Friday 3 April 2020

Alternate Best Actor 1978: Steve McQueen in An Enemy of the People

Steve McQueen did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Dr. Thomas Stockmann in An Enemy of the People.

An Enemy of the People isn't a terrible, but rather a largely inert drama that unfortunately cannot live beyond its allegory.

This role is a major departure for the king of cool at the tail end of his unfortunately all too brief career, given he plays a period role that is alien compared to the majority of his roles. Although we've seen McQueen play period before, typically westerns, this is a very different role for him as there isn't the slightest sense of playing within the idea of cool, but rather attempting to wholly disappear inside a very different role for himself. This evidently was a passion project for McQueen, in a self-described attempt to prove to people that he could act. Well he perhaps should've just referred them to his career best work in Papillon, that which used his presence in part, however showed a far greater emotional range than he had ever showed before. Honestly that is where McQueen excelled as an actor, and perhaps where he should've explored more of as a performer. For example, he was the intended lead for William Friedkin's Sorcerer, where he would've been an ideal lead, in a role that again would've utilized his best qualities as an onscreen while also tasking him to "act", by delivering more within that presence. I bring this up as this role is a somewhat mistaken attempt to wholly erase one's understanding of McQueen as a performer. This is pretty obvious right from the outset as his long hair, beard and glasses, all seem to say "this is not the McQueen you know".

Well in this sense, the performance is not a failure as McQueen does successfully not fall upon his typical presence. He becomes believable enough within the role as this more seasoned intellectual doctor, by not calling upon one ounce of his typical king of cool presence. I'll say I didn't even find it jarring to see McQueen as such, as he wholly gives himself to the performance and clearly gives a devoted turn. The role, despite the dramatic intentions of the piece, is limited. This as we see this doctor who must do what he believes is right, which is call out the town's local water supply that is poisonous, despite the town's top brass, including his brother, wanting to silence this as any removal of the water supply will slow down the progress of the town. So we have the set-up then of the character, of this man with conviction and the family man. The latter element brief as his interactions with any of his family are as to the point as possible. This as even his relationship with Bibi Andersson as the doctor's wife, is barely even touched upon even with the unlikely pairing of performers. The two I'll give credit don't exactly lack chemistry, they just also don't really have the moments to realize any. The same goes for the whole idea of the doctor and the family. We never get a real sense of them as people, before getting into the dramatic situation they are in, making it so they are more figures to voice the message of the story, rather than living as people who also speak the message.

I think the greatest failure in this is in the characters of the doctor and his brother Peter (Charles Durning) who are at opposite ends of one another. We are granted no real history between the two, and you'd never even guess they were brothers. I guess I can take this one from the performers a bit in this instance as neither McQueen or Durning really grant the sense of any sibling familiarity even that of a distant relationship. The screenplay does not help them at all in this regard, as their scenes together are only of an argument of the same points with Peter yelling at the doctor, and the doctor looking solemn. This is much of McQueen's work here honestly, that of just keeping a slightly disturbed, annoyed but still determined expression as others threat and berate him. McQueen to his credit does this with enough of the sense of the state of the doctor but little more than that. The rest of the time McQueen largely is looking dignified as this man of importance, the town's good doctor. Well again, McQueen delivers this with that different presence than was typically expected from him, however I won't say even this makes that much of an impact. McQueen finally gets a bit more to do as the doctor gets to plead his case among the collective people, fighting for his beliefs and against the idea of mob mentality. Well McQueen delivers this speech with a decisive passion and strength of conviction in his voice and eyes. We see the same soon after when the man refuses an offer to join the corruption delivering a earnest rejection of the values with the sense of the weight of the decision on his brow and just exasperation in his voice. McQueen doesn't compeltely fail to reinvent himself here, but this role isn't ideal for that reinvention. It is a limited role that McQueen only can do so much with, and I will say does falter a bit with in certain elements of it, namely the central relationships. I think that it is as much of a problem within the material as McQueen work however, McQueen doesn't overcome it. This performance is not a revelation, but it is a decent curiosity of an attempt by McQueen to expand his repertoire, though sadly at a time in his career where he would not be able to ever make a second attempt later on.

