Friday 11 August 2017

Alternate Best Actor 1992: Peter Coyote in Bitter Moon

Peter Coyote did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Oscar Benton in Bitter Moon.

Bitter Moon, if perhaps it was a bit more violent, would seem Roman Polanski making a Brian De Palma erotic thriller as it similarly embraces its trashiness in its story about a man, Hugh Grant, on a cruise being pulled into the story regaled by a crippled man about his relationship with his wife.

Peter Coyote, who somehow I never noticed before sounds just like Henry Fonda, is most often an authority figure character actor not unlike Scott Glenn, or more recently Richard Jenkins. Coyote's role is a strict departure from that as we first meet him as a shady figure, lurching around in his wheelchair all too eager to reveal his long history with his seductive wife Mimi (Emmanuelle Seigner). This film as a trashy erotic thriller again very much embraces the trashiness, and really the success of such a film depends on how entertaining it manages to be within that, as well as if it attempts to perhaps just a bit more than that. Well this film really falls almost entirely upon Coyote's shoulders to make the film work as the hot mess it is, given that Hugh Grant, and Kristin Scott Thomas, are only fairly bland diversions while Seigner seems mostly there to strip nude. That leaves Coyote to make something of it all, and I suppose I would not reviewing him here if he didn't. There is already a bit of fun to be had just from seeing Coyote in such a role, but Coyote plays into the film's style in the right way. He's certainly having fun right from his first devilish glare, as he invites Grant's Nigel to listen to his story, but he allows us on it as well.

Coyote in the present set scenes is pretty great in embracing that style of the film in the fashion to the point of amplifying it. His work matches the nature material as even in Coyote's slimy lecherous manner he seems to embody the film. He's sweaty, he's perhaps unappealing in many ways, yet there is something most intriguing about him. Now much of the film though takes away from the crippled Oscar as he tells Nigel his past with his wife Mimi that left him in this state. We see Oscar as a wannabe writer who meets, and falls for the waitress Mimi. Now in what are a series, of somewhat repetitive scenes that seem often made just to get Polanski's wife in new sex position, Coyote does make something of them. His performance in these scenes actually attempts to derive a bit of substance past being entertaining trash, even if the focus perhaps is most closely upon it. Coyote's performance bothers to find any depth in this as in the early scenes, he's quite good at being perhaps a more typical role for himself as just the ambitious yet romantic writer who finds this most intriguing woman. Coyote finds an earnestness, not overt, as he keeps the overt style away here enough creating a more sensible frankly portrayal of this man as he enters what at first seems an ideal relationship.

Their relationship ends up being anything but ideal though as they seem to try to trump one another as it constantly goes back and forth from seeming genuine affection, to hatred, to any sex act you can name, to intense manipulation. Now Seigner's performance really only has two settings and is more of an idea, really more a fantasy, than a character, but Coyote's work does bother to connect the strands. In his work he has the starting point be that genuine love he seems to hold for her, and on that he only portrays such a genuine intrigue at whatever she may have next for him. In that there is a direct hook he creates, as Coyote shows the way in every interaction how he holds onto her for so long. As it continues though Coyote gradually reveals a greater frustration as an innate growing element in Oscar that only worsen, which he attaches to this attempt to find any thrill with his wife.  Coyote combines both in portraying this tightrope of intensity in his performance of one of such lust and irritation. Every act has some of both in his delivery and whole manner that creates this horrible dynamic that makes the collapse of the relationship merely an inevitability. Of course as soon as it ends, being such a film as this is, Oscar finds himself crippled due to a road accident.

