Sunday 24 May 2020

Alternate Best Actor 2014: Channing Tatum in Foxcatcher

Channing Tatum did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Mark Schultz in Foxcatcher.

Channing Tatum, who wasn't exactly taken seriously as an actor, or even a performer, or even as a comedic performer, pre-2010's, underwent a fairly drastic revision, particularly in terms of the outlook of both the public perception and critical acclaim. Although he had a few decently regarded dramatic turns, in films like Magic Mike and Side Effects, the shift towards goodwill seemed to more strongly inspire from his comedic work in 21 Jump Street. I suppose then 2014 would have to be considered the pinnacle for Tatum's career shift at this time. This as he successfully recaptured that comic ability, even overshadowing better known as a comic performer Jonah Hill, in the aptly titled sequel 22 Jump Street. More than I anything I think one could see just from that work if Tatum managed to loosen up a bit, he not only could be an engaging performer, but also an endearing if not hilarious one. There Tatum excelled in playing with sort of his "hunk jock" persona, and just having fun in making fun of it and subverting it a bit more. His even greater challenge though perhaps would come with this film, which honestly is interesting in that Tatum again is working within that idea of an initial persona, however then too subverting it. This as the character of Mark Schultz is this Olympic gold medalist when we open the film, and his physical ability technically defines the man, in more ways than one would even perhaps expect. Given that my thoughts are already known, I should not beat around the bush too much, and I will declare this brilliant performance from the outset, although brilliant in a way that I would say is quite unexpected, not only just for Tatum, but even beyond the potential one might've expected from Tatum even found in his earlier successes.

Tatum who began with a dance movie, does deliver that same type of physicality, that shows the good casting here as Tatum as this wrestler. Tatum's performance though is not one resting on the laurels of this, as he wholly subverts any graceful qualities you might expect from a dancer in his portrayal of Mark. This only being the very first fantastic choices by Tatum in the role, this as he very much transforms himself here, even though his overall appearance is far more tempered than one would likely compare to his Oscar nominated co-stars. This in that other than the cauliflower ears it is in Tatum's work, as he protrudes his jaw slightly, and his whole physical work though says so much about Mark without even saying a word. This as his manner is fierce in that you very much get the sense of a man who lives by trying to physically impose others in the ring. There is a shyness though that Tatum brings in this in the way his head is almost always cocked down. This as a man who is mighty to look at but even as you do, Tatum grants the sense of the man retiring from sight. We can see him as not whole in terms of the control of himself even as you do get the sense of the physical strength of the man. The most essential thing about this, unlike a certain co-star, every physical mannerism Tatum employs feels wholly consistent and natural. He instead simply makes us feel like not only are we seeing Mark Schultz, we also know something about him just by looking at him.

Tatum's earliest scene is actually one of his most essential ones where we see Mark go to speak at an elementary school. Tatum is brilliant in this scene as he so effectively accentuates the incomplete man that Schultz is. This is as he speaks his poor speech with little articulation, even showing off his medal with this importance, however without a real sense of accomplishment of the pride of a refined athlete. Tatum instead brandishes it as though he won it in any old contest for a man who doesn't quite know what to do with it. We see the same as he is getting paid by the school for his speech, where they mistake him for his brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Tatum's way of correcting the person is fantastic as he notes that he also won a gold medal is not as this boast, but as this like rush to try to show that "he's good too" as he notes it. Of course what is essential here is found in the actual relationship between the two brothers, as we see them practice together. This as we meet Dave as a successful, but straight forward and modest man. I love the physical chemistry between Tatum and Ruffalo, in that you get in their grappling really the sense of the brother's bonding with one another, and with Dave almost hugging his brother affectionately even within the practice of grappling. An idea that isn't forced but rather so naturally just felt within their performances that grant a sense of a long loving relationship between the two. This being Dave as someone who has simply just tried to look out for his brother, while Mark struggles, in his own eyes, to be his own man.

It seems that Mark is given his own chance when offered an opportunity by millionaire John Du Pont (Steve Carell) offers to sponsor him and a wrestling team on his large estate. John speaks encouraging words to Mark, and Tatum makes so much in the moment of just listening. In that his eyes spark a sense of worth almost as the man only speaks to Mark as basically being a hero who isn't appreciated. The followup scene then is amazing when Mark brings up the chance offered by Du Pont to Dave. Tatum is outstanding as he speaks the words with passion, however how he articulates each individual word is as this copy and paste of whatever Du Pont said. Tatum finding this balance in his delivering of showing a man who believes in what he is saying only because it is saying the thing that the man who believes in him was saying. There is no sense of individual words with meaning in Tatum's delivery, just the generalized message, and in that Tatum shows how the man is just really going along with someone who seems to believe in him. This in not a way that show a depth of understanding of the ideas said to him, but rather just a sense of being appreciated at all. When Dave, for legitimate reasons, turns down the request, Tatum is again so remarkable in the way he physically withdraws again from the world. This as he shows a man now no longer with the words of others to speak, and lost particularly sense of self he had created through those words for a moment.

