Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1993

Well since there is not a clear strong five for alternate line up, and also since it would be rather impossible to crack my current top five for 93 here are just a few performances I feel are worth mentioning. 

Matthew McConaughey - Dazed and Confused - Alright Alright Alright. Dazed and Confused follows multiple high school students on the last day of school in the 70's. Matthew McConaughey does not play one of the students instead appears as a man, David Wooderson, in his twenties who prefers to spends his nights still hanging around with the high school crowd. This was McConaughey's first role, outside of course being murdered on Unsolved Mysteries, and well he already had it, what ever it was. This role is a great example of the sort of McConaughey wackness that is very specific and something that only he is able to pull off. McConaughey is very entertaining here with his dumb grins, and excessively relaxed delivery bringing life to a guy whose more than a little stuck in arrested development. The thing is though is he loved every minute of it. McConaughey is a delight here though as he makes his role of Wooderson a highlight of the film. McConaughey technically does not avoid the underlying sleaze related to the role, but rather wears it in a way that makes him kind of endearing in a strange way including his speech about the agelessness of "high school girls". It's a fun performance that really could have only been delivered by McConaughey.

Chazz Palminteri - A Bronx Tale - A Bronx Tale is a more than decent coming of age story, although it does feel like De Niro attempting to be Scorsese, about a Italian boy learning about life from his father and in the unlikely source of a gangster Sonny LoSpecchio played by Palminteri. Now Palminteri would be Oscar nominated a year later for his gangster turn in Bullets Over Broadway, but I can't help but if some residual love for this performance played into that. The type would become Palminteri's go to type, even in Coke commercials, and this is probably the best example of his work in that type. Palminteri fulfills basically the man who owns the town well. He has this sort of confidence of a man who believes himself to essentially be untouchable, but coats it well with a definite charm of man who knows how to get people on his side. He never comprises the darker side of the role. That certain killer's edge to the man is always apparent in Palminteri's violent glances, and there is even an underlying intensity in his more friendly moments. The focus of the film is on how Sonny relates to the young boy, but it isn't about how he's a bad influence though, actually sort of the opposite. Palminteri is great in the fatherly scenes as he so effectively conveys the real warmth in Sonny towards the boy, that is wholly genuine, yet he still doesn't hide the nature of the man. Palminteri instead captures a certain wisdom within the man's darkness essentially by showing the intelligence that can be found in a man who never suffers fools and will always lead never follow. Palminteri captures this dynamic effortlessly as does not show two separate men, the teacher and the gangster, but instead effectively gives us the wise mobster with both his faults and his knowledge.

Michael Keaton - Much Ado About Nothing. Much Ado About Nothing may be lead and directed by the consummate Shakespearean Kenneth Branagh, but the film is filled with some actors you'd never guess would come near the Bard. This includes Keanu Reeves (who does as well as you'd expect but it actually kind of works for the part), Denzel Washington (who is actually pretty good), and Beetlejuice himself, Michael Keaton. The whole story is a series of stories, yet Michael Keaton's is probably the most detached, until the end of the film. He plays Dogberry the local constable who along with his merry men solves the rather low key crimes plaguing the central characters. Keaton once again proves that he is a one of a kind actor. Yes he actually does do well with making the words seem wholly natural, but Keaton really makes them his own. This is a downright hilarious performance in just everything he does. The whole set up is great as Keaton walks half as a the proper purveyor of justice and half as a drunken idiot. Keaton steals every one of his scenes beautifully through his consistently hilarious delivery that is filled with just the right bluster of confidence and just the right non-sense in Dogberry's most unusual method of law enforcement. Every second he's onscreen is quite entertaining as Keaton just glories in playing a fool but a fool who gets the job done.

Updated Overall

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1993: Results

6. Sean Penn in Carlito's Way- Penn gives a suitable enough performance that does not fall into the problems of his later work, but still it is not anything that remarkable.

5. Sam Neill in The Piano- Neill does his best to not fall into his cliches of his sort of character creating a believable portrayal of a man who simply does not understand the woman who he wants as his wife.

4. Christopher Lloyd in Twenty Bucks- Lloyd is so incredible in his short segment of his compilation film to the point that I wish the film had been solely about him. He creates a terrific portrait of a small time criminal who is as efficient as one probably could be in his line of work.

3. Ben Kingsley in Schindler's List- Kingsley gives a very quiet, but very moving performance as the man who desperately tries to save as many people as he can by trying convince another man to do the right thing.

