Wednesday 8 February 2017

Alternate Best Actor 2016: Results

5. Adam Driver in Paterson - I approach the keyboard to write the results of the year. I ponder if I chose Driver because he's the only actor from Silence I left off on the supporting shortlist. I continue to think and realize that this is a performance worth writing about.
4. Michael Keaton in The Founder - Keaton gives an entertaining performance as Ray Kroc but also manages to take his film to the darker places it needs to go in his revelation of the true nature of a cutthroat businessman.

Best Scene: Bathroom meeting.
3. Chris Pine in Hell or High - Chris Pine has an unassuming role yet gives a powerful portrayal of his character's motivations without being overshadowed by his more colorful co-stars.

Best Scene: Final scene.
2. Joel Edgerton in Loving - Edgerton gives a brilliant understated performance internalizing so effectively both the character's turmoil due to his hardship but also the love for his wife.

Best Scene: First meeting with Cohen.
1. Andrew Garfield in Silence - Good Predictions Calvin Law, and Robert MacFarlane. Due to only having five slots this may seem a weaker year, but that's in large pat because the Academy really did their job this year. It was a strong year for lead actor with Andrew Garfield giving the crowning achievement. He gives the most powerful performance of the year. It is an emotionally devastating performance to watch, but so much more in his profound realization of his character's unique journey of faith.

Best Scene: Garupe's test.
Overall Rank:
  1. Andrew Garfield in Silence
  2. Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water
  3. Viggo Mortensen in Captain Fantastic
  4. Joel Edgerton in Loving
  5. Denzel Washington in Fences
  6. Shahab Hosseini in The Salesman
  7. Hiroshi Abe in After the Storm
  8. Andrew Garfield in Hacksaw Ridge
  9. Chris Pine in Hell or High Water
  10. Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea
  11. Ryan Gosling in La La Land
  12. Michael Keaton in The Founder 
  13. Adam Driver in Paterson
  14. Song Kang-ho in The Age of Shadows
  15. Tom Hanks in Sully
  16. Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys
  17. Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys
  18. Robert Downey Jr. Captain America: Civil War 
  19. Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool 
  20. Trevante Rhodes in Moonlight
  21. Ethan Hawke in Born to Be Blue
  22. Luke Treadaway in A Street Cat Named Bob
  23. Adrian Titieni in Graduation
  24. Jarkko Lahti in The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki 
  25. Julian Dennison in Hunt for the Wilderpeople
  26. Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls 
  27. Ashton Sanders in Moonlight 
  28. Anton Yelchin in Green Room
  29. Nate Parker in Birth of a Nation
  30. Don Cheadle in Miles Ahead 
  31. Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Raman Raghav
  32. Jesse Plemons in Other People
  33. Daniel Radcliffe in Swiss Army Man
  34. Paul Dano in Swiss Army Man
  35. Oscar Martínez in The Distinguished Citizen
  36. Benedict Cumberbatch in Dr. Strange 
  37. Jake Gyllenhaal in Demolition
  38. Chris Evans in Captain America: Civil War 
  39. Jeremy Irons in The Man Who Knew Infinity
  40. Jonah Hill in War Dogs
  41. David Oyelowo in A United Kingdom
  42. Dan Fogler in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  43. Jim Broadbent in Ethel & Ernest
  44. Bryan Cranston in The Infiltrator
  45. Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins
  46. Cillian Murphy in Anthropoid
  47. Mark Rylance in The BFG
  48. Dave Johns in I, Daniel Blake
  49. Michael Fassbender in The Light Between Oceans
  50. Sunny Pawar in Lion
  51. Dev Patel in Lion
  52. Gong Yoo in Train to Busan
  53. Mel Gibson in Blood Father 
  54. Josh Brolin in Hail Caesar! 
  55. Gong Yoo in The Age of Shadows
  56. Taron Egerton in Eddie The Eagle
  57. Joe Alwyn in Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
  58. Eddie Redmayne in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 
  59. Miles Teller in Bleed For This
  60. David Oyelowo in The Queen of Katwe
  61. Diego Luna in Rogue One
  62. Dwayne Johnson in Moana
  63. Paddy Considine in The Girl With All The Gifts
  64. Ferdia Walsh-Peelo in Sing Street 
  65. Alex Hibbert in Moonlight 
  66. Joe Seo in Spa Night
  67. Jean-Pierre Léaud in The Death of Louis XIV
  68. Matthew McConaughey in Free State of Jones
  69. Michael Shannon in Elvis & Nixon
  70. Vicky Kaushal in Raman Raghav 2.0
  71. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Snowden
  72. Denzel Washington in The Magnificent Seven 
  73. Mark Wahlberg in Patriots Day 
  74. Majd Mastoura in Hedi
  75. Casey Affleck in The Finest Hours
  76. Jason Bateman in Zootopia
  77. Ben Affleck in The Accountant
  78. Stephen Lang in Don't Breathe
  79. Markees Christmas in Morris From America
  80. Miles Teller in War Dogs
  81. Michael Shannon in Midnight Special
  82. Blake Jenner in Everybody Wants Some
  83. Peter Simonischek in Toni Erdmann 
  84. Matthew McConaughey in Gold
  85. Keegan-Michael Key in Keanu 
  86. Mark Duplass in Blue Jay
  87. Lucas Jade Zumann in 20th Century Women
  88. Chris Pine in Star Trek: Beyond
  89. Ben Affleck in Live by Night 
  90. John Krasinski in 13 Hours
  91. Casey Affleck in Triple Nine 
  92. James Badge Dale in 13 Hours
  93. Mark Wahlberg in Deepwater Horizon 
  94. Jamie Dornan in Anthropoid 
  95. Jack Black in Kung Fu Panda 3
  96. Art Parkinson in Kubo and the Two Strings
  97. Jordan Peele in Keanu 
  98. Ulrich Thomsen in The Commune
  99. Dev Patel in The Man Who Knew Infinity
  100. Mungau Dain in Tanna
  101. Oakes Fegley in Pete's Dragon
  102. Ben Affleck in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
  103. Jesse Eisenberg in Cafe Society
  104. Kwak Do-won in The Wailing
  105. Max Records in I am Not a Serial Killer
  106. Ewan McGregor in Our Kind of Traitor
  107. Chris Pratt in Passengers 
  108. Jaeden Lieberher in Midnight Special 
  109. Logan Lerman in Indignation
  110. Chris Pine in The Finest Hours
  111. Neel Sethi in The Jungle Book
  112. Henry Cavill in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
  113. Brad Pitt in Allied
  114. Eddie Murphy in Mr. Church
  115. Jake Gyllenhaal in Nocturnal Animals
  116. Will Smith in Collateral Beauty

