Saturday 20 June 2020

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2014

And The Nominees Were Not:

Chris Pine in Stretch

Matthias Schoenaerts in The Drop

Irrfan Khan in Haider

Taika Waititi in What We Do in the Shadows

Ricardo Darin in Wild Tales 

Predict those five, these five or both:

Sam Claflin in The Riot Club

Shia LaBeouf in Fury

Michael Parks in Tusk (Do not Watch)

John Cusack in Maps to the Stars

Damian Alcazar in The Perfect Dictatorship

114 comments:

Matthew Montada said...

When you mentioned Michael Parks, you put Tust instead of Tusk

Louis Morgan said...

Obviously to keep people off the trail of actually watching Tusk.

Maciej said...

1.Schoenaerts
2.Waititi
3.Darin
4.Khan
5.Pine

1.LaBeouf
2.Parks
3.Alacazar
4.Cusack
5.Claflin

Luke Higham said...

1. Darin
2. Khan
3. Schoenaerts
4. Waititi
5. Pine

1. LaBeouf
2. Alcazar
3. Parks
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

Aidan Pittman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shaggy Rogers said...

Come on! Really?
5 names was not enough?
I think that after 2014 the next year to be analyzed will come out on March 15, 2021

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Darin
2. Schoenaerts
3. Waititi
4. Khan
5. Pine

1. LaBeouf
2. Alcazar
3. Parks
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

Matt Mustin said...

Shaggy: What's wrong with you, dude?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Shaggy: Please just shut up.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your rating for Scarlett Johansson in Under The Skin.

Thoughts on the female performances you've listed, Kristen Stewart in Clouds Of Sils Maria and Raw x2.

Have you re-watched Birdman and has Duncan gone up to a five.

Your lowest 4.5 in Supporting Actress.

Thoughts on:
Iko Uwais in The Raid 2
Nate Parker in Beyond the Lights
Johannes Bah Kuhnke in Force Majeure

GM said...

1. Waititi
2. Schoenaerts
3. Darin
4. Pine
5. Khan

1. LaBeouf
2. Parks
3. Alacazar
4. Cusack
5. Claflin

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Bryan mentioned this previously but do attempt to watch Noah. It baffles my mind if you watched Exodus and decide not to watch the former.

Matt Mustin said...

Luke: In fairness, he doesn't like Aronofsky to begin with and to be honest, it's not like Noah is a great movie either.

Lucas Saavedra said...

Louis: your top 6-10 for 2014 best director?

Luke Higham said...

Matt: Well, there's no harm in trying. You could argue that Crowe gives at least a somewhat stronger turn there than in The Water Diviner.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Darin
2. Schoenaerts
3. Khan
4. Waititi
5. Pine

1. LaBeouf
2. Alcazar
3. Parks
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Predictions for ratings:
Darin- 5
Schoenaertes- 4.5
Khan- 4.5
Waititi- 4
Pine- 4

LaBeouf- 5
Alcazar-4.5
Parks- 4/4.5
Claflin- 4
Cusack- 3.5/4

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: Parks is on a 4.5.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Luke: Damn did not know Parks was on the original ranking. I guess I'll predict him to stay a 4.5 then.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Also, I'm so relieved that Essie Davis remains a 5 for The Babadook and are Foy and Chastain 3.5s for Interstellar.

Luke Higham said...

Lastly, Chastain (Take Shelter aside) going down from 3rd to 9th in Supporting, I can't remember any other Actress in recent times have a downturn in re-evaluations than her.

The Tree Of Life - 4.5 to a 4
Zero Dark Thirty - 4.5 to a 4
Interstellar - 4 to potentially a 3.5
A Most Violent Year - 4.5 to potentially a 4
Just barely a 4.5 for Eleanor Rigby when she was 3rd in the ranking initially

Mitchell Murray said...

1) Darin
2) Khan
3) Schoenaerts
4) Waititi
5) Pine

1) LaBeouf
2) Parks
3) Alcazar
4) Claflin
5) Cusack

I must admit, though, that I NEVER considered Waititi as supporting in WWDITS. Yes, his screen time his fairly comparable to his co-stars, but it's through Viago that the film begins and ends.

