Sunday 18 October 2020

Alternate Best Actor 1994

And the Nominees Were Not:

Ben Kingsley in Death and the Maiden
 
Ge You in To Live
 
Temuera Morrison in Once Were Warriors
 
Shah Rukh Khan in Kabhi Ha Kabhi Na
 
Woody Harrelson in Natural Born Killers

Predict These Five, Those Five or Both:

Robert De Niro in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
 
Kevin Bacon in The River Wild
 
Tom Cruise in Interview With The Vampire
 
Brandon Lee in The Crow 
 
Xia Yu in In the Heat of the Sun

74 comments:

Luke Higham said...

1. Kingsley
2. You
3. Harrelson
4. Morrison
5. Khan

1. Yu
2. Bacon
3. Cruise
4. Lee
5. De Niro

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Kinglsey
2. Harrelson
3. You
4. Khan
5. Morrison

1. Yu
2. Bacon
3. Cruise
4. De Niro
5. Lee

We’ll call group B the Halloween Seed.

BRAZINTERMA said...

1. Kinglsey
2. Harrelson
3. Khan
4. Morrison
5. You

1. Bacon
2. Yu
3. Cruise
4. Lee
5. De Niro

Calvin Law said...

I hate to be that guy but just a reminder that Ge and Xia are the actors’ surnames. On that note though, gotta say I am loving the diversity in this lineup.

Gonna watch a few more of these films before making predictions but I will give my ratings for the ones I’ve seen:

Kingsley: 4/4.5
Harrelson: 3.5
Morrison: 4.5
Cruise: 4
Lee: 4

Matt Mustin said...

Is De Niro really lead?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Also don't want to be that guy, but it's Shahrukh Khan, not Sharukh.

Bryan L. said...

My ratings for the ones I have seen. Will try to watch a couple of the others before making predictions, like Calvin.

Kingsley: 4.5
Morrison: 4.5 (He’s very good but I felt Rena Owen was the MVP)
Cruise: 4
Bacon: 4/4.5
De Niro: 4

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

Well the blame for that one goes squarely on the original requestor, as I literally copy and pasted what they wrote in their original request, just added the "in".

Calvin Law said...

Bryan: yeah, Owen is definitely the standout in it.

Apologies if I came across as snobbish in my previous statement, I know Louis is aware since in his reviews he always refers to the Asian surnames of Song, Lee etc. but just thought it might be a good heads up for the rest since I see that mistake made in the predictions all the time (though I guess it doesn’t matter since the point is gotten across anyway).

Matt Mustin said...

Calvin: It actually is an important clarification that I appreciate.

Emi Grant said...

1. Kingsley
2. Morrison
3. Ge
4. Harrelson
5. Khan

1. Bacon
2. Xia
3. Cruise
4. De Niro
5. Lee

Emi Grant said...

Also, just caught up with The Trial of The Chicago 7. You guys weren't kidding about the inspirational music, huh? Rylance is easily my MVP too.

Rylance: 5
Baron Cohen: 4.5
Redmayne: 4
Strong: 3.5
Abdul-Mateen II: 3.5
Lynch: 3.5
Gordon-Levitt: 3.5
Keaton: 3.5
Langella: 2.5

Aidan Pittman said...

1. You
2. Kingsley
3. Morrison
4. Harrelson
5. Khan

1. Yu
2. Bacon
3. Cruise
4. Lee
5. De Niro

Also watched The Trial of the Chicago 7. Was entertained a good deal overall, although there were areas where I felt Sorkin was definitely more talented as a writer than a director. Still liked it well enough, though, even with the terrible ending.

Cohen - 4
Redmayne - 4
Strong - 3.5
Rylance - 4.5 (Easily the MVP)
Gordon-Levitt - 3
Abdul-Mateen II - 4
Lynch - 3.5
Sharp - 3
Langella - 3
Harrison Jr. - 3

Matt Mustin said...

Loved tonight's Fargo. Glynn Turman MVP, although I also loved Olyphant and Whishaw. Rock was actually quite good too.


And just real quick in regards to the ending of Chicago 7, I don't think it's terrible at all. Really, just take out the music and I probably would have been fine with it.

Matt Mustin said...

