Tuesday 17 January 2017

Alternate Best Actor 1993: Results

5. Anthony Wong in The Untold Story - Wong manages to stay just above the terrible film he's in by having just enough fun with the material while still managing to create a cohesive character. 

Best Scene: His confession.
4. Jesse Bradford in The King of the Hill - Bradford gives an unassuming yet moving performance, realizing a young boy's perspective through a tumultuous time.

Best Scene: At the party. 
3. Leslie Cheung in Farewell My Concubine - Cheung's silent work is a powerful portrait of internalized turmoil within a graceful performer.

Best Scene: Cheng recovers from his opium addiction. 
2. Daniel Day-Lewis in The Age Of Innocence - Daniel Day-Lewis gives his second brilliant performance from 93, this one being a heartbreaking portrayal of a deeply emotional man repressed by society.

Best Scene: The Ending.
1. Anthony Hopkins in Shadowlands - Good predictions Luke, Maciej, mcofra7, and Varun. Anthony Hopkins gives one of his best performances in his harrowing yet heart warming portrayal of not only of the creative spirit, but also a unique journey of a man coming to terms with both love and death. 

Best Scene: Lewis finally pledges his real love for Joy. 
Updated Overall

Next Year: Hmmm I might just wait, but I would also like to hear the suggestions for 1993 supporting, in order to see whether or not there is really a five to begin with.

267 comments:

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Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thank you for upgrading Neeson. :)

Calvin Law said...

Woooooah big changes everywhere. Glad my win is your #2, Neeson is a 5 again, Daniel D has got 2 5's in a year, all round cause for celebration.

Calvin Law said...

But shouldn't Murray be above Douglas? Anyway, I don't have suggestions for 1993...but, thoughts/ratings on:

Tatsuo Matsumura in Maadadayo
Kenneth Branagh in Much Ado About Nothing
John Lone and Jeremy Irons in M. Butterfly
Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo in Super Mario Bros

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on the rest of the Lead performances with a 3 or higher.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: And your updated Female Top tens for 1993.

Charles H said...

Yes! Daniels keeps the overall! And an upgrade for Thewlis too.

Matt Mustin said...

The only real suggestions I have for supporting are Michael Keaton in Much Ado About Nothing and Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: And Chris O'Donnell in The Three Musketeers.

Charles H said...

Louis: My suggestions -

Ben Kingsley - Searching for Bobby Fischer
Joe Pesci - A Bronx Tale
Chazz Palminteri - A Bronx Tale
Chris O'Donnell - The Three Musketeers

Calvin Law said...

Watched The Edge of Seventeen and I really liked it. Surprised by how much, actually.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Calvin: It's so great, right? My #8 for the year.

mcofra7 said...

Winning request: Nicolas Cage in Bringing Out the Dead
Curious to see what you think of the movie as well. It's quite...interesting.

Charles H said...

mcofra7: Great choice.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Matsumura - 4.5(The film itself felt like such a fitting send off for Kurosawa. It might not be a masterpiece but it feels like such a nice note to end on. It is perhaps one of Kurosawa's most upbeat films that has a very sentimental look on a man growing old. I do have to say the only thing that would have topped it off is if it had been Toshiro Mifune in the lead role, such a shame that it took them so long to reconcile. That is not to say a thing against Matsumura in the lead role who gives such a wonderful and endearing portrait of a elderly man. He gives such a delightful performance and manages to make it believable that so many would go out of their way for him. There is this natural spirit that Matsumura brings that is truly something wonderful. That is not to say this is a lightweight performance though. There is the real sense of the years in his work, not only in terms of his physical portrayal of the old man's increasing age, but also the sense of the experience of life in his very being. It's beautiful work.)

Branagh - 4.5(I just really enjoy him doing Shakespeare, and this apparently includes doing his comedies as well as his tragedies. This is just a very fun performance from him as he gives the material the right touch. His comedic timing is really impeccable. He has the right ego in the role, but carefully makes him likable all the same. I absolutely adored his chemistry with Thompson. The two are just splendid together and do such a fantastic job at first pestering each other then later coming together in a way that feels just right.)

Lone and Irons - 4(The film itself felt like A Dangerous Method David Cronenberg so many years beforehand. In that the film felt so passionless in its portrayal of a love, or at least lust affair. Now it is interesting how the two actors perform their roles though. Lone I actually did find convincing in portraying the false woman, who was never suppose to be THAT convincing to begin with, and I find he chose an intriguing path for his performance. That path being one of coldness and Lone very much takes the approach that he is a man more following orders than with a real attachment to his mark, and he is effective in just how cruel he is particularly in the courtroom reveal scene. Irons on the other hand has the thankless role for much of the film. He's more than decent in portraying his character's fascination with Lone's, and his later his terrible distress at trying to deal with their "son". I felt he was a bit overshadowed until the final scenes of the film though where I found him to be quite effective in bringing out the sheer pain of a man betrayed and humiliated to the extent he was.)

Louis Morgan said...

Hoskins and Leguizamo - 2(This is not a film I recently watched, just one, among a few others that I had not listed originally. Leguizamo is his typical self, though he has actually been much worse in some films than this one. Hoskins is in such an unfortunate spot in this film, and one can tell he's not having a good time. There is the occasional moment where he tries to through a bit of gravitas to the proceedings but most of the time he just seems either annoyed or embarrassed to be in the film.)

Luke:

von Sydow - 4.5(Do not watch the film, it is not very good. Max von Sydow though tries his absolute best to make worthwhile though. He is such a great devil to be sure. He has that right combination of sinister joy and genuine charm perfect for a tempter. Beyond that though he manages some real menace in the part with such ease, and every moment he's onscreen is pretty enjoyable because of his performance.)

O'Donnell - (As I recall, I have not seen it since like 96. Typical O'Donnell no more, no less. He will always be someone I believe could have only existed in his way in the 90's.)

Depp - 3.5(His silent film recreations are more than admirable, and overall he manages to give a real charm with the quirk. Never over doing it which is his problem nowadays. A part of the reason it works though is he really manages to ground it well in a real person. There's one particularly strong moment for him late in the film where something severe happens which causes him to have to drop his routine a bit, and Depp makes it a very strong moment because he shows just the normal guy beneath it all.)

