Sunday 18 December 2016

Alternate Best Actor 1951: Results

5. Raj Kapoor in Awaara - Despite the somewhat disjointed nature of what is required of him, Kapoor actually matches well any tone or style is requested of him by himself as director.
  
Best Scene: Raj catches the "thief".
4. Richard Basehart in Fourteen Hours - Basehart keeps most of his more theatrical tendencies under control to an effective portrayal of the intense state of mind on the edge both literally and metaphorically.

Best Scene: Robert speaks with Dunnigan about the good things in life.
3. Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn - Werner effectively elevates his film through his moving and nuanced portrayal of a righteous traitor.

Best Scene: Happy argues for the deserter.
2. Trevor Howard in Outcast of the Islands - Howard gives a downright brilliant portrayal of man who only becomes worse after being given a chance for redemption.

Best Scene: Madness in the rain.  
1. Michael Redgrave in The Browning Version - Good prediction Tahmeed. I have to admit the choice for the final overall was relatively easy despite my love for the performances of Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, Alec Guinness, Robert Walker, Trevor Howard and Alistair Sim from 1951. I thought Redgrave was a good actor before watching this film, but his extraordinary work here put him in even greater light for me. It is such precise yet naturalistic, uncompromising yet heartfelt, complex and poignant depiction of a man who has slowly given up on life.

Best Scene: The speech.
Updated Overall Lead
Updated Overall Supporting

Next Year: 1993 Lead

53 comments:

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on the rest of the 4+ performances you've seen from both Lead and Supporting.

Your updated Female top tens.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on:
Robert Ryan in On Dangerous Ground
Kirk Douglas and Walter Brennan in Along a Great Divide
Robert Mitchum and Robert Ryan in the Racket
Glenn Ford in The Secret of Convict Lake
Van Heflin in The Prowler
Lee J. Cobb and Humphrey Bogart in Sirocco

Anonymous said...

Oh, and also rating and thoughts on Widmark and Andrews in The Frogman.

Luke Higham said...

Anthony Hopkins - Shadowlands
Daniel Day-Lewis - The Age Of Innocence
Kenneth Branagh - Much Ado About Nothing

Luke Higham said...

And Bruce Campbell in Army Of Darkness.

Luke Higham said...

Or De Niro/Palminteri in A Bronx Tale.

RatedRStar said...

Anthony Wong - The Untold Story
Anthony Hopkins - Shadowlands
Daniel Day Lewis - The Age Of Innocence
Leslie Cheung - Farewell My Concubine
Kenneth Branagh - Much Ado About Nothing

Johnny Depp might be worth looking at in your spare time for Benny and Joon.

Anonymous said...

Sharukh Khan-Baazigar
Anthony Hopkins - Shadowlands
Daniel Day-Lewis - The Age Of Innocence

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: For 2014 supporting, I would insert Sam Claflin in The Riot Club to your list of five.

RatedRStar said...

Also Louis is it possible you could give your very very quick thoughts (3 or 4 words would be perfect) on
The Magic Box
The Frogman
The Tales Of Hoffman
Sirocco
Along A Great Divide
The Prowler
On Dangerous Ground
The Steel Helmet
The First Legion
The Secret Of Convict Lake
The Racket

RatedRStar said...

Luke: I have yet to see that, it might be a good game to play with friends, have a guess which member of the Riot Club you would like to hit lol.

Charles H said...

Jeff Daniels - Gettysburg

Luke Higham said...

I'm really looking forward to Daniels' review.

Anonymous said...

The 6th review I hope.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Can you win requests from bonus rounds?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Anthony Hopkinsin Shadowlands
Daniel Day-Lewis in The Age Of Innocence
Leslie Cheung in Farewell My Concubine

Luke Higham said...

I'll alter my lineup slightly.
Hopkins
Day-Lewis
Cheung
Wong
Branagh

Luke Higham said...

Everyone: How soon do you want Louis to do Pre-1928. I'd rather wait a while because it might take up to 2 months for him to complete it.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I can wait.

Anonymous said...

Louis, your top 10 Danel Day Lewis acting moments and Robert De Niro top 10 acting moments.

Calvin Law said...

Jeff Daniels, Gettysburg (can't wait)
Anthony Hopkins, Shadowlands
DDL, The Age of Innocence
Anthony Wong, The Untold Story

Calvin Law said...

Very pleased about this, my first request to get a 5 and, furthermore, a win :)

Calvin Law said...

Also I'm guessing you didn't really take to An American in Paris, not did I :)

GM said...

