Tuesday 18 April 2017

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1984: John Candy in Splash

John Candy did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Freddie Bauer in Splash.

Splash, finally watching from beginning to end, I found to be kind of a terrible romantic comedy with a curiously unappealing central performance by Tom Hanks, but there was one thing I liked.

Well obviously I'm talking about the gone too soon John Candy, who was sadly not properly appreciated in his time. It's a shame since his ability is so evident in a film this where he plays the brother to Tom Hanks's Allen. Candy's whole agenda in the film seems to be to make better any way he can whenever he is onscreen. Candy's Freddie is this strange lothario of sorts right down to his pseudo playboy attire. The last time I covered a Candy performance it was as the more lovable though luckless salesman in Planes, Trains & Automobiles. This role actually depends a different sort of angle for Candy to go off of, and Candy is more than up to the task. His style here is indulgent in the right way fitting to a guy who just goes about loving his life and living in his own sort of way which is great foil against old the oddly unpleasant Allen who somehow can even seem to enjoy life when he's with a sexy mermaid. Where Hanks is being always so down Candy is the perfect antidote that just seems to brighten every frame as the cheeky Freddie.

Anyway there really is not enough Candy to go around in this film, but when Candy appears it is highlight, in fact just the scenes with Candy simply are the good scenes of the film. Candy does his best to pick up the slack of Hanks's performance at every turn. One of his most enjoyable scenes is early on as they are going about Allen's business together and Freddie is hanging around delivering one liners about either Allen's misfortunes or his useless employees. Well Candy knocks these out of the park really with his madcap delivery. He goes even further though with the madness he inflicts in every scene of his madness that can come from any direction whether it is as he bursts out laughing so suddenly, or so many of his quietly judgemental reactions that are most often hilarious. Candy tries to make a bit work even when other facts are not working such as again Hanks is oddly misguided turn. Candy fulfills the role of the best friend, which is a mainstay of the romantic comedy. This is terrific example of that trope as Candy does provide all that these types of roles need. He importantly does bring the support needed. In that he has the right earnest warmth in his scenes where he encourages Allen, like the kind older brother. I love the slight twist in Candy's demeanor though in there are moments where he goes almost like a drill Sergeant that still serves the purpose of support though in the form of a much tough love, of course it also results in him being quite amusing at the same time. The focus is of course is that comedy which Candy is on point every second he's onscreen with his infectious energy. I hate that the film almost seems to waste him, as he's absent for a large chunk of the film, and we barely get a proper sendoff for Freddie. Nevertheless Candy, while he can't save the film due to lack of screentime, is the one who delivers any of the enjoyment the film has to offer. 

48 comments:

Charles H said...

John Candy should've been used in many more great comedies.

Thoughts on the rest of the cast?

Anonymous said...

Charles: Yea, some of his comedies were really flops. But he was always the standout.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I haven't seen it in over ten years, but I remember him walking away with the movie without much effort. I also remember hating the ending.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Ratings on the cast as well. Also, what are some other Oscar nominated performances that you have considered re-evaluating? (like Morita's in The Karate Kid)

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Could you also mention if said re-evaluations are expected to be negative or positive?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your top ten ending scenes of the 2000s.

Anonymous said...

Louis, your thoughts on the score for 'Paris, Texas'.

Louis Morgan said...

Charles:

Hanks - 1.5(It's funny to go watch Siskel and Ebert's old review of the film as they almost say that Hanks basically doesn't have a future as a leading man. I can understand that sentiment though only watching this performance. It's such a miscalculated work by him as he's so overly unpleasant in the role and gives no sense of fun to it. He always brings this curious anger to the character that makes him just seem like an insufferable jerk, even in the romance with Hannah scenes he seems oddly confrontational. There's none of that ease needed for a romantic lead, and it almost seems like maybe he was giving a performance thinking the film was more farcical overall given how randomly over the top he is at times.)

Hannah - 2.5(Madison comes off far more fantasy than an actual character AS written. I mean she's just into Allen without question despite how unlikable he is. Hannah's performance works well enough within the limits of the part though. In that it's not really asking for much but she does bring that little which is required.)

Levy - 2(Hmm actually going over these performances makes me appreciate Candy all the more. Levy like Hanks doesn't seem to quite get the tone the film has, I would imagine Ron Howard more than little to blame for that, but he also gives such over the top moments throughout that a little too big for the film. What's worse though is he's not really all the funny in those over the top moments.)

Tahmeed:

Again Morita wasn't exactly a revaluation but here are some others.

Roy Scheider - All that Jazz
Tom Conti - Reuben, Reuben
Alan Arkin - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

All probably positive.

Varun:

A very effective low key score that feels very fitting to the setting but also captures sort of the mood of Stanton's character. In that it's slow and easy yet not quite pleasant though there is a certain beauty. In that there's certain haunting quality within it as if there is a broken nostalgia to the music, good and bad memories mixed together.

Luke:

I'm assuming 2000-2009

1. No Eulogies for Bob - The Assassination of Jesse James
2. An old memory - Memories of Murder
3. Hurdy Gurdy Man - Zodiac
4. It's for me - The Lives of Others
5. Sunset - The Proposition
6. Purgatory - In Bruges
7. Happiness - A Bittersweet Life
8. Bond, James Bond - Casino Royale
9. Beginning and the end - Memento
10. Happy? - Oldboy

Luke Higham said...

Louis: How close was Master And Commander to your top ten.

Bryan L. said...

Actually surprised this movie isn't thought of very highly. Seems like it's thought of as more as Tom Hanks breakout rather than a good film.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

That would be my number 11.

Calvin Law said...