Lead:

1. Holly Hunter - The Piano
2. Juliette Binoche - Three Colors: Blue - 5
3. Emma Thompson - Much Ado About Nothing - 4.5
4. Emma Thompson - The Remains of the Day
5. Debra Winger - Shadowlands
6. Angela Bassett - What's Love Go To Do With It
7. Stockard Channing - Six Degrees of Separation - 3.5
8. Catherine O'Hara - The Nightmare Before Christmas - 3.5
9. Andiew MacDowell - Groundhog Dag
10. Laura Dern - Jurassic Park

Supporting:

1. Christina Ricci - Addams Family Values
2. Gong Li - Farewell My Concubine
3. Darlene Cates - What's Eating Gilbert Grape
4. Michelle Pfeiffer - The Age of Innocence
5. Amanda Plummer - Needful Things - 4
6. Lily Tomlin - Shortcuts
7. Dana Delany - Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - 4
8. Kyoko Kagawa - Madadayo - 4
9. Emma Thompson - In The Name of the Father
10. Laura Dern - A Perfect World

Anonymous said...

@Louis: Can you give your thoughts on Binoche, Thompson (Much Ado...), Channing, Ricci and Plummer. And btw, is Thompson (Remains...) a 4 or a 4.5? And is Bassett a 4 or a 3.5?

Deiner said...

Damn! I was absolutely sure you were going to pick Day-Lewis. Great job Louis.

Deiner said...

Louis: forgot to ask, did you watch Ruby in Paradise?

Robert MacFarlane said...

My 1993 Supporting Suggestions:

Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused
Ben Kingsley in Searching for Bobby Fisher
Chazz Palminteri in A Bronx Tale
Joe Pesci in A Bronx Tale
Michael Keaton in Much Ado About Nothing

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your top 3 Ralph Fiennes performances, and top 3 Tatsuya Nakadai performances

RatedRStar said...

Bill Murray - Mad Dog And Glory
Joe Pesci - A Bronx Tale
Benoît Régent - Three Colors: Blue
Matthew McConaughey - Dazed And Confused
Michael Keaton - Much Ado About Nothing

They could be quick reviews, not sure.

Bryan L. said...

Just saw La La Land. Good film. Simple plot but it's the production design, performances and the music that will sell you.

Gosling-4.5
Stone-5

Giuseppe Fadda said...

Ratings and thoughts on Julianne Moore and Jennifer Jason Leigh in Short Cuts?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

YESSS NEESON'S A 5 AGAIN!
I don't have any suggestions for supporting, oddly enough.

Maciej said...

For my winning request I'd like you to review Ricardo Darin in The Secret in Their Eyes for 2009 best actor

RatedRStar said...

Louis: You could do the quick reviews that you have done before because I dont think you would have to see more than..3 films at the most I reckon and then after that if you have time we could just do the waiting game =D.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: For the 2016 reviews, are we going to have alternates AND bonus rounds?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your rating for Ricci in Addams Family Values.

Robert MacFarlane said...

No love for Cusack in Addams Family Values?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your top ten emotional film compositions.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on Donald Sutherland in Six Degrees Of Separation, Chris Sarandon in The Nightmare Before Christmas and Bruce Campbell in Army Of Darkness.

Lezlie said...

Hey everyone!

Not too long ago I asked Louis to name his five best and worst performers from Game of Thrones.

See, I've recently started a rewatch and it got me thinking about performances that I haven't really seen any praise for, but still found them really enjoyable. I would like to ask all of you who watch the show, who are YOUR unsung heroes of Game of Thrones, and I am specifically interested in performances not given by the main cast (noted in the opening credits).

For me, a few that come to mind:

Mark Gatiss as Tycho Nestoris: If you don't remember him, I won't blame you, as he was only in two episodes, he's the representative of the Iron Bank who deals with Stannis and Davos in S4. His scene was great as he really nailed the polite, bussiness-oriented "desk clerk" role, so to speak, while also giving the smackdown to the two Westerosi. Again, not a terribly important part or a really great scene even, but I rewatched it multiple times specifically for Gatiss.

Peter Vaughan as Maester Aemon: The late Peter Vaughan made a really friendly and grandfatherly figure of Aemon Targaryen, and the scene where he recalls the girl he first fell for while talking to Sam in the library was quite touching.

Ben Crompton as Dolorous Edd: One of the, if not the best comic relief in a show and in a setting that really needs it, Crompton deadpans his one-liners so well and makes his character who can find the shittiness in everything easily relatable (at least for me).

David Bradley as Walder Frey: To be one of the most hated characters in the show with only appearing in a grand total of 5 episodes is no small feat. Of course, Walder is written as disgusting old sod who you're supposed to hate, but I think Bradley went the extra mile with it, being especially great at the Red Wedding scene with his perverted facial reactions to the killings.

And finally, Owen Teale as Alliser Thorne: One of the more underrated GoT villains, Ser Alliser spent most of his time being a miserable old dick, and he did it pretty well. However, in the season 4 episode 9 he really shines when he has to lead the defense of the Wall against the wildlings. Up until that point you couldn't really be sure if the guy's all bark and no bite, but he showed great leadership there, and despite being an insufferable ass, I couldn't help but root for him during the battle. He had great facial reactions suggesting a man who knows this might very well be his last night, but not planning to go down easily. His rallying speech was pretty epic, and he even had a great comic moment with the "I said nock and hold, you cunts!" scene. Sure, he betrayed and murdered Jon Snow after that and returned to being an A-class asshole, but I even found his death somewhat tragic, as under all the jackassery, he wasn't really a malicious or ill-meaning character.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling, and back to my question, who are your favourite smaller performances?

Charles H said...

The best of 1993 supporting has already been covered by Louis, I can't imagine anybody taking the 5th spot from Kingsley. They should just be quick reviews.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your top 5 best and worst Oscar hosts.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Also, Louis, I'd ad Danny Elfman alongside Sarandon to the rankings for Nightmare. Jack sings more than he talks.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Could Jeff Goldblum go up for Jurassic Park.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Thoughts on Delany in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

Scott Gingold said...

John candy, cool runnings
Frank Langella, dave
Tommy Lee Jones, heaven and earth
John Goodman, matinee
Max von sydow and j. T. Walsh, needful things
Dennis hopper, red rock west
Will Smith, six degrees of separation

Scott Gingold said...

Nevermind on von sydow and smith

Calvin Law said...

Robert: your thoughts on the cast of The Edge of Seventeen?

Anonymous said...

Louis, my request is for Nawazuddin Siddiqi in Gangs Of Wasseypur part 2.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: My request is Mikkel Folsgaard in A Royal Affair.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I would put him in supporting, though he could be co-lead from your point of view.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Could you watch Cool Runnings. It's one of John Candy's final roles.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: And Dennis Hopper could be a possible 4.5 or more for Red Rock West.

Lastly, please watch Nicolas Cage in Deadfall.

Robert MacFarlane said...

@Calvin:

Steinfeld - Brilliant. Absolutely nails the balance between the comedic and dramatic moments. I was surprised how utterly unafraid she was to go into the more histrionic and irrational portions of her character so vigorously, yet still know when to pull back.

