Wednesday 19 August 2020

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2002: Timothy Spall in All or Nothing

Timothy Spall did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Phil in All or Nothing.

All or Nothing is more mid-tier Mike Leigh, in that while it doesn't feel aimless like the least of his efforts it doesn't quite find that cathartic rhythm of his best work, about 3 working class families that live in the same apartment complex.

Frequent Leigh collaborator Timothy Spall returns once again to play a technical patriarch as he had done in Secrets & Lies. This man though not exactly living his best life, but you know I'd feel the same way if James Corden was my son (okay that was a bit cruel but so was his performance in Cats). This as we find him in the first half of the film slogging through his life as a not particularly invigorated cab driver, who is the husband of the similarly downtrodden Penny (Lesley Manville) with two young adult children who live with them. Spall's performance in the early scenes of the film is a man in basically a depressive haze. Spall's quite powerful in fashioning just the way the man just is always looking almost like a beaten hound dog with his shrunken expression, and the way he always seems to look away from any conflict. This as we see as his wife attempts to speak to her son their son who is an overweight layabout, we Spall just staring with that same somberness. Later Phil does attempt to get his son to do anything and he speaks with just a meek sense of defeat even before one word comes out of his mouth. Spall realizing a man in Phil he basically has become stuck within this state, and has been brought down within it for a long time. This as even as he drives his cab it is with eyes of a man somewhat lost within those perpetual troubles that are sitting within his mind.

Spall most important moment in the first half of the film is when he has a conversation with an initially rude French costumer who berates him for his carelessness. Eventually the conversation turns towards a more positive note. Spall is wonderful in he is able to combine a dreariness with an affable quality. This as he has a sincerity in his still so modest way of speaking in the conversation though there is a positive spirit as the costumer seems to show a genuine interest. When pressed about his personal experience with his wife, and the love of their relationship though, Spall's voice falls further into that sorrow of the man. This to the point that after that Phil drives towards nothingness for awhile, this while his son suffers a non-fatal heart attack. Spall is exceptional in the scene of bringing such an honest reality to someone trying to escape his for a moment. This as we see Phil just go drive to the coast and away from it all. There Spall brings an unsentimental moment of a man trying and really failing to find happiness, and instead stuck still in that glare of depression. This coming to a head in the film's second half where Phil and his family take more closely center stage. This as his wife Penny derides him for trying to escape work seemingly and taking so long to react to his son's condition. Spall moment of finally breaking from internalized depression to it externalized is simply incredible. This as it isn't angry it is just a desperate statement of his depression in his anguish in every word as he speaks of his wife's treatment of him, but more so his fear that she no longer loves him. Spall in every moment, as he still looks away, and speaks still so modestly even when heightened, finds such a genuine vulnerability in every second of his speech. A speech that evokes basically a complete hopelessness. Penny though reacts though with tenderness towards Phil, where as much as the two performers so effectively portrayed that state of deterioration, that are as effective in the moment of just sincere warmth between them. This allowing for an earned final scene of the two visiting their son who is recovering. Both don't suddenly change the people entirely rather we just see just the same people with a hope and a happiness in the moment. Spall's little smile still isn't big, but all the sweeter in a way as it feels so authentic in the man he showed us throughout the rest of the film. This earning this change even with the transition as brief as it is. Spall's performance being again just a powerful modest work ideal for the approach of Mike Leigh.

51 comments:

Luke Higham said...

Ratings and Thoughts on the cast.

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Fraser
2. Spall
3. Plummer
4. Firmino
5. Lures

Anonymous said...

1. Firmino
2. Fraser
3. Spall
4. Plummer
5. Iures

Anonymous said...

1. Plummer
2. Firmino
3. Spall
4. Fraser
5. Iures

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Looking forward to the Pierrepoint review. A career best in my book. :)

Luke Higham said...

I hope Fraser and Firmino are coming after this.

Matt Mustin said...

1. Firmino
2. Fraser
3. Spall
4. Plummer
5. Iures

Calvin Law said...

1. Plummer
2. Firmino
3. Fraser
4. Spall
5. Iures

Anonymous said...

