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
  210. Fredric March in A Star is Born (1937)
  211. Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire (1996)  
  212. Jackie Cooper in Skippy (1931)
  213. Arthur Kennedy in Bright Victory (1951)
  214. Ronald Colman in Random Harvest (1942)
  215. Kirk Douglas in The Bad and The Beautiful (1952)
  216. Gregory Peck in The Keys of the Kingdom (1945)
  217. Peter O'Toole in My Favorite Year (1982)
  218. James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
  219. Montgomery Clift in The Search (1948)
  220. Richard Burton in Equus (1977)
  221. Mickey Rooney in The Human Comedy (1943)
  222. William Holden in Network (1976)
  223. Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient (1997)
  224. William Powell in My Man Godfrey (1936)
  225. Cary Grant in Penny Serenade (1941)
  226. Cliff Robertson in Charly (1968)
  227. Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool (1994)
  228. Maximilian Schell in Judgment At Nuremberg (1961)
  229. Laurence Olivier in The Boys from Brazil (1978)
  230. Ronald Colman in Condemned (1930)
  231. Peter O'Toole in The Stunt Man (1980)
  232. Kenneth Branagh in Henry V (1989)
  233. Laurence Olivier in Othello (1965)
  234. Peter O'Toole in Venus (2006)
  235. Warner Baxter in In Old Arizona (1929)
  236. Dustin Hoffman in Lenny (1974)
  237. Gary Cooper in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
  238. Fredric March in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
  239. Warren Beatty in Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
  240. Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
  241. Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait (1978)
  242. Michael Caine in The Quiet American (2002)
  243. James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope (1970)
  244. Marcello Mastroianni in Dark Eyes (1987)
  245. Fredric March in The Royal Family of Broadway (1931)
  246. Michael Caine in Educating Rita (1983)
  247. Al Pacino in ...And Justice for All (1979)
  248. Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart (2009)
  249. James Franco in 127 Hours (2010)
  250. Anthony Hopkins in The Remains of the Day (1993)
  251. Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity (1953)
  252. James Dean in Giant (1956)
  253. Burt Lancaster in Atlantic City (1981)
  254. William Powell in Life With Father (1947)
  255. Charles Laughton in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
  256. Jack Lemmon in Some Like it Hot (1959)
  257. Maurice Chevalier in The Love Parade (1930)
  258. Bill Murray in Lost in Translation (2003)
  259. Jude Law in Cold Mountain (2003)
  260. Charlton Heston in Ben-Hur (1959)
  261. Rock Hudson in Giant (1956)
  262. Charles Boyer in Algiers (1938)
  263. Stephen Rea in The Crying Game (1992)
  264. Tom Conti in Reuben, Reuben (1983)
  265. Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah (2007)
  266. Jack Lemmon in Missing (1982)
  267. John Garfield in Body and Soul (1947)
  268. Ron Moody in Oliver! (1968)
  269. Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady (1964)
  270. Clifton Webb in Sitting Pretty (1948)
  271. Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1992)
  272. Russell Crowe in Gladiator
  273. Raymond Massey in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)
  274. Charles Boyer in Conquest (1937)
  275. Lew Ayres in Johnny Belinda (1948)
  276. Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman (1992)
  277. Max von Sydow in Pelle the Conqueror (1988)
  278. George C. Scott in The Hospital (1971)
  279. Broderick Crawford in All the King's Men (1949)
  280. Spencer Tracy in Inherit the Wind (1960)
  281. Steve McQueen in The Sand Pebbles (1966)
  282. Kevin Spacey in American Beauty (1999)
  283. Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam (1987)
  284. Paul Muni in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
  285. Al Pacino in Serpico (1973)
  286. Trevor Howard in Sons and Lovers (1960)
  287. Christian Bale in American Hustle (2013)
  288. James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me (1955)
  289. David Straithairn in Good Night and Good Luck (2005) 
  290. Harrison Ford in Witness (1985)
  291. Edward James Olmos in Stand and Deliver (1988)
  292. Ryan O'Neal in Love Story (1970)
  293. Spencer Tracy in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
  294. Geoffrey Rush in Shine (1996)
  295. Alan Arkin in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
  296. Richard Dreyfuss in The Goodbye Girl (1977)
  297. Paul Newman in The Color of Money (1986)
  298. Woody Allen in Annie Hall (1977)
  299. Tom Hanks in Big (1988)
  300. Humphrey Bogart in The Caine Mutiny (1954)
  301. Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (1988)
  302. Michael Redgrave in Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)
  303. Richard Barthelmess in the Patent Leather Kid (1928) 
  304. Nick Nolte in Affliction (1998)
  305. Burt Lancaster in Birdman of Alcatraz (1964)
  306. Walter Pidgeon in Mrs. Miniver (1942)
  307. Charlie Chaplin in The Circus (1928)
  308. Robert Redford in The Sting (1973)