62 comments:

Álex Marqués said...

Wow, so you finally watched Collateral Beauty. I'd love to read your thought son it.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Yeesh, you do not cut Logan Lerman any breaks, do you?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: No best scene for Driver. :)

Your ratings and thoughts on the rest of the performances in your ranking.

You've left out Gyllenhaal and Hawke.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your lowest 4.5 on the ranking.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: As well as your lowest 4 and 3.5.

Charles H said...

Sad to see Gyllenhaal not dead last. Garfield was the easy winner here.

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

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on Fanning, Saldana and Miller in Live by Night, and also Molly Shannon in Other People.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Any Female performances that you've seen over the past week, that you would give 3.5s or higher.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: What's Gyllenhaal's rating now for Nocturnal Animals.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: One final thing, any other female performances you've upgraded.

Álex Marqués said...

Relax, luke hahaha

Luke Higham said...

Alex: Thank god, he has the supporting lineup already set up.

Charles H said...

Luke: Haha, true. I'm just anticipating that top 20 lead of the decade list.

Luke Higham said...

I have to admit, I'm really pleased with Fassbender's 4 for TLBO. For a guy who's yet to reach 40, his ratings record is quite astonishing.

Calvin Law said...

Surprised how low Dennison is, but so pleased about your top 5.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Me too, I was really shocked.

Calvin Law said...

Also, Louis, your 11 - 20 on your 2016 films list?

Giuseppe Fadda said...

I'm glad Rhodes is at least in the top 20, but I wish you liked him even more. One of my favorite performances of the year. As usual, great job!
Ratings/thoughts on Vikander and Weisz from Light Between the Oceans, Jennifer Lawrence in Passengers and Elle Fanning in Live by Night?

Calvin Law said...

And lastly, my request I shall ruminate a bit longer about.

BRAZINTERMA said...

Where are Dave Johns (I, Daniel Blake) and Shahab Hosseini (The Salesman)?

PS: You broke the record for the year 1939 when the top 5 nominees for Best Actor are in the TOP10.

Luke Higham said...

He hasn't seen The Salesman and Johns is at #40.

