Wednesday 13 July 2011

Best Actor 1969: Results

5. John Wayne in True Grit- Wayne's performance is an odd one with his strange choice to play the part as if he was Wallace Beery, which does not work particularly well for the role. This was certainly a career award since Wayne gave better performances before and after this one.
4. Peter O'Toole in Goodbye, Mr. Chips- O'Toole plays Chips rather differently than Robert Donat did, and a lot less effectively. Chips undergoes far fewer changes, and stays rather stiff throughout. I did think O'Toole was properly stiff, without being excessively boring, as well as has a few fairly effective moments such as his big speech.
3. Richard Burton in Anne of the Thousand Days- An interesting year where three nominated characters were again or before portrayed in Oscar nominated performances. Burton's performance is extremely over the top making every emotion known as much as possible. I can't say this is the wrong approach for King Henry entirely as some moments do work, but his overall effect is lacking.
2. Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy- There was no question who was going to be in the top two slots this year the only way Wayne, O'Toole and Burton could have competed with these two is if their best performances were nominated this year, but all three of those performances were far, far from their best, the only real question was in what order the top two would be. Voight stands second, why, it is hard for me to say, because Voight is amazing in his performance of Joe Buck. His performance is a raw amazing performance, that could not be more effective if he tried. He gets every single moment of this challenging performance correct, I could not ask for more.
1. Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy- This was really hard to choose, and I will admit a tie seemed reasonable because the two of their performances depend on each other so well, and they achieve so much together. I finally went with Hoffman, why, well again it is hard for me to say, but Hoffman is incredible he takes a enormous amount of risks from his voice to his physical characterization but they all feel entirely natural, and only add to Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo as a character. Every moment he is on screen he is amazing, and his performance is simply one the most heartbreaking performances ever given.
Deserving Performances:
William Holden in The Wild Bunch

15 comments:

RatedRStar said...

We could just say Midnight Cowboy is the winner and leave it at that lol haha x.

Fritz said...

Two outstanding performances at the top!

For me, another deserving performance would be Michael Sarrazin who was pretty spectecular in They Shoot Horses, don't they?

Anonymous said...

I agree with Fritz.

And I agree with you Louis that Dustin sort of edges out Voight.

Anonymous said...

Yes! Of course Hoffman had to win, it really isn't that close for me at all, I think Voight is definitely second best (also amazing of course).

I agree about Michael Sarrazin's amazing performance!

Anonymous said...

Very well deserved. Brilliant work by Mr. Hoffman

Louis Morgan said...

I can't say I was too impressed by Michael Sarrazin.

dinasztie said...

YES! :)

Unknown said...

Hey in your opinion wat is ur top 5 fav movies of the 1960s and ur fav actors of tht same decade

Louis Morgan said...

1. Once Upon a Time in The West
2. Lawrence of Arabia
3. The Good The Bad and the Ugly
4. High and Low
5. Dr. Strangelove

Actors:

1. Toshiro Mifune
2. Richard Attenborough
3. Peter O'Toole
4. Peter Ustinov
5. Tatsuya Nakadai

Unknown said...

Next 5 favorite actors and movies

Unknown said...

No I meant the next 5 favorite actors and movies for the 60s

Unknown said...

No I meant the next 5 favorite actors and movies for the 60s

Louis Morgan said...

Films:

6. Yojimbo
7. Pyscho
8. Bonnie & Clyde
9. Doctor Zhivago
10. Zulu

Actors:

6. Peter O'Toole
7. Sean Connery
8. Paul Newman
9. Michael Caine
10. Tom Courtenay

Unknown said...

U put number 3 o toole lol

Louis Morgan said...

I don't know how I did that as I had looked at the five then somehow thought I had some how left O'Toole off the top five which immediately needed to rectified. Well anyway

Sidney Poitier would be 10 then.