  309. Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys (1975)
  310. James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story (1940)
  311. John Wayne in Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
  312. Steve Carell in Foxcatcher (2014)
  313. Jack Nicholson in As Good as it Gets (1997)
  314. Paul Muni in The Valiant (1929) 
  315. Adolphe Menjou in The Front Page (1931)
  316. Denzel Washington in The Hurricane (1999)
  317. Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog (1997)
  318. Paul Muni in The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)
  319. Alan Arkin in The Russians are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (1966)
  320. Spencer Tracy in Judgment At Nuremberg (1961)
  321. Louis Calhern in The Magnificent Yankee (1950)
  322. Billy Bob Thorton in Sling Blade (1996)
  323. Paul Muni in The Last Angry Man (1959)
  324. Sean Penn in Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
  325. Gregory Peck in Twelve O'clock High (1949)
  326. Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994)
  327. Colin Firth in The King's Speech (2010)
  328. Richard Dreyfuss in Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
  329. Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd (2007)
  330. Gary Cooper in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)
  331. Walter Pidgeon in Madame Curie (1943)
  332. Richard Burton in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
  333. Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland (2004)
  334.  Peter O'Toole in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)
  335. Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
  336. Spencer Tracy in San Francisco (1936)
  337. Johnny Depp in The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  338. Bing Crosby in Going My Way (1944)
  339. Mickey Rooney in Babes in Arms (1939)
  340. Spencer Tracy in Boys Town (1938)
  341. Franchot Tone in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
  342. Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line (2005)
  343. John Wayne in True Grit (1969)
  344. Paul Winfield in Sounder (1972)
  345. Jose Ferrer in Moulin Rouge (1952)
  346. Anthony Hopkins in Nixon (1995)
  347. Denzel Washington in Flight (2012)
  348. Gerard Depardieu in Cyrano De Bergerac (1990)
  349. Cary Grant in None but the Lonely Heart (1944)
  350. Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen (1951)
  351. Robert De Niro in Awakenings (1990)
  352. Richard Todd in The Hasty Heart (1949)
  353. Frank Sinatra in The Man With the Golden Arm (1955)
  354. Morgan Freeman in Invictus (2009)
  355. Alfred Lunt in The Guardsman (1932)
  356. Charles Boyer in Fanny (1961)
  357. Tom Hanks in Philadelphia (1993)
  358. Denzel Washington in Training Day (2001)
  359. James Whitmore in Give 'Em Hell Harry! (1975)
  360. Robin Williams in The Fisher King (1991)
  361. Ed Harris in Pollock (2000)
  362. Sean Penn in Mystic River (2003)
  363. Gregory Peck in Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
  364. James Garner in Murphy's Romance (1985)
  365. Maurice Chevalier in The Big Pond (1930)
  366. Robert Montgomery in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
  367. Sylvester Stallone in Rocky (1976)
  368. Wallace Beery in The Champ (1932)
  369. George Arliss in The Green Goddess (1930)
  370. Gregory Peck in The Yearling (1946)
  371. George Clooney in Michael Clayton (2007)
  372. Fredric March in Death of a Salesman (1951) 
  373. Gary Cooper in The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
  374. Geoffrey Rush in Quills (2000)
  375. Walter Matthau in Kotch (1971)
  376. George Arliss in Disraeli (1930)
  377. Wallace Beery in The Big House (1930)
  378. Paul Newman in Absence of Malice (1981)
  379. Frank Morgan in The Affairs of Cellini (1934)
  380. Jeff Bridges in True Grit (2010)
  381. Javier Bardem in Before Night Falls (2000)
  382. Warren Beatty in Reds (1981)
  383. Massimo Troisi in The Postman (1995)
  384. Dan Dailey in When My Baby Smiles At Me (1948)
  385. Gene Kelly in Anchors Aweigh (1945)
  386. Ben Kingsley in The House of Sand and Fog (2003)
  387. Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (1991)
  388. Jon Voight in Runaway Train (1985)
  389. Nick Nolte in The Prince of Tides (1991)
  390. Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
  391. Marlon Brando in Sayonara (1957)
  392. Laurence Fishburne in What's Love Got To Do With It (1993)
  393. Richard Burton in The Robe (1953)
  394. Leslie Howard in Berkeley Square (1933)
  395. Bing Crosby in Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
  396. Rex Harrison in Cleopatra (1963)
  397. Spencer Tracy in The Old Man and The Sea (1958)
  398. Frank Langella Frost/Nixon (2008)
  399. Dexter Gordon in 'Round Midnight (1986)
  400. Jack Nicholson in Prizzi's Honor (1985)
  401. Jack Lemmon in Tribute (1980)
  402. Javier Bardem in Biutiful (2010)
  403. Sean Penn in Milk (2008)
  404. Woody Harrelson in The People vs Larry Flynt (1996)
  405. Larry Parks in The Jolson Story (1946)  
  406. Warren Beatty in Bugsy (1991)
  407. Terrence Howard in Hustle and Flow (2005)