BRAZINTERMA said...

Finally a Scorsese's protagonist managed to beat Overall Rank

Robert MacFarlane said...

Has anyone seen this video yet? http://www.vulture.com/2017/02/cary-fukunaga-filmed-jake-gyllenhaals-finishing-the-hat.html?mid=twitter_vulture

Charles H said...

Robert: I saw that, haha.

Calvin Law said...

Guys I just saw a poster for a film with Brendan Gleeson and Michael Fassbender. Didn't catch the name but how has hype about it not gone round?

Calvin Law said...

(Sees 44% on RT)

Never mind.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Trespass Against Us didn't really do well at Toronto and is in the 50-60 range on RT. It's 2017 apparently by Louis' rules, so it would be interesting to see what he thinks of them there.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Now it's in the 40s, oh well. Would still like to see his thoughts on that film.

Charles H said...

I'll watch it if it's in the 40's on RT or not. Fassy is always great.

Luke Higham said...

Charles: He's still getting good notices from it and I refuse to believe he'll ever go under a 3 at this point.

Louis Morgan said...

Alex:

One of the funniest films of the year. The problem is the scenes that are meant to be harrowing are hilarious whereas the scenes that are meant to be funny are cringe worthy, well the harrowing scenes are pretty cringe worthy to. A misguided film at this level doesn’t come around too often. I don’t know if the writer is an alien but never has humanity seemed falser than in this film. It is mind blowing how abysmal the film is. The things this is an example of people trying to. The screenplay reeks of self-importance. Alright the actors actually don’t seem to be trying all that much, well a couple of trying too hard, it’s pretty funny to see them all together.

Robert:

Well he was the best part of that dumpster fire of a film, but that’s all I can give him.

Luke:

All his scenes are his best scene just by nature of his performance.

Lowest 4.5: Jeremy Irons
Lowest 4: Alex Hibbert
Lowest 3.5: Ben Affleck – Live By Night

Plemons – 4.5(He’s really proving to be quite the actor, and I hope he keeps showing up in things. The film itself did have a bit of that bad indie vibe to it, a few too many quirks with a few too many moments where some “normal” needs to look stupid har de har har. Plemons definitely delivers with his role. He manages to not overdo the more comedic moments while giving a genuinely heart wrenching depiction of the conflict of his character as he attempts to deal with grief while dealing with a past bitterness all the same. It’s compelling work that really makes the film far more tolerable than it would be otherwise.)

Murphy – 4(The film itself is a powerful true story told in just paint by numbers way. Murphy does his best to elevate a bit. It should be no surprise that does he does succeed to the best of his abilities really conveying well the severity of the situation throughout his performance, and is actually pretty moving in the later scenes of the film. Strong work that carries the film very admirably.)

Fassbender – 4(Another film that doesn’t quite come together, particularly the last third. Fassbender though I felt added a bit of emotional depth and grace to the film that needed it deeply. The film is always ready to become a bit too stagy for its own good, but Fassbender artfully pulls it back a bit through the emotional honesty found his work. I found him to be particularly strong in his last scene as he portrayed the lonely years in his broken gaze.)

Affleck(Finest Hours) - 3.5(Almost singlehandedly pulls elevates the film up a bit. He’s there mostly to deliver exposition but does so much more than that. We really get a sense of this isolated guy who knows what is right but doesn’t always know exactly how say it. He gives a really guy, not just a hokey caricature, and he made me actually invested in the film to the point I wished it just stayed on the ship the whole time)

Louis Morgan said...

Affleck(The Accountant) – 3.5(Man I didn’t notice how busy the Afflecks were this year. I found Affleck gave his best performance of the year in this film actually offering a pretty effective atypical action hero performance. The film doesn’t quite know how to use him, but I found his approach rather engaging and often rather intriguing. It may be the most overwritten film of the year, but Affleck managed to carry it through somewhat successfully. I wouldn’t mind a sequel where we get this character again but in a film that know what film it wants to be.)

Lang – 3.5(There’s definitely some Langisms going all around here. It works though given the nature of the part. He’s supposed to be basically a movie monster so Lang doing his thing works pretty well for that.)

Simonischek – 3.5(Although I couldn’t quite stomach the film I do applaud his effort. I don’t think he’s ever hilarious or ever great in the dramatic parts, but I still felt he managed to realize a character within all these quirks when he could have merely been only those quirks. He makes the whole setup work to a certain extent by at least making the whole idea of his character semi-believable.)