2.Val Kilmer in Tombstone- Kilmer brings to life the role of the larger than life Doc Holliday well combining both the flamboyancy and morose qualities of the man beautifully.

1. Richard Jordan in Gettysburg- Good Prediction RatedRStar. Although this year is a spectacular year for supporting actor I can easily choose my favorite non Oscar nominated performance of the year in Richard Jordan. I really do not cry from watching films but watching Jordan's performance as a civil war General pained by the fact that he must fight his best friend is the closest I have ever come to doing so. His performance is so powerful I am very tempted to give him the whole year.

Overall Rank:

1. Richard Jordan in Gettysburg
2. Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List
3. Val Kilmer in Tombstone
4. Pete Postlethwaite in In the Name of the Father
5. Ben Kingsley in Schindler's List
6. Christopher Lloyd in Twenty Bucks
7. Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park  
8. Stephen Lang in Gettysburg 
9. Richard Attenborough in Jurassic Park
10. Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
11. John Malkovich in In the Line of Fire 
12. Dennis Hopper in True Romance   
13. Chazz Palminteri in A Bronx Tale
14. Michael Biehn in Tombstone 
15. Gary Oldman in True Romance  
16. Michael Keaton in Much Ado About Nothing
17. Gene Hackman in The Firm 
18. Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused
19. Christopher Walken in True Romance 
20. James Gandolfini in True Romance
21. Steve Buscemi in Twenty Bucks
22. Mark Hamill in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
23. Robert De Niro in A Bronx Tale
24. Tom Waits in Short Cuts 
25. Kevin Conway in Gettysburg  
26. Joe Pesci in A Bronx Tale 
27. JT Walsh in Red Rock West
28. Sam Neill in The Piano
29. Jack Lemmon in Short Cuts
30. Dennis Hopper in Red Rock West
31. Joe Mantegna in Searching For Bobby Fischer    
32. Brian Mallon in Gettysburg 
33. Harvey Keitel in The Piano
34. Don Baker in In the Name of the Father
35. Clint Eastwood in A Perfect World
36. Wilford Brimley in The Firm
37. Joseph Mazzello in Jurassic Park
38. Viggo Mortensen in Carlito's Way 
39. Ben Kingsley in Searching For Bobby Fischer
40. Saul Rubinek in True Romance
41. Michael Rooker in Cliffhanger
42. Martin Sheen in Gettysburg 
43. Bruce Davison in Short Cuts  
44. Spalding Gray in King of the Hill 
45. Adam Goldberg in Dazed and Confused
46. Sam Elliot in Tombstone 
47. Laurence Fishburne in Searching For Bobby Fischer
48. Charlton Heston in Wayne's World 2
49. Bob Peck in Jurassic Park
50. Peter Wight in Naked
51. Stephen Tobolowsky in Groundhog's Day
52. Brad Pitt in True Romance
53. Denzel Washington in Much Ado About Nothing
54. Tim Robbins in Short Cuts
55. Ed Harris in The Firm
56. Ken Page in The Nightmare Before Christmas
57. Frank Langella in Dave
58. Ben Affleck in Dazed and Confused
59. Stephen Lang in Tombstone
60. Samuel L. Jackson in Jurassic Park 
61. Michael Wincott in The Three Musketeers
62. Sean Penn in Carlito's Way
63. Charles S. Dutton in Rudy
64. Wayne Knight in Jurassic Park
65. Bill Paxton in Tombstone
66. John Lynch in In the Name of the Father
67. Sam Elliot in Gettysburg
68. Fred Ward in Short Cuts 
69. Kiefer Sutherland in The Three Musketeers
70. C. Thomas Howell in Gettysburg
71. Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive
72. David Strathairn in The Firm
73. Walter Matthau in Dennis the Menace
74. Chris Penn in Short Cuts
75. Powers Booth in Tombstone
76. Gary Busey in The Firm
77. Bronson Pinchot in True Romance
78. Tom Hulce in Fearless 
79. Brian Blessed in Much Ado About Nothing 
80. Ned Beatty in Rudy
81. Dick Miller in Matinee
82. Oliver Platt in The Three Musketeers 
83. Adrien Brody in King of The Hill
84. Robert Downey Jr. in Short Cuts 
85. John Turturro in Fearless 
86. Charles Dance in Last Action Hero
87. William Hickey in The Nightmare Before Christmas
88. Anthony Michael Hall in Six Degrees of Separation
89. Charlie Sheen in The Three Musketeers
90. Chris Elliot in Groundhog's Day
91. Ben Kingsley in Dave
92. Anthony Quinn in Last Action Hero
93. Matthew Modine in Short Cuts 
94. Tim Curry in The Three Musketeers
95. Christopher Lloyd in Dennis the Menace
96. Christopher Reeve in The Remains of the Day 
97. Dennis Hopper in Super Mario Bros. 
98. Michael Rapaport in True Romance
99. John Lithgow in Cliffhanger 
100. John Leguizamo in Carlito's Way
101. Joroen Krabbe in The Fugitive
102. Peter Gallagher in Short Cuts
103. Jason Robards in Philadelphia
104. Luis Guzman in Carlito's Way
105. Dylan McDermott in In the Line of Fire
106. Antonio Banderas in Philadelphia
107. Pierce Brosnan in Mrs. Doubt Fire 
108. JT Walsh in Needful Things
109. Frederic Forrest in Falling Down
110. Steve Williams in Jason Goes to Hell
111. Omri Katz in Matinee
112. T.J. Lowther in A Perfect World 
113. Robert Picardo in Matinee
114. Fisher Stevens in Super Mario Bros.
115. Richard Edson in Super Mario Bros. 
116. Ralph Waite in Cliffhanger
117. J.J. Abrams in Six Degrees of Separation
118. Greg Cruttwell in Naked 
119. Mojo Nixon in Super Mario Bros. 

