Tuesday 8 September 2020

Alternate Best Actor 1950: Results

5. Vincent Price in The Baron of Arizona - Price gives a properly devious turn even if the film's odd perspective of his character limits him a bit.

Best Scene: Arguing for his guilt.
4. Alec Guinness in Last Holiday- Guinness gives an unexpectedly remarkable turn in his wholly convincing portrayal of a man coming into his own as he faces death.

Best Scene: Final sendoff. 
3. Jean Marais in Orpheus - Marais gives a terrific atypical leading turn ideal for his wonderfully off-beat romantic fantasy.

Best Scene: Trying to not look at his wife. 
2. John Garfield in The Breaking Point - Garfield gives his best performance in his uncompromising portrayal of a man willing to take the easy way out even as it leads to dire consequences.

Best Scene: Final shootout. 
1. Richard Widmark in Night and the City - Richard Widmark delivers a frankly pioneering portrayal that captures his character's determination and mania as he tries to get himself out of a hole by digging to the other side.

Best Scene: Final idea.
Updated Overall

Next: Review of François Périer in Orpheus and supporting update.

80 comments:

Calvin Law said...

Could I possibly have your thoughts on Shimura in Scandal? Also, lots of interesting films popping up this year.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings and Thoughts on the rest of the lead performances you've seen.

Your Female Lead and Supporting top 15s with ratings.

Your 1950 wins.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: your thoughts and rating for Angela McEwan in Nebraska, and the screenplay to Nayak (just watched it and really, really enjoyed it)?

Michael McCarthy said...

Even though Rashômon is one of my all time favorite films, I do kind of hope Sanders keeps his win.

RatedRStar said...

Louis: Quite interesting that you saw "The Blue Lamp" the inspiration for the well known police series Dixon of Dock Green which was almost a prequel of sorts since Jack Warner plays George Dixon in it.

I remember Dixon of Dock Green because of the television series "Life On Mars/Ashes to Ashes" in which its post credits scene shows the resurrection of Jack Warners character.

BRAZINTERMA said...

Hey Louis and whoever is reading this comment!

Say your TOP 7 of 1950 in the categories:
- SCORE
- POSTER
- EDITING
- SCREENPLAYS (original and adapted)
- CAST
- CHARACTER. In case you don't remember my definition: there is nothing to be at the top of the overall rank, the most memorable characters for the general public; say the names and your movies.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Really glad to see Stewart get upped to a 5 for Harvey. I really hope he gets upgraded for The Shop Around the Corner when you get back to 1940.

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: I'm glad he's got the same number of fives as Hackman now since Louis considers them #1 and #2 for the best American actors.

Calvin Law said...

Harvey is definitely one of Stewart's best performances, good call.

BRAZINTERMA said...

After 1950, the next years I would like to see re-analyzes are: 1936, 1942, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1989, 1998, 2009 and 2016.

Shaggy Rogers said...

I agree. Like Mifune I find it very difficult for Sanders to lose.

Shaggy Rogers said...

Michael: I agree. Like Mifune I find it very difficult for Sanders to lose.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on Anton Walbrook in La Ronde.

Luke Higham said...

And the cast of La Ronde.

Mitchell Murray said...

So, "The Last Airbender" is a great show! I can't believe it took me this long to watch the first season, but I was thoroughly invested with every episode. It not only broaches some pretty dark subjects given its target audience, but he does so with strong characters, splendid animation and a consistent sense of fun.

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

Louis: Your 2000s cast & director for I’m Thinking of Ending Things?

Anonymous said...

Louis: thoughts on the following premiere trailer for Dune? Looks very very good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9xhJrPXop4&feature=emb_title

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Take my money. The use of Pink Floyd was a really nice touch.

Calvin Law said...

Looks great.

Matthew Montada said...

Dune (2020) looks absolutely masterful. Denis Villeneuve has another homerun in the making. The cinematography, the sets, the costumes, the music, the editing... it looks like pure perfection.

I think you guys already discussed this before, but who do you guys think will be the MVP as far as acting goes?

Calvin Law said...

Matthew: Oscar Isaac or Chang Chen.

Luke Higham said...

It would be great to see Isaac get out of the rut he's been in these past 5 years.

Matthew Montada said...

I think so too, Luke and Calvin. I think Isaac has potential to be the MVP as well

Luke Higham said...

Aside from Isaac, I hope Dave Bautista makes as much of an impact to warrant a review.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: I doubt it, I’m sure he’ll be good but Glossu Rabban isn’t that much of a character, plus his appearances will be limited.

Matt Mustin said...

Calvin: But look at what an impact he made in Blade Runner, though.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: For all we know, Denis may've expanded the role abit.

Anonymous said...

Excuse me, but what is MVP?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Most Valuable Person/Performer.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Luke

Anonymous said...