Jesse Bradford - King of the Hill
Leslie Cheung - Farewell My Concubine
Anthony Hopkins - Shadowland
Pierre Arditi - Smoking / No Smoking

Anonymous said...

Luke: I can be patient and wait.
Jeff Daniels in Gettysburg
Anthony Hopkins in Shadowlands
Daniel Day-Lewis in The Age Of Innocence
Kenneth Branagh in Much Ado About Nothing
Anthony Wong in The Untold Story

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Donat - 4.5(Donat gives a consistently charming and rather moving portrayal of a gentle ambition. The man ruins himself through essentially yet Donat makes it so likable by presenting the passion in the man in such a genuine fashion. There is no sense ever that Donat ever brings to make this quest of his self serving, instead he only gives a real enthusiasm as though the man simply wishes to bring something special to the world. It's wonderful work, though it technically plays into what makes the film so hard to watch.)

Heflin - 4(An early example of the corrupt cop as the lead for once. Heflin is held back just a bit by his underwhelming co-star, but he's very good on his own. Heflin does well in slowly building this sleazy intensity in the man who begins as apparently an honest cop. Heflin though is very effective in portraying the vicious lust that defines the man by the end, while still putting on the face of the good cop so well.)

Ryan - 4(The film is a tad overblown but Ryan does his best to temper it. Unlike in the Racket where he gives the worst performance I've ever seen from him. Ryan though does well though in portraying the viciousness in the early scenes, though underlying it with this real concern within it. Later on he is effective in conveying the often unsaid change in his character through some very moving reactions throughout the action.)

Douglas - 4(Rock solid leading turn from Douglas, though the weakest performance from the year I suppose. Douglas though delivers as per usual giving just the right passion to his determined hero, and making his change of heart by the end convincing. He does this though by not making it a big revelation, but rather calling upon the nature of the character he set up from his first scene.)

Brennan - 4(A very interesting performance from him. Brennan manages to be the kind grandfatherly figure he often is, yet also portrays this certain villainous cunning at the same time. He balances the two particularly well that creates the right sense of the tension in the film, since Brennan never shows the true colors of the man in simple terms. He's good as he makes his character not quite a bad guy, but certainly not a hero either.)

Lead:

1. Vivien Leigh - A Streetcar Named Desire
2. Katharine Hepburn - The African Queen
3. Kathryn Beaumont - Alice in Wonderland
4. Gene Tierney - The Secret of Convict Lake - 3.5
5. Thelma Ritter - The Mating Season - 3.5
6. Virginia Mayo - Along a Great Divide - 3.5
7. Ava Gardner - Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
8. Ida Lupino - ON Dangerous Ground - 3
9. Nargis - Awaara - 3
10. Jane Wyman - Here Comes the Groom - 3

Supporting:

1. Kim Hunter - A Streetcar Named Desire
2. Shelley Winters - A Place in the Sun
3. Lee Grant - Detective Story
4. Wendy Hiller - Outcast of the Islands
5. Kathleen Harrison - Scrooge
6. Maria Schell - The Magic Box - 4
7. Jan Sterling - Ace in the Hole
8. Elizabeth Taylor - A Place in the Sun
9. Janette Scott - The Magic Box
10. Joan Greenwood - The Man in the White Suit

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Mitchum - 3(Doesn't have much to work with but brings his usual commanding presence. Unfortunately that's all he can really do with the role.)

Ryan - 2.5(He has a certainly effectiveness to him still, well in the early scenes anyways but he really over does it here. Once the plot gets going he goes full ham. That nuance he usually brings to villain roles is nowhere to be seen, and this is by far the worst I've seen from him)

Ford - 3.5(Again Ford isn't the first guy I'd put in this intense type roles yet he does fairly well here. Though there must have been more tension with someone else in the role, as maybe you'd second guess he was hero, yet Ford does a good job to temper some of his tendencies to give a good portrayal of a bitter man though still with a heart.)

Cobb - 3.5(His character is bizarrely written yet Cobb manages to give some semblance of honesty and gravitas to the main plot of the film. Everything involving him is a bit underwritten but Cobb still manages to make it cohere into a believable portrayal of a man bring pulled apart by the stress of his position and his personal life.)

Bogart - 2(One his eh, I don't really care performances. Bogart actually is kind of playing Nicolas Cage's role in Lord of War yet there's no sense of mischief or cunning in his work. He just comes across as bored which is particularly problematic given the woman torn between two men plot line.)

Widmark - 3(Good as the passionate commander type but just not much to work with at all.)

Andrews - 3(Also good as the commander type, but technically with even less to work with than Widmark.)