  408. Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting (1997)
  409. Robin William in Dead Poet's Society (1989)
  410. Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
  411. George Clooney in Up in The Air (2009)
  412. Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956)
  413. George Clooney in The Descendants (2011)
  414. Gary Cooper in Sergeant York (1941)
  415. Cornel Wilde in A Song to Remember (1945)
  416. Jeff Bridges in Star Man (1984)
  417. Spencer Tracy in Captain Courageous (1937) 
  418. Chester Morris in Alibi (1929)
  419. Will Smith in Ali (2001)
  420. Roberto Benigni in Life is Beautiful (1998)
  421. Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves (1990)
  422. Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004) 
  423. Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
  424. Sean Penn in I Am Sam (2001)
  425. Anthony Franciosa in A Hatful of Rain (1957)
  426. Richard Dix in Cimarron (1931)
  1. F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus (1984)
  2. Alec Guinness in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
  3. William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) 
  4. Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot (1989) 
  5. Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954)
  6. George C. Scott in Patton (1970)
  7. Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (1975) 
  8. Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies (1983)
  9. Jack Lemmon in Save the Tiger (1973) 
  10. Peter Finch in Network (1976)
  11. Laurence Olivier in Hamlet (1948)
  12. Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend (1945)
  13. Ernest Borgnine Marty (1955)
  14. Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012)  
  15. William Holden in Stalag 17 (1953) 
  16. Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club (2013)  
  17. Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
  18. Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980)
  19. Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood (2007) 
  20. Paul Scofield in A Man For All Seasons (1966)
  21. Jeremy Irons in Reversal of Fortune (1990)
  22. Jean Dujardin in The Artist (2011) 
  23. Charles Laughton in The Private life of Henry VIII (1933)
  24. Clark Gable in It Happened One Night (1934)
  25. Art Carney in Harry and Tonto (1974)
  26. Adrien Brody in The Pianist (2004)
  27. Victor McLaglen in The Informer (1935)
  28. Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
  29. Rod Steiger in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
  30. Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
  31. Burt Lancaster in Elmer Gantry (1960)
  32. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote (2005)
  33. Ronald Colman in A Double Life (1947)
  34. Jon Voight in Coming Home (1978)
  35. Sidney Poitier in Lilies of the Field (1963)
  36. Gene Hackman in The French Connection (1971)
  37. Paul Lukas in Watch on the Rhine (1943)
  38. Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
  39. Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972)
  40. Emil Jannings in The Last Command (1928)
  41. Ben Kingsley in Gandhi (1982)
  42. Fredric March in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)
  43. Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
  44. Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond (1981)
  45. Jose Ferrer in Cyrano De Bergerac (1950)
  46. Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything (2014)
  47. Michael Douglas in Wall Street (1987)
  48. Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou (1965)
  49. David Niven in Separate Tables (1958)
  50. Lionel Barrymore in A Free Soul (1931)
  51. Gary Cooper in High Noon (1952)
  52. James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy
  53. Cliff Robertson in Charly (1968)
  54. Maximilian Schell in Judgment At Nuremberg (1961)
  55. Warner Baxter in In Old Arizona (1929)
  56. Fredric March in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
  57. Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
  58. Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
  59. Charlton Heston in Ben-Hur (1959)
  60. Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady (1964)
  61. Russell Crowe in Gladiator (2000)
  62. Al Pacino in The Scent of a Woman (1992)
  63. Broderick Crawford in All the King's Men (1949)
  64. Kevin Spacey in American Beauty (1999)
  65. Geoffrey Rush in Shine (1996)
  66. Richard Dreyfuss in The Goodbye Girl (1977)
  67. Paul Newman in The Color of Money (1986)
  68. Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (1988)
  69. James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story (1940)
  70. Jack Nicholson in As Good as it Gets (1997)
  71. Paul Muni in The Story Louis Pasteur (1936)
  72. Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994)
  73. Colin Firth in The King's Speech (2010)
  74. Bing Crosby in Going My Way (1944)
  75. Spencer Tracy in Boys Town (1938)
  76. John Wayne in True Grit (1969)
  77. Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen (1951)
  78. Tom Hanks Philadelphia (1993)