Mitchell Murray said...

Luke: Based on his thoughts, I'd imagine Johansson is a 3.5/4, which is what I'd give her as well. Personally, I think people went a little overboard at the time in praising her performance, but it's still an effective enough turn.

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

1. Darin
2. Schoenaerts
3. Khan
4. Waititi
5. Pine

Bryan L. said...

Luke & Matt:

In regards to Noah, that's exactly why I put "If not, I'll completely understand" in my comment xD

Michael McCarthy said...

What did I miss with Darin? I’d give him a 3.5 tops (though Wild Tales basically did nothing for me as a film).

RatedRStar said...

I'd almost forgotten that Louis reviewed Hardy and liked him even more, that makes me think the same is possible with Mattias.

1. Schoenaerts
2. Khan
3. Darin
4. Waititi
5. Pine

1. LaBeouf
2. Parks
3. Alcazar
4. Cusack
5. Claflin

RatedRStar said...

Has anyone here seen The Riot Club?

Bryan L. said...

Michael: It's been awhile since I saw it, but for me, his character had the most singular focus out of any of the segments.

Plus, I felt that he tried his best to try to take his character a little bit further than what was intended, as I remember it being a director's film.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: I have, I don't mind watching it but Claflin's easily the most interesting thing about it.

RatedRStar said...

Luke: I have a feeling Louis might hate the film itself lol.

Emi Grant said...

1. Darin
2. Schoenaerts
3. Khan
4. Waititi
5. Pine

1. LaBeouf
2. Alcázar
3. Parks
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: That's fine, I just hope he likes Claflin well enough. If he's less than a 4, I'll be really disappointed in myself.

Emi Grant said...

Louis: Since you seem to really not have liked Mommy, would you mind if I have your thoughts in at least the most positive aspects of it (Clément and Dorval)?

Also, wondering what your thoughts are on Frank's "Secure The Galactic Perimeter", since you really seem dig I Love You All.

Luke Higham said...

I absolutely adore I Love You All from Frank.

Emi Grant said...

Luke: Me too. Honestly, every song from The Soronprfbs straight-up slaps.

BRAZINTERMA said...

5º Chris Pine
4º Irrfan Khan
3º Taika Waititi
2º Matthias Schoenaerts
1º Ricardo Darin

5º Sam Claflin
4º John Cusack
3º Michael Parks
2º Damian Alcazar
1º Shia LaBeouf

RatedRStar said...

To be fair I don't think Louis is completely against Darren Aronofsky, he did like The Wrestler.

BRAZINTERMA said...

Hey Louis!
Tell me from the year 2014 which are your TOP6 best:
- Score
- Poster
- Editing
- Blockbuster-film
- Screenplays (adapted and original)
- Cast
- Character of the year (In this category it doesn't matter if the actor's or actress's performance should be in the overall rank. What matters most is how memorable the character is to the general public). Here are some examples of mine as references: Stephen Hawking and Jane Hawking (The Theory of Everything), Martin Luther King Jr. (Selma), Amy Dunne (Gone Girl), Alice Howland (Still Alice) and Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy).

Lucas Saavedra said...

Louis: Your top 10 2014 ensembles?

Bryan L. said...

*Watches Phoenix*
*Thinks about it for hours*
“Marion, I still love you, but...”
*Gives win to Nina Hoss*

Robert MacFarlane said...

*sees Cotillard lose her win*

This is fine. Everyone has their opinions. This is good. This is...


If I win this next round, I’m either requesting John Travolta in Battlefield Earth or Dougray Scott in Mission: Impossible 2.

Luke Higham said...