RatedRStar:

The Magic Box - (So terribly depressing)
The Frogman - (Bland war movie)
The Tales Of Hoffman - (Beautiful looking opera)
Sirocco - (Interesting premise, boring movie)
Along A Great Divide - (Pretty compelling western thriller)
The Prowler - (Effective film noir despite bland female lead)
On Dangerous Ground - (Overblown, typical Ray.)
The Steel Helmet - (Underrated and rather interesting low key war movie. Begins stronger than it ends though)
The First Legion - (Somewhat compelling examination of faith)
The Secret Of Convict Lake - (Same as Along a great divide)
The Racket - (Mess of a mob movie)

Varun:

Yes to your question.

Day-Lewis:

1. The Baptism - There Will Be Blood
2. Dinner - My Left Foot
3. Oil Man speech - There Will Be Blood
4. The Ending - My Left Foot
5. Daniel interrogates his "brother" - There Will be Blood
6. "Asked for a drink" - My Left Foot
7. Meeting with the Cabinet - Lincoln
8. "Fear" - Gangs of New York
9. The interrogation - In the Name of the Father
10. Fight with Mary Todd - Lincoln

De Niro:

1. Russian Roulette - The Deer Hunter
2. The Phone Booth - Goodfellas
3. Jail cell breakdown - Raging Bull
4. Finding Nick - The Deer Hunter
5. I got a dress for you - Goodfellas
6. Getting his audition tape back - The King of Comedy
7. Meeting with the Don - The Godfather Part II
8. Johnny Boy's threat - Mean Streets
9. Standup - The King of Comedy
10. Explaining his Watch - Midnight Run

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Rest in Peace, Zsa Zsa Gabor. 2016 continues to be cruel.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Are Guinness and Douglas down to 4s for The Man In The White Suit and Detective Story respectively.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: A top ten for Gary Oldman please. :)

Charles H said...

Louis: Top 10 acting moments for Dennis Hopper

Anonymous said...

Watching "My Left Foot" right now. Amazing performances (Mvp is obvious lol)

Michael McCarthy said...

De Niro or Palminteri - A Bronx Tale
Hopkins - Shadowlands
Day-Lewis - Age of Innocence
Wong - The Untold Story

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Has anyone won the prediction.

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: Louis always highlights whoever wins the prediction contest, so nobody won. This is the fifth prediction in a row without a single winner.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Shahrukh Khan- Baazigar (an atypical turn from a great actor, it's actually his breakthrough role, and it's worth a look)
I'm psyched about Jeff Daniels's review!

Anonymous said...

@Louis: speaking of 1993, can you (re?)watch Addams Family Values? That's because I'd love to hear your thoughts on the whole cast, Ricci in particular, since she's my Best Supporting Actress winner from that year.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: I could swear I changed my prediction to Louis's final ranking in Basehart's review (which was the first review of this lineup). Albeit, that was the third time I altered it, so is there a limit to how many times you can change your prediction?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: You've made an oversight. Tahmeed did in fact win the prediction contest.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

I'll have to think about my request. I could go for a southeast Asia performance, although I have to rewatch Taare Zameen Par and Apur Sansar before I do.

Charles H said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Charles H said...

Although i know Louis allows a change on the first review.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Yes.

You are correct. I fixed it.

Oldman:

1. "Karla" - Tinker Tailor
2. Air strip - Tinker Tailor
3. EVVVVERRRRYONNNNNNEEEEEEE - The Professional
4. Preparing for the hit - State of Grace
5. The coin flip - The Dark Knight
6. Recreation of the Day - JFK
7. "My way" - Sid and Nancy
8. Killing the Family - The Professional
9. Beethoven on his Death Bed - Immortal Beloved
10. Old Dracula's cackle - Bram Stoker's Dracula

Anonymous:

Will do.

Charles:

Hopper:

1. "In Dreams" - Blue Velvet
2. "In Dreams" part 2 - Blue Velvet
3. You got about one second to live buddy - Blue Velvet
4. Frank's entrance - Blue Velvet
5. A Ride - Blue Velvet
6. The train murders - The American Friend
7. The Journalist appears - Apocalypse Now
8. The Bar - The American Friend
9. Feck's Confession - River's Edge
10. At the river's edge - River's Edge

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Damn, Hopper's 5 best scenes ever are in Blue Velvet? I really have to see it, although I guess I never did it cause I was kind of weirded out by the subject matter.
Louis: Your top ten acting moments for Al Pacino, Laurence Olivier, James Stewart and Montgomery Clift. (sorry if it's a bit too much, don't want to ask multiple questions)

Deiner said...