85 comments:

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Bates
2. Gould
3. Pryor
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Your ratings and thoughts on the rest of the cast.

Also, are you a fan of Ibsen's work in general. If so, what would be your ideal cast and director for 'A Doll' s House'? (assuming you've read it)

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Gould
2. Bates
3. Pryor
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Lucas Saavedra said...

1. Bates
2. Gould
3. Keitel
4. Pryor
5. McQueen

Calvin Law said...

1. Gould
2. Bates
3. Pryor
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Luke Higham said...

1. Bates
2. Gould
3. Pryor
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Maciej said...

1.Bates
2.Gould
3.Keitel
4.Pryor
5.McQueen

Luke Higham said...

I feel so bad for Bryan right now.

Anonymous said...

Louis, What would've been your top 3 choices to play Redmond Barry in Barry Lyndon (1975).

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous:
1. Robert Redford (He was the initial choice but he foolishly turned it down for The Great Waldo Pepper)
2. Terence Stamp
3. John Hurt

Lucas Saavedra said...

Louis: your top 10 ensembles of 1999

RatedRStar said...

1. Bates
2. Gould
3. Pryor
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Bryan L. said...

Aaahhhh...damn.

Luke: Don’t worry. I feel more bad that I might’ve caused someone more worthy to miss out. Just thought it was an interesting one.

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: I wouldn't worry too much. Volker Spengler could be reviewed if Louis likes him alot.

Luke Higham said...

But all hope now lies with Bates.

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

Andersson - 3(Not exactly the most interesting role she ever played, however she does find a little more than just grace of the loving and supportive wife. She is given far too little to do to really make a proper impact, but it is a fine turn from her still.)

Durning - 3(I will note it is doubtful I'll will be doing a full supporting lineup. Durning I do think underwhelms slightly in his chemistry with McQueen in again that neither really grant the sense of fraternal understanding even in conflict, which should be the heart of their interactions. Durning gives a decent enough turn beyond that in not overplaying the character's denouncements of McQueen's, portraying a sincere passion even within used for less positive purposes.)

Dysart - 2.5(Expected and less interesting standard corrupt official turn from him.)

In a general sense, I suppose so.

Director: Jennifer Kent (Perhaps the right material for her to find a balance)

Nora: Kristin Dunst
Torvald: Michael Fassbender
Dr. Rank: Gary Oldman
Kristine: Andrea Riseborough
Nils: Sam Worthington

Anonymous:

It's a little comical but Kubrick in a sense could only cast O'Neal per the studios's stipulations that forced him between Redford and O'Neal, with the former turning him down, despite being the first choice. That is why I honestly to subscribe to Barry being an intentional bore, since Kubrick had no other choice but to have O'Neal in the lead. I do think Redford would've been a far better choice between the two.

Out of anyone though: Terrence Stamp, Malcolm McDowell, Oliver Reed and Albert Finney would've all made much more sense.

Luke Higham said...

Guess I was right about Supporting.

Louis Morgan said...

Lucas:

1. Topsy-Turvy
2. Magnolia
3. The Straight Story
4. The Insider
5. Ravenous
6. Galaxy Quest
7. The Sixth Sense
8. Office Space
9. The Green Mile
10. Two Hands

Aidan Pittman said...

Well there goes my original predictions.

1. Gould
2. Bates
3. Pryor
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Thanks :)

Honestly, I’m at least grateful Louis gave him a shot, since McQueen didn’t have too many chances to go against-type. Maybe he could’ve delivered another great turn if he hadn’t passed away shortly after this. Really thought his climactic speech could’ve been a difference-maker here though.

Also grateful that he was the first one up, as everyone can still make predictions XD

Razor said...

1. Gould
2. Pryor
3. Bates
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Anonymous said...

Luke, may I ask why do you have John Hurt as a choice.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Hurt had his own Tom Jones-esque turn in John Huston's Sinful Davey (1969).