1. Kingsley
2. Morrison
3. Ge
4. Khan
5. Harrelson

1. Bacon
2. Xia
3. Cruise
4. Lee
5. De Niro

Calvin Law said...

I have more issues with Sorkin's insertion of his politics into characters' mouths and the writing behind JGL's character (like I really don't think that was needed). Like I get why he did it but I did not love it.

In contrast I actually liked and was moved by the ending. Sure it was cheesy but I kinda needed something like that I guess, and though it might've been nice if they had Dellinger do it like in real life, it made sense as a capping off to Hayden's arc.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Good luck with the 1994 Frankenstein. It, like John Huston's The Bible: In the Beginning, is... very interesting.

Emi Grant said...

Matt: Exactly. Take that out and I pretty much like and love everything else about the film.

Calvin Law said...

Incidentally I think Mads Mikkelsen in Another Round could be a contender for Louis’ top 5 and possibly a win for this year if it gets its release by the end of 2020.

Bryan L. said...

Calvin: It actually came out in theaters a month ago in...you guessed it, Denmark.

Tim said...

1) Kingsley
2) You
3) Harrelson
4) Morrison
5) Khan


1) Bacon
2) Xia
3) Cruise
4) Lee
5) De Niro

Maciej said...

1.Kingsley
2.Ge
3.Morrison
4.Harrelson
5.Khan

1.Bacon
2.Cruise
3.Xia
4.DeNiro
5.Lee

Also, RIP Wojciech Pszoniak

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Regarding the accuracy of Chicago 7, I will say you either can have an issue with it or not as that's a case with all his "true stories", though I'd actually say it could be Sorkin's most accurate script to reality. For me, unless it is some grievous error, as long as it is true to the character's that have been established within the film itself, which I thought was the case here, it is fine by me. Having now watched the far less compelling Chicago 10, and The Trial of Chicago 8, I'll take Sorkin's "adjustments".






RIP Wojciech Pszoniak

RatedRStar said...

RIP Wojciech Pszoniak

RatedRStar said...

1) Kingsley
2) You
3) Harrelson
4) Morrison
5) Khan

1. Bacon
2. Xia
3. Cruise
4. Lee
5. De Niro

Louis Morgan said...

Ruthiehenshallfan99:

Oh, I know, I actually saw the film in 94, though only have vague memories of it at this point.

Luke Higham said...

RIP Wojciech Pszoniak

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Riz Ahmed in Sound Of Metal could be a contender as well.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: oh I agree in that regard, and I guess it’s true. If I had no problem with Eduardo Saverin being a moral paragon of The Social Network then I probably shouldn’t have an issue with them making Richard Schultz sympathetic/morally grey.

And on that front I guess it avoids a lot of the issues of Molly’s Game and Steve Jobs at the very least.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: agreed, he looks very promising from the trailer.

RIP Wojciech Pszoniak

Shaggy Rogers said...

1.Kingsley
2.You
3.Morrison
4.Khan
5.Harrelson

1.Bacon
2.Cruise
3.Xia
4.De Niro
5.Lee

PS: I hope Kingsley or Tim Robbins beat Gary Oldman. I saw Immortal Beloved a few months ago, Oldman's performance is ok but I thought it was an exaggeration to win. In fact Louis owes Kingsley a win from Shutter Island.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Wouldn't say Louis 'owes' anyone, although I do personally hope Robbins takes the win. Jackson will probably be the likely winner though.

Luke Higham said...