Would have thought The Dark Knight would make the list, but I'm delighted to see Memories of Murder and The Lives of Others so high.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Quite unfairly I'll admit, the ending has lost a bit luster do to what the Dark Knight Rises did with it.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Finished watching The Princess Bride, and I loved it. Mandy Patinkin was simply sublime, and there isn't a single bad performance in the whole film. Also, I can't get over the fact that Cary Elwes looks like a young Laurence Olivier (in Rebecca) in it.

Calvin Law said...

Cary Elwes is sublime in it, I really hope Louis may bump him up someday.

Calvin Law said...

That's fair enough.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I'm so grateful I forgot almost everything about The Dark Knight Rises outside of Bane's voice. That way it can't retroactively ruin The Dark Knight for me.

Calvin Law said...

My favourite endings of the 2000s

Now We Are Free - Gladiator
An old memory - Memories of Murder
Hurdy Gurdy Man - Zodiac
It's for me - The Lives of Others
A silent guardian - The Dark Knight
Happiness - A Bittersweet Life
I'ts not going anywhere - Master and Commander
Does she know? - Kill Bill Vol. 1
Death on the underground - Collateral
Another life - Infernal Affairs
I'm Finished - There Will Be Blood
'I Swear Jack' - Brokeback Mountain
'Bye Bye Blackbird' - Public Enemies
No Eulogies for Bob - The Assasination of Jesse James

Robert MacFarlane said...

My favorite endings of the 2000's were all twenty endings in Return of the King. I'm not totally joking with that, the last 45 minutes of that movie have me in tears every time.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: My favourite's the string duet by Crowe and Bettany from Master And Commander.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: My 2nd choice is Gladiator and I'd give Return Of The King a special mention, yet it has multiple endings instead of one.

Calvin Law said...

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck are directing Captain Marvel, as a huge fan of Mississippi Grind this really pleases me.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Do you intend to watch Anime films in their original language or English Dubbing.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your rating for Alan Ladd in Shane.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

For Miyazaki's films at least, I'll be watching the dubs since that is his preferred method.

He's a 4.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Do you intend on watching the first set of Hollow Crown films when you do 2012.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your ratings for Ward Bond in Fort Apache and Arthur Hunnicutt in The Big Sky.

Louis Morgan said...

Maybe.

Bond a 4. I reviewed Hunnicutt Luke.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your ratings for Ward Bond in Fort Apache and Jack MacGowran in The Quiet Man.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I just noticed it a couple of minutes ago. To be fair, it's not a performance that I remember all that well being nominated.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Don't worry about its happened before.

Bond's a 4 and MacGowran's a 3.5.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: could Downey Jr. go up to a 4.5 for Chaplin?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I'd also add, that there's not as many films to watch from 2012 than 2011.

Luke Higham said...

What are everyone's 1998 Lead lineups.

I have:
John Hurt - Love And Death On Long Island
Michael Caine - Little Voice
Christopher Lee - Jinnah
Hugo Weaving - The Interview
Sean Gullette - Pi

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Yes.

Charles H said...

Calvin: My 5 favorite endings of the 2000's would probably look like:

Hurdy Gurdy Man - Zodiac
It's for me - The Lives of Others
A Bit of Joy - A Bittersweet Life
Another life - Infernal Affairs
No Eulogies for Bob - The Assasination of Jesse James

Charles H said...

Luke: These 5

Sean Gullette - Pi
John Hurt - Love And Death On Long Island
Peter Mullan - My Name Is Joe
Michael Caine - Little Voice
James Woods - Vampires(It would be fun)

Robert MacFarlane said...

Louis: Is it possible you could upgrade Nick Nolte in Affliction? Because that performance has aged wonderfully for me.

Luke Higham said...

Charles: I hope Louis does Gullette as a bonus, because I hate leaving Mullan out of my lineup, though if I had to take someone out, it'll probably be Lee.

Charles H said...

Robert: Surprisingly Coburn has aged better for me.

Luke: Same here, a bonus review would work.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Which 5 films bored you the most.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Charle: Eh, Coburn was good, I just think Nolte was next-level great.

Louis Morgan said...

Robert:

I could.

Luke:

Gerry
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
Meet Joe Black
Lost in Translation

Robert MacFarlane said...

You know, Lost in Translation being boring is only like the 9th biggest reason I hate it.

Louis Morgan said...

I suffered through the film three separate times to attempt to discover the "brilliance" of the film, I'm still baffled.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Donald Sumpter in Game Of Thrones.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: And Jason Momoa.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Sumpter - (The most underrated performance in the series perhaps. The character is extremely forgettable in the book, but Sumpter makes the most of him. It is not surprising to learn that wrote more scenes precisely to get more from Sumpter's portrayal of Maester Luwin. Sumpter's work is beautiful piece as his portrayal creates that sense of a man who has come to truly love and care for the family he technically serves. Sumpter realization of the character's wisdom carries this poignancy as he carries this warmth even as he gives harsh truths. The highlight of his scenes though are with Theon in the second season. Sumpter is so quietly heartwrenching as he internalizes so powerfully Luwin's pain at seeing Theon's downfall with such earnestness within his attempts to still help him.)

Momoa - (Momoa's work is an easy one to take for granted, but especially when comparing him to the other Dothraki, it should not be. Momoa's presence goes far past his height as he captures that grandeur of such a powerful personality. Momoa throws himself into it in the right way as he has that viciousness yet does it with the grand style of a certain kind of tribal warrior. Momoa isn't all earned bluster though as he also does find some nuance and manages to be convincing in his portrayal of the Khal's eventual genuine devotion to his wife.)