Wednesday 27 September 2017

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1949: Juano Hernandez in Intruder in the Dust and Results

Juano Hernandez did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lucas Beauchamp in Intruder in the Dust.

Intruder in the Dust follows the story of a well to do black man accused of murdering a white man. The film falls mostly inert by too often focusing on the rather bland leading characters of the lawyer and his son who decide to help the man.

Juano Hernandez plays the most compelling role in the film and it is a notable case of non-stereotypical role for a minority actor. Of course I suppose it is worth noting that sympathetic roles often fell to the man wrongly accused of murder, but again there is more to the role of Lucas Beauchamp than merely not being an overt the top stereotype. He's accused of the murder but the situation does not define Hernandez's performance. In fact it is very notable about his work is that he does not attempt to elicit an obvious sympathy, in that he does not make Lucas a sorrowful sort despite being in jail, as that would undercut the nature of the man he portrays. Hernandez's performance is notable from his first scene as he presents this real confidence in his work but also through the character of Lucas. When he goes about helping a young man stuck in a river, Hernandez conveys presence of not really the "local helper" but rather the strength of this man who does things his ways. Hernandez is able to find a real history in this manner of this individualistic man who stands firmly as his own man.

When he is arrested we sadly don't get many scenes of him throughout the film, but the scenes in which he appears are the best in the film. Again Hernandez just is terrific in realizing the story of the man far beyond the limits we see him through the slight plot. Throughout the story Lucas refusing any easy ways out, and mentions his difficulties of the situation yet never is overcome by them. He's great though in the nuance of his work where he recognizes his plight in a very quiet way fitting to a man who has obviously been through a lot. His eyes show a wear that hasn't worn the man away, but only seem to make him all the more seasoned and ready for the world. The years that have built this man are felt through Hernandez's work that finds the substance of the role even though the film sort of fails to do so fully. Hernandez makes Lucas a fascinating character in his time, far beyond his circumstances, and I wish we had gotten a film entirely about him. Unfortunately we are granted a narrow view of the character due to his screentime, however he utilizes every moment that is granted to him to create a three dimensional character. Hernandez to his credit as an actor develops the role beyond these certain limits to steal the film in his dynamic depiction of a one of a kind sort.
Updated Overall

Next Year: 1974 Lead

32 comments:

Luke Higham said...

So happy Douglas went up. :)

Luke Higham said...

Oates
Blaise
Hurt
Caan
Bruno S.

Deiner said...

About the previous post: I'm with Robert on It. It's also a 4 out of 5 stars for me <3

Off topic, I saw mother! yesterday and I still can't figure out how I really feel about it.

Louis: your top 5 in the acting categories of this year thus far.

Luke Higham said...

Deiner: Obviously, just the women for now until the male overalls.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Has Trevor Howard gone up for The Third Man.

Deiner said...

Luke: lol, of course. My bad.

Louis: the only possibles contenders I can think of are:
+ Dirk Bogarde in The Night Porter
+ El Hedi ben Salem in Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
+ Elliott Gould and Robert Blake in Busting
+ Giancarlo Giannini in Swept Away
+ James Earl Jones in Claudine
+ William Atherton in "The Sugarland Express"

Also, if you're interested, these performances are worth watching (in my opinion):
+ Blythe Danner in Lovin’ Molly
+ Brigitte Mira in Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
+ Charlotte Rampling in The Night Porter
+ Diahann Carroll in Claudine
+ Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
+ Goldie Hawn in The Sugarland Express
+ Mariangela Melato in Swept Away
+ Marthe Keller in And Now My Love

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Unless you haven't read them, my suggestions are on the previous post.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: You don't mind if you could fix Karloff's rating on his Bride Of Frankenstein review, it's still a 4.5.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

He's a 4.5.

I READ ALL (Kang from the Simpsons voice)

Deiner:

Actress:

1. Dafne Keen - Logan
2. Nicole Kidman - The Beguiled
3. Ahn Seo-hyun - Okja
4. Charlize Theron - Atomic Blonde
5. Gal Gadot - Wonder Woman

Supporting Actress:

1. Tilda Swinton - Okja
2. Sophia Lillis - It
3. Allison Williams - Get Out
4. Holly Hunter - The Big Sick
5. Elle Fanning - The Beguiled

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts and ratings on the cast of this film.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on Gabin in The Walls Of Malapaga.

Michael McCarthy said...

James Caan-The Gambler
Warren Oates-Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Richard Harris-The Juggernaut
Peter Finch-The Abdication
Dirk Bogarde-The Night Porter

Also some others to see:

Sidney Poitier-Uptown Saturday Night
Robert Redford-The Great Gatsby
Alan Arkin and James Caan-Freebie and the Bean

Also, rating and thoughts for Gabin in The Walls of Malapaga?

