Monday 9 March 2020

Alternate Best Actor 1996

And the Nominees Were Not:

Philippe Torreton in Captain Conan

Jeffrey Wright in Basquait

Max von Sydow in Hamsun

Timothy Spall in Secrets & Lies

Christopher Eccleston in Jude

64 comments:

Luke Higham said...

1. Sydow
2. Wright
3. Spall
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Review either Spader or Walken if they really impress you.

Luke Higham said...

My Supporting suggestions are:
Charlton Heston in Hamlet
David Bowie/Benicio Del Toro in Basquiat
Chris Penn in The Funeral
Stellan Skarsgard in Breaking The Waves
Eric Tsang in Comrades

And a review of Peter Stormare in Fargo.

Jack Narrator said...

Yes! 1996 be reanalyzed!

PS: the next 90's to be kidnapped on this blog I wish it were 1998

Jack Narrator said...

1. Sydow
2. Spall
3. Wright
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

Anonymous said...

Luke, what ratings do you think these performances will get?

Luke Higham said...

Spall's a 5 already.

Sydow - 5 (I hope Louis sees it as his career-best)
Wright - 4.5/5
Torreton - 4.5/5
Eccleston - 4.5

Luke Higham said...

I think Sydow has a good chance of taking the overall.

Lucas Saavedra said...

1 Max Von Sydow (RIP)
2 Timothy Spall
3 Philippe Torreton
4 Jeffrey Wright
5 Christopher Eccleston

Luke: Stormare is a must I hope he gets reviewed

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Von Sydow (RIP)
2. Spall
3. Wright
4. Torreton
5. Eccelston

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Von Sydow
2. Spall
3. Wright
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

Brazilian Cinema said...

1. Timothy Spall
2. Max Von Sydow (RIP)
3. Jeffrey Wright
4. Philippe Torreton
5. Christopher Eccleston

Aidan Pittman said...

1. Sydow
2. Spall
3. Torreton
4. Wright
5. Eccleston

R.I.P. Max von Sydow

Louis Morgan said...

Note: I would've reviewed James Woods for "Killer" but...I just can't watch that dumpster fire again, as great as he is in it.

Anonymous:

Zsigmond's cinematography for Scarecrow carries two notes of why he was one of the very best in his medium, one being no matter the filmmaker you could see his touch, but here it's just amazing work in a very particular way. This in that frankly the film didn't need to be visually striking, but it is without detracting. This making such brilliant use of a stunning countryside, that makes it grandiose, without being grand. It still feels like a normal modest Americana, but with such mastery of naturalistic lighting, the exteriors are remarkable in creating such a vibrant, if still honest landscape. His interior work though is as brilliant, in that his choices seem again effortless, yet the lighting is so pointed, despite never emphasizing itself. It's honestly a showcase on how to approach how to make a low key film, look fantastic.

Calvin:

"The Ghost" from Hamlet goes in line with Patrick Doyle's work which always carries an epic, and decidedly operatic quality, which is most fitting to Branagh's sensibilities for his full scale Hamlet. The Ghost in itself carries the sort of weight and detail that is more befitting a movement of a orchestral piece, that a film score segment. This with the ominous opening, that segues towards something mythic, all realized with such complex and compelling instrumentation. This capturing this powerful melancholia, but as well a compelling force that feels so fitting per the nature of the ghost, particularly Branagh's version of the ghost.

Razor said...

1. Sydow
2. Spall
3. Torreton
4. Eccleston
5. Wright

Mitchell Murray said...

1) Sydow
2) Spall
3) Torreton
4) Eccleston
5) Wright

Also, whats everyone's thoughts on the final "Black Widow" trailer?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN-3c4PfUXU

Personally, I've been on board for this film since the initial trailer, and every subsequent snippet has only bolstered that excitement. I think it looks really good, certainly in regards to its fights, seemingly, but also due to it's genuinely intriguing story/cast of characters. Also, I have every reason to believe this will be Johansson's best action oriented performance, and Pugh seems predictably assured as well.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Your top fifteen/twenty David Lynch acting moments? Whichever one's more fitting of course.

Also, your thoughts on The Time Machine (2002) as a missed opportunity? I don't know if Pearce's career would be doing better now if the film worked out, but hey, leading a hit film never hurts.