Films To Watch (Re-Post), Louis: Have you seen any of these.
Olive Kitteridge
The Normal Heart
Birdman (Potential Upgrade for Duncan)
300: Rise Of An Empire (Eva Green's an easy 4.5 for me)
A Second Chance (fairly strong work from Coster-Waldau)
Noah
The Salvation (Mads Mikkelsen)
Lucy (Johansson/Min-Sik)
Black Sea (Jude Law)
Horns (Daniel Radcliffe)
Big Hero 6
The Lego Movie
Song Of The Sea
How To Train Your Dragon 2
When Marnie Was There
Maleficent (One of Jolie's better turns)
The Maze Runner
Neighbors
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Camp X-Ray
Tom At The Farm
Gett: The Trial Of Viviane Amsalem
Pasolini (Willem Dafoe)
The Trip To Italy (Steve Coogan)
The Hundred-Foot Journey
The Way He Looks
Girlhood (Celine Sciamma)
While We're Young
Jimmy's Hall
Night Moves (Jesse Eisenberg)
Housebound
Northern Soul
Kajaki
The Tribe
Lilting (Ben Whishaw)
Eden
In Order Of Disappearance (Stellan Skarsgard)
A Hard Day
The Grand Seduction
Listen Up Philip
Bird People
The Wonders
Saint Laurent
White God
Veronica Mars
Breathe In (Guy Pearce)
A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence
Breathe
Dear White People
Jimi: All Is By My Side
The F Word
The Monuments Men
Devil's Knot (Atom Egoyan)
Felony
Half Of A Yellow Sun
Mary Queen Of Scots
The Stag
Love, Rosie
Non-Stop
I Origins
Magic In The Moonlight (Woody Allen)
God Help The Girl
Serena
Miss Julie
God's Pocket
The Admiral: Roaring Currents
Palo Alto
Grace Of Monaco

Luke Higham said...

Robert: Pick Dougray please, it's the only way you'll get him to watch it. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke, besides Parks, what ratings do you think these performances will get? I hope Claflin fares well enough so your streak doesn’t end.

Luke Higham said...

Pine - 4
Schoenaerts - 4.5
Khan - 4.5
Waititi - 4/4.5
Darin - 4/4.5 (I might have to change again because Michael's opinions more often than not align with Louis')

Claflin - 4 (Here's hoping)
LaBeouf - 5
Parks - 4.5
Cusack - 3.5
Alcazar - 4.5

Luke Higham said...

Hey Guys, do any of you remember your first ever requested performance review. Mine was Michael Fassbender in Frank.

Bryan L. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RatedRStar said...

Luke: Crikey what was mine? I've been here since 2011, you might have to find it for me lol.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Right when I was starting to get over it...

:/ :)

Robert MacFarlane said...

Luke: Pretty sure it was either Robin Williams in Insomnia or Dennis Hopper in River's Edge.

RatedRStar said...

Luke: It might have been Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in Infernal Affairs for me but you might have to check.

Calvin Law said...

I’m literally 5 minutes away from making the biggest deal of my goddamn life!

*delivers fruit basket*

*sees Louis switch to Hoss for the win*

Holy shit I’m gonna cum

Anonymous said...

Louis: your top 15 Joe pantoliano acting moments

Calvin Law said...

1. Schoenaerts
2. Pine
3. Khan
4. Darin
5. Waititi

1. LaBeouf
2. Parks
3. Alcazar
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

RatedRStar said...

Calvin: You seemed pretty excited lol xD

Calvin Law said...

Indeed. Y’all need to check her out, I love Marion too but it’s not that hard a choice for me either.

RatedRStar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bryan L. said...

Btw, I'm actually kind of glad Pines' getting reviewed for one of his gonzo turns, after his understated/rated work in Hell or High Water. Plus, love that screencap.

RatedRStar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Calvin Law said...

RatedRStar: previous post.

Razor said...

1. Khan
2. Schoenaerts
3. Darin
4. Pine
5. Waititi

1. LaBeouf
2. Parks
3. Alcazar
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

Michael McCarthy said...

1. Matthias Schoenaerts
2. Irrfan Khan
3. Chris Pine
4. Taika Waititi
5. Ricardo Darin

1. Shia LaBeouf
2. Michael Parks
3. Damian Alcazar
4. Sam Clafin
5. John Cusack

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

3.5.

Uwais - (A good reprise even if he's there for the physical he really brings an emotional connection to his work once again. Although the film overall I felt was a bit bloated, way too many characters, whenever he was onscreen it wholly worked in creating a through line for his character's battle that reaches a personal level.)

Parker - 3(Generally just a low key charming performance. He is very much overshadowed by his co-star, but decently facilitates her more dynamic performance.)