Luke, having just seen Nicholas Nickleby, Plummer could get a 5 due to his performance in the revelation scenes in the final act.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: All I'm waiting for now is hoping that Michael will have him in at least 2nd in his prediction.

Luke Higham said...

*Michael M.

Mitchell Murray said...

1) Plummer
2) Spall
3) Firmino
4) Fraser
5) Lures

Hate to put my own request last, but it seems to be the general consensus.

Luke Higham said...

Mitchell: Well, you did give him a 4 so you left me with no choice.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I’m shooting in the dark on everyone except Fraser.

Mitchell Murray said...

I should mention that my original ratings for the "Hart's War" cast don't reflect my current thoughts on the performances.

Luke Higham said...

By the way, I re-watched Waterloo and Plummer's terrific as Wellington. He's a 4.5 for me though potentially could've been higher if the rumoured 4 hour cut existed. Honestly, this is where I really got the Fassbender vibes and obviously I would love to see him play the part in a 2020s version.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Plummer
2. Spall
3. Firmino
4. Fraser
5. Iures

Mitchell Murray said...

Also, has anyone seen the trailer to "Death on the Nile"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij2ztHOOe9s

As someone who liked "Murder on the Orient Express" just fine, I'm admittedly intrigued about the film. If it's anything like that first Poirot caper, I should enjoy it for the direction and cast alone, and I'm especially curious about a non-"Wonder Woman", non-action centered performance from Gal Gadot.

Bryan L. said...

1. Firmino
2. Plummer
3. Spall
4. Fraser
5. Lures

Anonymous said...

Yikes those comments about Corden in the review seemed a tad too mean-spirited to me (even if that wasn't what was intended).

Matt Mustin said...

Anonymous: I mean, you're not wrong, but I still thought it was funny.

Michael McCarthy said...

Robert: You have my sword.

1. Brendan Fraser
2. Christopher Plummer
3. Leandro Firmino
4. Timothy Spall
5. Marcel Iures

Robert MacFarlane said...

Michael: Rating and thoughts on Fraser?

Luke Higham said...

1. Plummer
2. Fraser
3. Firmino
4. Spall
5. Iures

Luke Higham said...

Michael: Your ratings for Plummer, Firmino and Iures.

Luke Higham said...

I'm buzzing right now, given how strong Spall's review is, we could potentially have 2 or 3 fives.

Luke Higham said...

Did anyone see some of the more recent Fraser interviews. I seriously wanted to give that man a hug.

Tim said...

1) Plummer
2) Spall
3) Fraser
4) Firmino
5) Iures

Calvin Law said...

Luke: I’ve felt so bad for him for awhile now, hopefully things turn up. I’m glad he’s getting more work at least.

RatedRStar said...

1. Brendan Fraser
2. Christopher Plummer
3. Leandro Firmino
4. Timothy Spall
5. Marcel Iures

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

This is an incredibly difficult line up to predict, to say the least.

1. Plummer
2. Fraser
3. Spall
4. Firmino
5. Iures

Luke Higham said...

For the remaining performances,
Plummer - 5
Fraser - 5
Firmino - 4.5/5
Iures - 4

Luke Higham said...

Michael: Who was 2nd best out of the Nickleby cast and your rating for him, I assume it's either Broadbent or Courtenay.

Anonymous said...

1. Fraser
2. Plummer
3. Firmino
4. Spall
5. Iures

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Manville - (It is interesting how Manville seems entirely different here than when she's wearing finery. Excelling though within a working class role just as she does with a patrician. Manville here creating that just similar sense of desperation as Spall's though in her delivery a more active quality of lashing out against the problems that create that depression. Like Spall she is particularly effective in realizing the transition of the character at the very end, that feels in an authentic moving way, not a rushed change in the character.)

Sheen - (Her performance is kind of why I am so quick to support a Leigh and can have far less patience for a Ken Loach, at times. This is as her performance offers a degree of optimism even within hardship that removes the sort of patronizing solely downtrodden quality sometimes seen in the work of other filmmakers. Her performance is wonderful in giving a sense of the reality still, but within a person who does the right thing and will attempt to look at the right side. She finds a natural grace in her part that creates a real sense of honesty within her character's brighter outlook.)