Luke, What are your 2015 Lead and Supporting suggestions.

Luke Higham said...

2015 Lead
Christopher Plummer - Remember
Geza Rohrig - Son Of Saul
Viggo Mortensen - Far From Men
Christopher Abbott - James White
Adam Driver - Hungry Hearts
Ulrik Munther - The Here After
Tom Courtenay - 45 Years
Tom Hardy - Mad Max: Fury Road
Paul Dano/John Cusack - Love & Mercy

Supporting
Peter Mullan - Sunset Song
Straight Outta Compton trio
Ralph Fiennes - A Bigger Splash

Shaggy Rogers said...

RIP Ronald Harwood, screenwriter of The Dresser and The Pianist

Luke Higham said...

RIP Ronald Harwood

Bryan L. said...

Luke: I’ve seen Driver in Hungry Hearts. He is very good and I’d give him a 4.5, though in hindsight, it feels like a warm-up to his Marriage Story work.

Bryan L. said...

RIP Ronald Harwood

Anonymous said...

Luke, your top five/ten Christopher Plummer performances

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: I'd still put him in there because he's a 4.5 for me but he also won Venice. And there's no one else outside of that lineup I could see getting a 4.5.

I had thought about Coster-Waldau in A Second Chance but I think he'll get a strong 4.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: I actually would be cool with him getting reviewed. I meant the second thing I said as an observation, not a complaint.

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: Also, Hungry Hearts was more of a Psychological Thriller to me.

Anonymous:
1. Nicholas Nickleby (Re-watched it after so long and it truly is a fantastic piece of work from him)
2. Waterloo
3. All The Money In The World
4. The Silent Partner
5. The Insider

I'm gonna wait on Remember, The Fall Of The Roman Empire (Only ever saw the first 30 minutes of it) and Murder By Decree when we get to their respective years.

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: No issue at all my friend. :)

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: The next cycle is gonna be big for Plummer with 79, 15 and 64.

Matt Mustin said...

Luke: The Straight Outta Compton trio are unambiguously lead.

Luke Higham said...

Matt: Thanks, I'll put them in the 10th slot then.

Luke Higham said...

Dune might be delayed by a month or 2.

It looks like Charles Dance in Mank is Hoult's only challenger at this point.

Mitchell Murray said...

Louis: Although he'd be far too old for the part now, do you think Tom Cruise could've been good as Ron Kovic if he had the ability and assurance he's gained since?

Also, who would you cast in a 2020's version of the film?

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

I haven't re-watched the film since I originally did the year, so a re-watch could help him honestly at least to some degree, as I'll admit I took a bit of my frustration with his side-plot where I guess I wanted a more lighthearted approach as is the majority of Mifune's story. But I probably took that frustration a little too harshly against Shimura's work there, which did feel a little bit of a warmup for Ikiru, I should give it another go.

Luke:

Lets wait just until the supporting post for the female nominations, as I intend to watch just a couple more.

Douglas - 4.5(I mean just another strong turn from Douglas who was always capable of that intensity of his own. This being a strong example of it. This in basically making it this perpetual increase of it as the man moves towards a certain grieving menace. Douglas manages to realize this with the proper charm originally to create a proper sympathy as we slowly watch the man fall apart in front of us by the end of the film.)

Olin - 4(I know that Woody Allen was much influenced by Ingmar Bergman, and in a way Olin here you could almost argue is the prototypical Woody Allen character in a sense. This as we see the man maneuver a romantic situation with a decidedly intense degree of neurosis. That neurosis that defines the man in this constant state of lacking certainty despite everything apparently being ripe for him. Olin's performance manages to find the right balance in being tolerably while also emphasizing the total mess of the man that is our main character who is completely flopping as a proper romantic.)

Dall - 4(Well the best I've seen him to be sure. One film that effectively skirted some code elements to be sure as he's definitely one of the horniest characters you will see around. Dall though actually uses this inform his character effectively as in this state of a constant grip of his gun loving wife. This portraying well the lack certainty in every other regard of what they're doing but a clear fascination with her at all times that is aggressively potent.)

McCrea - 4(Film bounces around a little too much for its own good however McCrea delivers that calm likability as to be expected. He takes it in a slightly different direction here in portraying as a more overtly confident yet caring domination. This being the height in his final letter where McCrea stands out in his incredibly moving portrayal of the man's quiet convictions within the speech.)

Louis Morgan said...

Newton - 4(He's definitely a bit over the top to be sure with all of his pirate talking, however potentially being a pioneer of such speaking it is hard to get too mad at him for it. What Newton does do though is bring an entertaining combination of the character's particular type of gruffness though with a gleeful quality that grants a sympathy within the character's duplicitous manner.)