Kuhnke - 3(His performance is fine but for really it is more of the setup that you get what's going on with his work than what we see from him. He's fine in the steps we see however I would say his co-star really kind of hits the more essential notes so to speak.)

Binoche - (I mean she just about can do no wrong in my book, and though all the love seemed to go to her co-star, this was Binoche's show for me from start to finish. This in I loved just how authentic her work feels throughout even as the film starts to play mind games. Binoche brilliantly balances them without her own work that delivers her scenes with the strict honesty of the seasoned actress dealing with her sense of self and vulnerabilities. I especially loved her laughing scenes where she seemed particularly so real in her dismissive attitude towards blockbusters.)

Dorval - (Okay I didn't care for the film, but in a way this helps Dorval who echoes the frustrations towards the film's narrative. Anyways though on her own merits she gives a terrific performance. This in portraying the complexity within her connection in her son. Her work capturing the sense of frustration though not just a hollowness but rather a real beaten down quality within it. This though with a sense of care but buried within the sense of defeat she brings to life. She's also great though in showing outside of this the woman struggling to live her life that fuels those frustrations all along the way.)

Louis Morgan said...

Li - (You kind of get two extreme different performances from her. The one as just the woman trying to hide her love for her husband before it bursts out in the opening sequence of the film. She beautifully realizes the broken love by circumstance. She's great then though in the second half as the broken woman. This in creating the sort of timid state of the woman but finds complexity in this. In that we sense the distance from the daughter while still having the sense of affection for her husband. Sadly not the real man she is seeing in front of her which she portrays so well as this sort of state of anguish placed within her mind. Creating a honest sense of the terrible state as this thing foisted within her.)

Ranaut - 4.5(Just an extremely charming performance all the way through. There's nothing to dismiss lightly, even if it is largely light work, it just luminous in the best of ways. This in finding such a spirit that brings the best out of every scene and every situation. In addition though the minor sort of dramatic moments though she does deliver on to be sure even if they are hardly the focus of the narrative. More than anything this is just a star performance in the best of ways.)

Lyadova - (Her performance matches her co-star with this sort of quiet descent as well. This though with more moments of nuance within there in her scenes of unfaithfulness. Although even those scenes she portrays so well in the context of desperation within the situation and creates a moving sense of the downward spiral based on just human need.)

Kongsli - (Plays very well a sort of consistent note of this largely unsaid reflection against her husband's cowardly actions. Her performance though manages to say quite a bit without saying anything directly. In that you get the sense of the conflict from the situation just from her performance that is so pointed within that silence.)

Wasikowska - (Preferred this traveling "find one's self" movie over Wild I will say, even if the stakes appear to be lower. Wasikowska though gives a charming performance that manages to overcome the potential sort of privileged manner I think her character could've shown if played the wrong way. Wasikowska though makes her endearing in portraying the sort of moments of spirit of her inspiration along with though the moments of hardship in her learning curve.)

Slate - (The performance doesn't stress too much from her as it only variates slightly from a general largely low key comic approach. She works well within this though in that you get a sense of who this person is even as she makes everything seemingly a joke about herself. She manages to sort of break the caricature wall in this regard finding life within the approach.)

Huiwen - (Gives a moving portrayal of the sort of coldness from the state she lives in then later her mother's treatment of her. She doesn't overdo this but rather shows just someone who is lacking in warmth due to not being shown any herself. When this changes though Huiwen's performance naturally segues towards this warmth in a way that really is quite moving and powerful.)

Louis Morgan said...

Thompson - (Effective as is usually the case for her in first just portraying sort of the cutting need in her performance that has the right sort of comic intensity about it. When there is more to her character though Thompson naturally finds it that doesn't feel as though it is a betrayal to the rest of her performance.)

Kunzendorf - (Her performance works well in contrast to Hoss as this sort of static person who is stuck within the past though in a different way. This in her portraying just as basically this state of a quiet dismay and pain that leaves her unable to move on in a different way. This to the point that when what happens, happens, it isn't a true surprise but rather the sad natural progression of what we saw in Kuzendorf's performance.)