Affleck(Live by Night) – 3.5(Might be the most underrated movie of the year. It’s not great, but I think it got hit harder than it needed to be. The kick them well their down is a popular syndrome after all. The film basically just needed to be longer. You can tell it is rushed, though still coherent, unlike another Affleck lead film. It feels like the unnecessary shortened version of a much longer film, and I would be surprised if there is not a director’s cut somewhere. Anyway I did like Affleck performance here which is a bit more distance than it should be, again every plot point zooms by, but I felt he gave a credible portrayal of each part of his performance. Again if a director’s cut exists I think it would only help his performance.)

Oyelowo – 4(Quite effectively brought the right warmth to the role as the nice mentor type. Doesn’t reinvent this type of role by any measure but it’s a good example of it.)

Johnson – 4(His best performance I would say. A great use of his presence though to begin with as he gets to go full ego and full charm which works quite well. When things turn a bit more dramatic for him though he absolutely delivers there as well.)

Teller (Bleed For This) 4 (I have to say they made a colossal mistake in making the film rated-r only because decently reviewed pg-13 boxing movies usually do at least okay at the boxoffice but I digress. This is a pretty good performance by Teller. The film really doesn’t get into the man beyond a certain point but Teller delivers in the representation of that point. In that he brings the right flamboyance to the role, overdoing it only a the right time, and effectively carrying the all too brief scenes of dealing with his injury.)

Bateman – 3.5(Fairly typical Bateman but that’s a great fit for a conman fox. He also does nail the more dramatic moments rather well.)

Dornan – 3(Is overshadowed by Murphy to be sure, and a bit bland on his lonesome. He’s mostly just there until the final shootout where he has a few moments that are fairly affecting.)

Louis Morgan said...

Black – 3(He’s doing his usual thing, but I actually found it fairly endearing in this case. I guess I should probably go back and watch the other films.)

Records – 2.5(He just doesn’t quite pull off the sociopath performance. It never feels quite consistent, and leaves a potentially compelling character a bit unengaging.)

Pratt – 2.5(A film defined by a fundamental misunderstanding of its source, and I suppose of that misunderstanding plays into Chris Pratt’s casting. Pratt’s a charming guy and he’s that here too. He’s only that though which is problematic for the role which needs more than that. When he tries to get dramatic he’s more than a little underwhelming.)

Pine (Finest Hours) – 2.5(Hey it’s Bland Pine everyone, and Ben Foster’s in it too, how bizarre.)

Smith – 1.5(The funny thing is he’s not even in the bottom five worst performances of the film. Oh he’s terrible still, doing that full Will Smith over emoting to full power, with absolutely no depth behind it, but compared to rest he’s only terrible very very terrible.)

2 For Gyllenhaal now.

Omar:

Fanning – 3.5(Her storyline couldn’t be more rushed. She is quite the captivating zealot though than incredibly haunting when revealing just the broken woman beneath it all. Again I would really love to see her complete performance.)

Saldana – 1.5(Okay now she is terrible, and hopefully what we saw of her performance is all there is. Her accent is terrible, she’s absurdly awkward in the role, and just has this very wrong modern vibe to her. Abysmal work.)

Miller – 2(Seems great when compared to Saldana still pretty bad by herself. Cork accents aren’t going to help anyone but the problem is that’s basically all she focuses on with her performance. Luckily she’s not in it all that much.)

Shannon – 4(Very moving performance to be sure in terms of both portraying the sheer devastation of on her physical being but also in terms of the desperation of trying to keep a smile on her face the whole time. Again the film has some problems, but she is not one of them. She does especially well in depicting the complexity of the relationship with her son as you feel the old hurts, with the past love as well.)

Giuseppe:

Vikander – 4(Basically the same as Fassbender to be honest. Though she doesn’t get the last scene, she’s pretty good in the manic scene where she finds her “daughter” again.)

Weisz – 2.5(I guess I just really don’t like her acting style outside of The Mummy. She just comes off as so calculated to me this performance included. I found she overplayed her scenes of trying to get a revenge of sorts, than really did not offer any emotional nuance in her attempting to reconnect moments.)

Lawrence – 3(She’s better cast than Pratt at least, but still can’t quite make the part work. She’s just goes for a very general performance and her switching of emotions seems so stilted at times. She’s not truly bad, has good moments, but always made her character feel more like any idea than an actual person.)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on Lupita Nyong'o in Queen Of Katwe.