Kumar - 4(A fine leading turn to be sure, though definitely secondary within the film. He gives a good straight forward portrayal of though of displaying the forces pulling at him to make certain choices regarding his romantic interests.)

Huston - 4(A fine swansong even held back a bit by the film never quite letting you know what his character's deal is exactly. Huston though does deliver in the intensity needed though with just enough of a sense of a fatherly understanding beneath it all. This though with the right dominating confidence much of the film.)

Dermit - 4(Overshadowed to an extent, however seems purposeful to that extent. He's good though in portraying the constant state of anxiety of his character, and the nature of the man always seeming wholly off his rocker more than a bit. It is an effectively off-beat performance that helps to reveal the strange chemistry between the children that is more than just some standard rivalry to be sure.)

Johnson - 4(Fine western turn from him. Carries the film effectively with the right sort of gentle stoicism. He has the right confidence in the role almost causing one to ask why he was subjected to mainly sidekick roles pre-Picture show.)

Andrews - 4(Brings the right blunt forcefulness within the part, though this within enough of a undercurrent of emotion where we see the character's aggression. An effective performance to be sure.)

Mejia - 3.5(A fine child performance, not anything overly notable, but brings the needed naturalism to support the film's approach.)

Dailey - 3.5(An enjoyable lightly comic turn from him. I quite enjoyed his entire "aw shucks" manner here as the character seemingly can't do anything right. A funny performance breeded from his consistency.)

Astaire - 3(I'd say honestly substandard Astaire, wholly fine though still.)

Granger - 3(He has presence to be sure, but it is always a touch to cold. That is the case here once again.)

Carey - 2.5(Overshadowed consistently by Johnson though not bad.)

Hanley - 2.5(Fine but forgettable.)

Ladd - 2.5(Below average Ladd, which as usual is slightly stilted.)

Skeleton - 2.5(Overshadowed by Astaire, who I didn't even love.)

Bogarde - 2(Way too over the top much of the time. Some of the time you can see his greater talent, but too often he just shouts and makes obvious faces to "act crazy'.)

Reagan - 2(I actually don't think Reagan was a terrible actor, but here he just seems out of his depths within the film's approach. This as his part should be comic, a lot more comic than he is, but he just seems lost.)

Archer - 1.5(Bland and boring, much like the film.)

Let me hold off on Walkbrook and the cast, for supporting as well.

Calvin:

McEwan - (Another one that probably could use a re-watch for, however I did like her work in terms of bringing a combination of sort of that almost mid-west drifty quality, while also granting a real sense of warmth in her recollections. And that final reaction of hers is essential there in just the subtle pride of it.)

Louis Morgan said...

Nayak's screenplay really is a brilliant work, and for me is the film I'd recommend to anyone who would like 8 1/2 if it were a bit more straight forward. Nayak's wonderful though in how it doesn't at all feel too inside baseball within the Indian film industry, as it is entirely honest to whatever. That is in touching upon dealing with hammy older actors, the fickle nature of the fame, and the specifics of fame. I love the intimate detail it finds in both an genuine emotional examination of it, but also just an often comical one in its insights, such as its comments on the Bollywood musical numbers, which I was all ears for I'll admit. It works though as this great little story between the different train passengers where it totally works, while also giving the central "hero" his life story and what that means. I love that it doesn't damn the character, even as it definitely criticizes him. It shows the man both in his faults and his chance for being something better. Just a wonderfully written work.

RatedRStar:

I'll admit I watched because it won the Bafta for best film.

Brazinterma:

Score:

1. Orpheus
2. Rashomon
3. Sunset Blvd.
4. Cinderella
5. La Ronde
6. Night and the City (UK)
7. Stage Fright

Poster:

1. The Asphalt Jungle
2. Sunset Blvd.
3. Cinderella
4. Rashomon
5. La Ronde
6. In a Lonely Place
7. Panic in the Streets

Editing:

1. Rashomon
2. Night and the City
3. The Asphalt Jungle
4. La Ronde
5. Orpheus
6. The Breaking Point
7. Winchester '73

Louis Morgan said...

Original Screenplay:

1. Sunset Blvd.
2. Orpheus
3. To Joy
4. Winchester '73
5. D.O.A
6. The Munekata Sisters
7. No Way Out

Adapted Screenplay:

1. Rashomon
2. Night and the City
3. All About Eve
4. La Ronde
5. The Asphalt Jungle
6. The Breaking Point
7. Harvey

Cast:

1. Rashomon
2. Orpheus
3. Night and the City
4. La Ronde
5. Sunset Blvd.
6. The Asphalt Jungle
7. Babul

You can stop writing (IN CASE YOU DON"T REMEMBER).

