Best Actor 1953: Marlon Brando in Julius Caesar

Marlon Brando received his third Oscar nomination for portraying Marc Antony in Julius Caesar.

Julius Caesar depicts the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar than the aftermath following the assassination.

Brando is not the lead in the film, and really his part is a supporting one. The true lead is James Mason as Brutus one of the lead conspirators, not Mark Antony. Marc Antony actually only comes in and out of the film, but whenever he appears it is important because he the chief defender of Julius Caesar, and desires revenge after the death of Caesar. Brando briefly appears at the beginning of the film, and does very little. Brando's performance mainly consists of three scenes that give him focus.

 He has first a small scene where he comes in after the assassination. Brando is properly repressed in this first scene, as Antony acts as the assassination as almost some sort of proper lawful act, because that is the way the conspirators say it is. Brando though suggests that Antony is holding back his true emotions in the event by subtly showing that he is keeping down the honest pain he does feel over Caesar's death. After the conspirators leave though Brando lets out the emotions in a short powerful moment really showing how much Caesar's death has devastated him.

Brando's major scene of performance than is his speech to the Roman people over the death of Caesar. They censure him by telling him that he can not use his speech to condemn them. The speech than is incredible well written and Brando performance is up to the quality of the speech itself. Brando brilliantly mixes in Antony's greif, and pain, along with his hatred, as well as love for the deceased Caesar flawlessly. He also infuses a great deal of power into every word that completely holds the screen for his entire speech. There is no question to Antony ability to turn the people against the conspirators, because Brando's performance creates such a powerful and finely tuned argument.

Brando brings his essential speech to fullest life it could possibly have, and appropriately makes it the turning point against the plot of the conspirators. Brando only has a few minor moments from than until near the end of the film where he shows remorse over the death of Brutus, becuase he believed Brutus was the conspirator's who honestly believed Caesar had to die for the good of Rome. Brando again is very strong in his short heartfelt speech that gives the film a strong effective end, becuase of Brando once again. This is most certainly a supporting performance, but an important one particularly in his two speeches which Brando knocks out of park. He might not have the most screen time but this is still a very strong performance that certainly is superior to all five of nominated supporting performance from this year.