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

1) Gould
2) Bates
3) Keitel
4) Pryor
5) McQueen

Also, I just watched "Excaliber" as per requested, and I enjoyed it overall. For the record, I can usually like fantasy films just fine, and this movie is no exception; It of course has the benefit of a classic story, which Boorman does a decent job of realizing. The movie does show its age/budget, of course, but it's still entertaining and well done for the most part.

Terry - 4
Mirren - 4
Williamson - 4.5
Geoffrey - 3.5
Neeson - 3.5
Lunghi - 3.5
Byrne - 3
Clay - 3

Michael Patison said...

1. Elliott Gould
2. Alan Bates
3. Richard Pryor
4. Harvey Keitel
5. Steve McQueen

Anonymous said...

Louis: I've read that Fredric March played this role back in the 50's in an adaptation by Arthur Miller, with his wife Florence Eldridge playing Catherine.

Anonymous said...

Luke, what's your favourite Merlin quote from Excalibur.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous:

'Spoiler Warning'

'When a man lies, he murders some part of the world'.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Galaxy Quest would be my second favourite ensemble of 99 actually, after The Straight Story, so go figure.

Mitchell Murray said...

I should say right now, that when 1981 rolls around, I would certainly back up a review for Williamson.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Any other McQueen performances that you think could be in the running? The only one left that seems like it's in a decent film is "Junior Bonner" (1972), while the rest look like they aren't very good or are just "B-films".

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: I do have him listed though not in the five for '72. I see him getting a 4 at best for it. Aside from that, no.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Thanks.

Oh and for the record, my favorite quote from Merlin in Excalibur is "You have broken...what could not be broken! Now, hope is broken" :)

Mitchell Murray said...

Luke and Bryan: I second both of those quotes.

Michael McCarthy said...

1. Richard Pryor
2. Alan Bates
3. Harvey Keitel
4. Elliott Gould
5. Steve McQueen

For what it's worth, Yaphet Kotto is worthy of a supporting review for Blue Collar.

Luke Higham said...

Michael: Your ratings for this lineup and Christopher Plummer in The Silent Partner and Yaphet Kotto in Blue Collar.

Jack Narrator said...

1. Bates
2. Gould
3. Pryor
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Anonymous said...

Luke, where do you think Williamson may rank for Supporting Actor.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Well, he was very close for The Wilby Conspiracy and Excalibur is a much better film than that, plus he has better performances to work off of so I could see him getting 3rd behind Prosky and Nicholson.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Given that he is the main character of his segment, shouldn't Bruce Willis be considered Lead in Pulp Fiction.

Anonymous said...

Luke, how do you think Williamson would’ve fared as Jorah Mormont, The Hound and Barristan Selmy respectively?

Matt Mustin said...

1. Pryor
2. Gould
3. Keitel
4. Bates
5. McQueen

Michael McCarthy said...

Pryor: 5
Bates: 5
Keitel: 4.5/5
Gould: 4.5
McQueen: 4

4.5s for Plummer and Kotto

Mitchell Murray said...

So I also managed to see "The Mexican" today....for whatever reason. The film honestly frustrates me in that I like the central story line with the gun and its legend; Sadly, there were just too many misguided choices in terms of direction, acting, writing, pacing and editing for me to enjoy watching it.

As for Gandolifini, I agree with all the praise that's been given to him. He's very good, and single handedly steals the picture from Pitt and Roberts, though I also appreciated Hackman's cameo towards the end.

Luke Higham said...

Michael: Your thoughts on Pryor, Bates, Keitel, Gould, Plummer and Kotto.

You've made me feel abit happier right now.

1. Bates
2. Pryor
3. Keitel
4. Gould
5. McQueen

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I think he would've been best suited for Jorah Mormont or The Hound. Barristan Selmy needs more of a naturalistic honesty to the part. Plus you wouldn't want him to be killed off early.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Bates
2. Pryor
3. Keitel
4. Gould
5. McQueen

Shaggy Rogers said...