Next Year: 2003 Supporting

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1993: Christopher Lloyd in Twenty Bucks

Christopher Lloyd did not receive an Oscar nomination, although he did win an Independent Spirit Award, for portraying Jimmy in Twenty Bucks.

Twenty Bucks is not too much of a film about how a twenty dollar bill goes from one person to another telling different stories. One story though is terrific though, you might be able to guess who it involves.

I was going to review Sean Penn in Carlito's Way, but after watching the film I felt no reason to. He is fine in his role as a slimy lawyer, being appropriately unstable that works for the role, but his performance is not incredible, in fact I think I preferred Viggo Mortensen in his single scene performance. It is a good performance by Penn much better than all but one of his nominated performances. I still feel no reason to give Penn another review who has had plenty thanks to his undeserved Oscar nominations, when I can instead give the underrated as well as my 1985 supporting winner Christopher Lloyd another deserved review for his performance in this film.

Twenty Bucks has many different stories, most of them are not particularly memorable, one story involves a small time grifter Frank (Steve Buscemi) who is approached by a career criminal Jimmy played by Lloyd. Lloyd commonly portrays more manic character like in Back to the Future, but here he is almost the personification of calmness. In this film we of course do not see where Jimmy comes from we only know him from his time he first approaches Frank after spotting Frank cheats a restaurant out of a few dollars. Lloyd simply is the master of his part effortlessly creating the intelligence of his character from his first moment on screen.

There is not a question to the fact that Lloyd absolutely controls the screen as he shows Jimmy to truly be a man who has learned a great deal from his career as a criminal. Lloyd is terrific in his depiction of the blunt way that Jimmy approaches Frank. He is especially blunt as he takes apart Frank's small time very petty thievery, and convinces Frank to join him in a string of old up. Lloyd does allow even a question to the way Jimmy is able to so easily convince Frank to join him. Lloyd exudes an incredible confidence here and shows that Jimmy is a man who knows exactly what he is doing.

Lloyd is brilliant in the hold up scenes as he portrays just how smooth he is in the role. He turns Jimmy into a force to reckoned with in term of efficiency. There is not a hint of hesitation in Lloyd's portrayal of Jimmy he makes it clear that Jimmy knows exactly how to handle a robbery to the point that he is even a little casual in his manner. Lloyd makes this casual manner not only believable but entertaining in the way Jimmy so calmly tells people to not look at him, or even the way he shoots someone going for the alarm. Lloyd makes Jimmy a master criminal who knows his trade so well that he really honestly can do robbery in such a particular manner.

Buscemi and Lloyd are great together as basically the protege and mentor of sorts. Their relationship is very interesting as Buscemi's portray Frank as very inexperienced, where Lloyd is terrific in the way he portrays Jimmy act as almost a father to Frank. Lloyd has a wise teaching manner, with even a little warmth in the way he talks Frank through the process, but as well tells him how to do things properly. Lloyd absolutely dominates as Jimmy carries Frank through the robberies.