Anonymous said...

For 1974 Lead:
James Caan in The Gambler
Warren Oates in Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Richard Harris in The Juggernaut
Peter Finch in The Abdication
Dirk Bogarde in The Night Porter

Other contenders I can think of:
Robert Mitchum in The Yakuza
Robert Redford in The Great Gatsby
Sidney Poitier in Uptown Saturday Night

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your cast and director for a 1960's Intruder in the Dust.

Charles H said...

Lineup should be:

James Caan -The Gambler
Warren Oates -Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Dirk Bogarde- The Night Porter
Richard Harris -The Juggernaut
Peter Finch- The Abdication

Anonymous said...

Hey guys and Louis , if you watch Stranger Things , how would you rate the performances?

Anonymous said...

John Hurt in Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs
William Finley in Phantom of the Paradise
Paul Williams in Phantom of the Paradise
Robert Mitchum in The Yakuza
André Dussollier in And Now My Love
Warren Oates in Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Pierre Blaise in Lacombe, Lucien
Anthony Perkins in Lovin' Molly
Beau Bridges in Lovin' Molly

Calvin Law said...

Trev Howard a 4.5? Yippee :)

Omar Franini said...

James Caan - The Gambler
Warren Oates - Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Dirk Bogarde - Il Portiere di Notte
El Hedi ben Salem - Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Erland Josephson - Scenes from a Marriage

Anonymous said...

Glad Douglas has been upgraded to a 5.

RatedRStar said...

Because I only had James Caan, William Finley and Robert Mitchum in my list in my list I am gonna look up all these films and just take a wild guess which look promising and which look shit and then cast my vote.

RatedRStar said...

Ok finished lol, here are my 5 I am casting my vote towards and I will say why:

James Caan - The Gambler
Warren Oates - Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Richard Harris - The Juggernaut
John Hurt - Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs
Dirk Bogarde - The Night Porter

I am unsure about suggesting Bogarde, but I will put a vote for him, he must be good if everyone seems to have him in, the film reminds me of The Damned and that is not a good thing so I am hoping his work is completely different to The Damned.

The Juggernaut looks very promising, look at that cast lol =D.

John Hurt and of course James Caan look to be actors showcase roles, Louis loves those, Oates looks interesting and again everyone seems strong on him.

RatedRStar said...

The Yakuza will 100% appear in supporting, Ken Takakura and especially Richard Jordan were fantastic.

Anonymous said...

RatedRStar: I'd say Mitchum was also very good in The Yakuza.

RatedRStar said...

Mitchum is indeed very good in The Yakuza, its just that this lead lineup feels stacked with supporting being slightly weaker.

RatedRStar said...

Although 1974 supporting should be still done with 5 since I believe there are 5.

Calvin Law said...

I actually think Takakura > Jordan in The Yakuza.

RatedRStar said...

Calvin: Best have both reviewed then and see what Louis thinks =D.

Calvin Law said...

RatedRStar: Agree completely :)

GM said...

Bruno S. in The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
Soumitra Chatterjee in The Golden Fortress
Richard Dreyfus in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
Keith Carradine in Thieves Like Us
James Earl Jones in Claudine

Giancarlo Giannini in Swept Away
Roberts Blossoms in Deranged
Pierre Blaise in Lacombe Lucien

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I'm replacing Bruno S. with Richard Harris, though please review John Hurt.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Hernandez is really the only performance worth mentioning. David Brian is extremely bland in a bland role, and Claude Jarman Jr. is only better in a minor way because does have some natural charisma to make up for the limits of the role. Porter Hall is there don't his usual grumpy jerk routine though just with a minor touch of depth there.

Luke:

Gabin - 4(He's done this role before obviously it the role has strong shades of Pepe Le Moko with a criminal essentially working with borrowed time. This is not a tired retread, though he does not achieve the heights of that performance. Gabin does find something in more of this lower key approach to similair type of role. He brings his usual charm but fashioned in a different way fitting to the less suave criminal. The role never quite takes him that far here, but he's certainly effective here.)

The Juggernaut is more of an ensemble, I'd put Harris in supporting.

Anonymous:

1960's Intruder in the Dust Directed by Martin Ritt:

John: Gene Hackman
Chick: Brandon deWilde
Nub: Tom Tully
Lucas: Woody Strode

Anonymous:

I don't rate television performances, but you can find my thoughts on the majority of the cast in the review of Daniel Henshall in Snowtown.