Maciej said...

1.Sydow
2.Spall
3.Wright
4.Torrenton
5.Eccleston

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Your rating for Woods in Killer.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on Mako in Sidekicks?

John Smith said...

1. Von Sydow
2. Spall
3. Wright
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

Luke Higham said...

Films To Watch
Rasputin: Dark Servant Of Destiny (One of Alan Rickman's best performances)
Breaking The Waves
Ponette
Looking For Richard
Crash
The Funeral
Mother (Albert Brooks)
The Rock (Re-watch)
101 Dalmatians (Glenn Close)
Citizen Ruth
Muppet Treasure Island
Emma (Gwyneth Paltrow)
Courage Under Fire
Flirting With Disaster
James And The Giant Peach
Fly Away Home
The Mirror Has Two Faces
The Portrait Of A Lady
Carla's Song (Robert Carlyle)
Everyone Says I Love You
Kolya
Ridicule
Prisoner Of The Mountains
Bound
Pusher (Refn)
Welcome To The Dollhouse (Todd Solondz)
Madagascar Skin
The Last Supper
The First Wives Club
Tin Cup
The Preacher's Wife
The Ghost And The Darkness
White Squall (Ridley Scott)
Mary Reilly
Irma Vep
The Long Kiss Goodnight
La Promesse
Jane Eyre
Schizopolis
Stealing Beauty
The Island Of Dr. Moreau
Beautiful Girls

Luke Higham said...

And Jerusalem (Bille August)

Calvin Law said...

1. Sydow
2. Spall
3. Wright
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

RatedRStar said...

1. Sydow
2. Spall
3. Wright
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

Luke Higham said...

1. Sydow
2. Spall
3. Wright
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

John Smith said...

Louis, your thoughts on Max Von Sydow as an actor.

John Smith said...

Saw Jojo Rabbit

And i loved it. I thought the balance of humour and drama was well achieved because of the directors restraint. That 'scebe' for example would not work
if he showed everything in a wideshot. He knows when to back off and let the moment play out. It also features one of my favorite performances from a child actor that i have ever seen.

Davis:5
Mckenzie:5
Johansson:5 (Amazing how much she managed to do with the time she got. Such a beatifull performance... She has been on fire lately)
Rockwell:4.5

John Smith said...

The sad thing about Von Sydow is that netflix relased The Emigrants and The New Land a week or two weeks ago in television format. I was blown away. Such an amazing actor.My theater proffesor worked with him when she was In Dramaten and told me that the precense he exuded made everyone at ease.

BRAZINTERMA said...

1. Sydow
2. Spall
3. Torreton
4. Eccleston
5. Wright

Psifonian said...

1. Wright
2. Von Sydow
3. Spall
4. Eccleston
5. Torreton

Shaggy Rogers said...

I just watched Hamsun today and Sydow gets 5 Mifunes easily. And I believe that Sydow manages to knock William H. Macy out of Overall Rank.

1. Sydow
2. Wright
3. Spall
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

Bryan L. said...

1. von Sydow
2. Spall
3. Eccleston
4. Torreton
5. Wright

Louis Morgan said...

Bryan:

1. Monica Bellucci dream - Twin Peaks
2. "I don't understand this situation" - Twin Peaks
3. "He's dead" - Twin Peaks
4. "Tortoise" - Lucky
5. Meeting dopplecooper - Twin Peaks
6. "You're a comedian?" - Louie
7. There they are Albert faces of stone - Twin Peaks
8. How to enter - Louie
9. French lady - Twin Peaks
10. Coming to terms - Lucky
11. Piece of advice - Louie
12. "The hell" - Twin Peaks
13. Tortoise is gone - Lucky
14. Instructions - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
15. "You heard me" - Twin Peaks

I haven't watched it since 2002, but I actually don't recall it being terrible, just not anything special. In fact I think the scenario in terms of his motivation is a strong addition, particularly the failures of jumping into the past, then looking for answers in the future. The weakest part I recall the Morlocks being goofy, and the whole scenario surrounding them being aggressively uninspired. There isn't a major "quick fix" it just needed to have more inspired direction and a bit more creative scripting for the third act.