Films To Watch
The Burning Season (Raul Julia)
Heart Of Darkness (John Malkovich)
Against The Wall (Samuel L. Jackson and Kyle MacLachlan)
Pulp Fiction (Re-watch for Samuel L. Jackson)
Hoop Dreams
Heavenly Creatures
Sátántango
The Browning Version
Exotica
Shallow Grave
Romeo Is Bleeding
Cobb
Three Colours: Red
Three Colours: White
Felidae
Muriel's Wedding
La Reine Margot
Legends Of The Fall
Nell
Vanya On 42nd Street
Little Odessa
The Paper
Clockers
Jason's Lyric
Prêt-À-Porter
Wyatt Earp
Mesmer (Alan Rickman)
Fresh
The Last Seduction (Linda Fiorentino)
Blue Sky
Little Women
The Client
Tom & Viv
Mrs. Parker And The Vicious Circle
Joan The Maid I and II
Junior
Guarding Tess
Speechless
Farinelli
Eat Drink Man Woman
Burnt by The Sun
Before The Rain
Belle Époque
Manhattan Murder Mystery (Woody Allen)
The Joy Luck Club
Backbeat
Bhaji On The Beach
Spanking The Monkey
I Like It Like That
Clerks
Vive L'Amour
The Color Of Fear
A Borrowed Life
Faust
The Legend Of Drunken Master
Crows
A Pure Formality
Reality Bites
Wolf
Only You
When A Man Loves A Woman
Nightwatch (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)
Black Beauty
Above The Rim
With Honors
Don't Drink The Water (Woody Allen)
Torment (Claude Chabrol)

Aidan Pittman said...

R.I.P. Wojciech Pszoniak

Bryan L. said...

Louis: To cap off 1944, your thoughts on the direction for Double Indemnity?

Calvin Law said...

Latest episode of Fargo was really on point. Agreed with Matt that Thurman, Olyphant and Whishaw were all great, and that Rock was really good. I also thought Gaetano Bruno was fantastic and Jack Huston gave his best work this season so far, I’m really intrigued to see how they’ll continue to subvert that dynamic between him and Olyphant.

Unfortunately Schwartzman wasn’t great again but I’ve kind of accepted it by now.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on Ma Rainey's Black Bottom trailer.

Louis Morgan said...

Bryan:

Double Idemnity is a natural progression from The Maltese Falcon, in making another one of the definitive film noirs. Billy Wilder is in many ways a similar director to Huston, early Huston anyways, where the emphasis is very much on story with the visuals in support of that. This is exceptional example from him in that kind of efficiency, where it actually is very visually minded just in an often low key. From the entrance of Phyllis to the murder scene, Wilder visual choices are brilliant even though they don't bring attention to themselves. That is the entirety of the film though from the smokey interiors, and just the precision of the work. This in thriving within crafting "the narrator's journey" with a distinct precision and power most importantly. I think the most really remarkable aspect though is the care he gives to the scenes between Keyes and Neff, where you really see the loving friendship, which is where the power of the film actually truly lies.

Luke:

Boseman looks promising, and a posthumous win seems possible in supporting from this glimpse...lead seems like a bigger mountain to climb. The trailer otherwise looks just fine, other than Davis's makeup which looks kind of atrocious just from this glimpse, and looking at the real pictures of Ma Rainey, I'm not sure what they were going for exactly.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Any particular directors that you would have liked Gregg Toland to work with if he hadn't passed away, or do you think he'd be great with any director, really.

Tim said...

your thoughts on the screenplay of 500 Days of Summer?

Louis Morgan said...

Regarding the Fargo episode, thought it was terrific (though as good as a certain character's exit was in execution I do wish that character had stuck around longer). MVP to Turman though big HM to Huston, where I too loved the subversion there with the humanity granted to his character against a pretty brutal scene in contrast with Olyphant.

Although on the slightly negative side I did have a couple of unfortunate realizations:

Schwartzman I think we are meant to take seriously as almost a James Cagney type, which he falls more than a little short of to understate, and I think Andrew Bird is supposed to be a sympathetic sad sack, unfortunately he's so incredibly bland it is hard to tell. On the positive side though of the not great casting, I thought Rock definitely delivered in this episode.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

I imagine he would've done wonders with anyone, given the effort he put into even a terrible film like Mad Love. I would've hoped those who would've pushed him however.

Tim:

500 Days of Summer screenplay I think is something that I personally view in some medium between its detractors and lovers. This as its detractors in part slam it for what is its intention, though I think this is obscured a bit by Marc Webb's direction, which is the film is about a toxic relationship built upon conflicting views of the meaning of the two participants, particularly that of the man who builds it in his head as something its not. That is in the text itself, and there is something clever in granting the perspective of the protagonist to create this, and I won't criticize it for others misinterpreting it to some problematic message as that happens all the time with films. Having said that, while there is some cleverness in the structure and some wit to be found there, I do think it falls into some lazy tropes, from the caricatured best friends, to the wise sister, and Summer herself is severely underdeveloped.

