Best Supporting Actor 1994: Results

5. Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway- Palminteri plays his role straight as the play writing gangster, and just as it should be played.

4. Paul Scofield in Quiz Show- Scofield gives a quiet dignified performance that effectively places the emphasis on the underlying warmth of his character.

3. Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump- Sinise finds the right balance within the film's tone. Although held back by it to a degree, Sinise never underwhelms within those limitations.

2. Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction- Jackson works well with John Travolta to create a some very iconic moments. More importantly Jackson has a strong presence throughout the film, and makes a believable and effective transition from a man of violence to a man of peace.

1. Martin Landau in Ed Wood- This actually is a pretty good supporting year. The Palminteri, Sinise, and Scofield are all good in their own ways, Jackson is great and would have been a deserving winner in many other years, but Landau still stands high above the rest. His portrayal of Bela Lugosi is just astounding from beginning to end. It is a sad poignant performance, but also an incredibly entertaining performance. It is a true embodiment of Lugosi, which is simply a pleasure to behold.

Deserving Performances:
Open to suggestions

Best Supporting Actor 1994: Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway

Chazz Palminteri received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Cheech in Bullets Over Broadway.

Bullets Over Broadway is a pretty straight forward Woody Allen comedy about a play production that becomes interwoven with mobsters.

Palminteri portrays Cheech who is a mobster hitman assigned to protect his bosses' girlfriend Olive (Jennifer Tilly) well she acts in a play written by David Shayne (John Cusack). The interesting and original part of Cheech as a character is that he turns out to be a brilliant play writing ability who ends up rewriting the whole play for David. Palminteri plays his role in a basically straight fashion which does work much better for his role than if he tried to be comedic.

I must say this is more a great character than exactly a great performance. The character is just a funny idea, and Palminteri portrays him in a typical mobster hit man fashion. He has his casual demeanor, but also his ability to be threatening.  The difference is that he does want the play to be good after he writes it which includes perhaps taking care of a bad actress. Still even in the scenes when he is talking about writing Palminteri does it in a calm and cool gangster sort of way. This is perfectly fine since that is what makes the character funny is that he is a normal gangster who just happens to be able to write. Palminteri overall just fulfills his role well, and does really play the part exactly as it should be played.

Best Supporting Actor 1994: Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction

Samuel L. Jackson received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction.

It could be debated that Jackson is the co-lead of the film since he does have a good amount of screen time but also because his is a character who actually changes through the film. I'd say he could be placed in either category and I would be fine with it, since he does not have the most screen time and there is John Travolta as Vincent Vega who is the true lead, although Travolta does become supporting in Jackson's section giving some weight to calling Jackson lead as well.  He really could either way just like Morgan Freeman of the Shawshank Redemption also in 1994.

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the two hit man, the other being Vincent Vega, on a job at the beginning of the film. Jackson's Jules has become rather iconic, and it now seems like a role only he really could actually portray. Also Like John Travolta Jackson excels well with Quentin Tarintino's language. He makes as believable as it is going to be, and brings the right amount of life to it. The conversations also work incredibly well between these two because he and Travolta work very well together. They have very natural reactions with one another, and show a great amount chemistry in their scenes together, which does do wonders for the film. They are entertaining, and very funny together especially in the last third of the film where Jules gets angry over Vincent's rather stupid action.

What really makes Jackson performance works is the tremendous presence he has in the film. He certainly makes Jules one bad (you know what). Doing this is generally not given very much credit, but one does need to present himself a certain way to be a genuine tough guy. It does not just depend on the actor himself being seen as tough, the actor needs to be honestly tough. An example of seeing this is Jackson in this compared to many of Jackson's modern roles. Jackson does not force it here, and honestly comes off as a dangerous man in the early part of the film. He does this incredibly well in his scene where he takes care of business in the opening scene. He is just terrific in the way he  enters the situation with casual talk but slowly escalates until his chilling reading of his Bible "quote".