Mark takes the opportunity alone then and seems to be successful initially in this. This with John seemingly being generally supportive, even in his odd insular ways, and seeking what seems to be a friendship with Mark. Tatum is excellent in he portrays no manipulation on Mark's part in these moments. This is rather just revealing a man genuinely appreciative of the opportunity initially, and Tatum is terrific in the way he opens up his performance a bit as it seems he even is becoming a leader in the environment. In the earlier friendly moments with John, Tatum presents the right earnestness in his reactions, showing that Mark does appreciate this friendship and opportunity at first. Tatum though still finds the right deferring quality now in his scenes with Carell. He's open, but just the way he looks and listens the man, it is again of a little brother as he was with Dave. One of the earliest problems though coming when he and John visit Dave and his family in a hotel room, and it appears as though John was slighted through Dave's family's genuine though muted greetings towards John. Tatum portrays so well this defensiveness that is immediate and messy. This as he speaks as he doesn't quite know what he's mad at, but gives the sense of anxiety that the perceived slighting is something he has to fight against. Tatum portraying again not a strong sense of self-thought but rather again in reaction for another person's influence. Although of course that is contrasted by the immediate warm moment between the brothers, where Dave refuses to really even recognize the conflict instead just offering Mark support and wisdom towards his next wrestling match.

Although initially Mark and John find success, quickly that degrades through John's questionable behavior including drug taking and general abuse of Mark's friendship, which the film leaves ambiguous to the most extreme extent of that abuse. Tatum's performance though plays well the sense of this reducing Mark back to that sort of shyness within himself, particularly when John basically tries to replace him with Dave. Tatum doing so well in becoming this shell of a defense basically against John's abuse and his perceived unworthiness compared to his brother. At this point Tatum honestly has very few lines to himself as we just see the downward spiral of Mark, yet his impact is not at all muted as we see the weight of it almost destroy him. This particularly being after a lost match where we see Mark breakdown by lashing out in his hotel room and binge eating as a point of self-destruction. Tatum is simply astonishing in this scene in without saying a word he delivers such raw intensity and completely exudes the man's anguish in the only way he knows how. The entire scene being such a tremendous work from Tatum as just all that Mark is dealing with and can't deal with mentally, spilling out into this physical display of decay. This only being brought back from the brink by Dave's support, which includes trying to keep John away from him. Tatum in his final scenes, before the film shifts towards the tragic antagonistic relationship between John and Dave, is excellent though showing him reverting truly to Dave's little brother. This in his silent deferment towards his brother, and just a wary suspicion of John. This is exceptional work by Channing Tatum, as he grants only honesty to this portrayal. This portrait of a man who cannot define himself and therefore allows himself to be defined by others for better and often for worse. Tatum uses his presence to amplify the work, however transforms himself in a way that is only convincing of the character never showing off for the sake it. Sadly this approach made Tatum ignored in favor of  Carell's more overtly against type performance, however Tatum's work was a true show of range and talent that far exceeded most expectations of him as as performer.

109 comments:

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on 22 Jump Street and ratings/thoughts on the cast and has Ruffalo gone up on this viewing.

Mitchell Murray said...

He's terrific here, and is by far the most impressive aspect of the film. I sincerely hope Tatum gets another chance to be this good in the future.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Dave's death scene.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: What TV have you seen in the past month.

Aidan Pittman said...

Tenet's runtime confirmed to be 3hrs 15min. Thoughts from everyone?

Michael McCarthy said...

I liked that bit you included about Mark and Dave’s sparring scene, Louis. Hell, I’ve never seen any actor make roughhousing look so tender and nurturing as Ruffalo does throughout this film.

Luke Higham said...

Aidan: I'm not buying that runtime.

Aidan Pittman said...

Well, just checked and it actually isn't official but is rumored to be the runtime. My apologies. Still interested in thoughts if this is the case, however.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I must say I really liked the use of Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin' in the final scene.

Luke Higham said...

Aidan: I saw it on a reddit post from over a month ago and It's bound to have shortened. If Nolan did decide to release a 3+ hr cut then there's no chance it'll break even in the current climate.

Matt Mustin said...

Aidan: No chance in hell.

Aidan Pittman said...

I'll just say that if it were 3+ hours I'd be fine with that, but this is easily the worst possible time to release a film of that runtime. If I had to be I'd probably say it isn't true, not just because of the pandemic but also because Nolan has been sticking under 3 hours his whole career despite gaining more and more freedom to make whatever he wants (although he's come close to it before).

Tim said...

I would like your thoughts on him and McConaughey in Magic Mike once you shouls see it. I mean, that film started the McConaussance after all, so how come you haven't gotten around to it yet?


Also, a little piece of trivia that always both enlightens and frightens me. In the Scene where Channing breaks the glass with his head (which i believe akso was not planned) his forehead was just Inches away from a nail that could have killed him. The scary part is obvious, it enlightens because it shows the extreme circumstances some actors can find themselves in for the sake of such fantastic Performances as this one.