What is especially striking about Lloyd performance is that his semi warmth in Jimmy is even just part of his business plan. The final scene of the two Lloyd is chilling as he so harshly ends the relationship between the two. It is quick to the point, and Lloyd shows that this end was really exactly Jimmy's plan all along. Lloyd makes his the casual manner a terrible double edged sword in that he can bring someone to join him as easily as he will dispose of them. This is a great performance by Lloyd effortlessly creating this suave criminal who is so fascinating it is a shame that the entire film was not about his character.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1993: Sam Neill in The Piano

Sam Neill did not receive an Oscar nomination, although he did receive an AFI nomination, but since Reb Brown received one of those one can perhaps question their validity, for portraying Alistair Stewart in The Piano.

The Piano is a powerful film about a mute woman Ada (Holly Hunter) and her daughter who go to New Zealand with her prized piano. She is sent to be married to a wealthy plantation owner, but ends up becoming involved with the plantation owner's friend Baines (Harvey Keitel).

Sam Neill portrays the plantation owner, and really this is a role one can probably predict quite a bit about from the moment you see him on screen. The other man in the love triangle is a role that can easily be an extremely one dimensional character. These characters sometimes can be just extremely dull straw men simply there to show how great the other romantic lead is, or they can be just one dimensional evil villains who are evil just for evil's sake it seems. Although I won't say that the part of Alistair is that complex of a character, he thankfully is not either of the two types of the other man used in lesser films.

Alistair is a character who has the tenants of these sorts of characters is that he is the richer man, he is the first man, and he really does not understand Ada very well. Well Neill should get a great deal of credit here in that he does not settle allowing Alistair to be a simplistic character in that he does a very good job in showing that Alistair's reaction to her is not something because he is too little of a character to understand, but rather he genuinely does not know what to do with her. Neill actually conveys an earnestness in his character that portrays Alistair as a man who honestly wants to understand but he can't.

Alistair is not a perfect man in any way, far far from it in fact. Neill though plays him as a man who is attempting to be some sort of husband, and father but really can't quite fit the role. One particular good moment early on in the film is when he trying to comb his hair properly as he is going to meet Ada for the first time. Neill does well in showing Alistair's attempt to turn himself into what he believes he is suppose to be, but really there is that lack of experience and fear of sorts underlying in his face. Neill creates this problem well in Alistair that works quite well later on in the film.

Later in the film when Alistair finds of the affair between Ada and Baines, Neill is quite good because he does not portray it as you might expect. Again Neill is good because he does not portray simply anger in Alistair, as he really has not become that attached to Ada, but rather he quite effective making the reaction one of bewilderment. Alistair is not at all relieved by her continuing going to Baines even after saying he knows, and later even tempting Alistair, but not allowing him to touch her. Alastair's reaction to the affair soon becomes extreme, than later becomes quite reasonable, this would seem hard to believe but Neill makes it work.

Neill makes the two actions of Alistair first one of extreme violence toward Ada, than later one of understanding. This works because Neill's depiction throughout showing Alistair as a man trying comprehend Ada. Her actions that throw him into violence is shown by Neill as the worst possible thing for Alistair, as her continued actions against his will only lead him to a worse state of inability to discern her. Neill makes his violence towards her less of actual hate, but rather of frustration. His just as extreme turnaround is actually earned by Neill because he portrays a realization in Alistair. This works because it is not of Alistair finally knows what Ada wants, but rather simply that he is better off without her because he has not idea how to understand her. Neill does exactly what he needs to in this role, making his character's action entirely believable. With all of that said though I would say while good in the role he is not what your remember from the film. Both Harvey Keitel, and Neill are overshadowed by Holly Hunter's performance. Neill is most certainly good, I must stress that but his performance simply is not where the power of the film comes from.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1993: Ben Kingsley in Schindler's List

Ben Kingsley did not receive an Oscar nomination , although he did receive a Bafta nomination for portraying Itzhak Stern in Schindler's List.

Ben Kingsley despite being nominated two years before along with Harvey Keitel in his wholly uninspired performance in Bugsy was not nominated along with Ralph Fiennes for this film. This is perhaps a little strange as the academy loved the film, clearly loves Kingsley, but since it was probably Peter Postlethwaite who took his place I am not going to complain too much about the oversight. The reason his performance perhaps though was left off is just how understated he is in the role of Itzhak Stern an accountant who takes most the responsibility in setting up and maintaining Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson)'s factory that ends up saving many Jews from the Nazis.

