Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2013: Bill Nighy in About Time

Bill Nighy did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying James Lake in About Time.

Bill Nighy is an actor I've yet to cover here, though I feel my affection, and really the general affection of the public for him is practically a given. Bill Nighy falls in the category of an irreplaceable character actor, by the virtue as there's no one quite like him. His voice, his manner has this wonderful idiosyncrasy that makes him stand out in the most minor of roles. That is certainly the case here with a meatier role as the father of Domhnall Gleeson's Tim Lake, who informs his son of their family's male members being able to travel through time. This scene, which is Nighy's introduction, very much reveals the Nighy appeal. In that as the mentor father, we get a very different approach in this speech than many approach. This is as Nighy way of broaching it brilliantly plays with the idea of its ridiculousness, by almost side stepping in his slightly hesitant yet still casual way of giving the information. This even with granting a bit of advice on how to use the power to improves one life, which again Nighy delivers with this almost sly sincerity that manages to be both impeccably humorous while offering this quality of a quietly earnest inspiration.

Nighy's role then is this perfect little bright spot of being Bill Nighy within the film. This as he serves most often as a knowing reactor to the events, and Tim's use of time travel. Nighy does so much with just the slightest glances, whether it be adding just a bit more humor, or heart to given situation. I especially love his filled with pride slight smirk when seeing his daughter takes action against a worthless boyfriend via Tim's time powers. Nighy's work is that of this consistency quite honestly as he manages to find just the right tone for the material in question. This is after being one of the few tolerable things in director Richard Curtis's first film, an abomination actually, by being some sardonic need to cut through that film's tsunami of molasses, but here he takes it further though in a different way. This is mind you that this is a better film as written and directed to begin with, however Nighy's work is essential in this. In that his approach manages to tamper the corn on that cob, while still making that corn delicious. In that pure Nighy style he manages to bring the right combination of comedy with genuine heart. This in having the casualness makes this so natural in bringing the humor with the sincere moments between Tim and his father. Yes many moments of Nighy are those knowing glances, and every one of those are worth so much. There are also his own moments of more direct comedy, such as his pondering on his wedding speech for Tim until figuring he best give it another go. A moment that is great as Nighy makes this self doubt double check so human, even if so funny given he rectifies through time travel. The real test of it though comes late in the film where James is diagnosed with terminal cancer, that despite his time travel ability can't prevent it without losing his life essentially. This is already a bit heartbreaking just hearing it since Nighy is such an endearing presence to begin with. Nighy beautifully handles these scenes of pondering the loss, then even after James has died, still doing so. Nighy does so though by again remaining consistent in his approach, but doing such subtle portrayal of grief that is truly something special. Again Nighy does so much with his eyes, and just a slight twitch of the mouth, that reveals James's own sense of loss even as he keeps always the optimistic disposition for his son. Now mind you even in this time he still brings some nice humor, especially his somewhat salacious delivery on why smoking was needed to win over Tim's mother. This is simply lovely work for every scene, and every second of screentime, that is sort of a proper distillation of what Bill Nighy one of a kind.