Luke Higham said...

Tim: He did attempt to watch Magic Mike but he could't finish it because he wholly detested the visual aesthetic.

Bryan L. said...

1. Hardy
2. Tatum
3. Kapoor
4. Stevens
5. Hawke

1. Gulpilil
2. Isaac
3. Renner
4. Cruise
5. Eisenberg

Tim said...

Luke really? hm, i didn't really find that movie's aesthetic bad at all. I fact i really like it

Robert MacFarlane said...

I thought the visual aesthetic was the best part of Magic Mike myself. It's not my favorite Soderbergh, but he directs it well.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: In regards to The French Dispatch’s MVP, I predict del Toro as well.

Also, call it a hunch, but I have a feeling that Debicki has WAY more to do in Tenet than the trailers are showing us.

Shaggy Rogers said...

I would never have imagined that Tatum had achieved more than 3.5 Mifunes.
Is it possible to see Carell go up in rating?

Matt Mustin said...

Shaggy: More likely he'll go down, honestly.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Louis: Any chance of Berenger going up for Platoon? I just saw it for the first time in a decade and honestly forgot how great he was. (Wouldn’t object to McGinley or David getting upgraded either)

Luke Higham said...

Robert: He said before that it's fairly likely and McGinley is a 4.5.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Luke: Oh, thought McGinley was a 4

Luke Higham said...

Robert:
McGinley - 4.5 (A performance that really grew on me in re-watch. Technically Sergeant O'Neill could have just been a henchmen to the evil Barnes or just a pure weasel. McGinley gives much more depth to the part yes he shows O'Neill as a coward, but also always as a man who's really just fearing for his life in a terrible situation. He's particularly great in the scene where one of the other soldiers murders a villager. O'Neill just wants everyone to forget it, not because he supported it anyway, McGinley shows that O'Neill is horrified at the situation, but just above all wants to keep his head down.)

Matt Mustin said...

I should give him another shot. I liked him, but I liked Ruffalo a lot more.

Mitchell Murray said...

Tim: I read that story about Tatum somewhere before, and it is indeed quite scary to think about; To completely lose yourself in the moment regardless of safety...

There's nothing planned or deliberate about Tatum doing that - not like, say, Christian Bale losing or gaining a dangerous amount of weight - but they both have the same visceral effect regardless. I imagine that as an actor you would've have a fair amount of guidelines and people trying to keep you safe, but that level of unpredictability can never be accounted for.

Shaggy and Matt: For what it's worth, Carell would still be a solid 3 for myself. The mannerisms and general stagnancy of his performance still weigh it down, but he does have some genuinely decent scenes with Tatum and Redgrave. They are the flashes of greatness where you can get an idea of du Pont's mental state, and it's a shame that the technical aspects of Carell's work detract from them.

Mitchell Murray said...

Honestly, it would be tempting to say Carell should avoid mannered turns, since he seems to thrive in far more natural roles I.E "Little Miss Sunshine". But then I have to remind myself of his performance in "Battle of the Sexes", where he does use a voice/behaviour that isn't his own, and it actually feels rather suited to the film.

Michael McCarthy said...

Carell’s still a 2.5 for me, that *awful* drunk scene knocked him down an extra .5.

Calvin Law said...

I should probably rewatch but this review already makes me want to upgrade him to a 5.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What do you consider to be the ten greatest performances given by actors in a single TV episode, ie Cranston in Ozymandias? You can include more than ten if you want to.

Calvin Law said...

Anonymous: I'll take a crack at 10 of my own if you don't mind. One per show just to spread the wealth, in no particular order:

Glenn Howerton (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - The D.E.N.N.I.S. System
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) - Ozymandias
Michael McKean (Better Call Saul) - Chicanery
Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre) - Episode 3
Alec Guinness (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) - Episode 5
Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us) - Part 4
Jared Harris (Chernobyl) - Vichnaya Pamyat
Ian Richardson (House of Cards) - Episode 4
Ray Wise (Twin Peaks) - Arbitrary Law
Zahn McClarnon (Westworld) - Kiksuya

HM: Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) - Nice Face

Luke Higham said...

I'd add Mark Rylance in Wolf Hall (Episode 4) to that list.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

My own list:

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)- Ozymandias
Glenn Howerton (It's Always Sunny) - The D.E.N.N.I.S System 
Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) - The Reichenbach Fall
James Franco & Sarah Gadon (11.22.63)- The Day in Question
Jon Hamm (Mad Men) - The Suitcase
Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine Nine)- Halloween II (so many to choose from) 
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)- Problem Dog
Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones)- The Old Gods and the New 
Joel McHale (Community)- Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television 
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) - The Laws of Gods and Men

Just missed out: Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine Nine) - Moo Moo

Luke Higham said...

Halloween II is definitely my favourite work from Braugher as Captain Holt.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: damn, almost forgot. Switch Rylance out for Jerome then (very reluctantly).