Jules changes quickly as a man after a (technically) near death experience. Jules sees this as a message of God to change his ways. Although the transformation is technically very fast, as Jules quickly sees it is a message from God, Jackson handles quite well, and in a believable fashion. His transformation is realized in the last scene of the film where he again must handle a potentially dangerous situation this time without violence. It is interesting to see him still command the situation once again, but this time trying to keep it calm and cool. Jackson once again is perfectly controls the scene, but it is fascinating to see his different approach. He brilliantly handles Jules' change from a violent man who thinks he is philosophical, to a non-violent man who is philosophical. The change in the two situations is earned by Jackson, and shows the brilliance of this strong performance.  

Best Supporting Actor 1994: Martin Landau in Ed Wood

Martin Landau won an Oscar from his third nomination for portraying Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.

I am not a fan of Tim Burton, but I must admit to really enjoying Ed Wood every time that I watch it.

Martin Landau's performance as the has been  drug addicted Bela Lugosi is simply an outstanding performance. The first incredible part of his performance is how much he simply is Bela Lugosi in this role. I never at all saw him as Martin Landau in the performance, all I ever saw was Bela Lugosi. Landau is amazing in that every single time I have seen the film I have never questioned for a second that he was Lugosi, he just was this. The amazing part is that the make up was only part of this. More importantly was the way managed to introvert his manner, into the distinct way Lugosi walks and moves. Something even more impressive though is the fact he is able to realize the eyes of Lugosi, that one would think only Lugosi has, but Landau is able to convey the same mysterious feeling from his eyes as Lugosi had been able to which is simply amazing.

His performance though is not only a perfect embodiment of Lugosi but also a brilliant comedic and tragic performance as the broken down Lugosi. Landau handles the comedic aspects of Lugosi with gusto. The film exploits Lugosi's presence and accent, also exceptionally well done by Landau by the way, for great comedic effect. The whole swearing, and anger is surprising how funny it is without being forced. I really thought Landau did wonders with Lugosi's swearing, he firstly actually made it sound natural, but also utilized it for rather brilliant comedic timing. Landau simply has hilarious moments throughout his performance, particularly when he has to fake a struggle with a non functioning Octopus prop, or when he flips out at the mention of Boris Karloff. Landau performance simply is a pitch perfect comedic performance.

The astonishing part though is how effective of a dramatic performance he gives as well. I really find his creates an intricate portrait of a sad man who has gone far past his prime. Landau's performance is sad and quite profound. In his face Landau shows a really sad history of a man whose truly fallen from what he once was. Landau shows that Lugosi truly wishes for a time once again. That he wishes for some sort of success even though he saddened by his past and his current failures. Landau performance only ever contains honest emotion in conveying the struggle of this sad man with the utmost poignancy and power. Something interesting to note is Lugosi is a morphine addict. Most performances would focus only or too much on this aspect, but Landau simply weaves into the whole of Lugosi. Landau portrayal of his withdrawal and sickness is superb as well, but it just shows how brilliant this performance is when that aspect of Lugosi is only a small part of his performance.

Landau does not only portray his as sad or funny, but also does show a certian amount of exhilaration from meeting Ed Wood. Landau shows honestly that Lugosi enjoys acting, even acting in the terrible films of Ed Wood. Landau shows the perfect amount of energy and joy he has when eh is performing in the films, it is quite astounding how Landau shows Lugosi joy of performance within his own performance. Another aspect of some joy in Lugosi's otherwise sad life is his friendship with Ed Wood. I think both actors actually are very good in showing that Lugosi and Wood honestly have a very sweet friendship with one another, a simple friendship but a very effective one. Overall Landau's work is just astounding, it is a truly exceptional piece of actor that honestly puts other performances to shame since it never simplifies his character or his performance. It is not only an embodiment of a real person, but also a brilliant, sad, funny, thrilling performance. It really is just one of the best performances I have seen, period.

Best Supporting Actor 1994: Paul Scofield in Quiz Show

Paul Scofield received his second and final Oscar nomination for portraying Mark Van Doren in Quiz Show.

The Quiz Show tells the story of the revealing of the truth behind fixed game show 21, and one of its stars Charles Van Doren.

