Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2021: Willem Dafoe & David Strathairn in Nightmare Alley

Willem Dafoe did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Clement "Clem" Hoatley and David Strathairn did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Pete Krumbein in Nightmare Alley. 

Willem Dafoe and David Strathairn play two key roles in this version of Nightmare Alley, essentially playing two very different mentors to Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) after he finds himself in the employ of the traveling, and somewhat shady, circus. The role of the circus owner Clem Hoatley is perhaps the most expanded character from the 1947 version as Clem was little more than a background bit part in that version. In this version though we get the great Willem Dafoe in the role, so as much as Dafoe likely would've still made an impression if the role was as limited as it is in the 47 version, we thankfully get far more of Clem. He invites us essentially into the film's lurid world as we see him as the barker for the geek exhibit, the man who bites the heads off chickens, and Dafoe immediately makes a striking impression. His just slightly southern fried accent where he accentuates a dark showmanship as he invites all to witness this "freak of nature". Dafoe putting his all into the presentation of the show, though with this accentuates in his speech that supports it as something Clem does on a regular basis. There is something important to note in the depth Dafoe does bring as he looks upon the geek show and there is just the faintest bit of shame that suggests some crime in the act, albeit briefly. Clem's focus though quickly shifts on Stan walking out on the show without paying, which Clem is quick to note when paying Stan less for helping move the circus during a storm. Dafoe bringing that sinister smile of his in the only way he can, a smile that seems to say "I caught you" but also his eyes seem to suggest this camaraderie as men who don't mind stepping out of the confines of the law, at least just a bit.  

Clem ends up becoming one of Stan's mentors on how to get ahead in life, and the lessons from Clem aren't exactly the most pleasant. Quite evident from an early task where he has Stan help capture the escaped geek whom Clem typically keeps locked away in a cage. What is wonderful about Dafoe's performance here, and is pure Dafoe in a way, is how simultaneous he is at being both completely sinister and strangely warm. Again this is Dafoe just flexing his dramatic muscles and his one of a kind presence with that smile of his that can say "I love you" and "I want to murder you" in the exact same smile. Dafoe plays around with the idea as Clem hires on Stan on, the way he offers him a bed for the night is with such encouragement in his voice and seemingly a friendly concern, against that however is as he notes that people don't care what someone has done or where they're from in the circus. The darkness that comes across Clem's face in a moment is brilliant work from Dafoe and creates such a strong sense that while Clem might be capable of friendliness, he's not what one should ever confuse as a good man. Dafoe brings such vibrancy to his work as he shows Stan around his formaldehyde collection of deformed fetuses. Dafoe switch to the barker speech is again perfect as the man who has trained himself to this technique, his physical manner is especially great though. This as Dafoe is gleaming with this pride and showmanship as he shows it to Stan, who as much as he's very practically showing him the ropes, Clem loves it. Again though even when Stan negatively comments on drinking, Dafoe quick switch to menace is fantastic acting. He makes it so natural, while also being wholly chilling in perhaps more so alluding to the true nature of the man. The purest form of this combination is as Clem has Stan dispose of the dying old geek and he regales Stan with the "way" on how to procure a geek. Dafoe's delivery of it begins with a casual functional description of it, as a kind of how to guide by basically drugging a soul. Dafoe speaks with this glowing sort of enjoyment for the method as a man who loves his craft. He slowly speaks towards a more terrifying tone as a bluntly states to use all the man's afflictions to get him "to geek". This isn't a long performance but I genuinely love every minute of it. And does it seem easy for Dafoe? Yes, because Dafoe is just that good. In just a few minutes he conveys more than what is needed for the role, bringing so much natural style to the part, and genuine truth of a man who brings a bright smile to dark deeds. 

David Strathairn plays another pseudo mentor of Stan's that he comes across at Clem's circus. Strathairn's Pete being half of the husband/wife double psychic act with Zeena (Toni Collette), whom Stan comes across essentially via Zeena starting a sexual affair with him almost immediately. While Pete is an important role in the 47 version this is taken much further by Strathairn's portrayal of Pete, a once great performer now an alcoholic has been. Strathairn successfully establishes that from his first scene as he speaks with just a harried pause of a man spent by life. His way of even saying that perhaps Zeena will read his fortune as the slight accentuation that Pete's probably aware that Zeena has further plans for Stan, but he just doesn't care at this point. This before heading off with a cigarette which he reveals with a quick sleight of hand. Strathairn with that does like a momentary, and briefest, bit of confidence suggesting the showman that once existed in Pete that is long gone now. Meanwhile we see Pete plying his trade with his wife, a pretty lame show of him sending her messages from trap door, which even that Strathairn performs as though Pete is just barely gripping onto any energy to perform the trick. Strathairn is perfect in presenting the exhausted wreck of the man, and brings such a potent sense of the man's defeat in life. There's such an innate sadness in every expression of Strathairn's. Although a far more broken man, Strathairn presents a man who is perhaps the far more important mentor to Stan and the one he perhaps should've listened to more. This as when Strathairn suggests against turning mind reading into a lie filled "spook show" it is a purity of the earnestness in his statement, it is quiet truth that Strathairn speaks from a man who is well too aware where that road leads to. 

Strathairn is fantastic as we dive deeper into his Pete even past the tired state of the man. What makes Strathairn's work so striking here is how well he evokes the history that defines the lost soul he is. He's heartbreaking in the moment of pondering back to a gift to Zeena in their glory days as he so simply accentuates such genuine warmth towards his wife who rather obviously is cheating on him. When they decide to show off their old act, Strathairn is amazing as he takes Stan's watch and cold reads him to seemingly hit some deep importance that is just in fact a generalization that will work on most. Strathairn's great in this scene as his physical performance brings the showmanship in his movements of the man drifting around his hands as though he is casting a spell. He then speaks with still a bit of that tired man, but also the sense of the peering "psychic" that once existed beneath it all who could captivate audiences. Strathairn is so quietly penetrating as he speaks with this authority about this watch that is so meaningful to Stanton, even though he is just making up the whole story in his mind from what he's learned about humanity. Strathairn is terrific in the moment as he shows him pull him basically into his grasp of the speech before his reaction of terror comes across his fast as though he is fearful of this particular "power" he has constructed through manipulating the human condition. This contrasts against when speaking more practically about the act Strathairn brings a more casual quality, less spiritual, of the man just trying to share his trade with a fainter pride in that moment, even as it is still wrapped in the innate sadness that is the man. This even includes the description of the stock reading which Strathairn captures such a world weariness in so simply describing universal truths and pains. Strathairn is heartbreaking as he shows the man essentially giving the only thing he can give that also deeply pains him. I love his final scene, where Stan tries to steal his book of secrets from him, because Strathairn doesn't play the reaction with a hint of anger. Rather Strathairn speaks every word with such a distraught anxiety. He speaks towards Stan with a terrible warning. As he speaks about "lying" Strathairn's warning both is towards Stan, but also grants this sense of his own failures of his past. Strathairn giving such a powerful humanity to the character of Pete and such a strong sense of how Pete got to this place, becoming simply another one of the lost souls in the circus. Together Dafoe and Strathairn so vibrantly color the first half of the film, giving so much life to this strange circus, and essentially both denizens of the same alley, however one who cautions those who enter, while the other invites them to its darkest paths.