Character:

1. Norma Desmond
2. Margot Channing
3. Cinderella
4. Harvey the invisible rabbit
5. Eve Harrington

Bryan:

I'm Thinking Of Ending Things 2000's directed by David Lynch:

Young Woman: Nicole Kidman
Jake: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Mother: Isabella Rossellini
Father: Christopher Walken
Janitor: Clifton James

Anonymous:

Looks great, from this venture loving the aesthetic and tone. Still not completely sold on Chalamet in an action role, but this wasn't a bad start at all. Rest of the cast looks to have potential, particularly Stellan Skarsgard.

Mitchell:

Well I think Cruise even then could've delivered on it, but you can practically hear Stone going "BIGGER BIGGER".

I guess I'd see if Joe Keery's got it in him.

BRAZINTERMA said...

Louis: Thanks! Ok, I promise that in the next year of reanalysis I will stop writing "IN CASE YOU DON" T REMEMBER ".

Mitchell Murray said...

So on a more random note, I just watched “Gone Baby Gone” for the first time. It is my favourite of Ben Affleck’s directorial efforts, and not merely because he isn’t the acting lead. Compared to “The Town” and “Argo”, I would simply describe it as better crafted, specifically in terms of it’s tension, atmosphere and portrayal of the rough Boston setting. That said, it’s still two thirds (or maybe three quarters) of a very good film, as the ending doesn’t quite complement the bulk of the story. Not everything in the narrative/plotting is pitch perfect, either, but the things that work do overshadow those faults, and make the movie fairly effective.

Affleck - 4.5
Harris - 4
Weaver - 4
Monaghan - 4 (I honestly thought she made something rather engaging out of an extremely thin role.)
Ryan - 4
Madigan - 3
Gathegi - 3
Freeman - 3

Calvin Law said...

RIP Diana Rigg

Luke Higham said...

RIP Diana Rigg

RatedRStar said...

RIP Diana Rigg

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

RIP Diana Rigg

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

RIP Diana Rigg.

Anonymous said...

Louis, could Robert Ryan go up for The Wild Bunch.

Emi Grant said...

R.I.P. Diana Rigg

Tim said...

Mitchell: you mean Welliver, right?

Tim said...

R.I.P. Ronald Harwood and Diana Rigg

Aidan Pittman said...

R.I.P. Ronald Harwood and Diana Rigg

Mitchell Murray said...

Tim: Yes I do.

Also, rest in peace Ronald Harwood and Diana Rigg.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Anyone know the name of the site that lists Oscar nominated performances by runtime?

Matt Mustin said...

ruthiehenshalfan99: https://www.screentimecentral.com/

Tim said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDTACjl2zu8


your thoughts on this scene?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Tim: Love that scene, Harris and Lithgow are terrific in it.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: It's definitely not your tempo (or mine, for that matter), but could I have your thoughts on Twenty One Pilot's "Heathens" from Suicide Squad? It's unfortunate, cause they're a pretty great band outside of that one song.

Mitchell Murray said...

Tahmeed: Ehh....I don't even mind that song myself. Honestly, "Suicide Squad" has to be one best recent examples of wasting a decent soundtrack through horrible editing/sound mixing.

Luke Higham said...

The Devil All The Time reviews are in and apparently Pattinson's quite easily the most memorable aspect of it.

Anonymous said...

Luke, I saw those reviews and it's rather disappointing actually.

BTW, you said Charles Dance is Hoult's only challenger but right now, I wouldn't rule out a Trial of the Chicago 7 cast member either, most probably Mark Rylance.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

I mean, Diggs is easily my supporting win at the moment, and I love Hoult's performance. Just wish it was in a slightly more cohesive film.

Also, lead actor will be interesting to watch this year, with Jackman and Lindo being the probable top two at the moment.

Luke Higham said...

Tahmeed: I think it's a three horse race at the moment with those 2 and Rylance but I'd put my money on Hugh or Delroy right now.

At least with this year, I don't have to worry about who makes it in or not, Lead or Supporting.

Luke Higham said...

I think the Lead top 5 will be:

All 5s
Jackman
Lindo
Rylance
Hopkins
Oldman

Luke Higham said...

And that list was in no particular order.

Matthew Montada said...

Wonder Woman 1984 just got delayed to December 25 (Christmas Day).

Meanwhile, reviews for The Devil All The Time are mixed. Who do you guys think will be the mvp as far as acting goes?

Luke Higham said...

Matthew: Not unexpected. I'm glad they haven't delayed Dune yet. And Pattinson for MVP.

Mitchell Murray said...

Matthew: Since it will be on Netflix next week, I'll reserve any speculation until I've actually seen the movie.

As for Wonder Woman 1984, well....I can't say I'm surprised. The studios expect it to make money, and if that means postponing it's release until the holiday season, that's what they'll do. Interestingly enough, this will put the release of another Gal Gadot film - "Death on The Nile" - ahead of Wonder Woman, and I'm not sure how it will affect that film's marketing/success.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

no.