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I should say The Mirror And The Light is my most anticipated TV Project within the next 5 years.

Matt Mustin said...

I guess I'll take a crack at the TV performances thing.

Bryan Cranston-Breaking Bad (Ozymandias)
Peter Dinklage-Game of Thrones (The Laws of Gods and Men)
Jason Alexander-Seinfeld (The Marine Biologist)
Jonathan Banks-Better Call Saul (Five-O)
Kirsten Dunst-Fargo (Palindrome)
Matthew McConaughey-True Detective (Form and Void)
Michael Richards-Seinfeld (The Chicken Roaster)
Giancarlo Esposito-Breaking Bad (Hermanos)
Alan Alda-MASH (Goodbye, Farewell and Amen)
Dean Norris-Breaking Bad (Blood Money)

Just missed out:
Harry Morgan-MASH (Old Soldiers)

Mitchell Murray said...

I just watched "The Sunshine Boys" for the first time; It was alright, although I personally never found it as enjoyable as I was led to believe.

Matthau - 3
Benjamin - 3
Burns - 4.5

Michael McCarthy said...

I don’t know if I could make a full list, but I will say that if any of y’all get around to Ray Donovan that I’ll bet Schreiber’s performance in “Excuscito” will be on all of your lists.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

I quite enjoyed 22 Jump Street, even if I thought the pointing out the sequel logic went too far, until the credits, where it went over board in that regard in the best of ways. Purposefully doesn't do too much new but enjoyed the obvious retread.

Hill - 3(Tatum does overshadow him here, and he occasionally gets closer towards that Hill shtickyness which isn't my favorite look of his. Still he's on point more often than not.)

Russell - 3(Enjoyably dumb jocky, though I wish they did more with him later on in the film. Still his chemistry with Tatum is delightful.)

Stormare - (Feel they could've done more with him.)

Bell - 3(I actually think they could've done more with her as well particularly in terms of where her character goes, though she is effective in seemingly just the intolerable roommate though slowly becomes more than that.

Ice Cube - 3.5(Probably the most major upgrade in terms of the scheme of the sequel, as his reaction towards the twist, which was perhaps my favorite thing in the film, is absolutely hilarious he managed to take his already hardboiled character and make him all the more furious)

Dave's death scene, other than Carell's delivery, I think is disturbingly effective, and by accounts to be quite accurate to how it actually happened. I love that Miller makes it chilling but doesn't at all make it grotesque in just how matter of fact it is.

Watching What We Do in The Shadows and still watching the Sopranos (which I'm almost finished with.)

Shaggy:

Tempted to lower his rating honestly. Watching it again, I found it frustrating, as I'd like the film even more if it wasn't for his performance, especially since the second viewing I saw him taking an AMAZING part and turns it into such an obvious "I'm playing against type" performance. I wish I could see a version of the film with say Ben Mendelsohn in the role.

Robert:

I mean his scene in visiting the drug den, is probably enough for an upgrade alone, particularly the way he says "kill me", with underlying sense that he wishes they really would.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your rating for Tatum in 22 Jump Street.

Louis Morgan said...

4

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Thoughts on the “sequel” credits scene for 22 Jump Street?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Louis: Yes, that's what really struck me about Berenger on the second viewing: How suicidal he played it.

Michael Patison said...

Louis: Interesting that La Marseillaise has your Ensemble win for 1938, but isn't in your top ten. What's the disconnect between the quality of the ensemble and the quality of the film there?

Louis Morgan said...

Bryan:

As referred to before as the idea of taking the traits of a sequel to the next level of going over board with it, it just goes and shows you that idea more than 10 times fold, in perhaps one of the funniest credits sequences around, with particular affection for contract dispute recasting and Bill Hader as the villainous chef.

Michael:

Well in 30's films in particular the quality of the supporting cast can often be pretty unwieldy, so the consistency of the cast in La Marseillaise is notable. In terms of not being in the top 10, I prefer the 10 films I listed above it simple as that, in fact I could theoretically love the cast of a film, and be somewhat indifferent to the film as a whole. I do like that film, it is also my original screenplay winner after all(though in part due to very few contenders I'll admit, as all my top 10 films are adapted screenplays).

Robert MacFarlane said...

Here's a random question: What are our favorite line deliveries of the 2010's? Here's some of mine:

"I'm going to jail." - Pacino in The Irishman

"Jessica, only child, Illinois Chicago, classmate of Kim Jin-mo, he's your cousin." - Park So-dam in Parasite

"See you around, kid." - Mark Hamill in The Last Jedi

"Oh fuck." - Jessica Rothe in Happy Death Day

"Cunt!" - Nicolas Hoult in The Favourite

Bryan L. said...

Robert:

"WHAT A LOVELY DAY!"

"Home..." - Dunkirk

"RESPECT! - Parasite

"Yes." - Uncut Gems

"BENI-F@*#ING-HANA?!"