  79. George Arliss in Disraeli (1930)
  80. Denzel Washington in Training Day (2001)
  81. Sean Penn in Mystic River (2003)
  82. Sean Penn in Milk (2008)
  83. Wallace Beery in The Champ (1932)
  84. Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956)
  85. Gary Cooper in Sergeant York (1941)
  86. Spencer Tracy in Captains Courageous (1937)
  87. Roberto Benigni in Life is Beautiful (1998)
  88. Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004)
Supporting Actor Ranking:
  1. 2014
  2. 1944
  3. 1981
  4. 1975
  5. 2008
  6. 1972
  7. 1966
  8. 1974
  9. 1988
  10. 1987
  11. 1964
  12. 1986
  13. 1959
  14. 1983
  15. 1980
  16. 1951
  17. 1998
  18. 1963
  19. 1952
  20. 1999
  21. 1989
  22. 2013
  23. 1993
  24. 1946
  25. 1969
  26. 1954
  27. 1961
  28. 2012
  29. 2007
  30. 1992
  31. 1968
  32. 1939
  33. 1970
  34. 1979
  35. 1994
  36. 2002
  37. 1978
  38. 2010
  39. 1947
  40. 1996
  41. 1945
  42. 1990
  43. 1982
  44. 1941
  45. 1971
  46. 2001
  47. 1937
  48. 1955
  49. 1962
  50. 1995
  51. 1967
  52. 1973
  53. 2009
  54. 2005
  55. 2011
  56. 1942
  57. 2006
  58. 1984
  59. 1957
  60. 1950
  61. 1958
  62. 2000
  63. 1976
  64. 2004
  65. 1960
  66. 1997
  67. 1943
  68. 1956
  69. 1949
  70. 1965
  71. 1977
  72. 1948
  73. 1940
  74. 1991
  75. 1938
  76. 2003
  77. 1936
  78. 1953
  79. 1985
  1. Martin Landau in Ed Wood (1994)
  2. Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter (1978)
  3. Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
  4. Gene Hackman in Unforgiven (1992)
  5. Sessue Hayakawa in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
  6. James Dunn in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
  7. Joe Pesci in Goodfellas (1990)
  8. Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008) 
  9. Claude Rains in Notorious (1946)
  10. Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James (2007)
  11. Ralph Fiennes in Schindler' List (1993) 
  12. Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master (2012)
  13. Rod Steiger in On the Waterfront (1954)
  14. George Sanders in All About Eve (1950)
  15. Thomas Mitchell in Stagecoach (1939)
  16. Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now (1979)  
  17. Gene Hackman in I Never Sang for My Father (1970)
  18. Montgomery Clift in Judgment At Nuremberg (1961) 
  19. Melvyn Douglas in Hud (1963)
  20. Peter Ustinov in Topkapi (1964)
  21. Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
  22. Gig Young in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
  23. Al Pacino in The Godfather (1972)
  24. Barry Fitzgerald in Going My Way (1944)
  25. Christopher Walken in Catch Me If You Can (2002)
  26. Jason Miller in The Exorcist (1973)
  27. Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
  28. Karl Malden in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
  29. Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
  30. J.K. Simmons in Whiplash (2014)
  31. Jackie Gleason in the Hustler (1961) 
  32. Ralph Richardson in The Heiress (1949)
  33. Albert Brooks in Broadcast News (1987)
  34. Morgan Freeman in Street Smart (1987)
  35. Walter Huston in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
  36. Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained (2012)
  37. Jack Nicholson in Reds (1981)
  38. Claude Rains in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939
  39. Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds (2009)
  40. William H. Macy in Fargo (1996)
  41. Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie (1963)
  42. Barkhad Abdi in Captain Phillips (2013) 
  43. Michael Fassbender in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
  44. Lee J. Cobb in On the Waterfront (1954) 
  45. Edward Norton in Primal Fear (1996)
  46. Jack Albertson in The Subject Was Roses (1968)
  47. James Mason in The Verdict (1982)
  48. Van Heflin in Johnny Eager (1942)
  49. Karl Malden in On the Waterfront (1954)
  50. Sydney Greenstreet in The Maltese Falcon (1941)
  51. Burgess Meredith in Day of the Locust (1975)
  52. George Burns in The Sunshine Boys (1975)
  53. Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death (1947)
  54. George C. Scott in Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
  55. Joe Pesci in Raging Bull (1980)
  56. Tom Courtenay in Doctor Zhivago (1965)
  57. Alec Guinness in Little Dorrit (1988)
  58. Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects (1995)
  59. Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man (1976)
  60. George C. Scott in The Hustler (1961)
  61. Tom Cruise in Magnolia (1999)
  62. Timothy Hutton in Ordinary People (1980)
  63. Willem Dafoe in Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
  64. Peter Ustinov in Quo Vadis (1951)
  65. Pete Postlethwaite in In the Name of the Father (1993)
  66. Sam Jaffe in The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
  67. John Gielgud in Arthur (1981)
  68. Billy Bob Thorton in A Simple Plan (1998)
  69. George Segal in Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)
  70. Walter Brennan in The Westerner (1940)
  71. Charles Coburn in The More the Merrier (1943)
  72. Ian Holm in Chariots of Fire (1981)
