Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2019: Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans in Avengers: Endgame

Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans did not receive Oscar nominations for portraying Tony Stark aka Iron Man and Steve Rogers aka Captain America in Avengers: Endgame.

Avengers: Endgame is the satisfying closure to many a threads of the marvel cinematic universe, a properly entertaining sendoff, unlike a couple other cinematic and televised anticipated closing acts of 2019.

One of the longest threads in the series coming when the now ever expanding universe was founded in the solo film of Iron Man, which also notably came as a gamble of sorts on the seemingly faded star of Robert Downey Jr. taking upon a leading role in a big budget film. That risk payed out dividends close to literally for Downey, and for the cinematic universe itself that just kept expanding from there. Downey's appearances here differing from other actors with continued appearances of the character like say Sean Connery as James Bond where most of the films essentially reset the character to baseline after each film, or Hugh Jackman as Wolverine where the X-Men films rebooted so many times in his tenure that he really was only able to find pay-dirt in the part by his last appearance. Although there were the relatively minor hiccups of Iron Man 2 and Age of Ultron, that focused too much on world building, it has been basically smooth sailing for Downey and the character of Tony Stark. This with a notable difference in that we do see an ever growing character throughout the films, with a particular uptick in this in the third phase of the film, incidentally when Downey no longer had any solo films to star in but became an essential figure in so many of the films. The base of Downey's work, in this film, came from his first appearance which in many ways redefined the comic book hero, which in films like Batman, Superman even Batman Begins, were defined by their earnest and intense heroes ready to face their more flamboyant villains. Well with Downey in the original Iron Man this was turned on its head. This as Stark was a sardonic comic figure who subverted the usual tropes, usually making the situations more tangible with a degree of pointing out their ridiculousness rather than strictly owning it This gamble, which according to one Jeff Bridges was driven by a nearly non-existent script, worked by virtue of Downey's talent honestly at entertaining yet somehow cohesive rambling. This ability of Downey's was perhaps at its prime in the first film, and has never soured, well maybe in Iron Man 2 a bit, though he occasionally hits autopilot. Here in Endgame, it is relatively limited use given the severity of the situation of the story and hte expansive cast, but Downey brings his A-Game here, whether his casual referring to a less in shape Thor (Chris Hemsworth) as Lebowski, or questioning whether or not talking Rocket Racoon is a Build-A-Bear.

Now Downey's approach to the role has been very influential in terms of the casting and performances of many of the later heroes to come. This with many a quippers, snarkers sarcastic types, and sometimes goofy group of leading men in Marvel movies. One throwback to the old standard, very fitting to be the one to fit to the old standard, is Chris Evans as Captain America, who has played his role just about as many times as Downey, though not for quite as long. Evans also had a shakier start in the role playing the covertly difficult role of Captain America, given the performer must not only have the physique for the part, but also must be able to act, a combination that isn't always the easiest to come by. Evans, I'll even say, took a bit of time to fully find his groove in the role, something that greatly helped him is when the material allowed a bit more complexity than a pure boy scout, while carefully leaving that factor as the essential core of the character. Once this was figured out though Evans began running with the idea of the character. This as he uses sort of the boy scout idea as the back bone base of his character, rather than just the surface of it. This as Evans found presence within the role by emphasizing the inherent goodness and resourceful qualities within the character. This bringing a defined earnestness of a man who believes everything he says, and is defined by the fact that he'll always do the right thing. Evans importantly, here and all his strongest work as Steve Rogers, emphasizes this to be the nature of the man that basically motivates him. This isn't just as he speaks with optimism but rather his delivery of it is with the conviction of a man who has no idea how to think any other way. Evans's realization of this conviction has allowed him to be a particularly strong counterpoint to Downey's work, and acts as both a straight man and pillar within the later entries of the series. This one included where at this point in the series, we just accept Evans in the role, which I'll say wasn't the case for me in the first film, but here he absolutely just is Captain America in the strictest sense.

So here we get each of these actors' the last foray into the roles they defined, and have helped to define their careers. Fittingly both are stressed within the role, and part of the strength of their work is that they so naturally realize the characters, that it just feels as though we are exploring yet another chapter with them, though this being a particularly important chapter. Downey isn't all snark in the role, even if that is his own thing to rely on here, and again this is more limited in that sense. His best work as Iron Man, hasn't been without his own sense of conviction. In fact he's been particularly adept within the tone of the films in knowing when to bring his own earnestness to the role. This though he utilizes selectively typically when it matches a strictly serious situation, which most of the situations are in this film. The film opens with such a situation where Stark is stranded and nearly dying, leaving a final message to his love Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow). The strength of Downey's work is evident there, as he has a way of showing sort of the hidden heart of Stark in these moments, with a greater emotional vulnerability. This is usually something more momentary in nature, but we get an explosion of it here as he manages to make it to Earth. This in his confrontation with Cap. over their mutual failures, and this part of Stark, Downey is quite effective in more bluntly exposing the desperation fitting for a man whose finally seen complete and utter failure for the first time. This is against Evans who is more stoic in the scene, though he too is effective, by again showing that Rogers's natural optimism still is alive, and he delivers his words of defeat with a heavy heart however still with the sense that there must be a way somehow to solve it.