"Au revoir..." - Inside Llewyn Davis

"So, this is what it feels like..." - Logan

"He's not the boogeyman...he's the guy you sent to KILL the boogeyman."

Mitchell Murray said...

Robert: Some of my favourites would include the following...

"So are mine..." - Albert Brooks in "Drive"

"Oh, so it wasn't you who put a little hole in one of big fat Jeffrey's big fat thumbnails, no?" - Woody Harrelson in "Three Billboards"

Almost everything said by Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken in "Seven Psychopaths"

"I shot and ate that SOB" - Tom Hardy in "The Revenant"

"My face is mine, my hands are mine, my mouth is mine....but I'm not...I'm yours" - Viggo Mortensen in "Captain Fantastic"

Matt Mustin said...

Robert:

"Must the duck be here?"-The Favourite

"WHAT A LOVELY DAY"-Mad Max: Fury Road

"See you around, kid"-The Last Jedi

BENI-FUCKING-HANA?!"-The Wolf of Wall Street

"You have a regurgitative reaction to mistruthin'"-Knives Out

"Hello, Mr. Pocket"-The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

"Maybe in America, Irish"-Captain Phillips

"And I...am...Iron Man"-Avenger: Endgame

I'm sure there's more

Mitchell Murray said...

Also, I just caught the last half of "Hart's War" on TV. I have the full version ready to watch soon, but from what I did see, I might actually request Marcel Lures for his own review. He honestly is more interesting in his performance than he had any right to be, especially given the nature of the film's writing/cast.

Matt Mustin said...

Oh, I can't believe I forgot this one

"Too bad"-Seven Psychopaths

Michael McCarthy said...

“Peace is for queers, and now you’re gonna die.” -Woody Harrelson in Seven Psychopaths

“There’s high ground just beyond that thing.” -Nicholas Hoult I’m Mad Max: Fury Road

“YOU DIDN’T HIT NOTHIN’ IMPORTANT!” -Tom Waits in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

“...Sure enough” -Choi Woo-shik in Parasite

“It’s been difficult.” -Ben Foster in Hell or High Water

“Those FUCKERS.” -Ralph Fiennes in Grand Budapest Hotel

“I see...a rhinoceros...” -Adrien Brody in Midnight in Paris

“...and he’s like, “I HATE MY DAAAAD!’” -Utkarsh Ambudkar in Blindspotting (though honorable mention to that entire monologue to be honest)

Calvin Law said...

Favourite: ‘But I don’t want to hear it because it hurts my ears’ - Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread

And a few others off the top of my head,

They wouldn’t dare’ - Al Pacino, The Irishman
‘I don’t want to’ - Christopher Walken, Seven Psychopaths
‘Maybe in America, Irish’ - Barkhad Abdi, Captain Philips
‘My name is Max’ - Tom Hardy, Mad Max: Fury Road
‘There won’t be another Camelot’ - Natalie Portman, Jackie
‘We’re not so very different, you and It - Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Стойкий мужик - Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Jessica Jingle - Park So-dam, Parasite
‘You didn't hit nuthin important’ - Tom Waits, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
‘You’re fond of me lobster ain’t he?’ - Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse
‘Ugatz’ - Harry Dean Stanton, Lucky
‘I feel a bass sound here’ - Steven Yeun, Burning
‘I can’t hear you’ - Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
‘I can’t beat it’ - Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
‘I wanted to have babies’ - Olivia Colman, Tyrannosaur
‘And Richard Parker, my fierce companion, the terrible one who kept me alive. Disappeared forever from my life’ - Irrfan Khan, Life of Pi

Calvin Law said...

And just remembered, ‘so this is what it feels like’ from Logan, and ‘what’s the meaning of this shit’ from Grand Budapest.

Michael McCarthy said...

OH Calvin reminded me of one of my very favorites:

“You really are a poison dwarf, Toby. Why don’t you fuck off back to His Majesty and stop trying to involve me in his little cabaret?” -Colin Firth in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Robert MacFarlane said...

“You see? There are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity. Indeed that's what we provide in our own modest, humble, insignificant... Oh, fuck it.”

You know, remembering that line, I wouldn’t object to Fiennes taking this round.

Mitchell Murray said...

Well, I might as well ask a follow up question to Robert's: What's everyone's top 10 lines from "Seven Psychopaths"? Mine would be as followed:

1) "Great"
2) "Maybe they just got dumped by there girlfriends 'cus' they've got a drinking problem too!"
3) "F*ck the cops! F*ck em!"
4) "Too bad!"
5) "Don't tell these scum sucking mother f*ckers nothing"
6) "You might want to stop drinking, Martin, if this is how your gonna behave"
7) "Your the one who thought psychopaths were so interesting - they get kind of tiresome after a while, don't you think?"
8) "I could smell the booze"
9) "It's got layers...it's got many layers"
10) "The guy's a f*cken psychopath"

Calvin Law said...

My favourite line from Seven Psychopaths is ‘We went around the country killing people who went around the country killing people’.