Mimi returns to him, and again Coyote is excellent by showing the cycle as essentially starting again. As he once again portrays such genuine affection, yet that subsides to this time a seeking for a thrill, which Coyote now shows to be unsatisfying as Mimi essentially tortures him. This cycle is given a soft reset as the two finally get married, and go on that cruise that is the framing device. Now what Coyote has down I suppose foremost is deliver the tale in a most entertaining way with his narration being filled with such a vivid texture representative of the lascivious story. He also though brings us to Oscar's current state which is as this bitter man. Coyote again is entertaining but also fascinating in that he again makes sense of the central relationship. Now his work exudes such palatable and striking bitterness in every word, that is compelling in itself.  He again though connects to the idea of this thrill seeking between Oscar and his wife, as now they attempt to ensnare this new couple into their web. Coyote's great as he shows Oscar loving it as the two seem to fall, I have particular affection myself for his devious reaction when Nigel comes across Oscar in what he expects to be Mimi's bed. Both Oscar and Mimi laugh at that man, and there you see the shared joy once again though in a most unusual endeavor. This continues until they succeed in pulling them in and we have one last scene with Coyote. It is a brief scene yet a fantastic one for Coyote, as he grants an understanding to the whole character and relationship. His reaction is swift yet effective as any joy stemming from the bitterness that leads to the misery of others falls from him and Coyote portrays Oscar falling to the initial affection again. This time though it is through a powerful despair at what the two have done and what they have become. Coyote's performance stands as a turn that makes schlock work by being properly enjoyable, but he does go further to add a bit substance perhaps a little nuance to this trash.

72 comments:

Charles H said...

Awful film. But he is the best thing about it to me. But i still wouldn't give him a 4.5. a 4.

Louis: Thoughts & ratings on the rest of cast.

Anonymous said...

Luke Higham

Louis: Your rating and thoughts on Josh Brolin in W.

Michael McCarthy said...

I ended up liking this movie a lot. Believe it or not, I even liked Seigner. I thought it was fascinating how they're initial kinky phase ended up being a microcosm for they're entire relationship.

Anonymous said...

Louis: your top 10 sam shepard acting moments

Calvin Law said...

Louis: if you've seen any of it, thoughts on Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle?

Michael McCarthy said...

Also Louis, I had the exact same thought about Coyote's voice.

Omar Franini said...

I liked both the movie, Coyote and Seigner's performances, but i found Grant very bland.

Louis: do you consider Coyote the only lead? Or do you consider both Grant and Seigner leads as well?

Deiner said...

Louis: how can you do a top ten of Keanu Reeves' best acting moments and not include anything from "Dracula"? Just kidding. In regards of "Bitter Moon", I've only seen parts of it and many years ago, but I remember liking Coyote a lot.
Can you repost the ratings of these performances:
- Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Famke Janssen and Halle Berry in "The Last Stand".
- Anne Hathaway in "The Devil Wears Prada".
- Danny Huston in "Wolverine".
- Jennifer Garner in "Juno".
- Jodie Withtaker in "Venus".
- Shareeka Epps in "Half Nelson".
- Toni Collette in "Little Miss Sunshine".

Stefan Klein said...

This is an amazing blog. But I'm here to sell you an even more amazing...

No, nothing of that. Louis, you're doing a great job. I absolutely adore your 'Film Thoughts', and I really hope you keep up your work for many years to come.
Having said that, I won't be able to comment on new films. Being from Germany, I usually have to wait for the DVD to see a movie in its undubbed form. And no, I'm not into streaming.
I hope you guys don't mind if I give my thoughts on films and/or actors somewhat belatedly. I've finally come around to seeing the nominees for 2016 Best Actor. I'd rank them as follows:
Viggo Mortensen (a 5 for me)
Casey Affleck (5)
Denzel Washington (4.5)
Ryan Gosling (4.5)
Andrew Garfield (3.5 or so. I didn't dislike Hacksaw, but I think I'm actually more on Robert MacFarlane's side on this. Still, it's good work and I'm looking forward to seeing Silence.)

Luke Higham said...

Stefan: Welcome aboard. :)

RatedRStar said...

Stefan: Welcome to Hell, you aren't leaving and your trapper here forever =D lol.

RatedRStar said...

trapped..

Anonymous said...

Louis: What's your Rotten Tomatoes score prediction for Justice League? I'll go with 54%.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Anonymous: 34%

RatedRStar said...

