Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015: Adam Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Adam Driver did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Kylo Renn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The Force Awakens is a very entertaining beginning for a new Star Wars trilogy, even if it perhaps hits a few too many of the plot points of the original film through its story of some unlikely heroes, this time Finn (John Boyega) and Rey (Daisy Ridley), helped by an old mentor this time Han Solo (Harrison Ford), facing down a villain clothed in black, and a giant weapon that specializes in destroying planets.

Kylo Renn acts as the new Darth Vader for the film as he shares a very similair introduction. That being as the leader of a brutal attack who proceeds to take someone prisoner who perhaps holds a key to stop the Empire, I mean the First Order. Both of them have a deep voice though in Vader's case other than the heavy breathing that was just the great voice of James Earl Jones, in this case he very specifically has a distorted voice. Both are rather ominous sounding, and though the amplification in this case does a lot, Driver actually manages a bit of variation within that. Their physical manner also differs greatly. Vader walked in a very distinct way you'd expect almost from a robot. Kylo Renn is made frankly less mechanical as there a sense of youth in his movements, as well are much more that of a man than a machine. Nevertheless in this early scene, and the immediate scene afterwards where he tortures the man, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), to gain the information he seems to be vicious fiend you'd expect him to be, and as Vader had been. It should be noted that Vader actually was just a fairly simplistic villain in the first film, not even the head one as he took orders directly from Grand Moff Tarkin, the development of his character came in the later films, that's not the case for Kylo Renn.

Kylo not exactly being Vader is made obvious from his reaction when things do not go his way, as well as when we actually see Kylo speak directly to the damaged helmet of Vader. When not hearing good news he does not quickly silence or kill the poor messenger as Vader would have done. Driver makes it rather it is a far more intensely emotional reaction almost like a child who has not gotten his way. Driver manages, even over the distortion, to deliver a wavering of his voice as he states his pledge to finish what Vader started. Kylo is not Vader, even though he is related to him, as it turns out he is the son of Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han, Ben Solo. Kylo is not even physically damaged as Vader was, as revealed when he takes off his helmet which revels just a normal young man. The revelation of Driver's face is actually quite an interesting, and one thing in the film that is rather daring. He's not a monster under there at all, and suddenly it seems odd that he's the villain everyone fears. Driver's performance is quite effective in that he's not actively menacing as was the case of Vader due to Jones's voice and David Prowe's stature. He still is a good villain though in that Driver makes there something quite dangerous in the petulance of his Kylo. Driver brings this emotional confusion within the character that makes him rather threatening since you have no idea what he might do with his immense power.

Driver actually does something very interesting with the use of his voice as he does, even without the helmet on, a certain voice that seems to attempt to be emotionless. Kylo though concerned that he cannot completely give himself to the dark side of the force seems to reveal Ben, as his voice wavers to a far human sound. Driver manages to make something quite striking in just how much of an emotional mess that Kylo is as he speaks without his mask. The idea of fear and anger leading to the dark side was rather poorly shown in the prequels through a certain performance, but Driver finally gives this sense through his depiction of Kylo here. The pain of emotion is shown as he speaks about the light still pulling at him, and being a merciless murderer seems to be the only way in which to find any comfort or confidence. The pivotal scene for Driver's performance is when Han finally goes to confront his son and attempt to convince him to give up the dark side. Ford, who might be giving his best performance as Solo actually, and Driver are excellent together as in a single scene they manage to establish a history between the two. There is an unquestionable distance between the two yet in their interactions there still seems to be an underlying connection. Driver is even moving as he reveals a vulnerability in the moment, as a son is revealing his anxieties to find some sort of comfort from his father. It's brilliantly played moment by him as he subverts the tenderness and twists it into a cold comfort as Kylo regains his confidence by killing the original source of this comfort. However this does not appear to solve all of Kylo's problem as he engages in a light saber duel at the end of the film. Driver is very good in the performance of the scene by even representing the mental strife in his wild, and violent attacks. He's not a Darth though he may be on the path to becoming one. This film leaves Kylo's story unfinished as you'd expect but the film and Driver actually have created the most fascinating character out of the villain whose not a simple monster in a mask. After this memorable first act I have to say in terms of the sequels I am most looking forward to seeing the further path of Driver's performance and the story of Kylo Renn.