Michael: While I’m not huge on Firth’s performance on the whole (in part due to being a huge Ian Richardson stan), that is a beautifully delivered line.

Michael McCarthy said...

Calvin: After multiple viewings of the film over the course of 9 years, I’ve decided Firth gives my favorite performance in the cast and is my Supporting win for 2011.

Emi Grant said...

Robert:

- If I had a steak...I would...fuck it. - Robert Pattinson, The Lighthouse
- Every day I wake up and I hope you're dead... - Adam Driver, Marriage Story
- Did I adequately answer your condescending question? - Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network (and like, a dozen more from that film)
- Are you one of those single tear people? Do I look like a double fucking rainbow to you? - JK Simmons, Whiplash
- Robbie! - Frances McDormand, Three Billboards
- You're accused of Anti-Soviet behavior, the court finds you guilty and sentences you to be shot. - Steve Buscemi, The Death Of Stalin

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

My favourite line deliveries:

"This is all so metaphorical"- Choi Woo-shik in Parasite
"I am sitting in a room....full of fucking idiots"- Al Pacino in The Irishman
"WHAT A DAY, WHAT A LOVELY DAY!"- Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road
"The price for your glory is their suffering"- Issei Ogata in Silence
"So.......this is what it feels like"- Hugh Jackman in Logan
"He's actually become a dear friend"- Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel
"You have part of my attention, you have the minimum amount"- Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network
"BENI-FUCKING-HANA?!"- Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street
"I am on a murder case here. That's M-U-R-D-E-R, which spells S-E-R-I-O-U-S. So if I don't get my A-R-S-E in G-E-A-R, I'm in serious S-H-I-T, okay?"- James McAvoy in Filth
"Enjoy the attention, kid. Not everyone is lucky enough to look stupid"- Scarlett Johannson in Jojo Rabbit
"Jessica" - Park So-dam in Parasite

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Also, Emi reminded me of my single favorite line delivery from The Lighthouse:

"I'm sick of your laugh, your snoring, and your goddamned farts. Your damned goddamned farts. Goddamn yer farts!"

Mitchell Murray said...

Emi and Tahmeed: You both just reminded me of my favourite line readings from "Marraige Story" and "Jojo Rabbit", respectively.

Marraige Story: "Every day I wake up..."

Jojo Rabbit: "She's doing what she can" (Though I could easily cite any line from Johansson - I've obviously said this before, but I've just really come to LOVE her performance)

Aidan Pittman said...

Robert:

"FIND HER!" - Olivia Colman in The Favourite
"There is entirely too much movement at breakfast." - Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread
"I don't know what I'm doing here." - Vicky Krieps in Phantom Thread
"I am clothed in immense power!" - Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
"You might be demonstrating a failure to show appreciation." - Joe Pesci in The Irishman
"Well, that ain't good." - Tim Blake Nelson in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
"No one will forget Jo March!" - Saoirse Ronan in Little Women
"You're a dog!" - Willem Dafoe in The Lighthouse
"I FUCKIN' KNEW IT!" - Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight
"Show yourself, Red Rackham!" Andy Serkis in The Adventures of Tintin
"Don't let go." - Bruce Willis in Moonrise Kingdom
"I don't know." - Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
"When is it a good time?" - Richard Jenkins in The Shape of Water

Matt Mustin said...

Aidan: Oh man, credit to you for including that Goggins line. I would also include, from the same film, Kurt Russell's reaction to the bad coffee. "Jesus CHRIST, THAT'S AWFUL!"

Aidan Pittman said...

Matt: I could probably write a whole list of great line readings from the film.

Mitchell Murray said...

Aidan:

"Music time's over!"

"It'll open if you don't - SHUT UP!"

"The f*cken thing is busted!"

"Orale, Cabron!"

I could go on.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Also, here's a list of my favorite line deliveries from TV shows in the past decade:

"You wanna dance on the blacktop, homie? Get checked in, hoe!"- Zach Woods in Silicon Valley
"We've had vicious kings, and we've had idiot kings, but I don't know if we've ever been cursed with a vicious idiot for a king!"- Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones
"Ah........wire"- Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad
"From now on, call me.....VELVET THUNDER"- Andre Braugher in Brooklyn Nine Nine
"His name is Hank"- Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad
"BECAUSE I HATE YOU"- Glenn Howerton in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
"AND SEND IT TO THE INTERNET"- William Zabka in Cobra Kai
“I love you, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry? The hell am I sorry for?”- Joe Keery in Stranger Things

Emi Grant said...

Mitchell: I honestly love most of the things Demián Bichir says in the film just because of how he hams up the accent.

Louis Morgan said...

Some that have yet to be mentioned:

"You're fond of me lobster ain't ye" - Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse
"Go and Play, Damn you" - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
"The Way I see it, you're damn unlucky" - Choi Min-sik, I Saw the Devil
"You smile" - Harry Dean Stanton, Lucky
"Do you have a gun, are you here to kill me?" - Phantom Thread
Ohio Blue Tip Matches Poem - Adam Driver, Paterson
"Alright have it your way, I like your cooking" - Robert Pattinson, The Lighthouse
"A little" - Christopher Walken, Seven Psychopaths (response to "you hurt?")
"Crazy, Evil" - Nicolas Cage, Mandy

And favorite one word line delivery: "Yes" - Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems

Michael McCarthy said...