Anonymous: I will go slightly higher but still not good, 41%

Luke Higham said...

I'll go 45%.

Robert MacFarlane said...

If anything I think I'm shooting too high. I wouldn't be surprised if it's below 20%.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

I'm predicting it to be in the high 30% range.

JackiBoyz said...

The fact that Henry Cavill is going back to film reshoots while having a mustache being CGIed is just hilarious.

JackiBoyz said...

I reckon 28%, the highest it could get is mixed reviews.

Charles H said...

I'll predict low 40's.

Mitchell Murray said...

(Stefan) - I managed to see all of 2016's oscar nominated performances just as of last month. My rankings are as followed, and keep in mind a 4.5 and 5 are often interchangeable for me.

Actor:

5) Garfield - 4/5
4) Gosling - 4/5
3) Washington - 4.5/5
2) Affleck - 4.5/5
1) Mortensen - 4.5/5

Actress:

5) Streep - 3.5/5
4) Negga - 4/5
3) Portman - 4/5
2) Stone - 4.5/5
1) Huppert - 4.5/5

Supporting Actor:

5) Shannon - 3.5/5
4) Hedges - 4/5
3) Bridges - 4/5
2) Patel - 4/5
1) Ali - 4.5/5

Supporting Actress:

5) Spencer - 3.5/5
4) Harris - 3.5/5
3) Williams - 4/5
2) Davis - 4.5/5
1) Kidman - 4.5/5

Matt Mustin said...

Oh, I watched Dog Day Afternoon for the first time. My god, Al Pacino is amazing in that film.

Anonymous said...

Matt: He's so good in the role that I can't help but consider a tie between him and Nicholson for Best Actor 1975.

Calvin Law said...

Matt: I think it's probably one of the riskiest and strenuous performances ever put to camera and Pacino is amazing indeed. Plus the film is surprisingly sensitive to a lot of contemporary issues, never feeling dated.

Calvin Law said...

Jack and Al are both in my top 20 of all time but I still easily give the win to Pacino.

Matt Mustin said...

I don't know if it's that easy for me, but Pacino is probably my win, although a rewatch of Cuckoo's Nest could change that. They're both all-time great.

Michael McCarthy said...

I do love Pacino's work, but Nicholson in Cuckoo's Nest is my favorite performance of all time. It's not even close.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Pacino's performances in Dog Day Afternoon and The Godfather Part II are my favorite performances of the 70s, and both performances are in my all time top ten.

Louis: Thoughts on the following Simpsons episodes-
'Mother Simpson'
'Homer's Triple Bypass'
'Homer's Odyssey'

Calvin Law said...

Also I watched the Legion pilot and damn, this is like the superhero arthouse film I've always wanted.

Charles H said...

If i was forced to pick one, it'd be Pacino

Anonymous said...


Varun Neermul: Louis, what would be your top 15 foreign performances you have seen thanks to the bonus round?

Pacino would be my win. It is just so diffrent from everything ive seen him in.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your thoughts on these scenes:
Stars and Javert's Suicide in Les Miserables (10th Anniversary and 2012)

Also, if there were to be a live-action version of Disney's Hunchback, do you think Philip Quast would be a great choice for Frollo or even the Archdeacon.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Anyone here a fan of Rick and Morty? Been binge-watching it lately and love it.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Could I have your ratings and thoughts on the cast of Enchanted April. You've mentioned giving Plowright a 3.5 on Giuseppe's review.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your cast and director for a 1980's Detroit and a 1940's Mystic River.

Bryan L. said...

Anonymous: For Krause, I'm thinking James Spader or if someone could tone down his mannerisms, Sean Penn.

Bryan L. said...

*Krauss

Matt Mustin said...

I saw Dunkirk. It's far from my favourite Nolan, but I still thought it was great. It's expertly directed and none of the technical aspects can be faulted at all. It ratchets up the tension and never really lets you breathe and I love how all the stories converged at the end. As Louis said earlier, it's not traditionally an "actor's movie" but the acing is essential nonetheless.