Harrelson - Only Woody Harrelson could get away with saying some truly nasty things to a teenager and make it comedy gold. He does a great job with his deadpan indifference to Steinfeld's plights, and transitions shockingly well into his warmer mentor scenes with her near the end. Actually, I like this performance the more I'm talking about it right now.

Jenner: The big weak link. Completely free of charisma or presence. Another actor could have made his scenes near the end mean something, but his wooden delivery just kills whatever power they might have had.

Szeto: Actually pretty good. Manages to avoid overdoing the awkward infatuation he had with Steinfeld and make it rather endearing. It helps they had great chemistry.

Sedgwyck: Good, but I liked this role better when Kristen Wiig played it in Diary of a Teenage Girl.

Calvin Law said...

Absolutely agree on all counts, except I liked Jenner a bit more.

Calvin Law said...

Also I really appreciated as you did how Szeto/Erwin didn't fall into the usual stereotype of that sort of character. In fact everyone outside of Jenner avoided that.

Michael McCarthy said...

It's interesting that you bring up comparisons with Diary of a Teenage Girl, because Steinfeld's terrific performance in Edge of Seventeen actually made me think less of Bel Powley's work in the former.

Louis Morgan said...

Deiner:

I actually did and Judd would be my #7 in lead.
Anonymous:

Binoche - (An incredibly powerful depiction of grief. Her performance is an interesting examination of it as it understandably begins at its most intense, and she is quite moving realizing her character at her most despondent. Binoche then manages to transition this to something else something far more internalized as she begins to wear it in a way, as she shows her almost withering in a certain way, and is particularly excellent in realizing the attempt almost to be numb to her pain. She earns though her "recovering" of sorts though as she makes every step of it as difficult and harrowing as it should be.)

Channing - (I rather enjoyed her work in the early part of the film in portraying her rather strange reactions to Smith's character in reflecting the general snobbery of sorts of the role in an amusing way. I found she struggled though in the dramatic turn of the film which I felt fell completely flat, though I don't think it was really her fault.)

Ricci - (She was already great, and perfectly cast, in the first film but quite honestly this is taking it to the next level. She utilizes her greater focus for all its worth as she gives a downright hilarious portrayal of Wednesday's particular form of madness and even menace. Almost every moment she's onscreen is worthwhile though special mention for her "cured" smile, and later her portrayal of the Thanksgiving revenge story, worthy of a super villain.)

Plummer - (She's very good, in her usual crazed wheelhouse to be sure, but she manages to give a real emotional connection to the material that sorely needs it. She realizes so well essentially the thematic idea of the desperation behind the "Needful Things", and I wish her exit from the film wasn't so swift.)

Thompson - 4
Bassett - 4

Anonymous:

1. The Sword of Doom
2. Harakiri
3. Ran

1. In Bruges
2. Schindler's List
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on Thompson in Much Ado About Nothing.

Louis Morgan said...

Giuseppe:

Moore - 3.5(She has pretty good anti-chemistry with Modine and I do like the way she slowly builds the intensity of the fight in a very understated yet effective way.)

Leigh - 3.5(Underused I felt though she certainly did a good job of crafting the strange dynamic of the character by *ahem* performing verbally while being so physically blase at the same time to show she's just doing a job.)

Tahmeed:

Just the Alternates.

Luke:

4.5

Sutherland - 4(For me the film did not quite work in terms of its more dramatic intentions. That's why I think Sutherland gave the best performance in the film by essentially skirting them entirely to give just a wholly comedic performance. I found his timing pretty wonderful in bringing just the right ego to the upper class gent, while still actually being fairly unassuming in a way as well. He has the just right touch for the material. I especially enjoyed the delivery of his character's running gag of constantly admiring his two sided work of art.)

Sarandon/Elfman - 3.5(I don't know how the collaboration worked precisely, but the two did a great job of sounding exactly the same. Anyway they are both quite good in developing Jack as this sort of pondering yet false poet of sorts who can stop his self reflection. Aside of course occasionally going down to fulfill the role of the Pumpkin King with more vicious growl. They both though are quite good first verbally emphasizing this certain melancholy as he is tired of his work then later a manic joy as he discovers Christmas.)

Campbell - 3.5(He's unquestionably a ham, but it is ham that really in many ways makes the tone of the film work. He's playing up everything and it works in creating the right sense of absurdity that fits the material so well.)

In regards to Goldblum, to a 4.5, yes.

Emotional Compositions (original only):

1. Gabriel's Oboe
2. Jurassic Park Theme
3. Smile
4. Schindler's List Theme
5. Vertigo Scene D'Amour
6. Once Upon Time in The West Main Theme
7. Journey to the Line
8. Braveheart Theme
9. Ecstasy of Gold
10. Dragonheart Theme (Credit where credits due)


Although there are clearly bad examples of hosts, James Franco/Anne Hathaway in particular, I'm not the best to judge as I find awards hosting always fairly awkward act even with the better ones, Billy Crystal.

Leslie:

Wholly support your choices.

Robert:

I thought I had included her. She'd be my number 5 in supporting.

Will do in regards to the Elf Man.

Anonymous:

Delany - (Her vocal performance adds a great deal to the film because there is a very real depth to her work. Her work allows the twist in a way in that she suggests a growing intensity and maturation around it. In addition to offering a very real power to her grief then later her hatred.)

Deiner said...

Louis: That's awesome, can you give your thoughts and rating on Judd? And what did you think of the film? I love Ricci in Addams Family Values, my personal supporting actress from that year as well.

Deiner said...

Louis: forgot to ask your thoughts on Joan Cusack in Addams Family Values. My suggestions for supporting:
- Chazz Palminteri in A Bronx Tale
- James Russo in Dangerous Game (can you watch this either way, I'd love to read your thoughts on Harvey Keitel and Madonna)
- John Lynch in The Secret Garden
- Laurence Fishburne in Searching for Bobby Fischer
- Leonardo DiCaprio in This Boys Life (I actually haven't seen this film but I've seen a lot of people place him as supporting, is it category fraud?)

Robert MacFarlane said...

@Deiner: DiCaprio is RIDICULOUS category fraud.

Charles H said...

Deiner: Major category fraud.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

DiCaprio's much more lead in that film than Robert DeNiro is.

Calvin Law said...

I'd actually hope for DiCaprio getting bumped up for Gilbert Grape. That's a performance that's grown on me a lot over time. Having re-watched more of his films I'd say my new ranking of his performances would be,

1. The Departed
2. Catch Me If You Can
3. What's Eating Gilbert Grape
4. The Wolf of Wall Street
5. Django Unchained

Calvin Law said...

Also, everyone: with regards to La La Land, did anyone else really dig Start a Fire?

Anonymous said...

Huppert deserves an Oscar for 'Elle'.E

Luke Higham said...

