Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2000: Stephen Tobolowsky in Memento

Stephen Tobolowsky did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Sammy Jankins in Memento. 

 

Back when Christopher Nolan's films had things called characters, we'd even have stories within the film telling a bit more about these characters, giving a novel thing called depth. That is the case here in Nolan's breakout film where much of the film we follow our protagonist Leonard (Guy Pearce) as he tracks down his wife's killer in reverse sequencing, however during this time we all see Leonard recounting his past earlier as an insurance claims investigator where he investigated a man who claimed to have anterograde amnesia, the condition Leonard is now suffering from. In short a condition where the person retains their past, however can construct new memories and instead is always attempting to understand where they are and what exactly it is that they are doing. This man who was just a normal man living with his wife (Harriet Sansom Harris), who is struggling with this condition as he tries to live his daily life. I think what one can highlight with character actor Tobolowsky's, most famous for his work in Groundhog Day probably, and to an even greater extent Harris's work, is the old adage of "No small parts". This as Jankins story is supplemental though provides an essential thematic element to the story, which is the simple humanity and tragedy of living with such a condition. Tobolowsky's performance shows the devotion one can bring to even a minor role, and in this we get this in Tobolowsky portraying a man in this state who isn't actively fighting against as Leonard technically is or think he is. This as Tobolowsky's performance is this one of a frequently vacant and confused look of a man. The only change being when he sees someone where this is this knowing smile, however carefully this preconditioned smile, not one for anyone in particular, but rather everyone in particular. Tobolowsky showing a man who just is in this constant state of being lost for himself and in turn unsure of everything in particular. Tobolowsky has two brief, yet pivotal, moments that speak so much to the real trauma of the situation where his wife can no longer can believe that her husband is so lost. In both moments Tobolowsky is heartbreaking in his reactions as he brings such an honest sense of confusion but also care of the husband trying to respond with whatever it is he needs to do, while not having the slightest idea. He delivers the right humanity to the condition, and speaks to a hidden truth that is within our central character's journey the whole time.