  73. Sam Shepard in The Right Stuff (1983)
  74. Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II (1972)
  75. Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men (2007) 
  76. Danny Aiello in Do the Right Thing (1989)
  77. Edward Norton in Birdman (2014)
  78. Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts (1955)
  79. Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder (2008)
  80. Tommy Lee Jones in JFK (1991)
  81. Paul Newman in The Road To Perdition (2002)
  82. Joel Grey in Cabaret (1972)
  83. Robert Shaw in A Man For All Seasons (1966)
  84. Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense (1999)
  85. James Caan in The Godfather (1972)
  86. Gene Hackman in Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
  87. Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  88. Burl Ives in The Big Country (1958)
  89. Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider (1969)
  90. Lee Strasberg in The Godfather Part II (1974)
  91. Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction (1994)
  92. Brad Dourif in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest (1975)
  93. William Hurt in A History of Violence (2005)
  94. Al Pacino in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
  95. Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
  96. Charles Coburn in The Devil and Miss Jones (1941)
  97. Jeff Bridges in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
  98. Gene Wilder in The Producers (1968)
  99. Mark Ruffalo in Foxcatcher (2014)
  100. John Hawkes in Winter's Bone (2010) 
  101. Burgess Meredith in Rocky (1976) 
  102. Tom Berenger in Platoon (1986)
  103. Ian Mckellen in Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  104. James Coburn in Affliction (1998)
  105. Ethan Hawke in Boyhood (2014)
  106. Willem Dafoe in Platoon (1986)
  107. Chris Sarandon in Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
  108. Michael Caine in Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
  109. Clifton Webb in Laura (1944)
  110. Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show (1971)
  111. Seymour Cassel in Faces (1968)
  112. Thomas Mitchell in The Hurricane (1937)
  113. Alec Guinness in Star Wars (1977)
  114. Anthony Quinn in Lust for Life (1956)
  115. Robert Duvall in A Civil Action (1998)
  116. Claude Rains in Mr. Skeffington (1944)
  117. Hume Cronyn in The Seventh Cross (1944)
  118. Jackie Earl Haley in Little Children (2006)
  119. Josh Brolin in Milk (2008)
  120. Thomas Haden Church in Sideways (2004)
  121. Sal Mineo in Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
  122. Charles Coburn in The Green Years (1946)
  123. John Mills in Ryan's Daughter (1970)
  124. James Cromwell in Babe (1995)
  125. Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
  126. Ethan Hawke in Training Day (2001)
  127. Robert Duvall in The Judge (2014)
  128. Chris Cooper in Adaptation (2002)
  129. Claude Rains in Casablanca (1943)
  130. Victor McLaglen in The Quiet Man (1952)
  131. Terence Stamp in Billy Budd (1962)
  132. Richard Farnsworth in Comes A Horseman (1978)
  133. Peter Falk in Murder, Inc. (1960) 
  134. Anthony Quinn in Viva Zapata! (1952)
  135. Peter Ustinov in Spartacus (1960)
  136. John Gielgud in Becket (1964)
  137. Benicio Del Toro in Traffic (2000)
  138. Hugh Griffith in Ben-Hur (1959)
  139. Michael Chekhov in Spellbound (1945)
  140. Joseph Schilderkraut in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
  141. Jack Palance in Sudden Fear (1952)
  142. Christian Bale in The Fighter (2010)
  143. Stanley Holloway in My Fair Lady (1964)
  144. Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
  145. Anthony Perkins in Friendly Persuasion (1956)
  146. Rip Torn in Cross Creek (1983)
  147. Robert Mitchum in The Story of G.I. Joe (1945)
  148. George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
  149. River Phoenix in Running on Empty (1988)
  150. Justin Henry in Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)
  151. Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile (1999)
  152. Robert Forster in Jackie Brown (1997)
  153. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt (2008)
  154. John Lithgow in The World According to Garp (1982)
  155. Lou Gosset Jr. in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
  156. Lee J. Cobb in The Brothers Karamazov (1958)
  157. Gig Young in Come Fill The Cup (1951)
  158. James Mason in Georgy Girl (1966)
  159. Walter Brennan in Kentucky (1938)
  160. Vincent Gardenia in Moonstruck (1987)
  161. Jim Broadbent in Iris (2001)
  162. Walter Brennan in Come and Get It (1936) 
  163. Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights (1997)
  164. Klaus Maria Brandauer in Out of Africa (1985)
  165. Ed Begley in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
  166. Geoffrey Rush in The King's Speech (2010)
  167. Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
  168. Donald Crisp in How Green Was My Valley (1941)
  169. John Malkovich in In the Line of Fire (1993) 
  170. Martin Landau in Tucker: A Man And His Dream (1988)
  171. Gig Young in Teacher's Pet (1958)