Matt Mustin said...

Louis: Bird isn't just bland, he's downright incompetent. I'm watching him and I'm thinking 'This guy just genuinely doesn't know how to act.'

Louis Morgan said...

Matt:

Agreed entirely, honestly in the first episode he made such a non-impression I was sure he was going to be basically a glorified extra, but sadly that wasn't the case.

Razor said...

1. Kingsley
2. Ge
3. Morrison
4. Harrelson
5. Khan

1. Xia
2. Bacon
3. Cruise
4. Lee
5. De Niro

Calvin Law said...

Bird and Schwartzman are two examples of stunt casting that just haven't worked out, which is a shame since it's generally worked out fairly well the past few seasons. Luckily the inspired choices this season have been truly inspired.

Matt Mustin said...

Watched Death and the Maiden. Didn't care for it, largely due to two of the three performances, but I also have to be perfectly frank about something and then I won't discuss it further. I was disgusted that Roman Polanski was the one handling this material. I will leave it at that.

Weaver-2(She's a great actress, but she's all kinds of off here.)
Wilson-2.5
Kingsley-4.5

Anonymous said...

So, I cam't watch Fargo season 4 where I’m from (and don’t wanna pirate it), so I have a question: how is Buckley so far? You mentioned her in the first couple of episodes but never again, and she’s by far the thing I’m most interested in this season.

Matt Mustin said...

Anonymous: She was drop-dead amazing in the first two episodes, easily the best performance of the season, but for some reason they're not really using her anymore.

Matt Mustin said...

I hope they're saving her for something really good.

Omar Franini said...

1. Kingsley
2. Ge
3. Morrison
4. Harrelson
5. Khan

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Kingsley
2. Ge
3. Morrison
4. Khan
5. Harrelson

1. Bacon
2. Xia
3. Cruise
4. Kee
5. De Niro

Louis: If someone outside of the requests is below a 4, would you consider doing a write up for Carrey in Dumb and Dumber, as it is his best comedic performance?

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Buckley was only briefly in the last episode.

Tahmeed:

Yes.

RatedRStar said...

Louis: Not sure if anyone has asked you this yet, what you reckon to the Sound of Metal trailer?

Calvin Law said...

Louis: can I have your thoughts on this 'HILARIOUS' scene from Lost in Translation, which is what I'm referring is the 'failed miserably' scene you refer to in Murray's review?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPQ6VQzuyxU

Anonymous said...

Know it's been mentioned here a few times but definitely recommend Muriel's Wedding for 94 (Collette/Griffiths, and the supporting cast)

Deiner said...

Louis: Rating and thoughts on Margaret O'Brien in Meet Me in St. Louis

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Apparently, Jim Carrey was initially cast as Stuart in Phone Booth, but in pre-production, he called Joel Schumacher to tell him he had cold feet & later dropped out of the role. Thoughts?

Also, your 80s cast & director for that film? Maybe get De Palma & Travolta to team up again?

Matt Mustin said...

Chadwick Boseman is officially being campaigned as lead for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Luke Higham said...

Matt: What a dumb decision. The amount of complaining on social media if he doesn't win is going to be unbearable.

Aidan Pittman said...

Luke: Yeah, gotta agree. None of us have obviously seen the film yet, but given how Lead Actor is clearly Hopkins' to win with Oldman trailing behind a bit, it's pretty strange that they're putting him there and not in Supporting Actor which is fairly barren this year. Gonna be interesting to see how this ends up...

Matt Mustin said...

I mean, who knows, when the film comes out it may be definitely a lead performance.

Luke Higham said...

Matt: Yes, that is indeed possible but campaigning him in Supporting would lead to an easy victory in my opinion. Is he really going to beat Hopkins or even Lindo, I just don't see it. The only reason they're campaigning him in Lead is so that he could get 2 posthumous noms in the same year with this and Da 5 Bloods which would be a first.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Netflix have unwittingly screwed him over with this decision.

Robert MacFarlane said...