 

I think what is notable about this performance, which is relatively brief within the scheme of the film, is the amount of warmth of Scofield's performance. This was even when watching the film the first time, as Scofield often played striking authority figures, I expected as much this time as the poet father of Ralph Fiennes's quiz show pawn Charles Van Doren. This is anything but the case from the first scenes of Scofield just in the presence of the high society. Scofield brings of course that powerful presence of his, but he actually just lets that be a rather light given. It's there but he doesn't accentuate. This makes him an ideal fit for a notable academic, as he just seems like a great man, and no more needs to be said. Scofield though is remarkably warm within that. This as he speaks to his son it is with just a sincere love and affection. This as his whole manner is that of the supportive caring father, who seems genuinely interested in his son and is very much eager to express the utmost pride in his accomplishments.

Now as Charles's fame grows, due to knowing the answers to popular game show 21, Scofield is wonderful in almost silently expressing the mix of feelings. There's a great birthday scene for Scofield where the attention turns from his poem to Charles's current quiz show success. Scofield's great in that he shows that there is less jealousy but more just a slightly taken aback quality. Still even as he expresses this sort of surprise there is still a sense of affection even in his looks to his son in this moment. This as Scofield's powerful consistent emphasis is his love for his son. This is even as he finally watches the show, due to being given a tv by Charles, the nervousness that Scofield presents is of a father being only naturally invested in his son. I love how sweet Scofield makes the moment, like a father seeing his kid perform a difficult recital. It's of a father who absolutely cares for his son and only wants the best, to the point it creates that concern. This setting up then is just a powerful scene when Charles has to reveal his culpability in the quiz show scheme. Scofield is fantastic in this scene at first with only that calm ferocity that Scofield could do as he denounces the idea without knowing his son is part of it. When Charles reveals Scofield is exceptional, this as his reaction is of disappointment and concern equally. This makes it all the more potent as that disappointment is all the greater as the father still only sincerely wishes the best for his son. Scofield's work is absolutely essential in making Mark van Doren quietly the heart of the film, and the fundamental sin of Charles isn't his failure to live up to his father's accomplishments, but rather his failure to live up to his father's belief in him. 

Best Supporting Actor 1994: Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump

Gary Sinise received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Lieutenant Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump.

Gary Sinise initially appears as the commanding officer to Tom Hanks's slow superhuman Forrest Gump. His performance initially very much fits within the film's tone which is kind of the "last thirty years" lite for the time. This as Sinise is a hard bitten lieutenant for...Forrest Gump. Sinise though manages the tone well. Skitting above corniness while not going too hard in this regard. Finding enough balance in his straight directions to his new recruits and just all his commands to Gump. Sinise doesn't overplay, and very much senses the tone Zemeckis is going for without falling into the pitfalls of the tone. Sinise gets to do a bit more, in the massacre lite scene, where an injured Dan demands to stay and die, but Gump saves him anyway. Sinise is intense, but not too intense. Again finding a balance to not seem out of place but still grant enough reality towards the situation. 

After these events, which leaves Dan without his legs, Sinise delivers the initial vicious bitterness. Both in the moment of expressing venomous hate towards Gump, but with a nuance in his eyes that senses this certain appreciation for his life nonetheless. After that he disappears before returning to Gump as a tired angry old veteran. Sinise is at his best in these scenes, these in the moment where he excels really with the confinement of the tone. This as the anger he brings is honest, even if he allows it to be used in a slightly comical way just by Gump's lack of reaction to it. Sinise finds the real sense of loss within this, particularly in the moment of reflection during New Year's. This as he silently expresses his sorrows rather beautifully in a reaction that actually dives deeper than the film wants to go. Sinise does his best in the moments of reflection as Dan seems to find contentment, again the largely silent ones, as Sinise can purely find the emotion without any of the film's sometimes overly light tone getting in the way. This culminates in his final scene, where Dan visits Forrest for Gump's wedding. Sinise expresses well in just a few scant words the sense of gratitude and calm in the man finally. Sinise's performance very much is working within the film's flawed framework, but works within the framework. Although one can definitely see where Sinise could've gone further with this type of part, he still does well even within this film.

Best Supporting Actor 1994

And the Nominees Were:

Paul Scofield in Quiz Show

Chazz Palminteri in Bullets over Broadway

Martin Landau in Ed Wood

Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction

Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump