Best Scene: The return to Tara.
4. Lee J. Cobb in Golden Boy - Cobb completely overcomes his potential miscasting by exuding both the age and background of his character so effortlessly through his performance. Cobb goes even past that to give such striking yet almost silent depiction of the moral center of the film.
Best Scene: Mr. Bonaparte before the fight.
3. Ralph Richardson in the Four Feathers - Richardson gives a powerful performance that effectively steals the spotlight of the film through his depiction of the breakdown of a proper soldier.
Best Scene: Durrance realizes who saved him.
2. Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz - Lahr is consistently endearing and hilarious in a performance that stands out among a memorable ensemble through his portrayal of a true scaredy cat.
Best Scene: The Lion's introduction.
1. Cedric Hardwicke in The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Good Predictions Luke, and Anonymous. Among a great field Hardwicke stands at the very top for me in his outstanding portrayal of a zealot's struggle to destroy sin which he sees everywhere including in his own desires.
Best Scene: Frollo reveals his feelings for Esmeralda.
Overall Rank:
- Cedric Hardwicke in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Thomas Mitchell in Stagecoach
- Claude Rains in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz
- Frank Morgan in The Wizard of Oz
- Ralph Richardson in The Four Feathers
- Lee J. Cobb in Golden Boy
- Thomas Mitchell in Gone With the Wind
- Ray Bolger in The Wizard of Oz
- Thomas Mitchell in Only Angels Have Wings
- John Barrymore in Midnight
- Jack Haley in The Wizard of Oz
- Humphrey Bogart in The Roaring Twenties
- Harry Davenport in Gone With the Wind
- Edward Arnold in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Leslie Howard in Gone With The Wind
- Thomas Mitchell in Mr. Smith Goes To Wasington
- George Bancroft in Stagecoach
- Don Ameche in Midnight
- John Carradine in Stagecoach
- Robert Preston in Beau Geste
- John Carradine in Jesse James
- Thomas Mitchell in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Sam Jaffe in Gunga Din
- Claude Rains in Juarez
- Harry Davenport in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- John Carradine in Drums Along the Mohawk
- Brian Donlevy in Beau Geste
- Eduardo Ciannelli in Gunga Din
- Ward Bond in Gone With the Wind
- C. Aubrey Smith in The Four Feathers
- Otto Kruger in Another Thin Man
- J. Carrol Naish in Beau Geste
- Frank McHugh in Another Thin Man
- Nigel Bruce in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- Sheldon Leonard in Another Thin Man
- Arthur Shields in Drums Along the Mohawk
- Donald O'Connor in Beau Geste
- Shemp Howard in Another Thin Man
- Sig Rugman in Only Angels Have Wings
- Henry Fonda in Jesse James
- Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in Gunga Din
- Adolphe Menjou in Golden Boy
- Sig Rugman in Ninotchka
- Felix Bressart in Ninotchka
- Alexander Granach in Ninotchka
- Donald Meek in Young Mr. Lincoln
- George Zucco in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- Broderick Crawford in Beau Geste
- Fredrick Culley in The Four Feathers
- Humphrey Bogart in Dark Victory
- Harry Carey in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Charley Grapewin in The Wizard of Oz
- Richard Bathelmess in Only Angels Have Wings
- Donald Meek in Stagecoach
- Joseph Calleia in Golden Boy
- Ward Bond in Drums Along the Mohawk
- Jack Allen in The Four Feathers
- Donald Gray in The Four Feathers
- Lee Bowman in Love Affair
- Ward Bond in Young Mr. Lincoln
- Paul Henreid in Goodbye, Mr. Chips
- Guy Kibbee in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- David Niven in Wuthering Heights
- Morton Lowry in The Hound of the Baskervilles
- Guy Kibbee in Babes in Arms
- Henry Hull in Jesse James
- Sebastian Shaw in Another Thin Man
- Terry Kilburn in Goodbye, Mr. Chips
- Reginald Gardiner in The Flying Deuces
- Richard Greene in The Hound of the Baskervilles
- Jeffrey Lynn in The Roaring Twenties
- Sidney Blackmer in Convict's Code
- George Reeves in Gone With the Wind
- Fred Crane in Gone With the Wind
- John Garfield in Juarez
An announcement first which is to thank everyone who has been following and continues to comment. I really like how civil the discussions over any films or performances are even when we might disagree vehemently over them. Now I must announce a change in pace due to other obligations. For the time being there probably will only be one review a week and sometimes it might be longer. I'll still leave my thoughts on new movies I see, and update film thoughts now and again. Hopefully in the future I will be able to pick up the pace again, but this is how it has to be for the present.
Now to take a break from trying to find the Best OF before the Bonus Rounds start I'd like to go to the opposite end of things with a WISEAU ROUND (as suggested by Robert MacFarlane). Which means give me your best(worst) performances that are of a different breed entirely.
34 comments:
Bravo Louis, it's been a hell of a ride.
What are your ratings and thoughts for John Barrymore in Midnight? Also your rating for Mitchell in Only Angels Have Wings since I think you forgot it when you gave your thoughts.
I'll come back with performance suggestions a bit later.
Woo Hardwicke!
Top 10 films of 1939? Also no worries about the change of pace :) I'll start posting on my blog more regularly perhaps, and there's the new blog by Giuseppe which is up to a great start!
And congratulations, no mean feat.
While I can't say I'm not disappointed that I won't have a great, new review to read every day or two, you've earned a break.
Incredible job right from the very start and I look forward to everything to come, not matter how infrequent it may be.
I may be back later with some Wiseau round suggestions if I get enough time to come up with them.
You forgot to list Mitchell for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
RatedRStar: Might I suggest considering Hardwicke in Tom Brown's School Days (1940, supporting). I haven't seen it, but I just came across it, and his performance was well-reviewed.
Congratulations Louis, your reviews have been fantastic! Even if I'll miss reading your reviews every day when I wake up, there's no one else I can think of who deserves a break more than you. As for the Wiseau Round:
1) Adam Sandler in Jack and Jill
2) Rob Schneider in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
3) Dev Patel in The Last Airbender
4) John Travolta in Battlefield Earth
5) Nicholas Cage in The Wicker Man
And sorry in advance for the pain you'll have to go through of seeing these horrible movies and performaces.
@Calvin: Thanks a lot!
@Louis: Congratulations! Not only you are a great reviewer but you also made me discover some movies that I might have ignored otherwise, thank you!
You're the Saint Patron of Mediocrity Louis :D Your hard work is appreciated.
So...Harry Styles is going to appear in the next Nolan movie with Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance and Kenneth Branagh. I guess he wants to expand his audience to directioners (?)
With "he" I mean Nolan obviously
Louis: Thoughts on Harvey Korman and Gene Wilder in Blazing Saddles.
Louis: Congratulations on completing your 3 year, 9 month odyssey and the break is incredibly well deserved, so I hope you enjoy yourself. :)
I'm also honoured to have won a request on the very last alternate lineup. I need to have a think about it though.
Wiseau Round Suggestions
Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man (He's a must)
John Travolta in Battlefield Earth
Jon Voight - Anaconda
Can't think of anyone else at the moment.
Louis: Will you be posting a Wiseau ranking as well. If so, then Tommy Wiseau is gonna be your #1.
Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia
Well done, Louis.
It has been wonderful, you deserve the break, it will be great to see you return of course but for now you deserve everything, this is the best Oscar blog in the world, no doubt about it, as for Wiseau rounds.
Pierce Brosman - Mamma Mia (SO WHEN YOU NEED ME DARLINGGG)
Nicolas Cage - The Wicked Man (HOWD IT GET BURNED)
Nicolas Cage - National Treasure 2 (HAGGIS)
Jon Voight - Anaconda (IT GOES FOR DI EYES)
Aaron Kwok - Murderer (AHHH MYYY AHHH MYYY)
Louis: The sidebar doesn't have 1939 Alternate Supporting underlined in Red.
A review for Nic Cage in The Wicker Man would be epic! I'd also like to read a review of him in Vampire's Kiss. Cage is the man.
Michael Patison: He could get in for 1940, I am quite surprised how strong my 1940 supporting line up is actually.
Louis: I'd also like to know what do you think of:
Eduardo Noriega - The Devil's Backbone
I personally thought he was awful, especially when compared to other members of the cast
Also, for Wiseau week:
John Travolta in Battlefield Earth
Nic Cage in The Wicker Man
Nic Cage in Deadfall (an absolute necessity)
Jon Voight in Anaconda
Eddie Redmayne in Hick
*so I hope you'll enjoy yourself. :)
Louis: Ratings & Thoughts on:
X-Men
X2
X-Men: The Last Stand
Origins: Wolverine
First Class
The Wolverine
Days Of Future Past
Harry Potter and The Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone
The Chamber Of Secrets
The Prisoner Of Azkaban
The Goblet Of Fire
The Order Of The Phoenix
The Half-Blood Prince
The Deathly Hallows Parts I and II
Congratulations and a big thank you for this amazing and inspiring project. You're the man.