1. Pryor
2. Bates
3. Gould
4. Keitel
5. McQueen

Calvin Law said...

Kotto and Plummer both definitely need to be reviewed in some capacity.

Also I have to say with rewatches I honestly think O’Neal is perfect as Redmond. Redford, Stamp, and especially Reed I would have been a bit miscast through the approach the film takes to him as a character. And I could imagine McDowell and Finney but I honestly think Kubrick got the right choice in the end even though it wasn’t ‘his’ choice, so to speak.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Yes, this what this version is based on. March would've been more suited to the role, however Miller's adaptation I'd say is likely the issue. None of his plays, or screenplays, typically work on film, as his work is far too blunt and obvious for cinematic purposes

Anonymous:

I mean not a major change in terms of lineups anyways, but Butch's segment always felt secondary to me, compared to Vincent and Jules. He's on the border either way, but for me, I think I'll keep him in supporting.

Calvin:

Et tu Calvin, if one can name me these historical uncharismatic conmen, I'd love to know.

Anonymous said...

I suppose Redford and Stamp would have been good, but I'm pretty happy with O'Neal's performance, in particular in the scene where Byron dies. He's just perfect in that scene.

GM said...

1. Pryor
2. Bates
3. Keitel
4. Gould
5. McQueen

BRAZINTERMA said...

1. Richard Pryor
2. Harvey Keitel
3. Alan Bates
4. Elliott Gould
5. Steve McQueen

Aidan Pittman said...

Watched The Invisible Man, and though I'm not really nuts over it like others have been, I still enjoyed despite the issues I had with it, the majority of which were at least mostly cleared up as it went on.

Moss - 4.5
The Rest - 3

Louis: Your Top 20 Steve McQueen acting moments?

Bryan L. said...

1. Pryor
2. Keitel
3. Bates
4. Gould
5. McQueen

Omar Franini said...

1. Bates
2. Keitel
3. Pryor
4. Gould
5. McQueen

Matt Mustin said...

Louis: For the record, Linus Roache was requested for Priest for 1994, but I think it's first non-festival release was actually 95.

Luke Higham said...

I have to concur with Matt.

Anonymous said...

Luke, who do you predict will be Louis’ Best Director choices for 1978?

Michael Patison said...

Louis: I think I may have a request from way back when. Not sure if you keep records of that. If not, that's fine. Anyway, if I do, I'd like to request Donald Sutherland in Without Limits.

Shaggy Rogers said...

Guys answer me a question: Is the Ox-Bow Incident from 1942?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: The Ox-Bow Incident is 1942.

RatedRStar said...

Oh dear lol, that is gonna make 1943 a whole lot weaker than it already is.

Louis Morgan said...

Hmmm...I'm going to need more confirmation than just an imdb random date for St. Louis, Missouri, I swear people are updating those things just to mess with me at this point.

Luke Higham said...

Apparently someone asked IMDB about that and they confirmed it was 42. In the trivia section, it says that it had a single screening in St. Louis before 20th Century Fox put it on the shelf for five months.

Louis Morgan said...

Looking closer, the trivia, that also has now suddenly appeared, speaks of only a premiere there, which I doubt was a public release.

Michael Patison said...

Yeah I'd say a premiere does not count as a theatrical release.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Your cast and director for...

90s Outlaw King
80s A Most Violent Year
60s Bridge of Spies

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking Jimmy Stewart for Donovan and Alec Guinness for Abel. Have Donna Reed as Donovan's wife.

Louis Morgan said...