Louis: The rest of your winners for 1993.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: My request is Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par.

Calvin Law said...

That new Logan trailer rules.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: What are your 3 favourite scenes from Neeson's performance in Schindler's List.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: It sure does. :)

Deiner said...

Robert, Charles, Tahmeed: Well, that's interesting. Is DeNiro co-lead?
Louis: I just remembered Sihung Lung and/or Mitchell Lichtenstein in The Wedding Banquet. Maybe you can review either one of them.

Álex Marqués said...

Eh, I think you should take a break until the Oscar nominees are announced Louis.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I concur with Alex, though I would like to see a lineup posted anyway, just to give us something to look forward to.

Calvin Law said...

Guys, is The Founder a 2016 or 2017 release now?

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: It was released in Australia and France last November/December.

Álex Marqués said...

According to imdb, it's a 2016 release.

Charles H said...

Deiner: He could be considered co-lead.

Charles H said...

I agree with Alex, as well.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Seen any 2016 films lately.

Anonymous said...

That Logan trailer is very good, but I'm not that hyped for the film.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Pat Fraley's Pyro, Pat Pinney's Wolverine and Neil Ross' Nightcrawler.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Things to Come

Thompson - 4.5(She has such an ease with the language, and is pretty much delight incarnate here. She is so effortlessly charming in the role and lights up every scene she is in with such a delectable energy. She brings the very best from the material, topping I'd say even Branagh himself, deriving the humor from it so well so naturally inserting just the right touches of drama as well. Of course even in those moments she makes rather amusing as well such as her hilarious reaction to when Benedick refuses to kill for her. It's splendid work that I'd say is the highlight of the film.)

Director: Steven Spielberg - Jurassic Park
Production Design: The Age of Innocence
Sound Editing: Jurassic Park
Sound Mixing: Jurassic Park
Score: Jurassic Park
Editing: Schindler's List
Visual Effects: Jurassic Park
Costume Design: The Age of Innocence
Cinematography: Schindler's List
Makeup and Hairstyling: Mrs. Doubtfire
Original Screenplay: Groundhog Day
Adapted Screenplay: Schindler's List

Deiner:

Judd - 4(Both the film and her performance I think work well in a very low key sort of way. She technically goes through some things, but the film is treats it all in a particularly understated way. Judd does nicely in the role by working within this context to give an appropriately natural portrayal of her journey of sorts. She carefully doesn't make anything too intense, keeping it quiet in the right way, and still is very much engaging in this approach.)

Cusack - (Actually a very against type performance in two ways. One being the sex bomb, usually she's placed as the less appealing friend, and then as the psychopath. She pulls off both though incredibly well, and is very funny while doing it all.)

Anonymous:

Fraley - (Entertaining in his over the top accent, and it works for the rather flamboyant role.)

Pinney - (Perhaps is was this Australian accented take is what originally inspired Hugh Jackman to take the role. Anyway this does Wolverine no favors as he's very one note, and rather ridiculous.)

Ross - (His accent also isn't exactly subtle from the outset yet he carefully doesn't allow it to define his performance. He actually brings some real warmth and even nuance to the point that he makes the ending scenes have much more impact than they probably even should.)

Calvin:

Loved all the songs, that one included.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on Things to come and Huppert's performance.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Are you gonna watch I, Daniel Blake during the alternates or wait until the eventual bonus round.

Anonymous said...

Louis: A lot of people say the animation of Pryde of the X-Men is better than the 90's one. Do you agree with this? I sure do.

Louis Morgan said...

Things to Come is a decent enough character study. I didn't think there was anything overly remarkable about it but it worked as just a very calm examination of the difficulties facing this older woman. This includes even things such as death and the dissolution of a marriage. The film doesn't feel as though it isn't treating these things seriously either, but instead it focusing upon more of what happens next while skipping over the event. It's a nice, very much "Slice of life" type of film.

Huppert - 4.5(I can see how she did so well with critics, especially when they gave her the award for both Elle and this film. The reason being is the two performances together show almost two sides of a coin in that technically in both roles the characters dealing with some similair things, birth of a grandchild, relationship with an ex-husband, the illness of her quirky mother, trying to get reach something very specific in her work, dealing with a cat but here everything is much much much lighter than in Elle. It's a great example of her range though given that there does not feel like there is any overlap as Huppert presents us with an entirely different woman here. As here Huppert gives us a warm hearted person who takes things with a gentle attitude and spirit. She gives a lovely performance though in the way she conveys the generally upbeat attitude of this person, though is still moving in portraying the way he various problems do hurt her, but never beat her down or change her nature. It's charming and even sweet performance that quite honestly feels like a bit of an antidote for Elle.)

I was planning on watching it relatively soon.

Neeson:

1. "I could have saved More"
2. Watching the ghetto extraction.
3. Telling Goeth the story.

Anonymous:

The animation, most definitely. It looks great, I would say if it had been picked up to series that probably would not have been the case for subsequent episodes.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on Tim Curry in The Three Musketeers and Matthau & Lloyd in Dennis The Menace.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Curry - (It's been a long while but as I recall he did some classic Curry evil, though in fairly light weight sort of fashion not far removed from his Home Alone 2 performance for example. Definitely enjoyable, though I recall the standout being Michael Wincott.)

Matthau - (He might be lead, I don't remember the film that well, again I haven't seen it in a long time, longer than the Musketeers I'd say. Anyway as I recall he was the best part of the film giving an enjoyable curmudgeony performance.)

Lloyd - (Again as I recall did an as expected good job as a creep, one note part, but Lloyd always adds a bit of much needed character even in such roles.)

Calvin Law said...

Thought Manchester by the Sea was really good. Few issues here and there with some of the minor performances and flashback editing, but I thought the score worked very effectively for the most part, the screenplay was an excellent blend of humour and drama, and really felt very honest and refreshing. Probably my #5 or #6 of the year.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What are your thoughts on Adam Sandler as an actor?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your top ten comedic actors currently working.

Robert MacFarlane said...

So I saw 20th Century Women. I adored every single beautiful, warm second of it and promise to never say bad things about Annette Bening or Greta Gerwig again.

Charles H said...

Louis: Your thoughts and ratings on the cast of Jurassic Park.

Bryan L. said...

Silence: Very good film. Outstanding performances from everyone. I've actually never seen a Kurosawa film but I'd imagine they must be something similar to this. Great cinematography and production design. It did feel like it would never end a couple of times though.

Garfield-5
Neeson-4.5
Driver-4
Asano-4.5
Hinds-3.5
Ogata-4.5
Kubozuka-4

Scorsese sure has the magic touch with actors.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: You've forgotten to add my request to the Winning Requests Page.

RatedRStar said...

94dfk1: You must see a Kurosawa film =D, must must must.

Luke Higham said...