To finish, what's your top 10 of actors you feel sorry for not giving a win?
Louis: It's been one hell of a ride and congratulations. You truly deserve a break. My request for the bonus rounds shall be Boris Karloff in The Body Snatcher (1945). What are your ratings and thoughts on:
Edward Arnold in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
John Carradine in Stagecoach, Jesse James, Drums Along The Mohawk.
Congratulations Louis! You've done a hell of a work that was very inspiring for me on my blog, which I hope you are going to keep following. Thank you for a great time I've had here (and hope to will have from on now, as well) and thanks to everything for the discussions.
For the bad performance, one that comes to my mind is Dennis Hopper in Waterworld. There's also:
Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction
Christoph Waltz - Big Eyes
Miyavi - Unbroken
Tommy Lee Jones - Batman Forever
Louis: During your break, will you be watching more TV.
Oh, and I forgot, the suggestions for the Wiseau rounds:
Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man and Deadfall
Jon Voight in Anaconda
John Travolta in Battlefield Earth
Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia
Anonymous: That should be the lineup.
These Wiseau Rounds are going to be a lot of fun.
I actually saw Mr Wiseau in the flesh a few weeks ago at a screening of The Room. He was funny but very distant, and can definitely see why he'd be a bit grating on a one on one basis. He also invited one of my friends to his hotel room, an invitation which was politely and wisely declined.
Wow what a story Calvin. Very wise decision indeed.
Hahahaha, what a story, Calvin.
I would have preferred that you would go with the bonus rounds, but I don't mind that you go with the Wiseau Rounds.
Michael:
Thank you. Mitchell's a 4.5.
Barrymore - 4.5(He's a hoot here as more than a little unscrupulous of a schemer. He's a delight in every scene he's in and Barrymore plays so well with kind of his standard suave image by revealing such an eccentric and mischievous flair beneath it all. He enlivens the movie the second he turns up and does not stop until it ends with his very entertaining work)
Calvin:
1. Gone With The Wind
2. Stagecoach
3. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
4. Beau Geste
5. The Wizard of Oz
6. The Roaring Twenties
7. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
8. Nonotchka
9. Only Angels Have Wings
10. Midnight
Tahmeed, Robert, RatedRStar, and moviefilm:
Thanks.
Giuseppe:
Your Welcome.
Alex:
I absolve you. I absolve you.
Michael:
Korman - (He's technically doing his usual thing he did on the Carol Burnett show, but there's nothing wrong with that as he's very enjoyable in his portrayal of a rather nervous villain.)
Wilder - (Wilder finds just the right tone for his performance as he has this certain seriousness and detachment he brings at times that ends up being downright comic gold when he gets into such ridiculous situation)
Luke:
I doubt any one can knock Wiseau off his own well earned pedestal.
I'm not taking break in terms of creating more free time, it's my lack free time going forward is the reason for the change of pace.
GM:
Thank you.
1. Kirk Douglas
2. John Wayne
3. Al Pacino
4. Ian McKellen
5. Harrison Ford
6. Ralph Fiennes
7. Peter Ustinov
8. Mickey Rourke
9. Cary Grant
10. Burt Lancaster
Anonymous:
Arnold - 4(Strong performance from him as per usual. Here he's just playing the straight villain, Rains is given the complex one. Arnold's good in his role as well and I like how he does not overplay the evil of the character. Instead he plays it much more directly as though the political machine is how things work, and in his method of getting rid of Smith Arnold carries himself in a particularly blunt and direct fashion like a man who's simply doing his job)
Carradine - Stagecoach - 3.5(He brings the right smoothness to the role of the card playing gunslinger type. Carradine though finds a complexity to the character as the film proceeds as he conveys some actual vulnerability within the role rather nicely. He's especially good in bringing such weight to his brief final moment.)
Jesse James - 3.5(A good example of some pure evil Carradine. He brings such a malevolence in those eyes of his, and I love the way he shows the whole plan to kill Jesse mostly through his fiendish expressions. He also though does bring a nuance putting on the right act of a loyal man before the pivotal moment.)
Drums - 3(The thinnest of the roles in that he's purely just there to look evil in a few scenes, but hey Carradine still makes the most of it)
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