Aidan:

McQueen:

1. Papillon Stand "trial" - Papillon
2. Ending - Papillon
3. Seeing end of Maturette - Papillon
4. Solitary - Papillon
5. Talking with Mole - The Great Escape
6. Protecting Dega - Papillon
7. Early showdown with Warner - The Great Escape
8. Losing - The Cincinnati Kid
9. Failed refuge - Papillon
10. The battle - The Sand Pebbles
11. Philosophy of a gunfighter - The Magnificent Seven
12. Return fire - Bullitt
13. Volunteering - The Great Escape
14. Good idea at the time - The Magnificent Seven
15. Mercy kill - The Sand Pebbles
16. Almost made it - The Great Escape
17. Seeing the abortionist - Love With A Proper Stranger
18. Arrival - Papillon
19. Come down Holman - The Sand Pebbles
20. Ending - The Great Escape

Bryan:

Outlaw King 90's: Transport Braveheart cast, put O'Hara as Douglas, McCormick as Elizabeth and Gleeson as Angus.

1980's A Most Violent Year Directed by Sidney Lumet:

Abel Morales: Raul Julia
Anna Morales: Michelle Pfeiffer
Peter Forente: Frank Langella
Lawrence: Paul Winfield
Andrew Walsh: Jack Warden
Arnold Klein: Mark Margolis

For Bridge of Spies, it was considered being made apparently during the 60's with Gregory Peck as Donovan and Alec Guinness as Abel, casting I can approve of.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Any possibility of McQueen going up for The Sand Pebbles.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Just had a thought; how do you think Chris Hemsworth would fare as William Wallace? I think he at least the presence, but if he develops enough as an actor, maybe sometime down the road?

Also, would Russell Crowe be your choice for that role in a 00s version of the film?

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: Based on his work in Rome, I'd actually go with Kevin McKidd.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Luke. McKidd has a vicious intensity in some of his work with an emotional undercurrent that would be ideal for Wallace. And he's Scottish himself.

Anonymous said...

I really don't think there is much point in McQueen for The Sand Pebbles if I am honest, its a strange nomination at best.

Bryan L. said...

To be fair, you could say the same thing (intensity/emotional undercurrent) about Crowe in Gladiator, especially with his “Revenge” speech.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

No, as noted in my review, my issues with that performance stem from inconsistency.

Bryan:

I don't know, I've yet to see him completely work without having some comedic basis in his work to sort of balance himself with.

Crowe would've been great obviously.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: could I have your thoughts on Robby Muller’s work on Breaking the Waves? The more I think about it he might be one of the more underrated cinematographers around.

Calvin Law said...

Also could I have your thoughts on this short film of The Tell Tale Heart with James Mason? https://youtu.be/flKOtXC4oyM

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Muller's work on that film I think is an excellent example of how a cinematographer can make a style, as von Trier's typical choice of beautiful static shots with a lot of up close handheld, usually is less successful. Muller's work though manages to indeed deliver some stunning landscape shots as the chapter setting shots, but his handheld work though isn't nearly as disparate as in other von Trier's work. There's a definite difference, but Muller is able to find quality within the more constrictive state, finding beauty within the limitations effectively, and showing essentially how to realize von Trier's visual style effectively.

Fantastic short, with some truly creepy animated realization of Poe's tale though undoubtedly amplified by Mason's narration that I'd say goes beyond detached narration or simply reading, and is instead a proper performance particularly in terms of the climax.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Thoughts on Ebert's review of Milk Money?

Calvin Law said...

Louis: Agreed on that. Even though I'm not huge on the film I think it's easily von Trier's best looking work.

Also, your thoughts on this 2020s McCabe & Mrs Miller cast/choice of director? Been re-watching it and I think it's probably my favourite Altman (though also need a rewatch of Nashville and The Player ).

John McCabe: Matthias Schoenaerts
Constance Miller: Jessie Buckley
Sheehan: Zach Woods
Eugene Sears: Hamish Linklater
Ida Coyle: Angela Sarafayan
Butler: Angus Sampson

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Hadn't read it before, but that is hilarious way of trying explain that bizarre idea for a film.

Calvin:

Excellent choices there, especially Buckley. Although I like Sampson, I might choose someone with a bit more of an innate suave quality for Butler, like Matthew MacFadyen or Luke Evans.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: Evans would be absolutely perfect.