Whitehead-3.5(He's good at being just the average guy in this situation and effectively shows just this guy's attempts to stay alive.)

Styles-3.5(Brings the right cynicism to the part, and like everyone else just realistically portrays his situation.)

Glyn-Carney-3(He's OK, but he's overshadowed. Still, he does what he needs to.)

Keoghan-3(Same as Glyn-Carney really.)
see
Lowden-3.5(He's good in the dogfight scenes, but really makes an impact later on.)

D'Arcy-3.5(Doing his usual thing, but doing it well.)

Branagh-4(He did a very good job portraying how outwardly the commander seems calm under pressure, but through his reactions shows a desperation to rescue these soldiers. His best scenes though are the later ones where he portrays an unshakable hope.)

Barnard-3(In a film with very little dialouge, he has the least, but he manages to make an impact in his big scene, although I don't think he really stood out much past that.)

Murphy-3.5(He was actually in it more than I expected to be honest. Anyway, he's good at portraying just how broken this man is.)

Rylance-4.5(Not only does he manage to create an entire character with just a little bit of material, he ends up being the heart and soul of the film. He just radiates decency and hope and he makes his personal quest of saving everyone he can incredibly moving by making just a part of who this man is.)

Hardy-4.5(Yes, really. I thought it was pretty amazing how much he managed to convey with just his eyes and a couple of lines of dialogue. I was drawn into his character completely just through how expressive his eyes are in every scene, and in addition I thought his final reaction was exceptional. It's brilliant minimalist work.

Louis Morgan said...

Charles:

Grant - 2(He's very bland in the role and he also plays it mostly as this typical Hugh Grant performance. However that sorta works for the part in providing someone who is completely out of his depth when coming across this couple. Grant however adds nothing to this depicting no real change in his performance, as change comes with what is written, with his motivation being handled by what he does rather than how he does it.)

Seigner - 3.5(I suppose I sounded perhaps bit more harsh in the review itself in that I do think she is effective in portraying the two sides of her character that being the lovely affectionate woman, then the sinister sadistic seductress. She's good at both sides yet she really doesn't connect them in any way other than she plays them in both scenes. Coyote depicts how this works, Seigner really doesn't but she is good at those two sides.)

Thomas - 2.5(She really doesn't have much to do, and ends up being sort of bland because of that rather than her performance.)

Luke:

Hold up on Brolin Luke, I watched it originally in 08, but let's see how the 08 alternate lead lines up first.

Note non will actually be ranked in any of my overalls since this was a TV movie to begin with.

Richardson - 3.5(I quite enjoyed her performance as I found she most effectively captured sort of the breezy tone of the material the best. In that she finds a bit of substance to the material in portraying the certain insecurity that leads her to go with the other women, yet doesn't go to far still to capture that nothing in the story is all that serious really finding the right light touch to bring the subdued humor out effectively.)

Walker - 3(She has some iffy moments in there but for the most part she does a fine job of finding the rest balance in the character pressing whether she's only a vapid debutante, or perhaps there might be just a bit more.)

Lawrence - 2.5(Her performance treads a little too closely upon caricature at times. She's never distracting or really bad in this in that the caricature she treads toward still serves the role, but she never goes further past that certain point.)

Molina - 2.5(Fittingly basically the same problems as Lawrence.)

Broadbent - 3(His character is perhaps almost even just setup to be a caricature yet he is such a delight with his brief screentime and does find a bit of nuance particularly in his reaction when he hears of a certain guest at the house.)

Well in terms of performance of both there is no comparison Quast's singing is of course far more impressive. He better acts the song as well though in both cases infusing such powerful passionate devotion in stars, then such anguish in Javert's Suicide. Crowe just doesn't come close in either capacity. Now what's stranger though is the choice in direction in that comparing the two shows how uninspired Hooper was in his staging since even in restrictions of the concert feel far more remarkable. Hooper does nothing in either scene, you can barely see the Stars in Stars, and he again just stands there in the suicide before the most unintentionally hilarious sound effect ever. Both are severe missed opportunities and really Crowe's performance is not on the top of the list how. Quast's work makes both numbers beautiful and heartbreaking, the movie version does not come close.