Since someone mentioned a line from Silicon Valley, you will never convince me that Jared’s “insult” to Dinesh in this clip isn’t objectively the greatest line from the entire series: https://youtu.be/YYe0EMQz3ow

Matt Mustin said...

I guess I should mention that I watched Clint Eastwood's The Mule the other night and it sucked.

Lucas Saavedra said...

On the topic of Youtube movie channels from the previous post, there is a very small one called Eyebrow Cinema that I like, and another one that I also enjoy called Now You See It.

Michael McCarthy said...

Matt: Right??? It’s honestly embarrassing.

Aidan Pittman said...

Speaking of viewings from last night, I watched Reservoir Dogs for the first time. Although it's probably my least Taratino so far (I'm 5/9 done), I still really enjoyed it and can see his talent's been with him for some time.

Keitel -4
Roth - 4
Madsen - 3.5
Buscemi - 4.5
Tarantino - 1
Penn - 3
Tierney - 3.5

Tim said...

Oops … oops … oops … - 127 Hours
WHAT A LOVELY DAY - Mad Max Furiosa Road
BENI-FUCKING-HANA?! - Wolf of Wall Street
The best time of my life - Can you ever forgive me?
Always - Deathly Hallows Part 2
Come and Dream with me - Hugo
Why can't they have … a good life? - Saving Mr Banks#
She was shaking like a shitting dog/Those Fuckers! - Grand Budapest Hotel
Maybe in AMerica, Irish - Captain Philips
Worthless, friendless, faggot-lipped Little pos … - Whiplash
Because you threw a kitchen nife at me. And an hour later you told me how much you loved me - Birdman
everything Eisenberg sais in The Social Network


TV: Monster? Maybe you should speak to me mor softly then. Monsters are very dangerous, and Right now kings are dying like flies - GOT

Tim said...

Why do i always make so many spelling mistakes?! God!

*America
*knife
*more
and no # behind Saving Mr Banks

Mitchell Murray said...

Perhaps this has been asked and answered before, but how would everyone rank the supporting actor winners from this century so far? Mine would be as followed:

1) Ledger
2) Waltz (Django Unchained)
3) Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)
4) Bardem
5) Simmons
6) Rockwell
7) Ali (Moonlight)
8) Rylance
9) Bale
10) Pitt
11) Arkin
12) Cooper
13) Broadbent
14) Leto
15) Ali (Green Book)
16) Robbins
17) Clooney
18) Freeman

Haven't seen "Traffic" or "Beginners"

Luke Higham said...

Great lines all though another line I absolutely adore is:
'I am the man... who grabs the sun... RIDING TO VALHALLA!'

Luke Higham said...

Mitchell:

1. Ledger
2. Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
3. Rockwell
4. Bardem
5. Simmons
6. Waltz (Django Unchained)
7. Rylance
8. Ali (Moonlight)
9. Bale
10. Pitt
11. Arkin
12. Del Toro
13. Cooper
14. Broadbent
15. Leto
16. Ali (Green Book)
17. Robbins
18. Plummer
19. Clooney
20. Freeman

Robert MacFarlane said...

Mitchell:

1. Ledger
2. Waltz (Basterds)
3. Ali (Moonlight)
4. Del Toro
5. Bale
6. Waltz (Django)

7. Bardem
8. Broadbent
9. Pitt
10. Plummer
11. Freeman
12. Arkin
13. Simmons
14. Rylance
15. Cooper
16. Rockwell
17. Robbins

18. Ali (Green Book)
19. Clooney
20. Leto

Tim said...

1) Ledger
2) Waltz (IB)
3) Simmons
4) Bardem
5) Ali (M)
6) Bale
7) Waltz (DJ)
8) Rockwell
9) Rylance
10) Pitt
11) Cooper
12) Leto
13) Ali (GB)
14) Robbins
15) Arkin
16) Freeman

have not yet seen Beginners, Iris or Syriana. I have seen Traffic, but it's too long ago

Luke Higham said...

Last Night In Soho is coming next April.

Tim said...

Well, somebody just watched Notorious and thought that the first half was just okay, but the second half was really really good. The main reason for that is of course the best Performance in the film, Claude Rains.

Bergman: 4.5
Grant: 3.5
Rains: 5 (duh)
Konstantin: 3
Calhern: 2.5

Anonymous said...

Louis, your thoughts on Scott Derrickson directing a sequel to Labyrinth.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Can't speak for Louis, but I don't care for the original Labyrinth very much and Derickson does nothing for me. Also: Louis, if you've seen Labyrinth, rating on Connelly? That legitimately might be one of my all-time least favorite performances.

Emi Grant said...