These two portrayals of the character then work well as a starting point as it appears they must initially live with their failures. This is where these films aren't strictly roller coaster rides (Sorry Scorsese, although I will be agreeing with him to an extent later in this review), because they do bother to realize these heroes as people going through the fantastical situations as people. In Evans you have an interesting portrayal as we still see Rogers doing good in any way he can, from heroics, to just leading a survivors group therapy session. Evans finds this effective way in his expressions in this as a man who should be breaking down, as the sadness is there, but still with a reserve as though his optimistic nature cannot let him fall apart. This as any moment of happiness in speaking, Evans conveys a real joy of the conversation and with the enthusiasm towards any potential of something better on the horizon. This is opposed to Stark who has moved on, given his more cynical nature, there can be such an acceptance and in that we see that in Downey's performance. This as we see Stark having had a daughter and married Pepper, and Downey's good in reflecting a man who has found joy in his life by moving onward. This isn't to say his work is indifferent to the past, and Downey does underlie the sadness in brief moments of reflections however it is not overpowering. This again works best in contrast between him and Evans, as the two sides of this coin. This working as Evans creating the optimist who cannot move on lest he lose hope, to Downey as the cynic who found hope by moving on. Each performer finds the reality within the fantastical, making what they are going through as people tangible even when dealing with intergalactic gems of power, a mad titan and eventually time travel.

The actual time travel plot is where we do also get to see where Evans and Downey each succeed. In that Downey thrives with the one liners at the expense of the bizarre nature of so many of the characters when you break them down, against Evans who brings that utmost conviction to every word particularly when Cap speechifies. Evans offers the right combination of intensity and inspiration to these speeches. The actual time heist we get some fun beats here and there. Evans actually has a couple of nice moments showing the more loosened up Captain America we've gotten to know, such as his sly smirk when fooling a couple of future traitors by pretending to be one, or his exasperation at his past self who is even more gung-ho than himself. Downey's of course right at home in quipping between the lines, but really the brunt of his performance comes as they must go further back in time where Stark accidentally meets his own father. It's really a wonderful bit of acting from Downey as he manages to bring out some low key humor in the moments of surprise and an excessive, though fitting, emotion in speaking with his father. Downey does go further in the moment though in portraying the brief seconds of earnest appreciation of his father, and creates such a sense of love in the moment, a sort of love he never had shared openly with his father before. The time heist results in success, but also potential failure as the mad Titan Thanos returns to try to kill all the universe.

 Here, I guess is where I'll agree with Scorsese. This in that watching the film again, as is the case with almost all Marvel films for me, it didn't have as much of an impact. This is something that doesn't happen with truly great films for me.  It does feel more as though you feel the machinery of it all as it gets into action overdrive, and the whole thing diminishes a bit, for me. This is not to knock anything really, as the performances are still there to be sure. Evans is very good in the scene of all the returning heroes, this starting with where everything seems to be lost, and his face bears the brunt of defeat though still with that optimism in his eyes of a man who will fight to the death if he must. Then seguing to portray a slowly growing joy at seeing his returning friends, before returning to the true determination of the Captain as he announces for the Avengers to "assemble".  The same can be said for Downey, he has a very sweet moment with Tom Holland as Spider-Man where we just see the most genuine portrayal of a paternal love as he embraces the son he never had. His most pivotal moment though is in the end of the fight where he sees he must make the final sacrifice. Downey's reaction of acknowledgement of the moment is great, as he creates the real sense of gravity of the choice in the moment, with a bit sadness but also perseverance. His final line, matching his last line of his first portrayal of Tony Stark, the declaration of "I am Iron Man", as much as it is a fan service line, it is spectacularly delivered by Downey. This as he captures a certain anger towards Thanos, a hesitation of the sense of his fate of the moment, but also determination to live out his destiny of saving all. Downey even makes the most out of his final scene, that even with slightly dodgy effects, his eyes capture both a sense of physical pain from his last act but with tenderness towards all those loved ones he saved. It's definitely a well delivered sendoff for the character on a performance level, and a character level. Less so in my book for Captain America's sendoff, where he chooses to live in the past and shows up as an old man. This whole scene is a bit "eh" for me in every respect, and honestly even Evans's performance in the moment feels like someone getting something over with then really finding a true poignancy in the moment. It just feels less like the actions of Steve Rogers and more so that of a wrap up for an actor who wants to stop working out all the time. For Evans overall, it is still a reprise that reveals the success of his work in the role, though I think he has had higher heights overall (Civil War, Winter Soldier), it is still a height for him. Downey delivers on the promise of the role in this film, from his performance and really the idea of the cinematic universe. This as his work here not only shows why he worked  so well in the part of Tony Stark, but also capitalizes on everything that came before with the character, to create this worthy sendoff, realizing a career achievement for an actor that really has never been seen before, certainly not in this way.

(For Downey)

(For Evans)