Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2020: Brian Dennehy in Driveways

Brian Dennehy did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Del in Driveways.

Driveways is a sweet simple, although I'd say simple slightly to a fault (largely in the scenes without Dennehy), film about a single mother and her son moving into a new neighborhood.

What the film does do is give one last opportunity to the reliable character Brian Dennehy to shine. Denney known best probably for his run in the eighties as mostly a series of gruff often tough guys particularly that of the prejudiced Sheriff in First Blood, plays a rather quiet role here as an older man living in a kind of solitude, who is neighbor to the new arrivals in Kathy (Hong Chau) and her son Cody (Lucas Jaye). We initially see him just living his life alone which Dennehy projects not quite a somberness, though certainly not a happiness, of the man just existing within this space with a kind of basic acceptance of his current existence. His first interaction delivered with truly just a neighborly suggestion for the young son on how to use a hose, before a less friendly one with Kathy for talking to strangers. Dennehy nicely puts little onto the interaction actually, almost transactional in trying to deal with hostility with understanding but also just as a kind of simple fact that Del has no real issue with. Eventually though we see Del waiting and there is a a slightly more overt sadness in Dennehy's work as the man does seem left alone. The family gives him a ride and all three actors are good in really not suddenly showing some connection. Rather there is a kind of awkwardness as each speak kind of speaks separately, showing that each are strangers still, though just kind of minor hint of friendliness as they perform this favor. 

 

The film then really is of this kind of general bonding that occurs over time, as the two neighbors begin to help one another. This is often with little dialogue, particularly in so many of Dennehy's scenes as he spends some time with Cody. Dennehy though brings an honest warmth to these interactions. Dennehy brings a real grandfatherly manner in these interactions, however what I really like is how Dennehy begins this with a certain timid quality. This as he slowly builds towards a more genuine friendship he shows that warmth with also a personal sense of comfort from their time together. There's a strict honesty about every moment we have with Dennehy here, and it is impressive by how understated these moments are. When asked about his dead wife for example, all Del does is indicate that his wife is dead with a "yeah". Dennehy though, without breaking down, shows the loss within the man's minor expression, as he so tangibly realizes Del's state. So much of the film really is just showing the people existing in a fairly seemingly simple existence, and Dennehy excels with this. This as there isn't a moment where you don't believe this guy, but more importantly you also garner the sense of who this guy is, the life he lived, and the friendship he has developed through Dennehy's performance. Every one of the scenes between Del and Jacob works because Dennehy makes the relationship absolutely work even in the most basic of interactions. You get the sense in Dennehy's heartfelt reactions just the joy of the interaction and the greater sense of life Del is getting from the situation. There's nothing forced or cloying about it, it simply just is a truth as Dennehy's work articulates it so beautifully by crafting it with such ease. 

 

Now this would be a very good performance as is, but what wholly makes it worthy sendoff for the actor is in Dennehy's final speech. This as Del is moving away to live with his daughter and has one final talk with Cody. Dennehy's work in this scene is true greatness. This as he first just speaks about how it is unlikely Cody will be able to visit him, with his calm but also direct delivery of "that's a pretty big road trip pal", of Del not wanting to create any delusions for the boy and this is really goodbye between them. He then though begins talking about a hitchhiking trip of his youth. There is just this palatable sense of nostalgia exuding from his expression and pouring from his lips. There is such a powerful sense of memory in every word. Dennehy accentuating the story with a loving memory of his old experience, presented so vividly for this boy to experience just as he seems to relieving it with the sheer joy on his face. This before articulating his time with his wife and ending the story as something short but vibrant. Dennehy's whole work you sense the whole relationship in every word he speaks, and every passing remembrance of her. It is both sad but also wholly loving. His little moment of speaking to the regrets of what might've been unsaid to his wife, is absolutely devastating, as he unearths the mistakes of the man. Dennehy's delivery of this monologue is astonishing, as he grants you in only so many words, everything that went on between Del and his wife. This done so with such eloquence but wholly sincere in its earthy truth. His final reflection, which knowing it would be one of the last lines spoken by Dennehy on screen, is heartbreaking. This as Dennehy speaks of Del's wish to do it all again, you get in his expression the somber losses of life, but also the joys of those losses he would just cherish to live through again. Although not officially his swansong, you couldn't ask for a better performance to be remembered by than the one delivered by Brian Dennehy here. It is a poignant portrait of old age that captures both so potently the bitter and the sweet of life through one more relationship built out of love.