Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1970: Charlton Heston in Julius Caesar

Charlton Heston did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Mark Antony in Julius Caesar. 

I decided to go elsewhere in the lineup mainly by virtue that I previously covered a powerhouse Shakespearean Heston turn built around a great speech. Then when starting to write my response to give thoughts on his work, it became quite long anyways, so might as well make it an official review. That being said, this is another powerhouse Shakespearean turn by Heston. Where in the 53 version it was a matter of dueling speeches between Mason and Brando rejecting Caesar and praising him. In this version there is no duel to be had, Heston simply owns the second speech, but also might as well be the entirety of the film. It is fascinating the way that Heston isn't usually an actor one thinks of as this deeply emotional performer, but when he's speaking Shakespeare it is hard to describe as anything but. Heston is brilliant here within the speech this as he essentially makes an entire event within itself in his single speech. This as he performs his Antony as true to his intention to remember Caesar, but also to seek revenge within the speech. This as he opens it with an initial sense of grief before falling back into himself, until leading the people into fascination of the will. Heston playing around with the will in part this intentional manipulation in his eyes, but also a vicious hate that is wholly genuine that reveals itself every time he speaks of the "honorable men" who killed his friend. Heston controlling the crowd one parts the greatest eulogy one can give, but also a conductor controlling the crowd to his will. Each moment Heston imbues with such potency. This particularly as he looks upon the body of the murdered Caesar. Heston is amazing as every word drifts off his tongue with such magnificence in Heston's delivery. This as the words themselves are not only magnetic in Heston's deliver, but there is such a sense of the emotional quality within the state still of Antony. This in being a man wishing to reek havoc on the conspirators. Again though I also love the moments where Heston tempers himself, and uses a calmer expression of his voice when specifically manipulating the crowd. This again his whole manner is simply conducting each man to his will, as he directs them with a calmer purpose. Heston artfully moves back and forth within the speech making the speech both truthful and a strategic manipulation. It is a shame Heston didn't perform Shakespeare more often as in both instances there is a ferocity and emotional intensity of his work that was rarely seen within him. Strangely enough, the words of the bard seemed to compel him to let loose more than ever as a performer. This being a striking example, that puts one of his co-stars in particular to shame, of Heston thriving beyond the expectations of himself his performer. Heston's typical strong presence is of course here, but there is far more than that. Although true the role is largely the speech, however it is the highlight of the film, particularly given how dull Robards is as Brutus. It deserves higher praise though as Heston's delivery is that of a brilliant version of Julius Caesar, even if the rest of the film doesn't meet that standard, Heston elevates every second he is onscreen to deliver this dynamic and quite mesmerizing portrayal of Caesar's most loyal man.