94dfk1: What did you think of Garfield.

Bryan L. said...

RatedRStar: Any suggestions as where to start with Kurosawa? I'm intrigued by the plot of Rashomon but I've heard that the Hidden Fortress is more entertaining.

Luke: He was simply amazing. He brings true conviction to the role and he gives it his all in his more emotional scenes without going over-the-top.

Michael McCarthy said...

Louis, have you watched or are you planning on watching A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix? I think you might appreciate Carrey's performance as Count Olaf more after seeing Neil Patrick Harris's totally uninspired interpretation.

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: Your ratings and thoughts on Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson and Issey Ogata in Silence.

Charles H said...

94dfk1: You should watch first Yojimbo, Seven Samurai is a masterpiece but its kind of long, it can be a little tedious for some people, specially if you are not used to his films. So Yojimbo a great great film of him but a little bit easier to watch. Rashomon i watched recently and it was very thought-provoking, Either Yojimbo or Rashomon would be a great start. Kurosawa truly is the best.

Michael McCarthy said...

Luke: I suppose I can delay this no longer.

Garfield: 5 (For me, this is one of those performances where I didn't realize how great it was until the film was over. He's so unassuming in the beginning as just a modest priest who takes his faith as a given that it feels incredibly real when it's actually put to the test. Garfield fully realizes every painful detail of a man who is realizing that his theoretical understanding of true suffering is nothing compared to what he is now experiencing and observing, and while his consistent devotion and belief is extremely moving, the doubt that creeps through Rodrigues throughout and where it eventually leads him was what made this work masterful.)

Neeson: 5 (I think it took me a couple of days for me to see how much he really did with this performance. He's heartwrenching in the flashback scenes where he is being broken, but somehow equally affecting in the scenes in the present that are juxtaposed with these, as he wears his physical and psychological trauma so vividly. For the rest of his performance, Neeson is fascinating in the way he presents a man who has had to dramatically adjust his personal values in order to survive, as he hints that Ferreira has actually forced himself to believe the things he says in order to live with himself. Also in the end, he does a terrific job of suggesting that Ferreira's original beliefs mights still be alive without overplaying his hand.)

Ogata: 4.5 (Ogata just has a very compelling screen presence to begin with, aided by his hauntingly creepy voice. He does more than that though as he always presence the Inquisitor as a kind of calm, easygoing sort of menace, which contrasts with the louder, more intense performances surrounding him. This characterization causes him to be wholly convincing as the imposing figure he is, but equally so at presenting a coldly rational man in his one on one scenes with Garfield.)

Luke Higham said...

I truly believe that Garfield's taking the overall this year.

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: Your top 5s for Picture, Director, L/S Actor and L/S Actress.

RatedRStar said...

94dfk1: I would probaby start with a Kurosawa film that is relatively straightforward in terms of scope and easiest for a newcomer so The Hidden Fortress would be a good start, Yojimbo is a pretty straightforward film in terms of narrative and how easy it is to follow, basically when I started with Kurosawa I went for easy to follow films and then went on to the complex films like Kagemusha and Ran.

Calvin Law said...

More self promotion, my review for Manchester by the Sea:

https://thefilmmakersmindset.com/2017/01/20/cinematic-crumbs-life/

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Could you place this link on your blog.

https://thefilmmakersmindset.com/author/calvin-law/

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Your top 10 favorite Harry Potter characters.
Mine:-
1. Severus Snape
2. Albus Dumbledore
3. Hermione Granger
4. Remus Lupin
5. Ron Weasley (what the films did to his characterization is one of, if not the most tragic cases of character assassination I can think of)
6. Mad-Eye Moody
7. The Boy Who Lived (I just find the top 6 more interesting than him, but I loved the way Rowling handled his character development)
8. Minerva McGonagall
9. Fred and George Weasley
10.Rubeus Hagrid

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: No Umbridge.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: Umbridge would probably be my #10. I go between completely hating her as a character, before realizing that that was the entire point, which proves the brilliance of Rowling. Not to mention I think that Imelda Staunton gave my second favorite performance in the entire franchise, and she is practically the only reason I bother to rewatch the Order of the Phoenix.

Robert MacFarlane said...

My top 10 favorite Harry Potter characters (based on the books alone):

1. Remus Lupin
2. Sirius Black
3. Dolores Umbridge
4. Harry Potter (from Order of the Phoenix on)
5. Severus Snape
6 & 7. Fred and George Weasley
8. Mad-Eye Moody
9. Neville Longbottom
10. Bellatrix Lestrange

HM: Tonks

Robert MacFarlane said...

Unpopular opinion: I *love* angsty douchebag Harry in book 5.

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: Your opinion on the rest of your top ten, as well as Lord Voldemort and Draco Malfoy.

Giuseppe Fadda said...

Actually I really loved Ginny Weasley's development in the books. Too bad her character in the movies was totally wasted (also due to Bonnie Wright's dull performance).

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Anthony Hopkins, Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson.

Michael McCarthy said...

Luke:

Picture:
1. Silence
2. La La Land
3. Hell or High Water
4. A Monster Calle
5. Jackie

Director:
1. Martin Scorsese
2. Damien Chazelle
3. Pablo Larrain
4. David Mackenzie
5. Barry Jenkins

Actress:
1. Natalie Portman
2. Emma Stone
3. Hailee Steinfeld
4. Amy Adams
5. Elle Fanning

Actor:
1. Denzel Washington
2. Casey Affleck
3. Andrew Garfield (Silence)
4. Jeff Bridges
5. Chris Pine

Supporting Actress:
1. Felicity Jones
2. Kate McKinnon
3. Jena Malone
4. Janelle Monae
5. Abbey Lee

Supporting Actor:
1. Ben Foster (I'm putting him in this category for convenience at the moment, I'll make a final decision when I get to rewatch it.)
2. Damian Lewis
3. Liam Neeson
4. Sam Neill
5. Stellan Skarsgård

Luke Higham said...

Everyone: Are there any performances, that you're really looking forward to seeing this year.

For me:
Luke Evans in Beauty And The Beast
Cillian Murphy and Mark Rylance in Dunkirk
Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour
Daniel Day-Lewis in Untitled Anderson Project
Michael Fassbender in The Snowman

Robert MacFarlane said...