Clement - (I have to say overall she didn't "that" much of an impression on me. I certainly liked her performance overall though. This in that I thought she delivered a nice natural presence in her moments, creating a reality in the scenes even when I found the scenes themselves quite cloying.)

Stewart - 3.5(Okay, here it is, like Pattinson in The Rover, I do think there was a bit of an overdone rush to parade Stewart's talent, both by her twilight fans and by those who wanted her to be recognized beyond that pigeon hole. I don't think she's amazing here, or has been yet in anything I've seen her in. Having said that, I do think she's good, this particularly in her scenes of discussion with Binoche where they strike up a good chemistry between them. This chemistry that sort of realizes itself on two levels both this strange connections between the two and the more direct just relationship of an assistant and her boss.)

Hey hey hey, I'm trying to be Ridley Scott completist, yeah I don't intend to finish Hannibal but still...

I've seen Girlhood as well.

Foy I'd say deserves to stay a 4, Chastain I can't get out of my head her awkward "eureka" moment. She's still a 4.5 for A Most Violent year. I'll say what typically hurts her on reevaluations is her occasional tendency to mechanical artifice, on full display in Miss Sloan, to a lesser degree in Molly's Game, just stand out more, when they are in her work.

Yeah I know I forgot Mbatha-Raw, I'll get to her.

Lucas:

6. Bennett Miller - Foxcatcher
7. Chad Stahelski - John Wick
8. Christopher Nolan - Interstellar
9. Dan Gilroy - Nightcrawler
10. Doug Liman - Edge of Tomorrow

cast:

1. Birdman
2. Inherent Vice
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. The Drop
5. What We Do in the Shadows
6. Calvary
7. Selma
8. Pride
9. Paddington
10. Haider

Louis Morgan said...

Emi Grant:

A madder song to be sure, "I Love Your All" definitely would've been their banner hit...anyway though as the song is basically a smear of noise as a sort almost deranged version of Space Odyssey, it is remarkable that it does work in the sheer insanity of it all.

Brazinterma:

Score:

1. Birdman
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Under the Skin
4. Interstellar
5. Mr. Turner
6. Foxcatcher

Poster:

1. Godzilla
2. Inherent Vice
3. Birdman
4. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
5. The Grand Budapest Hotel
6. Interstellar

Editing:

1. Whiplash
2. Inherent Vice
3. Fury
4. John Wick
5. Edge of Tomorrow
6. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Blockbuster (over 100 mil. domestic)

1. Edge of Tomorrow
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
4. X-Men: Days of Future Past
5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
6. 22 Jump Street

Adapted Screenplay:

1. Inherent Vice
2. The Drop
3. Phoenix
4. Edge of Tomorrow
5. A Most Wanted Man
6. Haider

Original Screenplay:

1. Birdman
2. Foxcatcher
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. Whiplash
5. Nightcrawler
6. Locke

Most Iconic characters upon reflection for the general public:

1. John Wick
2. Groot
3. Amy Dunne
4. Rocket Raccoon
5. Fletcher
6. Koba

Robert:

I'll take my penance, if I must.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Your #11-#25 films for 2014.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Adam Driver in Tracks?

Luke Higham said...

Louia: Do you intend to watch Robin Hood (2010) at some point.

Anonymous said...

Luke, if you’ve seen that film, what did you think of it, and your rating and thoughts on Crowe?

Calvin Law said...

Robin Hood is not worth watching though I guess if Louis has seen Exodus, he might as well check that out too lol

Luke Higham said...

Anomymous: Probably the dullest Robin Hood film I've seen. Crowe's fine but if I had to pick an MVP it would be Von Sydow.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Along with Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle and Beyond The Lights), your ratings and thoughts on:
the cast of The Giver
Shepard and Johnson in Cold in July
Martin Sheen in Trash
Joel Edgerton in Exodus
The casts of'71 and The Water Diviner

Your rating for Driver.

Luke Higham said...

And Mara and Moura in Trash.

Luke Higham said...

Michael: I'm praying that Wasikowska gets a 5 for Maps To The Stars.

Tim said...

1) Darin
2) Khan
3) Schoenaerts
4) Waititi
5) Pine


1) LaBeouf
2) Alcazar
3) Parks
4) Claflin
5) Cusack

Lucas Saavedra said...