Quast would be amazing in either role, and judging by The Devil's Double he has the screen presence needed as well.

Louis Morgan said...


Anonymous:

Shepard:

1. Preparing to Break the Barrier - The Right Stuff
2. Meeting with the recruiters - The Right Stuff
3. Frank James - The Assassination of Jesse James
4. The Farmer understand - Days of Heaven
5. Kitchen Apology - Brothers
6. Apology - Country
7. At the Funeral - The Right Stuff
8. Break Down - Country
9. Explaining Mud - Mud
10. Walking from the crash - The Right Stuff

Calvin:

I watched it when it originally aired for awhile, though I stopped in the later seasons. Cranston was easily the best part of the show for me, also great in his Seinfeld guest appearances, and managed to do his own hilarious variation on the common hapless father. Cranston for me was always the highlight even though was usually the b-plot, he was always the main plot to me, as even when an episode did not work all the way he tended to due to just how good his comedic timing always was.

Omar:

Seigner yes, Grant I guess, but he's on the border.

Deiner:

Well "I.....Know....where....the...bastard...sleeps" was close, but I digress.

2.5
2.5
2
1.5
2.5
2.5
3.5
3
3.5
3.5

Stefan:

Thank you.

Anonymous:

I'll say a clean 40%.

Varun:

I'll assume foreign Language.

Matthias Schoenaerts - Bullhead
Liv Ullmann - Scenes from a Marriage
Byung-hun Lee - A Bittersweet Life
Lee Young-ae - Lady Vengeance
Aleksei Kravchenko - Come and See
Pierre Fresnay - Monsieur Vincent
Taraneh Alidoosti - The Salesman
Louis Jouvet - Quai des Orfevres
Liv Ullmann - Shame
Liv Ullmann - The Emigrants
Isabelle Huppert - Elle
Shahab Hosseini - The Salesman
Jean Gabin - Pepe Le Moko
Matthias Schoenaerts - Rust and Bone
Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone

Anonymous:

Detroit 1980's directed by Spike Lee:

Melvin Dismukes: Forest Whitaker
Larry Reed: Terrence C. Carson
Fred Temple: Don Cheadle
Carl Cooper: Keith David
Greene: Samuel L. Jackson
Julie Ann: Rebecca De Mornay
Karen: Rosanna Arquette
Krauss: James Spader
Demens: John C. Reilly
Flynn: Eric Stoltz

Mystic River 1940's Directed by John Huston:

Jimmy Markum: James Cagney
Sean Devine: Humphrey Bogart
Dave Boyle: Pat O'Brien
Sergeant Powers: Ward Bond
Celeste Boyle: Gale Sondergaard
Annabeth Markum: Mary Astor
Brendan Harris: James Whitmore
Mr. Loonie: Walter Huston

Luke Higham said...

Louis: You forgot about Tatsuya Nakadai in Ran.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I understand Mikkelsen's exclusion as he does speak English in his interactions with his Girlfriend.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the scene where Johnny trashes his house and then kills himself in The Room.

Anonymous said...

Louis and who watched: Your thoughts on Eastwatch episode of Game of Thrones

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

What a scene, the details really are what are most important, particularly the shot of tv falling out of the window at angle impossible by the way it was thrown. The sheer, somewhat muted, anger of Johnny just seems to be exactly what Wiseau's vision was to lead up to that fateful moment of killing himself with Chris-R's gun, obvious symbolism that only a good actor's gun can truly stop the Wiseau.