Tahmeed:

Very strong 4.5, but again just don't have any desire to watch that atrocious film again.

Anonymous:

I believe I've covered him before.

John Smith:

My review of Hamsun will include those.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Any missed opportunities in Von Sydow's career. 2 that I could name are a Jan Troell directed Pelle The Conqueror and not playing Bishop Vergérus in Fanny And Alexander.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the Better Call Saul episode 'Namaste'.

Luke Higham said...

Also, your response to John's question makes me even more excited for the Hamsun review.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Your thoughts on "Part 8" of Twin Peaks: The Return? I finally got around to it (loved it), and my favorite episode was Part 16, but Part 8 was...something else, that's for sure.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Your ranking/ratings for von Sydows' Bergman performances? And how do you think he would've done in that part in Fanny & Alexander?

Luke Higham said...

1. Shame
2. The Passion Of Anna (4.5, forgot about this one, it would be my #7)
3. The Magician (4)
4. Hour Of The Wolf
5. The Seventh Seal
6. Winter Light
7. The Virgin Spring
8. Through A Glass Darkly
9. The Touch (3.5)

I think it would've been a career-defining performance for him, the scenes he could've had with Ullmann would've been extraordinary. However, I'm more than happy with Malmsjo and Froling.

GM said...

1. Sydow
2. Spall
3. Torreton
4. Wright
5. Eccleston

Calvin Law said...

Louis: thoughts on this 2020s Paris, Texas cast directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, and a 2020s The Dresser directed by Steven Knight?

Travis: Tim Blake Nelson
Walt: Walton Goggins
Anne: Melanie Lynskey
Jane: Ana de Armas

Sir: Tom Hardy
Norman: Cillian Murphy

Calvin Law said...

That BCS episode was mostly quite solid, aside from the Saul Goodman court antics which was a great sequence.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

I actually would say there weren't too many missed opportunities. This is as von Sydow managed to basically open with his key collaboration (Bergman), then managed another (Troell), a rare feat, while becoming essentially the go to elder statesman style actor in his own country from then on, this while managing to effectively pivot into English Language films of note throughout his career. This in that he managed to truly breakout as a true international actor, finding leading roles, and then so many notable supporting roles. Although one can argue he received fewer plaudits than he probably should've, nonetheless von Sydow's career throughout was marked by accomplishments, and one can easily argue him as one of the most successful foreign language actors in terms of bridging into American films, while also never losing his clout in his home country. A legendary career, and because of that, I won't say there really were any major missed opportunities. (Though he definitely should've played Weyland in Prometheus obviously, though that's the film's missed opportunity not his own.)

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Kind of a "Wheel turning" episode in terms of plot developments, but that speaks to the strength of the writing, directing and acting that it was still absolutely compelling. Most notably Saul coming into his own which has been a showcase for Odenkirk.

Bryan:

I mean where does one begin with Part 8, which is the greatest achievement in directing in television I would say. This as Lynch manages to craft a "bottle episode" that is a masterful singular creation, though obviously it still connect in terms of crafting the lore, as we witness the creation of a sort of anti-life, in the creation of Bob and "Judy", that is both mesmerizing and disturbing. The "got a light?" sequence in particularly is truly startling and unforgivable in every bit of imagery, and every single one of its minimalist lines. Given how lurid the atmosphere for such a brief period, I could only wish we may get period horror from Lynch someday, as what is featured there is startling and stunning in equal measure.

Emi Grant said...

1. von Sydow (r.i.p.)
2. Spall
3. Wright
4. Torreton
5. Eccleston

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Yeah, Part 8 was quite something. Before I forget, your overall thoughts on the live music performances in Twin Peaks Season 3? It’s kind of a cherry on top for me. And which one was your favorite?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Are there any 2010s roles that Carey Mulligan would've been perfect for and which Game Of Thrones characters would she be a good fit for.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: For improvement: Anna Karenina, Joan Clarke

For about the same: Abigail Masham, Gerda Wegener

Calvin Law said...

Off the top of my head she’d have been a great Daenerys.

Anonymous said...

Louis: I don't know if someone's asked you already, but if not, your thoughts on the production and costume design of Doctor Zhivago.

Anonymous said...