Mitchell: Talk about a hard task...I'm still missing some

- 5s
1. Ledger
2. Bardem
3. Rockwell
4. Waltz (Basterds)
5. Simmons
6. Waltz (Django)
7. Ali (Moonlight)

- 4.5s
8. Bale
9. Rylance (Could eventually go up)
10. Pitt
11. Cooper
12. Arkin

4s
13. Leto

- 3.5-ish
14. Ali (Green Book)
15. Robbins

- 2.5-ish
16. Freeman

Bryan L. said...

Mitchell:

1. Ledger
2. Waltz (IB)
3. Bardem
4. Simmons
5. Ali (Moonlight)
6. Waltz (DU)
7. Del Toro
8. Rockwell
9. Rylance (Although I might be taking this one for granted)
10. Bale
11. Pitt
12. Arkin
13. Leto
14. Cooper
15. Plummer
16. Ali (Green Book)
17. Robbins
18. Freeman
19. Clooney

Haven't seen Iris.

Robert MacFarlane said...

You are all way too harsh on Freeman and WAY too kind to Leto. He should be the broad consensus pick for worst.

Mitchell Murray said...

Robert: Why exactly? I'll grant you that he's a tad overrated, that he's overshadowed by McConaughey, and that he doesn't have the most original part. But for what he had to do, I thought Leto was fine; I believed his mannerisms and affectations, and I thought he did a good job of showing Rayon's sadness. It's nothing great, but it did work for me overall.

Freeman, meanwhile, just gave a terribly standard performance in a terribly standard role, all the while being in a terribly standard movie. His is the worst kind of career win, to be honest, especially given the greatness of the his earlier work.

Bryan L. said...

Robert:

Freeman delivered the most standard "Morgan Freeman" performance at that point in his career, even more so with the narration. I'll grant that his character was written that way, but he didn't really bother in bringing something new to that role.

Leto did a fine job in creating his character, and delivered on the pathos that Rayon needed to portray. The film is indeed The McConaughey Show, but Leto is good on his own.

Bryan L. said...

Also, note: This is coming from someone who doesn't dislike Million Dollar Baby.

Matt Mustin said...

Robert: The problem with Leto's role is not the actual performance itself.

Anonymous said...

Freeman is nothing special in Million Dollar Baby.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Matt: Well yeah, that is a big problem, but I fail to see how anything he does with the performance itself is anything other than a caricature. There’s absolutely no interior life to the work. All just surface-level mannerisms and pageantry, and it’s all so uninspired and broad strokes. Leto has always tried to cover up his lack of range by wildly overdoing it, and this cynical ploy for awards attention worked for him like a charm. There is absolutely nothing good about the performance. Every moment rings false. That it’s an offensive transgender minstrel show is just the cherry on top.

Also, I thought Freeman did a good job in showing a sense of sadness and empathy in MDB. Maybe the voice was a bit much, And Eastwood overshadows him, but he’s better than most of his fellow nominees that year.

Mitchell Murray said...

Robert: We are just going to have to agree to disagree on both of those points. Indeed, my own ranking for 2004 supporting actor is almost identical to Louis' ranking.

Emi Grant said...

Robert: I think there's been way worse performances in terms of mannerisms. Sure, he was a broad character, but I never found him to be offensive in any way. There's also that scene with his father that highly elevates his turn for me, which I just like fine for starters.

Nothing against Freeman, since he has a couple of fine moments, but everyone pretty much nails why I don't love his turn necessarily.

That said, Abdi and Haden Church should have won on those years.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Emi: The reason Leto is offensive is inherent in having a cis actor play a trans role. I know that’s how it’s been for years, but by 2013 they should have fucking learned.

Also Church is the big reason I don’t like Sideways that much outside of Giamatti. His shtick got old and he did nothing to convince me Giamatti shouldn’t have strangled him in his sleep.

Emi Grant said...

Robert: Oh, I understand your point now. Well...yikes.

I am fairly surprised at seeing you aren't much of a fan of Church. Who would have your choice for 2004?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Emi: From the nominees, Owen (not really supporting, though). Of the year, Carradine very easily.

Bryan L. said...

I'll admit though, the thing I do remember the most about Letos' performance is the scene that Emi mentioned, where he is quite moving. The rest of the time he's solid.

I've never been big on Sideways either, but Haden Church was kind of fun.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Well I don't have any strong opinions on Derrickson, or Labyrinth, which I've only seen parts of randomly. So can't really comment all that much.

Mitchell Murray said...

Robert: Obviously, you have a very passionate opinion about this topic that is a perhaps different than my own. Out of mutual respect, I will not prod any further.

Matt Mustin said...

I kinda can't believe Carradine isn't everybody's automatic choice for number 1 that year.

Luke Higham said...

Mine's Peter O'Toole in Troy.

Emi Grant said...

Matt: Well, I guess it isn't mine because I haven't watched either volume of Kill Bill yet...shame on me.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Matt: I know, right? That’s my second favorite Tarantino performance behind Waltz in Basterds.