  172. Jeremy Renner in The Town (2010)
  173. Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers (1986)
  174. Robert Duvall in The Godfather (1972)
  175. Bobby Darin in Captain Newman, M.D. (1963)
  176. Kevin McCarthy in Death of a Salesman (1951)
  177. Arthur O'Connell in Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
  178. Red Buttons in Sayonara (1957)
  179. Sal Mineo in Exodus (1960)
  180. Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast (2001)
  181. Frederic Forrest in The Rose (1979)
  182. Kenneth Branagh in My Week With Marilyn (2011)
  183. Lee Tracy in The Best Man (1964)
  184. Hugh Griffith in Tom Jones (1963)
  185. John Huston in The Cardinal (1963)
  186. Robert Vaughn in The Young Philadelphians (1959)
  187. Robert Ryan in Crossfire (1947)
  188. Jeff Bridges in The Last Picture (1971)
  189. Max Von Sydow in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)
  190. Jason Robards in Julia (1977)
  191. Roy Scheider in The French Connection (1971)
  192. Arthur Hunnicutt in The Big Sky (1952)
  193. Tim Robbins in Mystic River (2003)
  194. Bruce Davison in Longtime Companion (1990)
  195. Ralph Bellamy in The Awful Truth (1937)
  196. Monty Woolley in Since You Went Away (1944)
  197. Elliot Gould in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969)
  198. Michael V. Gazzo in The Godfather Part II (1974)
  199. Richard Burton in My Cousin Rachel (1952)
  200. Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  201. Jason Robards in Melvin and Howard (1980)
  202. Edmond O'Brien in Seven Days in May (1964)
  203. James Whitmore in Battleground (1949)
  204. Ed Wynn in The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
  205. Michael Lerner in Barton Fink (1991)
  206. Armin Mueller-Stahl in Shine (1996)
  207. Charles Durning in To Be Or Not To Be (1983)  
  208. Eddie Albert in The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
  209. Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
  210. John Hurt in Midnight Express (1978)
  211. Jack Palance in Shane (1953)
  212. Rupert Crosse in The Reivers (1969)
  213. Robert Morley in Marie Antoinette (1938)
  214. Adolph Caesar in A Soldier's Story (1984)
  215. Thomas Gomez in Ride the Pink Horse (1947)
  216. Jack Nicholson in Terms of Endearment (1983)
  217. Howard Rollins in Ragtime (1981)
  218. John Lithgow in Terms of Endearment (1983)
  219. Ed Harris in The Truman Show (1998)
  220. Vincent Gardenia in Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)
  221. Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game (1992)
  222. Denzel Washington in Glory (1989)
  223. Greg Kinnear in As Good As It Gets (1997)
  224. Matt Dillon in Crash (2005)
  225. Christopher Plummer in Beginners (2011)
  226. Peter Firth in Equus (1977)
  227. Brian Aherne in Juarez (1939)
  228. Chief Dan George in Little Big Man (1970)
  229. Clive Owen in Closer (2004)
  230. Michael J. Pollard in Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
  231. Denzel Washington in Cry Freedom (1987)
  232. James Coco in Only When I Laugh (1981)
  233. Woody Harrelson in The Messsenger (2009)
  234. Michael O'Keefe in The Great Santini (1980)
  235. Walter Huston in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
  236. Paul Giamatti in Cinderella Man (2005)
  237. Mark Wahlberg in The Departed (2006)
  238. Andy Garcia in The Godfather Part III (1990)
  239. Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump (1994)
  240. Victor Buono in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
  241. Tim Roth in Rob Roy (1995)
  242. Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton (2007)
  243. Robert Preston in Victor Victoria (1982)
  244. Bruce Dern in Coming Home (1978)
  245. Arthur Kennedy in Champion (1949)
  246. Cecil Kellaway in The Luck of the Irish (1948)
  247. Paul Scofield in Quiz Show (1994)
  248. Jack Warden in Heaven Can Wait (1978)
  249. Arthur Kennedy in Trial (1955)
  250. Al Pacino in Dick Tracy (1990)
  251. Jack Kruschen in The Apartment (1960)
  252. Fred Astaire in The Towering Inferno (1974)
  253. Alan Alda in The Aviator (2004)
  254. Dean Stockwell in Married to The Mob (1988)
  255. John C. Reilly in Chicago (2002)
  256. Erich von Stroheim in Sunset Blvd. (1950)
  257. Frank Finlay in Othello (1965)
  258. Robert Strauss in Stalag 17 (1953)
  259. Jonah Hill in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
  260. Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
  261. John Marley in Love Story (1970)
  262. Nick Nolte in Warrior (2011)
  263. Randy Quaid in The Last Detail (1973)
  264. Richard S. Castellano in Lovers and Other Strangers (1970)
  265. Vittorio De Sica in A Farewell to Arms (1957) 
  266. Hal Holbrook in Into The Wild (2007)
  267. Nick Adams in Twilight of Honor (1963)
  268. Dan Aykroyd in Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
  269. Mickey Rooney in The Black Stallion (1979) 
  270. Charles Bickford in Johnny Belinda (1948)
  271. Pat Morita in The Karate Kid (1984)
  272. Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road (2008)
  273. Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men (1992)