Anonymous:

Loved the episode, pretty much everything about to be honest. Everyone was great here I'd say particularly though Coster-Waldau, Dinklage, who were terrific in their scene together, and Liam Cunningham who thrived finally having some juicy material to work with. Special mention though to James Faulkner and Tom Hopper who made the last moments of the Tarlys surprisingly moving. I loved though that there is the complication involving Daenerys who really might be no better than Cersei when it comes to being a Queen in Westeros. Although the plot is at the fastest pace its been I don't feel they are sacrificing the characters. I was actually rather overjoyed to see who I assumed was a long forgotten one in order to create the All-Star team of badasses. Technically a setup episode yet a great I felt for every single one of those interactions, and moments that are making such strong use of the show's rich history.

Michael McCarthy said...

My heart was pounding this entire episode merely from the implications of everything that's about to happen, it's interesting that Dany and Cersei seem to be headed towards a sort of Cold War. LOVED that Davos got to go full smuggler this episode, as well as the formation of the Jonstice League.

Anonymous said...

Louis who would be your MVP per episode so far this season?

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

1 - Rory McCann
2 - Conleth Hill
3 - Diana Rigg
4 - Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
5 - Liam Cunningham

Robert MacFarlane said...

Mine are same as Louis, except I'd go with Maisie Williams for episode 4.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Talbot's death scene in Hulk.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the following Simpsons episodes-
'Mother Simpson'
'Homer's Triple Bypass'
'Homer's Odyssey'

Luke Higham said...

Saw 'Eastwatch'. Another brilliant episode. It's hard to choose an MVP this week but I'll go with a tie between Coster-Waldau and Cunningham.

And I agree with you Louis, I'm overjoyed that Gendry's returned and It looks like Jon's a legitimate Targaryen. :)

Luke Higham said...

And I really liked Harington and Dinklage as well.

Omar Franini said...

Louis: your thoughts on The Foorida Project trailer?

Calvin Law said...

Omar: Looks great doesn't it? I was about to ask the same question.

I saw The Big Sick. LOVED IT. Louis, what do you reckon about it's Oscar chances? I reckon Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Hunter could be possibilities.

Omar Franini said...

Calvin: i agree with you, it looks great and i think Dafoe is the frontrunner for supporting actor. His role reminds me Ali in Moonlight, as this kind of paternal figure.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the score for The Lion King.

Anonymous said...

Willem Dafoe has not aged at all lol.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

A perfect visual representation of just how terribly Ang Lee's "comic book" style was realized. It is so horrible goofy looking in every regard, and particularly ill-fitting to an adaptation that takes itself so seriously.

Tahmeed:

Mother Simpson - (A pretty great episode aided by Glenn Close's is rather affecting vocal performance. The whole emotional side with Homer though is so effectively realized through such hilarity throughout particularly through Mr. Burn's efforts, aided by the Dragnet crew, as well as the opening involving Homer faking his own death. I have a particular love for the lonely hammock gag, and Chief Wiggum's wallet APB. A fantastic episode.)

Homer's Triple Bypass - (One of the very best episodes of the series. As it shows how good they somehow where by creating a real emotional investment, something so lacking in later seasons, while not for a moment becoming melodramatic or overly serious. Homer's tentative goodbye to his kids is incredibly moving yet somehow never seems tonally off when proceeded by Dr. Nick being frustrated by the surgery tape being recorded over by People that Look like things. And yes this episode is consistently hilarious as well with such a rapid fire of successful jokes throughout, my favorites perhaps being Patty and Selma's instant replacement for Homer, and the world's most easily fooled insurance salesman.)

Homer's Odyssey - (Ah yes Season 1, such a strange thing. See with later seasons I see where the jokes are attempted they just are not funny in season 1 episodes though there don't appear to be attempted jokes for the most part with the show oddly playing mostly as a drama for whatever reason, along with some often fairly shoddy animation at times. I'd say this episode goes really too far in that regard, with Homer's suicide attempt at all, and does have any jokes really to cushion it. I don't think it is necessarily entirely bad in of itself, but so strange with what the series soon became.)

Omar:

I thought that looked rather great as I always find sort of the child's perspective in potentially unsavory stories rather interesting and that appears to be the case here. Furthermore from the trailer it has rather rich visual style, and Dafoe looks very promising.