First of all, it sounds like he’s a lead role, so this decision sounds entirely fair and truthful. Second, none if us are shore who the actual frontrunner is, Hopkins or not. Wait to call this a dumb decision at least until precursorsZ

Calvin Law said...

Apparently the original stage play he’s lead so I’m fine with this, so if nothing has changed in the process of adaptation I’m all for it.

Tim said...

Bryan: once we get into the phone booth i think he would have done well, but i can't see him as a businessman as in the early scenes, at least not as a serious one

Michael McCarthy said...

Louis and others who’ve seen Twin Peaks, what are your thoughts on Lara Flynn Boyle’s performance as Donna? She gets a LOT of hate from the fanbase, but I just watched the original series for the third time and I’m realizing she gave one of my favorite performances on the show. And somehow I’ve found myself in a heated argument on a Twin Peaks meme page about it...

Calvin Law said...

Michael: Not a huge fan overall of her there but she's fine imo, but I feel your pain as I've had to do that with defending James (though not so much Marshall's performance but more the writing itself). Would be interested to hear your thoughts in regards to her being one of your favourites though.

Michael McCarthy said...

Calvin: Well for one thing, her silent reactions are outstanding. I know everyone likes to rip on the “Just You And I” scene (for good reason, but the last couple times I’ve watched it I’ve been stunned at how well she communicates so many different emotions and realizations with just her face. But beyond that I think she does a great job of balancing horrible grief over the loss of her best friend with a bit of resentment towards her friend for being everything she herself could never be. Her performance reveals that Donna has most of the same urges as Laura had, but also that she knows she doesn’t have the same level of boldness or inherent charisma as Laura and she does a brilliant job of internalizing that conflict. That conflict is most likely what drives her debatably sudden change in season 2 where she seems like she’s trying to be Laura, which I think is why a lot of people dislike her character, but I’ve always read Boyle’s portrayal of this as an intentionally pathetic attempt to replace/become Laura. Yes she’s attention-seeking and makes some terrible choices, but Laura was the same way. I think the mere fact that fans hate her but not Laura is proof that Boyle plays Donna exactly the way she’s meant to be played.

I should also add that my feelings for LFB’s work wouldn’t be as strong if it weren’t for the existence of Moira Kelly’s portrayal. She makes exactly one facial expression and reduces Donna to a one-dimensional doe-eyed schoolgirl which isn’t even close to how she’s written. The fact that so many people prefer her performance to LFB’s is something I just can’t wrap my mind around.

Louis Morgan said...

RatedRStar:

Ahmed and the film look promising, I ponder if the sound design in the final film is similar to that of the trailer.

Calvin:

Oh how I hate this scene, it is out of tone with the film itself, though so are the Anna Faris scenes, and not in a way that works in the least. The attempted humor is derived, as any of the non-Anna Faris jokes are derived from, basically saying "aren't those Japanese wacky". Then the scene itself just isn't remotely funny. Its suppose to be awkward, however it is only awkward to me in just how it just lays there as some horribly misguided idea.

Michael:

I don't love her work, but I never shared the major objection so many seem to have for it.

Bryan:

I think he would've been miscast, as Carrey just never has exuded that type. I mean maybe he could've pulled it off, however Schmacher wouldn't have been the one to bring it out of him.

1980's Phone Booth directed by Brian De Palma:

Stu: John Travolta
The Caller: John Lithgow
Captain Ramey: Dennis Franz
Kelly: Michelle Pfeiffer
Pamela: Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Louis Morgan said...

Deiner:

O'Brien - 3.5(I like her performance, one that Natalie Wood would be very similar to in Miracle on 34th Street. This in that they do border on maybe being a little too cutesy and precocious. I think in both examples they thankfully don't go too far in that sort of "child actor' syndrome, and in general giving a largely charming and energetic performance.)

Louis Morgan said...

Regard Boseman, I'll say hey good on them it is accurate, though we should remember posthumous noms are in fact quite rare, more often than not they'll pass even on the nomination.

Michael Patison said...

1. Ben Kingsley
2. Ge You
3. Temuera Morrison
4. Woody Harrelson
5. Shah Rukh Khan

1. Xia Yu
2. Tom Cruise
3. Kevin Bacon
4. Brandon Lee
5. Robert De Niro