  274. Arthur O'Connell in Picnic (1955)
  275. Marlon Brando A Dry White Season (1989)
  276. Jack Wild in Oliver! (1968)
  277. James Woods in Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
  278. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
  279. Brian Donlevy in Beau Geste (1939)
  280. Ken Watanabe in The Last Samurai (2003)
  281. Matt Damon in Invictus (2009)
  282. John Houseman in The Paper Chase (1973)
  283. Mako in The Sand Pebbles (1966)
  284. Judd Hirsch in Ordinary People (1980)
  285. Anthony Hopkins in Amistad (1997)
  286. John Malkovich in Places in the Heart (1984)
  287. Mickey Rooney in The Bold and the Brave (1956)
  288. William Bendix in Wake Island (1942)
  289. Jack Warden in Shampoo (1975)
  290. Alan Arkin in Argo (2012) 
  291. Jack Gilford in Save the Tiger (1973)
  292. Henry Travers in Mrs. Miniver (1942)
  293. Robert Stack in Written on the Wind (1956)
  294. Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive (1993) 
  295. Frank Morgan in Tortilla Flat (1942)
  296. Christopher Plummer in The Last Station (2009)
  297. Walter Brennan in Sergeant York (1941)
  298. Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln (2012)
  299. Roland Young in Topper (1937)
  300. David Paymer in Mr. Saturday Night (1992)
  301. Djimon Hounsou in Blood Diamond (2006)
  302. Robert De Niro in Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
  303. Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls (2006)
  304. Denholm Elliot in A Room With A View (1986)
  305. Jason Robards in All the President's Men (1976)
  306. Robert Loggia in Jagged Edge (1985)
  307. Richard Jaeckel in Sometimes a Great Notion (1971)
  308. Maximilian Schell in Julia (1977)
  309. J. Carrol Naish in Sahara (1943)
  310. Peter Falk in Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
  311. Sean Connery in The Untouchables (1987)
  312. John Cassavetes in The Dirty Dozen (1967)
  313. Jack Palance in City Slickers (1991)
  314. Theodore Bikel in The Defiant Ones (1958)
  315. Charles Bickford in The Farmer's Daughter (1947)
  316. Edmond O'Brien in The Barefoot Contessa (1954)
  317. Ned Beatty in Network (1976)
  318. J. Carrol Naish in A Medal For Benny (1945)
  319. Charles Bickford in The Song of Bernadette (1943)
  320. Edmund Gwenn in Mister 880 (1950)
  321. Harvey Keitel in Bugsy (1991)
  322. Geoffrey Rush in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
  323. Albert Bassermann in Foreign Correspondent (1940) 
  324. Basil Rathbone in Romeo and Juliet (1936)
  325. James Stephenson in The Letter (1940)
  326. Alec Baldwin in The Cooler (2003)
  327. Melvyn Douglas in Being There (1979)
  328. Harry Carey in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 
  329. Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator (2000)
  330. Anthony Quayle in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
  331. Clifton Webb in The Razor's Edge (1946)
  332. Albert Finney in Erin Brockovich (2000)
  333. Leonard Frey in Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
  334. William Demarest in The Jolson Story (1946)
  335. Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones (2009)
  336. Joe Mantell in Marty (1955)
  337. Cecil Kellaway in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
  338. H.B. Warner in Lost Horizon (1937)
  339. Martin Balsam in A Thousand Clowns (1965)
  340. Gene Lockhart in Algiers (1938)
  341. Jonah Hill in Moneyball (2011)
  342. Jamie Foxx in Collateral (2004)
  343. Jeff Bridges in The Contender (2000)
  344. Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys (1995)
  345. John Garfield in Four Daughters (1938)
  346. Michael Dunn in Ship of Fools (1965)
  347. Graham Greene in Dances With Wolves (1990)
  348. Ed Harris in Apollo 13 (1995)
  349. Jack Oakie in The Great Dictator (1940)
  350. Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules (1999)
  351. Arthur Kennedy in Peyton Place (1957)
  352. Mark Ruffalo in The Kids are All Right (2010)
  353. Ralph Richardson in Greystoke (1984)
  354. Djimon Honsou in In America (2003)
  355. Benicio Del Toro in 21 Grams (2003)
  356. Eddie Albert in Roman Holiday (1953)
  357. Bradley Cooper in American Hustle (2013)
  358. Burt Young in Rocky (1976)
  359. Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting (1997)
  360. William Gargan in They Knew What They Wanted (1940)
  361. Charles Durning in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)
  362. Ben Kingsley in Bugsy (1991)
  363. William Hickey in Prizzi's Honor (1985)
  364. Jeff Chandler in Broken Arrow (1950)
  365. Dean Jagger in Twelve O'clock High (1949)
  366. Oskar Homolka in I Remember Mama (1948)
  367. Akim Tamiroff in The General Died at Dawn (1936)
  368. Brandon De Wilde in Shane (1953)
  369. Akim Tamiroff in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)
  370. Telly Savalas in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
  371. Russ Tamblyn in Peyton Place(1957) 
  372. Basil Rathbone in If I Were King (1938)
  373. Arthur Kennedy in Some Came Running (1958)
  374. John Ireland in All the King's Men (1949)
  375. Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby (2004)