@Luke: Keith Stanfield in Death Note.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: This is gonna be a long one, so beware :P
1. Snape- One of the most complex characters in literature I have ever come across. He is just so damn compelling as a man doing all for love, yet being unable to hide his bitterness towards the reminder of the man she shunned him for. Not to mention I find his dynamic with Dumbledore extremely fascinating, and the fact that I've never questioned his subtle changes in characterization over the years is proof of that. I also find his Pensieve scene and death scene to be one of the most heartbreaking moments ever depicted on page or screen, and both Rowling and Rickman deserve a tremendous amount of credit for this accomplishment.
2. Dumbledore-One unbelievably complex character to another. Dumbledore is properly enigmatic, first appearing to be the all-loving, all-caring wise old mentor. However, even the first two books clever foreshadow the flaws, complexities and regrets of the man, which helped to properly build up his characterization. Of course, as the storylines of the books become more and more complex, Dumbledore's personality becomes more engaging: the reveal of his tragic backstory, his subtle manipulation of Harry (and yes, I mean manipulation), and his dynamic with Snape sums up what I think is also one of the greatest characters I've ever had the pleasure to read about.
3. Hermione-Ah, one of the first great female characters I've encountered on page or screen. Hermione is one of the most intelligent characters ever written, and Rowling does make her particularly insufferable at times (in the first novel,to be clear). However, one thing I love is also her complexity: her dilemma of loyalty in the final novel perfectly demonstrates how far she's come. It also helps that I think Emma Watson was consistently the best of the three performers throughout the films, and did the most justice to her literary counterpart.
4. Lupin- Another seemingly all-too kind, and supremely efficient mentor, before Rowling cleverly deconstructs the inherent flaws within the man. We clearly understand that Remus had a great camaraderie with the rest of the Marauders, and what I found so engaging about him was the fact that his societal isolation brought a clear divide onto his attitude. His relationship with Tonks also perfectly demonstrates both the flaws and love apparent in him, and I have to say, I really empathized with him all the way through. He's just a brilliantly written character.
5. Ron Weasley-One of the unsung heroes of the series. Ron is indeed a great friend to both Harry and Hermione, but what the films failed to realize was that he was much more than that. Rowling perfectly showed the insecurities that stem from both his family background, and being overshadowed by the people around him. However, through it all, he was developed to be a great, courageous comrade as well, and I never doubted that. His emotional volatility was also brilliantly built up, and it came out in the right moments in the novels, showing the bursts of emotion he could no longer handle. His character development was brilliant throughout the novels, and his relationship with Hermione was one I actually rooted for.

Matt Mustin said...

I saw La La Land and I loved it more than I can possibly begin to describe. I'm not sure even that does justice to how much I truly adored this film.

Gosling-5(For a while I was thinking maybe a 4.5 for him, but as it went on I realized how much he was actually doing within the margins. He makes the character's love of jazz truly infectious and even when he's being a jerk he has so much charisma you still can't help but like him. The best part of his performance though is his chemistry with Emma Stone, which couldn't be more perfect.)

Stone-5(If I start talking about all the things I love about this performance I won't be able to stop. She practically leaps off the screen she's so luminous. Every second of her performance is wonderful, and her eyes couldn't be more expressive. She excels at the comedy and being just a delightful presence throughout. But if she's good at the comedy, she really takes flight with the drama, and her performance at the big audition near the end is almost literally breathtaking. And of course, once again, her chemistry with Gosling is superb. Flawless, amazing work.)

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

6. Mad-Eye Moody- An eccentric, enjoyable wizard, who just happens to enjoy killing Death Eaters. He is well-rounded in the books, as he's never reduced to a mere caricature as he could have been. We also get the sense of greatness and bravery from him, and his heroic actions in the opening act of the Deathly Hallows actually made me quite emotional when I first read it. The fact that he's played by the great Brendan Gleeson also helps matters for me.
7. Harry Potter- A great protagonist to empathize with and root for. Rowling cleverly developed him as an ordinary boy who has a lot to learn in the beginning, into one of the most iconic heroes. However, something that really seals it all is his emotional complexity; his disregard for the rules, the overwhelming burden of expectations placed upon him, the abundance of horrible events he has to witness (which are actually his most human moments). But above all of that is the fascinating dynamic that he builds up with each character, and the way that he develops from all of his interactions is perfectly believable all throughout the series. The only reason I placed him this low is because of the Order of the Phoenix, where I felt his characterization took a wrong turn. However, the last two novels more than make up for it.
8. Minerva McGonagall- One of the most badass and legendary professors Hogwarts has, and damn do you believe it. She is well depicted as someone who exudes discipline, while subtly indicating warmth and kindness to any and all who she feels deserve it. She is someone you respect more and more as you read the books, and her one liners are delicious zingers as well.
9. Fred and George Weasley-Could not be better comic relief for a series that definitely needs it. They are enjoyable in every moment they have in the novels, and they are also very easy to empathize with. Rowling also manages to somewhat show where the anarchy comes from, and their actions in the final three novels cement them as great heroes as well.
Lord Voldemort- One of the most complex villains ever written. He is portrayed as a megalomaniac with a massive superiority complex, and someone who is incapable of love or remorse. He is a truly menacing villain, but with clear flaws i.e underestimating people and the power of love itself, which leads to his downfall. His emotional unpredictability also makes him so damn compelling, and his backstory also clearly shows where his hate and prejudice comes from.
Draco Malfoy-Someone who you really want to punch in the first five novels, and Rowling does present him as someone genuinely flawed. However, she also shows and links his sense of entitlement, superiority and pride to be influenced mostly by his familial upbringing, and while he is malicious, it is due to that failed parenting. His character arc in Half Blood Prince was also brilliant: his repression of emotions with Occlumency was well handled, and you really felt for him given the pressure that any young man in a dire situation like that would face. Hence, he does make you empathize with him a lot, which would have seemed theoretically impossible. His final development and respect for Harry, while rushed, was still believable, and I do think he's an engaging character as well.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Looking forward to those as well.
Robert: While, I'm looking forward to Stanfield's L, I think Dafoe as Ryuk will be the best part of the film, but I don't think he won't be as good as Brian Drummond.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Dafoe as Ryuk really is inspired casting.

Charles H said...

Matt: Glad you took to La La Land as well.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Guys, I should mention that 20th Century Women overtook Silence for my Picture win. It really came out of nowhere for me. I wasn't expecting the film to be so accommodating and empathetic to all of its characters. Nor did I expect Mills's filmmaking to be so drastically improved from Beginners. It juggles a lot of themes at once, and none of them feel undercooked. All five principles are great, Gerwig and Bening in particular (and I usually don't like either of them).

Charles H said...

Robert: Wow, I had no idea you'd like it more then Silence. I'll have to get around to watching it too.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I split the difference and give Scorsese my Best Director win.

Michael McCarthy said...

Luke: The whole cast of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Particularly McDormand and Dinklage.

Michael McCarthy said...

Just got back from The Founder. It's actually pretty solid for the most part, and Keaton is terrific.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on Moonlight and the cast.

RatedRStar said...

I will see 20th Century Women based just on highly Robert praised it, considering the trailer for the film and the story, the casting didn't look that great really so I will check it out definitely.