Ben Kingsley early on the film portrays Itzhak Stern as a man who tries to be almost a nonentity acting around Schindler. Stern does not only set up the factory for Schindler, but while doing so he helps many people find work at the factory who would otherwise likely be sent to a death camp. Kingsley is very good here as Stern is quiet around Schindler in that early on his task of saving others is really something that is hidden from Schindler who only really desires the Jewish workers to save money. Kingsley goes about his performance showing Stern as a man very much of his task, and going up trying to bring as many people to the factory carefully and cautiously.

There are many scenes where Stern is a man among others quietly observing as he stays out of the way of death, such as a certain scene where he slowly walks as someone is killed by sniper fire near him. Kingsley is always very powerful in these scenes. He is able to create this man who is a powerful internal strength that keeps him together through all of the horrible events that transpire around him. Kingsley poignantly though does portray the very honest small reactions of Stern as he sees the horror. A great deal of credit must be given to Kingsley as he does convey the emotions so genuinely yet handles them in the appropriate restrained fashion caused by the precarious circumstances his character is in.

Kingsley is effective in that he does not show Stern as a man who changes during the film, whereas that is the main focus with Schindler in the film, instead he portrays well the slowly changes how Stern views and reacts to Schindler. At first Kingsley has Stern treat Schindler in a business like fashion, even though he does well to portray the very real concerns that always weigh on Stern, but he is rather cold to Schindler who he is using in the same way Schindler is using him. Kingsley eases into Stern treating Schindler as someone who can be exploited, for good ends but exploited nevertheless, to something a little more.

The change in the relationship is brilliantly handled by both actors. Kingsley does well because he never does rush it as first really Stern comes closer to Schindler in that the situation for Stern and the other Jews becomes more and more dire. Kingsley is terrific in emphasizing the earnest want in Stern to save as many people as he can, as well as his very serious concerns due to the deaths all around him. He shows well the pressures Stern is under as well as the way he channels these pressures to Schindler as keeping safe becomes slowly more difficult.

Stern stands as a constant of morality during the film. Kinglsey is able to effortlessly bring to life this genuine goodness throughout the film, and in a way his performance actually allows the transformation of Schindler entirely earned. At the end of the film the two really become true friends, and Kingsley is moving in showing how he finally opens up to Schindler in his beliefs in regard to what is right. Kingsley is very powerful in the moments of realization for Schindler, as he stands firm and reminds Schindler what a great thing he has done, as well as what his actions truly mean. Kingsley simply is outstanding through the film bringing to life the righteousness of his character in all honesty without having a single false moment in his entire performance.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1993: Val Kilmer in Tombstone

Val Kilmer did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying John Henry "Doc" Holliday in Tombstone.

Tombstone is an entertaining film depicting the violent feud between gunfighter Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell)’s group of men, against a group of criminals known as the Cowboys.

The role of Doc Holliday certainly is one that requires an actor to really sink his teeth into the part. Doc Holliday by his very nature is going to be a bit of a larger than life character, despite being a very real person. Holliday not only had a medical background he as well is a fast gun, a drinker, a compulsive gambler and to top it off he is slowly dying from Tuberculosis. There just is not anything particularly subtle about this man, and Val Kilmer certainly takes a flamboyant approach to the part which makes absolute sense.

Kilmer here takes on a very particular accent that quite well used, and accentuates the history of his character fabulously. It does well in showing the cultured fellow that Holliday is, and it perfectly displays the manner in which Holliday approaches his life. Kilmer properly plays Holliday as a man who very much is aware that he will not be living particularly long. Kilmer is excellent in creating the underlying melcholia that understandably is within Holliday at all times, but this is never a depressing performance. Kilmer avoids any notion of depression through the fashion in which he portrays the way Holliday tries to get the most out what life he has left.

Kilmer takes on most scenes with a slight well placed comedic touch as he shows that even in situations of life and death Holliday tries to find some enjoyment in them. The idea of having a character who doesn’t even seem to take the most serious of situations seriously is certainly a tricky one to portray well, but Kilmer manages to handle it with a wonderful ease. Kilmer finds just the right tone for his character believable portraying his constant bemusement while still managing to bring the necessary weight to certain scenes. He never compromises any side of his character bringing all of these different emotions into one man.