Calvin Law said...

I just really have no interest in seeing Passengers even though I have to at some point for my Oscar rankings.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Nyong'o - 4.5(Splendid work from here. Quite honestly parts of film could have been potentially been a bit corny, but Oyelowo and especially Nyong'o helped keep from that. Nyong'o brings the warmth you need from such a part, but she doesn't compromise the background from the character. There is a real cynicism at time at her work that quite effectively alludes to their troubled history, and the fact that their lives are in no way easy. You feel so much more of her and the families lives through approach, while still conveying the goodhearted nature of her character.)

Calvin:

It's more misguided than outright terrible. Outside of its very problematic central conceit, due to the way it is directed, it's just standard most of the time. That also extends to its Oscar nominated production design and score. The most interesting design work is lifted basically from the Shining, and the score is just serviceable.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: your 11 - 20 placed films.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on Jane Levy in Don't Breathe.

Calvin Law said...

Also, my request is for Paddy Considine - A Room for Romeo Brass (1999).

Robert MacFarlane said...

My request is Alden Ehrenreich in Beautiful Creatures for 2013 Best Actor

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

11. Eye in the Sky
12. A Monster Calls
13. Edge of Seventeen
14. Moonlight
15. Captain America: Civil War
16. Deadpool
17. The Handmaiden
18. Hail Caesar!
19. The Neon Demon
20. The Age of Shadows

Luke:

Levy - 3(She's actually does have screen presence and she does well in just the "I'm scared" scenes. I found though she struggled a bit in the more dramatic moments of the film, and made it very hard to believe that her character makes some of the decisions she makes. This is partly due to a lack of really conveying the needed desperation behind her motivations. It always felt weak, which made her stubbornness a bit ridiculous.)

Luke Higham said...

Robert: I appreciate your enthusiasm and optimism for Ehrenreich in Beautiful Creatures, but I'm praying it's not gonna be a waste.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your ratings for the women in Moana and any recent upgrades for Female performances.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: I say we just wait and see, I doubt it'll be a waste, because Robert's eclectic choices have elicited great performances being reviewed (Winstone), or at the very least interesting reviews (JGL in 500DOS)

Charles H said...

Louis: Could i have your top 10 male lead of the decade yet?

Anonymous said...

I completely agree with Robert's choice.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I agree. I certainly respect Robert's choice, so there's that.

Calvin Law said...

Also, damn shame Ehrenreich and Anton Yelchin never got to play brothers. I was thinking that in some Hell or High Water-esque thriller, Yelchin would be an interesting choice for Tanner, Ehrenreich for Toby, maybe as two Texan vampires, with maybe Yelchin's 'Hearts in Atlantis' co-star Anthony Hopkins as an aged, wiry, more cynical version of his Van Helsing/British bounty hunter.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Cravalho - 3.5
House - 3

Charles:

1. Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
2. Andrew Garfield in Silence
3. Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler
4. Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
5. James McAvoy in Filth
6. Choi Min-Sik in I Saw the Devil
7. Michael Keaton in Birdman
8. Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water
9. Ryan Gosling in Drive
10. Jacob Tremblay in Room

Calvin Law said...

Louis: lastly, I'm glad you took to these slightly off-kilter YA films like 'A Monster Calls', 'Sing Street', 'The Edge of Seventeen' this year.

Luke Higham said...

Knew Garfield would come 2nd. I wonder if anything could top Phoenix in The Master.

Charles H said...

Damn, Wanted Garfield at first! I got a feeling that McAvoy in Split might top the list.

Calvin Law said...

I'm just glad Oldman's first place in 2011 is so secure.

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

Mcavoy is 4.5/5 for split..not topping filth imo..definitely not Phoenix or Garfield..

Luke Higham said...

I think Mikkelsen will make the top ten for The Hunt.

Psifonian said...

Can we just agree that "Allied" would've been a much finer film with a different actor in the lead. My personal choice would be Matthias Schoenaerts (although Tom Hardy would obviously fit well with Knight's sensibilities).

Louis Morgan said...

Psifonian:

Couldn't agree more, particularly in regards to the choice of Schoenaerts.

If You Want the Gravy said...

I'm sorry you put Logan Lerman so low. I was really impressed by him and the film as a whole.

Giuseppe Fadda said...

What did you all think of The Beguiled trailer? I'm quite intrigued to say the least.

Ik said...

You should watch I, Daniel Blake for some great performances.