Sunday, 20 March 2022

Alternate Best Actor 1997

And the Nominees Were Not:

Ray Winstone in Nil By Mouth
 
Takeshi Kitano in Hana-bi
 
Sam Lee in Made In Hong Kong 

John Cusack in Grosse Pointe Blank 
 
Stellan Skarsgård in Insomnia
And Reviews of:

Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights
 
Tony Leung Chiu-wai  in Happy Together

88 comments:

Louis Morgan said...

Eh screw it, I'm moving on.

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgärd
4. Cusack
5. Lee

Anonymous said...

Good call, Louis!

Matt Mustin said...

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgard
4. Cusack
5. Lee

Michael Patison said...

1. Ray Winstone
2. Takeshi Kitano
3. Stellan Skarsgård
4. John Cusack
5. Sam Lee

BRAZINTERMA said...

5º Sam Lee
4º John Cusack
3º Stellan Skarsgård
2º Takeshi Kitano
1º Ray Winstone

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgård
4. Cusack
5. Lee

Marcus said...

Louis: So, was the DLU win at WGA the last straw?

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgård
4. Cusack
5. Lee

Emi Grant said...

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgard
4. Lee
5. Cusack

Marcus: I think that's a perfectly reasonable last straw, tbh.

Calvin Law said...

I’ll wait until I’ve seen Skarsgard to make predictions. Delighted that Leung will be getting a review.

Also, for anyone who wants to watch Made in Hong Kong: https://youtu.be/GgCJNP9LwEs

Bryan L. said...

Since it appears folks on here have pseudo-signed-off on the 2021 awards ceremony, I would like to take this opportunity to promote my 2021 Ranking on LBoxD.

letterboxd.com/bryanl1994/list/2021-ranking/

Some notes:

- Tapped out watching Music after 5 minutes. Same with Dear Evan Hansen, though 2 minutes there.
- Skipped Respect, since I already had my 2021 mediocre music biopic fill with Billie Holliday.
- Re-watch did improve my view of The Green Knight.
- Shiva Baby stayed with me more than I thought it would tbh, in a good way.
- I don't knooooooow, I actually kind of like Tick Tick Boom. *Sighs*
- I'll add Compartment No. 6 on the list when it hits digital, but otherwise, I think this is mostly it for me on the year.

Bryan L. said...

(Questions or comments regarding my ranking are allowed. If you have none, that's fine too).

Bryan L. said...

*on the 2021 awards season...ah, you guys knew what I meant.

Bryan L. said...

Also, it feels pretty cruel that Don't Look Up had been QUIET recently during awards season (post-Oscar noms), yet it came in at the last minute to win at WGA, ESPECIALLY at PTAs' expense.

Calvin Law said...

I mean don’t forget that WGA isn’t always crossing over with the Academy. LP could still take it, or Belfast.

Bryan L. said...

Calvin: Yeah, I should've clarified, PTA could still take it indeed. It's just that DLU has become a roadblock now.

Aidan Pittman said...

I think we're all ready to just move past this awards season at this point. Anyways...

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgård
4. Lee
5. Cusack

Luke Higham said...

I've generally lost interest in awards season for quite awhile now but man, you guys have my sympathies. The WGA win for Don't Look Up is devastating.

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgard
4. Cusack
5. Lee

I'll be preparing a list tonight and might have it posted tomorrow.

Luke Higham said...

Anyone who hasn't seen Nil By Mouth, prepare yourself. It has the most venomous use of the C word that I've seen from any film period.

Glenn said...

Luke, any rating predictions.

Luke Higham said...

Winstone - 5
Kitano - 5
Skarsgard - 4.5/5
Cusack - 4.5
Lee - 4.5

Leung - 5
Wahlberg - 4.5 (barring Paul Dano, I'm pleased you're able to review every single 4.5+ from a PTA film)

I hope Duvall and Holm go up as well.

Perfectionist said...

Who is gonna win the overall?? Anyone predicting the LA Confidential leads?? The movie is such an all timer, I won't rule out a possibility of either of the two lead performances winning the overall, 8 years after the first round.

Tim said...

1) Winstone
2) Kitano
3) Skarsgaard
4) Lee
5) Cusack


your thoughts on the Cinematography of The Lovely Boes?

Oliver Menard said...

This is definitely one of those years where the overall winner could go to any one of the 5 star performances. Could easily see Kitano, Winstone or the LA leads taking it.

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgard
4. Cusack
5. Lee

Oliver Menard said...

Also, I have to agree with everyone else. DLU and CODA being arguably the worst films in award contention this year yet winning PGA and WGA is all-time worst level.

Luke Higham said...

I honestly hope Hall keeps the win here.

Maciej said...

1.Winstone
2.Skarsgård
3.Kitano
4.Lee
5.Cusack

RatedRStar said...

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgard
4. Cusack
5. Lee

Sam Lee should have been nominated for the HK Best Actor award, how does the lead actor from the best picture winner miss? it would have been one of the best line-ups if he had replaced Tony Leung Ka-Fai.

RatedRStar said...

2021 Oscars I think is the opposite of 2020s, 2020 started awfully, was very boring and then there was excitement and surprise when the nominations happened, and same for the ceremony despite how bad the actual event was. 2021 was so exciting early on, a normal season with a normal event, and then after the nominations it was one poor decision after another.

Shaggy Rogers said...

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Cusack
4. Skarsgard
5. Lee

8000S said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the screenplay of There Was A Father.

Calvin Law said...

So, here’s my predictions:

1. Winstone
2. Skarsgard
3. Lee
4. Cusack
5. Kitano

Shaggy Rogers said...