1) Darin
2) Khan
3) Schoenaerts
4) Pine
5) Waititi


1) LaBeouf
2) Alcazar
3) Parks
4) Cusack
5) Claflin

Lucas Saavedra said...

Louis: are you going to watch the movie Cheap Thrills for this year?

Anonymous said...

Louis, ratings and thoughts on the cast of Belle.

Anonymous said...

1. Schoenaerts
2. Khan
3. Pine
4. Waititi
5. Darin

1. LaBeouf
2. Parks
3. Alcazar
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

Luke Higham said...

https://bryansfilmandetcblog.blogspot.com/2020/04/edgar-wright-ranking-one-of-best-in.html?m=1

https://bryansfilmandetcblog.blogspot.com/2020/06/wes-anderson-king-of-symmetry.html?m=1

John Smith said...

Louis, thoughts on the movie queen and ratings and thoughts on the cast


Also have a question, would you be interested in checking out Vishal Bhardwajs other adaptations of Shakespeare's works. Omkara is his adaptation of Othello which is my favorite and he also made Maqbool with Irfaan Khan in the lead role, that film is an adaptation of Macbeth also starring Tabu

Jack Narrator said...

1. Darin
2. Khan
3. Schoenaerts
4. Waititi
5. Pine

1. LaBeouf
2. Parks
3. Alcazar
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

Aidan Pittman said...

Alright, some slight changes to my predictions...

1. Darin
2. Schoenaerts
3. Khan
4. Waititi
5. Pine

1. Alcazar
2. LaBeouf
3. Parks
4. Claflin
5. Cusack

Anonymous said...

Luke, thanks. What did you think of Blanchett, Strong and Isaac?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Blanchett was good enough, Strong was reliable as always whereas Isaac gives one of his lesser performances.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Could I have your ratings and thoughts on Avery Brooks and Guy Torry in American History X? Had to rewatch it for an assignment that I'm working on, and even though the way the film uses Torry's performance isn't ideal, I found that he made quite an impact.

Michael Patison said...

1. Matthias Schoenaerts
2. Irrfan Khan
3. Chris Pine
4. Taika Waititi
5. Ricardo Darin

1. Shia LaBeouf
2. Michael Parks
3. Damian Alcazar
4. Sam Clafin
5. John Cusack

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Damian Alcazar is missing from the labels.

Anonymous said...

Luke, what are your updated 2002 Supporting suggestions.

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

Anonymous: I'll let Louis play it by ear but Fiennes and Mikkelsen are musts.
For the lineup of five:
Brendan Fraser - The Quiet American
Ralph Fiennes - Red Dragon (Could be a five)
Mads Mikkelsen - Open Hearts (Could be a five)
Willem Dafoe - Auto Focus (Not too sure about his placement)
Christopher Plummer - Nicholas Nickleby

And Firmino and Lures as extras.

Has anyone seen Frailty and what did you think of McConaughey.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: I’ve seen it. I thought he was even better than Paxton actually, though I think he’s Lead. Dafoe is Supporting, but he doesn’t receive as much material as Kinnear does.

Matt Mustin said...

Luke: Is Fraser supporting?

Luke Higham said...

Matt: Louis considers him Supporting.

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: I'll probably recommend McConaughey over Paxton for the prediction contest yet still review the latter like he did with Noah Jupe in Honey Boy because Lead is really stacked.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Good idea. I was about to suggest the same.

Actually, Honey Boy is a good film to compare Frailty to, now that I think about it, since they have a similar structure and share the same emotional crux (a boys relationship with his father.)

Bryan L. said...

Although tonally and thematically-speaking, Frailty is rather...different.

Luke Higham said...

And if Louis decides to not review either Dafoe or Plummer, I wouldn't be against one for Brendan Gleeson in 28 Days Later.

Anonymous said...

Louis, would you rank Raw between Snook and Ranaut or just below Blunt.