  376. Ed Harris in The Hours (2002)
  377. Daniel Massey in Star! (1968)
  378. Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire (1996)
  379. Leo Genn in Quo Vadis (1951)
  380. George Clooney in Syriana (2005)
  381. John Dall in The Corn is Green (1945)
  382. Chill Wills in The Alamo (1960)
  383. James Gleason in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) 
  384. Stuart Erwin in Pigskin Parade (1936)
  385. Tom Tully in The Caine Mutiny (1954)
  386. Ian Bannen in The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
  387. George Chakiris in West Side Story (1961)
  388. Jon Voight in Ali (2001)
  389. Jose Ferrer in Joan of Arc (1948)
  390. Mischa Auer in My Man Godfrey (1936)
  391. Don Murray in Bus Stop (1956)
  392. Don Ameche in Cocoon (1985)
  393. Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity (1953)
  394. Eric Roberts in Runaway Train (1985) 
  395. Mikhail Baryshnikov in The Turning Point (1977)
Actual Winners:
  1. Martin Landau in Ed Wood (1994)
  2. Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter (1978)
  3. Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
  4. Gene Hackman in Unforgiven (1992)
  5. James Dunn in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
  6. Joe Pesci in Goodfellas (1990)
  7.  Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008)
  8. George Sanders in All About Eve (1950)
  9. Thomas Mitchell in Stagecoach (1939)
  10. Melvyn Douglas in Hud (1963)
  11. Peter Ustinov in Topkapi (1964)
  12. Gig Young in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
  13. Barry Fitzgerald in Going My Way (1944)
  14. Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
  15. Karl Malden in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
  16. Walter Huston in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
  17. Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained (2012)
  18. Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds (2009) 
  19. Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie (1963)
  20. Jack Albertson in The Subject Was Roses (1968)
  21. Van Heflin in Johnny Eager (1942)
  22. George Burns in The Sunshine Boys (1975)
  23. Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
  24. J.K. Simmons in Whiplash (2014)
  25. Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects (1995)
  26. Timothy Hutton in Ordinary People (1980)
  27. John Gielgud in Arthur (1981)
  28. Walter Brennan in The Westerner (1940)
  29. Charles Coburn in The More the Merrier (1943)
  30. Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II (1972)
  31. Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men (2007) 
  32. Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts (1955)
  33. Joel Grey in Cabaret (1972)
  34. Burl Ives in The Big Country (1958)
  35. Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
  36. James Coburn in Affliction (1998)
  37. Michael Caine in Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
  38. Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show (1971)
  39. Anthony Quinn in Lust for Life (1956)
  40. John Mills in Ryan's Daughter (1970)
  41. Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
  42. Chris Cooper in Adaptation (2002)
  43. Anthony Quinn in Viva Zapata! (1952)
  44. Peter Ustinov in Spartacus (1960)
  45. Benicio Del Toro in Traffic (2000)
  46. Hugh Griffith in Ben-Hur (1959)
  47. Joseph Schilderkraut in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
  48. Christian Bale in The Fighter (2010)
  49. George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
  50. Lou Gosset Jr. in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
  51. Walter Brennan in Kentucky (1938)
  52. Jim Broadbent in Iris (2001)
  53. Walter Brennan in Come and Get It (1936) 
  54. Ed Begley in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)
  55. Donald Crisp in How Green Was My Valley (1941)
  56. Red Buttons in Sayonara (1957)
  57. Jason Robards in Julia (1977)
  58. Tim Robbins in Mystic River (2003)
  59. Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
  60. Jack Nicholson in Terms of Endearment (1983)
  61. Denzel Washington in Glory (1989)
  62. Christopher Plummer in Beginners(2011)
  63. John Houseman in The Paper Chase (1973)
  64. Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive (1993) 
  65. Jason Robards in All the President's Men (1976)
  66. Sean Connery in The Untouchables (1987)
  67. Jack Palance in City Slickers (1991)
  68. Edmond O'Brien in The Barefoot Contessa (1954)
  69. Melvyn Douglas in Being There (1979)
  70. Martin Balsam in A Thousand Clowns (1965)
  71. Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules (1999)
  72. Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting (1997)
  73. Dean Jagger in Twelve O'clock High (1949)
  74. Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby (2004)
  75. Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire (1996)
  76. George Clooney in Syriana (2005)
  77. George Chakiris in West Side Story (1961)
  78. Don Ameche in Cocoon (1985)
  79. Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity (1953)
 Next Year: 2014 Lead