Corden - 3(As much as I'll freely admit to my mean spiritedness above came from being slightly grumpy, it may have been cemented by thinking about that Oscar bit, where he and Wilson decried the effects of Cats. Thinking about more, the effects team did what they could given Hooper's terrible vision and the absurdly rushed schedule, furthermore both of their performances would have been dreadful no matter what they looked like. Digressions aside, Corden is more than fine here in just portraying basically a ball of anger over nothing, and just a sense of nothing within his plate at all times.)

Bailey - 3(For me might've gone just a little too far in portraying the complete train-wreck that is her character. Still effective to a degree, but I don't know felt a little much.)

Hawkins - 3(Certainly a fine debut from her, not a major role but she brings an honest quality within her work, particularly the heart attack scene.)

Luke Higham said...

Ben Affleck is returning as Batman along with Michael Keaton in The Flash.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your thoughts on this.

Mitchell Murray said...

So on a more random note, I watched 2019’s “Seberg” this afternoon. It offers a capably acted and semi-interesting depiction of its subject, but for myself, was still a few notches below a good film. The movie’s biggest problem was that it too often deviated from Jane Seberg’s perspective, and I feel there was a way to avoid that without undermining the rest of the cast. The non distinct, “copy and paste” scenes of the script also don’t help, nor does the film’s choice of omitting English subtitles whenever Seberg speaks french, which was a weird choice in retrospect.

All that being said, Kristen Stewart is very effective in the titular role, and I might even say it’s my favourite performance of hers. It also raises my hopes for her upcoming biopic, even though I’m still not sold on her being Princess Diana.

RatedRStar said...

Luke: I can't believe The Flash is still going ahead, especially after its star appeared to choke a woman on camera

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Indifference mostly. I mean I like Keaton a lot and can like Affleck, but frankly with superhero films, I don't care until they come and they're good at this point...honestly good and seem to be doing something even remotely new. I mean I'll grant that news suggests that latter qualification but I still need to wait on the former to care.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Fair enough.

Michael Patison said...

1. Brendan Fraser
2. Christopher Plummer
3. Leandro Firmino
4. Timothy Spall
5. Marcel Iures

Aidan Pittman said...

Watched The Hustler and L.A. Confidential the past couple of nights. Both very solid films, with The Hustler mainly being propelled by how great a character Eddie Felson is, and L.A. Confidential's cast was unforgettable. Not in love with them like others are, but they're both still pretty damn good.

Newman - 5
Laurie - 4.5
Scott - 4.5
Gleason - 5
McCormick - 4

Pearce - 5
Crowe - 4.5
Spacey - 4.5
Cromwell - 5
Basinger - 3
DeVito - 4

Michael McCarthy said...

Robert & Luke: Fraser is probably a 5 for me, Plummer, Firmino and Spall are comfortable 4.5s.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Who was your favorite character to play with in Metal Slug games since you've played them?

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Always was a Tarma man.

Tim said...

Aidan further thoughts on Basinger?

Álex Marqués said...

Louis: where did you leave your thoughts on Boardwalk Empire's cast?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Alex: I think Louis mentioned in Rock Hudson and John Randolph's review for Seconds that he hasn't seen Boardwalk Empire yet.

Tim said...

Louis: your thoughts on the Hans Zimmer themes "Marry Me" and "Up is Down"?

Louis Morgan said...

Tim:

Up Is Down - (As much as the sequels, particularly the third, beyond belief Zimmer didn't really phone it in. This being a rather successful sort continuation within his styling of the swashbuckler themes he developed within the original film. This being sort of the most overtly heroic rendition within that styling. That with the almost toy sounding sides, built around the grandiose orchestrations here. This doing it well as this properly old school climatic piece.)

Marry Me - (Same goes here, though in more traditional Zimmer I'd say and less Pirates oriented, though a fine romantic theme. Definitely within his repertoire in hitting familiar beats, although hitting them well to be sure.)