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

11. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
12. A Most Wanted Man
13. Guardians of the Galaxy
14. Paddington
15. What We DO in the Shadows
16. Locke
17. A Most Violent Year
18. Two Days, One Night
19. Charlie's Country
20. Haider
21. Coming Home
22. The One I Love
23. X-Men Days of Future Past
24. The Rover
25. Dawn of the Plane of the Apes

Torry - 3(The way he is used is indeed questionable, as "hey this guy's funny, I no longer hate!!!". Although I'll give Torry credit though in that he does bring a more genuine charm within his performance in these scenes. He importantly makes these interactions honest in their own way just in terms of his overall work even if the film's use of the scenes isn't perfect by any measure.)

Brooks - 2.5(Brooks has always a powerful presence but I'm not crazy about the way he is used in the film. In that he does almost seem like out of a different film entirely in how he is set-up in his delivering of the "American History X". I mean in that perhaps Brooks is too striking for his own good in that he seems this force of nature rather than just a caring teacher.)

Bryan:

Driver - 3(Not a role that really plays to his strengths, in that it doesn't really push him at all. Instead it just asks him to be sincere while bringing a degree of goofy charm. Driver delivers on that but that's about it.)

Luke:

Only way to get complete the circle, I mean if I watched the "Ridley Scott Directed this?" that was Someone to Watch Over Me, ought to finish the job.

Mbatha-raw - (I'll speak to both of her performances that certainly delivers one of the things needed for a proper breakout year which is different facets of a talent. We get that here in that in one you have the charismatic but fundamentally desperate work in Beyond the Lights where she brings a star quality but also a sensitivity. This against Belle where she actually is even more charismatic though fashioned through the lens of basically a Jane Austenization of a true story. This in her work is one that exists very much in the line delivery where she delivers the needed cutting qualities, but also a sense of charm and grace as well. Both performances though she succeeds in finding sort of the very different states one being desperate within the spotlight the other thriving outside of it.)

Louis Morgan said...

Bridges - 3(The film in general so rushes the book's plotline that it becomes quite comical. Bridges though does his best to really salvage any semblance of ideas within the book. This delivering an emotional sort of exasperation of a man long living in his wasteful state. A better adaptation would've helped but Bridges does his best to prop it up.)

Streep - 3(She's more than fine in delivering the coldly authoritative streak needed, though a pretty simple role. She achieves the needs of that simplicity however.)

Holmes and Skarsgard are just kind of there....Taylor Swift even more so and
rather baffling.

Shepard & Johnson - 3.5(Both bring a decent amount of anything to their parts. Shepard in particularly gives some semblance of a connection between father and son though the film is definitely too dumb to do anything about. Johnson delivers a nice degree of his usual swagger to make some scenes at least a bit more tolerable.)

Sheen - 3(A decent warm performance from him to be sure. He is often sidelined in the narrative however he does deliver on his end whenever he does show up.)

Edgerton - 2.5(I'll say he really gets hit the hardest with the casting as they dress him up the most making him look the most awkward out of anyone, which is unfortunate. I say that as Edgerton does try to make something out of it. He delivers a degree of conviction even if he looks too goofy and out of place for it to ever really matter.)

Dormer - 3.5(Dormer delivers a nice quietly devoted turn. This bringing a real sense of the conviction towards decency that he internalizes in his work while also accentuating the certain sense of fear about the ramifications that his actions will likely bring.)

Harris - 3.5(Brings his typical intensity effectively towards his vicious role even if I feel the fil doesn't explore it well enough to let Harris really drive the part home. He's good though.)

Louis Morgan said...


Most everyone else is good, but again the cast itself feels like a real missed opportunity as every just slightly too underwritten which is a shame given all the potential both in the scenario and the talent.

Kurylenko - 3(She does a fine job in a cliched part. This in that she is at least convincing in her bit even if that bit is rather questionably written.)

Erdogan - 4(Although as mentioned before I do have serious reservations overall in terms of the film's choices in presenting the Turkish army, he does give a good performance. This in he finds sort of the power within the character's reserve effectively while also bringing enough emotional nuance to accentuate the hidden pains of the war beneath it all.)

McKenzie - 3("A favor for Crowe?" part for his Romper Stomper co-star? This as the film gets rid of her so quickly feels a bit of a shame, although I'll say she delivers certainly on the intensity of her grief quite powerfully.)

Jai Courtney is good but just has slim role.