Kilmer’s Doc Holliday is always entertaining, but Kilmer especially shines whenever Holliday is challenged. Kilmer absolutely commands these scenes with a quiet assurance. He does it with considerable style as he shows the way that Holliday both mentally and physically controls the situation. He is great in every one of these scenes, but his best is when he duels Johnny Ringo. Kilmer plays the scene out almost in a dance he does it all so beautifully. He unquestionably brings to life the intense, uncompromising power in the man about while handling the scene still so casually, the scene is terrific and made so by Kilmer’s brilliant performance.

The character of Doc Holliday is made the most moving part of the film through Kilmer’s portrayal, that just hits the right marks through the entirety of the film. This is a strong piece of acting by Val Kilmer, that shows a range from him which viewing some of his other performances one would probably not be aware of. He fills the part with such genuine humor, and poignancy. Kilmer completely steals not only every scene he is in, but as well the whole film. Frankly it is very likely the film would not even have worked without Kilmer’s depiction of the dying gunfighter. Doc Holliday is a larger than life character, and Kilmer manages to be the larger life character Doc should be but as well still keeps him within an appropriate reality.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1993: Richard Jordan in Gettysburg

Richard Jordan did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Brigadier General Lewis A. "Lo" Armistead in Gettysburg. 

Gettysburg is an excellent film that depicts the pivotal three day battle of Gettysburg that turned the tide of the American Civil War.  

Gettysburg as a film depicts both the Union and Confederate sides of the war. The Union side is shown mostly through Jeff Daniels's strong performance as professor turned soldier Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, but on the confederate side there are many men spotlighted the most compelling one being General Armistead. Armistead is a General in the Confederate army. He is an important General but he is below several others in terms of rank. His part acts as one of the most poignant though due to the fact that his role portrays well what exactly the struggle of the Civil War truly was. 

What is persuasive throughout Jordan's performance is the anguish in Armistead knowing that his friend Winfield Scott Hancock (Brian Mallon) is a general in the Union army and is on the opposite end of the battle field. The two personify the terrible divide caused by the war, and Jordan makes the most in showing just how terrible of thing the war really was in the way he separated friends and brothers. Even though we never see anything that takes place before the battle or any events in the lives of these men before this time Jordan still with an aspiring ease creates this history between Armistead and Hancock. 

What is spectacular is that Jordan really just through his own performance which never interacts with Mallon ever in the film, he creates one of the most powerful friendships in a film. Jordan does this especially well in just the sheer enthusiasm that he displays within Armistead from his very first scene as he asks one of his superiors if he knows anything about the whereabouts of his friend. Although Hancock is very much so his enemy on this battlefield, Jordan genuinely portrays the love within Armistead that even despite his current divide the friendship still lies well in his heart. 

Importantly in Jordan's performance is the fact that he does not try to portray Armistead as a man who is not very much for his cause. Jordan not only shows that Armistead very much believes in the fight right to the end of the battle, but in fact gives the most stirring moment in the film on the confederate side of the battlefield. His speech at the end of the film is very well portrayed by Jordan and is able to honestly create the sentiment that was able to lead all of the men into an ultimately fatal charge. Jordan does not create this sentiment as something foolhardy but more properly is able to convey the conviction of their beliefs that compelled them to their demise. 

The friendship aspect of Armistead is the most important one though, and Jordan absolutely does his best to realize just how deeply this weighs on Armistead. In the scene where Armistead tells his superior General Longstreet (Tom Berenger) about the last time he talked to Hancock. Jordan is incredible in this scene as he so well brings vividly to life the moment in which the two saw each other for the last time. Jordan beautifully creates the jumbled emotions that Armistead is going through in his mind as he does his best to try and get through the story. There is only an emotional truth in this moment from Jordan that is just a stunning scene from Jordan showing exactly why Armistead cannot lose his anguish. 

What is amazing though is the scene I referred to before is not the most powerful one. At the end of the film Armistead leads a group in the fatal charge, but his severely wounded during it. As he lays most likely going to die he tries to get a message through to his friend only learning that his friend has also been wounded. Jordan makes this final scene of his performance as well as his career one to be truly remembered. Jordan is utterly heartbreaking as he portrays the intense pain and overwhelming regret he feels in what seems to be his last moments knowing he will never sees his friend again. It is a devastating end to his character that is portrayed so perfectly by Jordan, he makes it the most moving moment in the entire film. This is an outstanding performance by Robert Jordan that pierces through the whole of this over four hour film.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1993

And the Nominees Were Not:

Richard Jordan in Gettysburg 

Sam Neill in The Piano 

Ben Kingsley in Schindler's List

Val Kilmer in Tombstone

Sean Penn in Carlito's Way