2016 Oscar season has been better than 2015 for the simple reason, aside from Nocturnal Animals (I do not think Train has a chance), there has not been a single film up for Academy Awards that people on this blog have criticised, with only Robert not caring about Hacksaw Ridge.

Robert MacFarlane said...

@RatedRStar: In fact, I've been steadily lowering Hacksaw on my Letterboxd rankings for the year each time I go to edit it.

Calvin Law said...

I'll defend Hacksaw to the death.

RatedRStar said...

I am so excited for the Oscar nominations =D, not long to go now.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I guess I should just accept that I'll never like a Gibson-directed effort. I'll say that I don't have active scorn for it like I did Braveheart, though.

RatedRStar said...

Robert: Would be happy for a Garfield Hacksaw nomination? since it is very likely =)?

Calvin Law said...

Robert: just treat the likely nomination like how I treat Jimmy Stewart's win in 1940, or Dennis Hopper in 1986.

Robert MacFarlane said...

God no, he bordered on Simple Jack at his worst moments. He has some good scenes, but it is an incredibly mawkish turn as a whole. It's infuriating that his brilliant work in Silence will be ignored in favor of that.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Sandler - (As an actor he has talent, and even has it as a comedian as well. I don't know if its ego, laziness or whatever though he's someone who refuses to utilize most of the time. He definitely has something to offer if used well, or if merely energized by a director, like a PTA, but left to his own devices he's an extremely off-putting and tiresome performer.)

Luke:

I guess I'll base it around ever, as long as they are currently working rather than their current output.

1. Bill Murray
2. Simon Pegg
3. Michael Palin
4. Christopher Guest
5. John C. Reilly
6. Mel Brooks
7. Woody Allen
8. Steve Martin
9. Jim Carrey
10. Eddie Murphy

I'll give the film a bit more time to properly ruminate on it.

Harris - 3.5(Torn on this performance as I felt she was kind of terrible for much of the film. Obviously playing such a role requires a bit of intensity but felt very forced and ACTED to me. It also did not help in that I felt she brought a certain awkwardness in just delivering the lines in a completely natural way. I'm torn though because I thought she was pretty outstanding in her final scene. Finally her performance not only felt natural, but was an incredibly powerful depiction of her character's messy remorse over her past mistakes.)

Hibbert - 3.5(I actually would put the three Chirons in lead, though Hibbert's performance is the least lead so to speak. In that the first act is very much set up to essentially take the weight of many scenes off of Hibbert, and give them to the adult. Hibbert though gives a good performance within the more limited scope of his Chiron. He gives us a natural depiction of the boy's shyness and the pain within his shell. It's a moving performance as he just alludes to the slight breaks in it in his interactions whether it is in terms of revealing more anguish, or something better.)

Piner - 2.5(A little less assured I felt in his Kevin, though his performance still serves its needed purpose though.)

Jerome - 3.5(Didn't see his take exactly in his early scenes until the more direct scenes with Chiron. In those two scenes though I felt he was very effective in first providing some actual warmth in his interactions with Chiron, then being properly moving in bringing the devastation in his succumbing to peer pressure scene.)

Holland - 4(A very good performance as his work does well to wear the experience of the past but rather to portray it as pain he suggests it to be an actual growth in to something more. Holland captures well the combination of emotions and the very real challenge with Chiron. He captures the right chemistry as you can see them potentially connecting again, but Holland still keeps just the right distance though still keeping to life the idea of their past pains. What's more remarkable though is the way he suggests the earnestness in the attempt to essentially overcome the past to something else.)

Michael:

Of all the TV shows I "need" to watch, that would be far from the top ten.

Tahmeed:

1. Sirius
2. Snape
3. Lupin
4. Dumbledore
5. Umbridge
6. Moody
7. Neville
8. Ron
9. The Twins
10. Harry

Luke Higham said...

2014's Lead Actor fives record is in serious jeopardy.

Calvin Law said...

I hope you loved Ali and Rhodes. Seems I took to the performances in general a lot more than you, since I loved every second of Harris' performance, and Piner too.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: This may be a weird question, but which 5 actresses do you have a crush on.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: What did you think of Moonlight's score.

Michael McCarthy said...

I'm not sure I've mentioned this on the blog but I actually go to school with Jharrel Jerome, so I'm glad you took to him Louis.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Jerome's performance really grew on me over time. Just that look he gives Sanders as he's being taken away by the cops was so heartwrenching.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I also agree about Harris. Too broad in the first two acts, and yet so powerful in the last.

Charles H said...

I'm going to agree with Louis on the cast outside of Ali, No ones performance really stood out besides in a couple of scenes.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Re: Actresses I have a crush on lmao (Not in order)
Emma Stone
Emily Blunt
Marion Cotillard
Cate Blanchett
Jessica Chastain

Luke Higham said...

94dfk1: For me.
Carey Mulligan
Marion Cotillard
Naomie Harris
Cate Blanchett
Natalie Dormer

Luke Higham said...

Louis: From your experience, what's the most disappointing year you've had in watching films.

Calvin Law said...

For me, this year was a bit disappointing up till about December.

Michael McCarthy said...

A tad heteronormative, but I'll bite:

Rachel McAdams
Rose Leslie
Brie Larson
Zoey Deutch
Elizabeth Banks

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: The summer was mostly shit, yet I was nowhere near as hyped with alot of the films during that time compared to 2012 (And The Hobbit in December).

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: I Forgot about McAdams.

Robert MacFarlane said...

My actress crushes? Hm...

Emma Stone
Daisy Ridley
Scarlett Johansson
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Carey Mulligan

RatedRStar said...

Haha can I do actresses and actors Luke? lol =D.

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

RatedRStar: Sure you can, I'm heterosexual, but I do have a few man crushs. :)

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: The actresses I have a crush on include-

Emilia Clarke
Emma Watson
Rachel McAdams
Daisy Ridley
Charlize Theron
While even I'm straight, I do have a few man-crushes, i.e James McAvoy, Fassbender and DiCaprio.

Charles H said...

Luke: My crushes would be -
Emma Stone
Bella Thorne
Scarlett Johansson
Lizzy Caplan

And as far as male crushes all i can say is 2007 Casey Affleck.

Luke Higham said...

*Man-Crushes.

Luke Higham said...

Mine are:
Tom Hardy
Jeremy Irons
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Paul Dano

Calvin Law said...

I'd say,

Scarlett Johansson
Emily Blunt
Julianne Moore
Elizabeth Debicki
Emma Stone

Calvin Law said...

And you know, everyone loves Ryan Gosling, man.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

If it's alright to base it on someone in a particular year/decade, I'd say Vivien Leigh in the late 30s/early 40s and Marilyn Monroe are the most attractive women I've ever seen on film.