Mara - 3(Like Sheen offers a nice bit of warmth in her part, and honestly through that this is one of her better "normal" performances.)

Moura - 2.5(Doesn't really have much to do other show physical pain, which he does more than alright.)

Lucas:

Maybe.

Anonymous:

Wilkinson - 4(Wilkinson of course can always be good in terms of bringing that sort of commanding patrician edge. I thought though here he excelled though in slowly revealing the better qualities within his character. Making his later declarations in defense of his granddaughter and her ideals particularly powerful.)

Reid - 3(Find as sort of your standard type of dashing romantic lead, doesn't make too much of an impression but doesn't make a bad one either.)

Watson - 3(Very much underused as is too often the case with her later career, but she is good with what she has to do.)

Gadon - 3(Borders on too much occasionally but overall I did think she effectively conveyed the complexity of her relationship. This in the sense of a warmth, but also at times a cruel naivety towards the situation.)

John Smith:

Queen I thought was a charming, if very minor, pseudo romantic film. In that it is really about finding self-confidence and happiness with one's self instead however. It does this well, it isn't anything substantial but well done within those limits.

The rest of the case I think is fine but it is very much a central performance centered style film.

I would interested in a general sense.



Anonymous:

The "And:" are not ranked.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on the Rosencrantz & Guildenstern equivalents in Haider?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Man, didn't think The Babadook would have such a fall in the ranking when it was in your top 5/6 when you did the alternates.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: And the same for Shraddha Kapoor from that film.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Wow, me neither. I saw the original thoughts once and he seemed full of praise for it.

Anonymous said...

Louis, could you add Damian Alcazar to the labels.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Matthias Schoenaerts
2. Irrfan Khan
3. Chris Pine
4. Taika Waititi
5. Ricardo Darin

1. Shia LaBeouf
2. Michael Parks
3. Damian Alcazar
4. Sam Clafin
5. John Cusack

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Pantoliano:

1. After his son's injury
2. Final confrontation with Tony
3. The truth - Memento
4. "Are you nuts"
5. Killing everybody - Bound
6. Trying to apologize to Johnny Sack
7. Getting his money back - Risky Business
8. Deciding on Jackie Jr's fate
9. Cops - Bound
10. Negotiating with Paulie
11. Gladiator recreation
12. Trying to convince Leonard that Natalie can't be trusted - Memento
13. How Tony made a name for himself
14. Killing everyone - The Matrix
15. Prank Call

Bryan:

3 - (They're both pretty over the top, but it works. They're less corrupt "friends" and more of henchmen here, but either way their goofiness actually does play well.)

Tahmeed:

Kapoor - 3.5(Her performance works well as someone where there is no real sort of "play" in her character. She is just honestly an innocent within it and is effective in portraying this type of sympathy and romance with the other Kapoor. I'll say though sort of Ophelia's descent is a minor note in this version and we don't really get to see her portrayal of it. Still she's good in her moment of reaction to the betrayal of her trust by her father.)

Luke:

Well the true test of any horror film is the re-watch, which left mainly Davis's performance still left to appreciate. Not that I thought it was bad, but the major effect just did stay, in part by the ending which I probably was too kind to to begin with.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your thoughts on The Raid 2.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

I mean as a pseudo follow up, it apparently was written first, it does successfully take the same general idea in a new direction. This however also shows the inspiration of the previous film all the same as its concise simplicity is not to be found here. Now to be sure the action scenes are brilliant once again, the kitchen scene just amazing, but it is extremely bloated. The truth is we need to stay with Rama, he's the lead and the film too often drifts away. It's attempts at sort of an undercover relationship, and mob power struggle aren't bad, but they're flimsy since the purpose of the film really is to get to the action. So any build up in those elements really is lost because in the end it is a straight forward action picture despite all those different threads thrown in here this time. I mean it would've been fine if it tried to be more complex if it stayed with that idea, but it doesn't. Instead when it work, is when we are just in the following our protagonist moments, those moments are great again, but there is too much in the way of them. I particularly HATED the Yayan Ruhian scenes which had almost zero impact on the rest of the story, and just were a perfect representation of the bloat of the sequel. I still liked it overall, but easily could've been 2 hours.