Calvin:

Original Screenplay, though I'd say it probably will be fighting with Get Out and who knows what else, for that only in screenplay shot. Maybe Hunter though it would have to be a weak year in terms of more Academy friendly roles.

Anonymous:

Look for my individual thoughts on some of the pieces of the score, that more or less covers my overall thoughts on it.

Calvin Law said...

Also, Louis: what would your cast for a 1970s and 1990s Legion be? I've figured out a 1980s one:

Directed by David Lynch

David: Mark Hamill (although Kyle Maclachlan would probably be the choice)
Syd: Laura Dern
Melanie: Jean Simmons
Amy: Mary Steenburgen
Kerry: Peter Coyote
Cary: Not sure
Lenny: Veronica Cartwright (perfection if I may say so)
Oliver: David Bowie (perfection if I may say so)

Calvin Law said...

Also, maybe she gets a bit better, but am I alone in thinking Amber Midthunder is a massive weak link in the cast? Everyone else is essentially pitch perfect down to the smallest bit part, but I just find so many of her line deliveries so off. I would probably dislike her more if not for Bill Irwin being pretty great on his side of things.

Omar Franini said...

Louis: can i have your thoughts on Novitiate trailer? Some awards experts are predicting Leo for supporting actress; what would be your rating for her work in The Fighter? I can't find it.

Luke Higham said...

Omar: She's a 2 or a 2.5.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

I'll agree with your "perfection" choices. It would be MacLachlan though, and if were, Twin Peaks/Blue Velvet MacLachlan that would be perfect as well.

70's:

David: Christopher Walken
Syd: Karen Allen
Melanie: Claire Trevor
Amy: Susan Strasberg
Kerry: Hume Cronyn
Lenny: Sondra Locke
Oliver: Gene Wilder

90's:

David: Jared Harris
Syd: Emily Mortimer
Melanie: Anne Bancroft
Amy: Mimi Rogers
Kerry: Leonard Nimoy
Lenny: Jennifer Tilly
Oliver: Jeff Goldblum

Omar:

The film itself looks decent though just that, I'd say Leo's rather subdued performance, other than that one screaming scene, is the most intriguing facet of it. The film so far has received a positive response, but in sort of that respectful but not overly passionate fashion. I'm not sure such a response will be strong enough to carry it to real consideration, though perhaps the support could rally behind Leo to at least make her a contender.

Luke:

To quote James Rebhorn from Independence Day "That's not entirely accurate".

Omar Franini said...

Louis: so what would be your rating for Leo in The Fighter? Could you give also your thoughts?

Anonymous said...

R.I.P. Joseph Bologna

Louis Morgan said...

Omar:

Leo - 3.5(I feel the backlash to her performance ended up being victim one of the most severe reactions due to her Oscar speech, and really her behavior in general during the awards season. Of course past that there were those who genuinely did not care for her performance, calling it overwrought. Well the real woman she was playing was overwrought I felt she reflected that sort of brashness without becoming a full-on cartoon either, by dialing it down in the right moments particularly in her scene with Christian Bale in the car. Now most of the time she is there to be sort of outrageous, which was perhaps a warning of where O Russell was going to go later on, but again here it was fitting to the character. I don't quite love the performance, but it's one that works in context with the character and the film.)










RIP Joseph Bologna,

Charles H said...

RIP Joseph Bologna,

Mitchell Murray said...

Saw the Florida project trailer for myself. Looks very promising and if it delivers, it could be one of the standouts of this awards season. As for Dafoe, one of my favourite things about him as an actor is his ability to mesh deadpan cynicism with just the right amount of pathos. This looks like an ideal role for him.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the "You can act like a man" scene from The Godfather.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Part of Brando's series of great moments in that opening. It's a good moment though in that it actually alludes to a harder edge to Vito in that moment, and the genuine surprise of the moment only adds to it in his way of snapping Johnny into shape.