Charles H said...

Tahmeed: I second that,

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: Audrey Hepburn for me.

RatedRStar said...

The actress crushes I have -

Marion Cotillard
Alicia Vikander
Emma Stone
Tang Wei
Michelle Williams

The Actor crushes I have -
Nicholas Tse
James Dean
Sal Mineo
Cillian Murphy
Jake Gyllenhaal

RatedRStar said...

There are many actresses from the 30s/40s/50s that I think are amazing, actors umm aside from James Dean, Sal Mineo and maybe Anthony Perkins I am not sure lol purely because they would have to be in their 20s lol.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Calvin: I concur completely with Gosling, especially his look and swagger in Drive, which is something special that I've always wanted to emulate.
When it comes to Golden Age Hollywood actors, I'd say Montgomery Clift pre-accident is one of the best looking men ever as well.

Charles H said...

RatedRStar: Wow, No Claude Rains? hehe

Luke Higham said...

And I have a crush on Mads Mikkelsen.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: That's perfectly alright, he looks pretty damn cool. The best looking men I think I've seen on film include:-

Montgomery Clift
Peter O'Toole in the 60s
Al Pacino in the 70's
Aamir Khan
Clark Gable (also the most charismatic actor I've ever seen)

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'll admit that I have a crush on Greta Garbo.

RatedRStar said...

Claude Rains was 56 years old when he did Notorious lol =D I would bow down before him or shake his hand lol rather than kiss him lol.

OMG I forgot about Montgomery Clift he was so kind =D.

Charles H said...

RatedRStar: lol, Fair enough.

Michael McCarthy said...

If we're going back in time, Faye Dunaway in the 60's and 70's and Anne Bancroft...pretty much for her whole career.

And for the dudes, I'll go with Paul Newman and Aaron Tveit.

RatedRStar said...

I never really thought Montgomery Clift looked that bad after the crash, only when he did Judgement At Nuremberg did the alcohol and drugs effected his appearance in my opinion =)

Bryan L. said...

Actually, take out Marion Cotillard and put in Mary Elizabeth Winstead for.

Bryan L. said...

*for me.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

RatedRStar: I have to agree. He actually looked good by the standards of ordinary people, but I suppose that was a far cry from what he used to look like. It's actually said that his facial recreation surgery was really successful for the time :)

RatedRStar said...

Louis: I mentioned that you might want to see Montys final role in The Defector, probably best to see it as opposed to reviewing it because it is so hard to watch a man who is barely able to act despite trying so hard.

Tahmeed: You should check out The Defector, its on YouTube and just watching 20 seconds of Monty Clift in it is pretty hard just from his speech and his appearance.

Anonymous said...

RatedRStar: Is Monty good in The Defector?

RatedRStar said...

Errr.. I cant really say that Clift is exactly 5 star, I would certainly sympathise with him trying very hard to be good so I would say I think he does a good enough job.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Elizabeth Debicki
Felicity Jones
Hannah Murray
Emily Blunt

I have to admit I did not notice the score all that much until the ending, which I don't think is necessarily a criticism against it especially since I thought the portion I directly noticed was rather beautiful. I'll probably have more precise thoughts when I re-watch the film.

2008 despite In Bruges being quite the high point.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on Cary Grant in People Will Talk.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Also, Your thoughts on Toshiro Mifune in Snow Trail.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Grant - (It's been a long time since I've seen the film but I recall it being one of Grant's better turns on the somewhat more dramatic side, though I believe it was still an example where he perhaps tempered his charm a bit more than he needed to. Again though really I don't remember his performance all that well to be perfectly honest.)

Mifune - (Quite the debut to be sure and his all-time great screen presence is already rather obvious. The thing is his role did not necessarily even need to be all that much as basically the jerk thief, it's easy to see how the role could have been a forgettable one in a lesser actor's hands. Luckily it's in Mifune's though. He of course grantees an impact given he's Mifune, but he goes further to actually provide some real pathos to his role. Although he still fulfills the negative qualities he puts a real honesty to his character's insecurities and weaknesses to the point that he ends up being a surprisingly sympathetic villain.)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your updated top 10 for 2016.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Hold on that just a bit, again only to let me ruminate a bit more on Moonlight.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Steven Spielberg ranking with ratings.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

1. Jaws - 5
2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - 5
3. Schindler's List - 5
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark - 5
5. Duel - 5
6. Jurassic Park - 5
7. Catch Me If You Can - 5
8. Lincoln - 5
9. E.T. - 4.5
10. Minority Report - 4.5
11. Bridge of Spies - 4.5
12. The Adventures of Tintin - 4
13. The Color Purple - 4
14. Empire of the Sun - 4
15. Munich - 4
16. A.I. Artificial Intelligence - 3.5
17. Saving Private Ryan - 3.5
18. Close Encounters of the Third Kind - 3.5
19. The BFG - 3
20. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - 2.5
21. Hook - 2.5
22. Amistad - 2.5
23. War of the Worlds - 2.5
24. Jurassic Park: The Lost World - 2
25. Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull - 1
26. War Horse - 1

Anonymous said...

Louis: I think Sandler refuses to use his true talents most of the time because he's lazy.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I actually expected Indiana IV to be rock bottom. I'd actually give War Horse a .1 more than you but that's just me.

Could you also do David Lynch.

Matt Mustin said...

I saw Split. I thought it was a pretty great thriller, anchored by an tour-de-force from James McAvoy. Also, don't let *anyone* ruin the ending for you. If they do, punch them in the face.

McAvoy-5
Taylor-Joy-4.5
Buckley-4
Richardson and Sula-3

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

War Horse some how annoys me even more.

Lynch:

1. Blue Velvet - 5
2. The Elephant Man - 5
3. Mulholland Drive - 5
4. The Straight Story - 5
5. Wild At Heart - 4.5
6. Eraserhead - 4.5
7. Lost Highway - 4.5

Luke Higham said...

Matt Mustin: I've heard really great things about McAvoy. It's a shame it didn't come out last year.

Matt Mustin said...

Luke: He's astonishing.
Louis: What are your thoughts on the cinematography of The Straight Story?

Charles H said...

Matt: Would McAvoy be your win for the year?

Luke Higham said...

Charles: It's only been 3 weeks.

Charles H said...

Luke: Feels like more.

Matt Mustin said...

Charles: Well, I've only seen one movie from this year, so yes.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

McAvoy giving another excellent performance? I've got to check it out.
Matt: Would you say he was better in this than he was in Filth? Cause that would pique my interest even more.
Louis: This might be a bit of a convoluted question, but what would you say are 5 movies which great acting (by two or more actors) could not save?

Matt Mustin said...

Tahmeed: Hmmm...that's tough. I'm not sure.

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