Fantastic job Louis, as usual. As for 1993, the possible contenders I can think of are:
- Piere Arditi in "Smoking/No Smoking"
- Kenneth Branagh in "Much Ado About Nothing"
- Leslie Cheung in "Farewell, My Concubine"
- Daniel Day Lewis in "The Age of Innocence"
- Anthony Hopkins in "Shadowlands"
The next ones I'm not sure if they compete in 1992 as for your rules:
- Daniel Auteuil in "A Heart in Winter"
- Jeff Bridges and/or Edward Furlong in "American Heart"
Other possible choices:
- Colm Meaney in "The Snapper"
- Donald Sutherland in "Six Degrees of Separation"
- William Baldwin in "Three of Hearts" (not the greatest film though haha)

Anonymous said...

Is Elizabeth Taylor a 3.5 still or have you updated her to a 4? And did you give your ratings of Janette Scott and Joan Greenwood? Because I don't recall you did.

Charles H said...

Tahmeed, I really think you should see Hopper's Blue Velvet, He is compelling every single second on screen, Giving my favorite supporting performance i have seen.

Completely agree with Louis for Hopper's acting moments, Although i might up Hopper's bar scene a bit.

Calvin Law said...

Thoughts and ratings for the cast of The Steel Helmet?

Calvin Law said...

Also, would you be interested in watching other versions of The Browning Version (i.e. Finney and Holm's portrayals of Crocker-Harris)

Anonymous said...

Louis is Tales Of Hoffman just a nice looking film but nothing more? is it pretty much the same of The Red Shoes?

moviefilm said...

For 1993 just one: Kevin Kline in Dave

RatedRStar said...

Calvin Law: Albert Finney is in my 94 voting lineup so =).

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

Pacino:

1. Phone Call with Leo - Dog Day Afternoon
2. The Restaurant - The Godfather
3. The start of the Bank Robbery - Dog Day Afternoon
4. Final talk with Vito - The Godfather
5. Learning about the Abortion - Godfather Part II
6. The Ending - Dog Day Afternoon
7. Chewing out Williamson - Glengarry Glen Ross
8. Attica - Dog Day Afternoon
9. "The baptism" - Scarecrow
10. Lefty asks Donnie about the boat - Donnie Brasco

Laurence Olivier

1. "I hated Rebecca" - Rebecca
2. Archie's final performance - The Entertainer
3. "I'm a gonna killa you" - Sleuth
4. First monologue - Richard III
5. "Is it safe" - Marathon Man
6. Archie runs out of funds - The Entertainer
7. The ending sequence - Sleuth
8. Meeting the Ghost - Hamlet
9. St. Crispin's Day Speech - Henry V
10. Demise - Richard III

James Stewart

1. The ending - It's a Wonderful Life
2. Recreating Madeleine - Vertigo
3. Visiting his mother's house in Potterville - It's a Wonderful Life
4. The Ending - Vertigo
5. Final meeting with Potter - It's a Wonderful Life
6. The Senator finishes the story - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
7. End of the filibusterer - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
8. Getting the rape into the case - Anatomy of the Murder
9. The clock tower - Vertigo
10. Watching Lisa go to Thornwall's apartment - Rear Window

Montgomery Clift

"She was my mother" - Judgment at Nuremburg
Taps - From Here to Eternity
The boat ride - A Place in the Sun
Phone Booth - The Misfits
Facing Fatso - From Here to Eternity
The Ending - A Place in the Sun
Deciding to go back - From Here to Eternity
Chuck is seduced by Carol - Wild River
Finding the truth - Freud
Ralph finds Karl - The Search

Anonymous:

They would all be 3.5's.

Deiner:

Thanks.

Calvin:

Evans - 3.5(He doesn't quite have a star charisma but I like the real down to earth, often easygoing, quality he brought to his soldier. Fuller clearly had an understanding of the ground troop, and Evans performance plays into it well just an average guy trying to survive in the war. He brings an innate cynicism, but also a lighter touch that is actually fairly effective.)

Loo - 3.5(Again like Evans he brings a real lived in quality in the role. He stood out to me the most out of the supporting cast though through his rather amusing, yet nuanced, reactions to the North Korean soldier's questions.)

Edwards - 3(Makes a bit less of an impact but again there just a real honesty to his performance that adds so well to the film.)

Chun - 3(A little child actor rusty at times, but for the most part he actually offers a rather endearing presence. I wouldn't have minded if the film had just followed him and Evans on a trek the whole time.)

Yes I would be interested.

Anonymous:

Tales of Hoffmann is purely the Opera. I'd say Powell and Pressburger's staging will probably only help but one must like opera to begin with. I personally did not find it all that entertaining or compelling on its own.