Louis: I know you don't watch Dragon Ball Z, but could I have your thoughts on this scene from the original Japanese dub, including the voice acting and the score?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdgZ4BEuYUo

Anonymous said...

Louis: Don't worry, the above link I posted is just a bit over two minutes long.

Louis Morgan said...

Bryan:

Great specialized credits scenes every time/sort of transitions, though a reason why it is definitely a television series. I love the use in creating such a marvelous way of constructing the series, where honestly Lynch makes so many series's seem lazy by comparison.

My Favorites:

James Hurley (yeah I don't care what anyone says)
Eddie Veder/Audrey Dance
Nine Inch Nails (Perhaps the most brilliantly used one, as this incantation almost for doppelcooper.)
Rebekah Del Rio

Luke:

As alluded to by Bryan, all of Keira Knightley's roles. Any of Felicity Jones's roles (though I think Jones at her best is comparable) Although perhaps slightly too young, I think she would've been far better cast as Amy in Gone Girl otherwise.

Margaery Tyrell or Daenerys.

Anonymous:

I mean Lean's later production design work is always astonishing, Doctor Zhivago perhaps being his highlight. The frozen home alone is such a brilliant piece of work, but any set manages to craft a sense of grandeur and gradually grimmer quality as it expands. This showing the change of the revolution and we see in the character. This particularly with for example Pasha's desolate "death" train. Of course the work in set decoration/location scouting, is extraordinary, as no location simply is, everything carries so much more. Amazing work.

Well the straight historical work is great, but beyond that you have the best type of combination in beautiful and character centric. Although this too is realized brilliantly in the changes of the time in slowly less ornate costumes. This too as we see the vivacious costumes of Lara throughout, against Tonya's more modest colors for example. A feature that manages to stay even as both of their wears become more humble which is rather special. Or take again the meek wear of Pasha, against the totalitarian outfit of Strelnikov.

Anonymous:

Well I'll admit I was mostly confused by that. Although decent enough voice acting from that extremely brief sample, and although the song was jarring at first to me, I slowly warmed up to it as a bit of a slightly strange style of emotional work.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: retro directing choices for Mike Leigh, Matthew Vaughan, David Michod and Ben Affleck?

Bryan L. said...

That reminds me: it almost seems as though Mulligan is playing Amy in "A Promising Young Woman" lol

Calvin: For Ben Affleck, I could see him being a good fit for Bullitt, with Gosling (of course) in the lead role.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Thoughts on this interview with Mitchum?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOSmBytvBxM

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Mike Leigh:

The Entertainer
Secrets of Women
Pygmalion

Matthew Vaughan:

Where Eagles Dare
D.O.A
Robocop

David Michod:

Mad Max
Bonnie and Clyde
Death Wish

Ben Affleck:

Mystic River
The Boston Strangler
The Asphalt Jungle

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

The interview shows what is so interesting about Mitchum, where while he is so laid back, and speaks with that same attitude towards his work, he does so with such an articulate awareness that alludes towards why he was so talented as an actor. Even his speaking on Ryan's Daughter, where he essentially notes that he needed to defer per the nature of the film, shows a true intelligence regarding cinematic acting, even with his relaxed way of speaking that intelligence.

Jack Narrator said...

My guesses from the 1996 winners:

Picture: Fargo
Director: Joel Coen - Fargo
Actor: Max von Sydow - Hamsun
Actress: Emily Watson - Breaking the Waves
Supporting Actor: Steve Buscemi - Fargo
Supporting Actress: Marianne Jean-Baptiste - Secrets & Lies
Ensemble: Secrets & Lies
Production Design: Hamlet
Sound Editing: Independence Day
Sound Mixing: Fargo
Score: Hamlet
Editing: Trainspotting
Visual Effects: Independence Day
Costume Design: Hamlet
Cinematography: Fargo
Makeup and Hairstyling: Mission: Impossible
Original Screenplay: Fargo
Adapted Screenplay: Trainspotting
Song: "That Thing You Do!" - That Thing You Do!

Mitchell Murray said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mitchell Murray said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Louis: Could I have your updated thoughts on Ryan Gosling as an actor? The last time you gave them was before Blade Runner 2049 and First Man.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the direction of The Piano?