Hey guys! I have 2 doubts:
- Will Chloé Zhao and Frances McDormand present Oscars?
- Say who will present the best director and picture categories?

PS: I was surprised that Halle Berry wasn't invited to present Oscars. The Academy had everything to update that 20-year-old photo.

https://thumbs.web.sapo.io/?W=800&H=0&delay_optim=1&epic=NmQxSNPHdTZWxK1hUpeS83tQRAuvO6klzEoME4I07CeQ3RCSBtA0qrUR3VJA8vD/iTzi04V3bqOhhKd3SfDM+nHkBNKKwJgRDrVFDIH6MhlKQAE=

Louis Morgan said...

Tim:
See here it is a tough one to talk about because what Lesnie is doing is executing Jackson's vision, a misguided vision. His choices here are to have an overly pretty and really slick film, particularly in the "purgatory" scenes. Those scenes, in particular, are questionable in they're too tangible in their beauty in a way, and too CGI despite them not looking bad in that sense. It is a vibrantly shot film, but again this glossy sheen seems inappropriate to such a dark and desperate story. There can be the idea of contrast but again that doesn't ring true in the overall execution that seems misguided. Lesnie realizes the style effectively it is sleek and glossy, but that's also the problem. More direct praise I can give though is that he does do some dynamic framing and composition regardless, that would be good work regardless. Overall though Lesnie certainly does his job, Jackson's overall choice isn't ideal. 

8000's:

There was a father's screenplay that is rather fascinating in that it seems to be an anti-war film in propaganda clothes. The textual statement that is made is that the father made the proper sacrifice to work and "duty" to not be near his son. All the subtext in the relationship and in the tragic ending, where the son and father finally getting the chance to be together are denied it in the last moments, speaks towards the loss of just blindly following duty and shirking familial connection for the sake of that duty. The fact that Ozu was able to make this film at all is pretty amazing, perhaps the Imperial censors lacked the perspective to see the truths of the piece, but also speaks to his writing's ability to say so much without speaking. That is in the structure of the screenplay where the happiness is in connection not in work and shows the emphasis on duty as the unfortunate breaks between that. It so powerfully realizes this through subtle suggestion and even more subtle interaction, that slowly brings you into this relationship and leaves a great impact when the climax happens. Ozu does actually play into melodrama, it is a weapon, but he uses it so carefully in his screenplay that it is truly potent. Now I should also note the dialogue here is fascinating in that Ozu is able to make natural speaking just compelling while not going about obvious wit or jokes. It is just through making the interactions genuine and sincere and placing them in moments that are the same. It is a screenplay of the brilliance of creating the between the lines through quiet realizations.

Lucas Saavedra said...

Louis: do you plan on watching the new hbo series Winning Time?

Louis Morgan said...

Lucas:

I have been, and enjoyed it so far, despite some annoying directorial flourishes from McKay (though I'd say the first episode was still his best semi-dramatic work) and Hill. Haven't watched the third episode yet, but as much as I despise his writing/film directing and general attitude, I will give McKay credit, he has an eye for television projects not written by him. I guess you could call him a Salieri in that sense.

8000S said...

Louis: Speaking of Ozu, it looks he did some gangster films in his early years, and I've read some reviews describing Dragnet Girl (his most well known of his gangster films) as a rather stylish flick.

Sounds like they could be an intriguing watch.

Luke Higham said...

Films To Watch
The Apostle (Re-watch for Duvall)
Good Will Hunting (Re-watch for Damon)
Jackie Brown (Re-watch for Forster)
Amistad (Re-watch for Hopkins)
Contact (Re-watch for Foster)
The Devil's Advocate (Re-watch for Pacino)
George Wallace
Don King: Only In America
Princess Mononoke
Hercules (James Woods is great as Hades)
In The Company Of Men
Lolita (Jeremy Irons)
Wilde (Stephen Fry)
I Went Down (Brendan Gleeson)
Face (Antonia Bird/Robert Carlyle)
Oscar And Lucinda
The Borrowers (Love John Goodman in this)
Regeneration (Jonathan Pryce)
Career Girls (Mike Leigh)
Afterglow
Prefontaine
Bent
Rosewood
Anaconda
Taste Of Cherry
Cure
Artemisia
Karakter
The Thief
Four Days In September
On Guard
The Eel
The Watermelon Woman
Funny Games
Green Fish
The Winter Guest
Eve's Bayou
Chasing Amy
Scream 2
Lawn Dogs
Alien Resurrection
Seven Years In Tibet
The Edge
Children Of Heaven
Brother
Mimic (Del Toro)
Gridlock'd
The Spanish Prisoner
A Life Less Ordinary
My Best Friend's Wedding
Selena
Washington Square
Deconstructing Harry
Volcano
Cube
Gummo
I Know What You Did Last Summer
The Jackal
Absolute Power
Red Corner
Welcome To Sarajevo
She's So Lovely

Luke Higham said...

And Waiting For Guffman.

Marcus said...

Luke: Massive props to you for making those lists (and to Louis for watching every film and more). How do you figure out what films to put in them?

Luke Higham said...

Marcus: I usually check Letterboxd first then the major awards, the big 4 critics awards and Cannes, Berlin & Venice.

Luke Higham said...

And often times go back to the previous year because a good amount of films tend to get the first theatrical release a year after the festival debut.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Any chance for a Robin Williams reevaluation for Good Will Hunting? I know the film hasn’t aged well, but I think his performance actually did.

Anonymous said...

Also In & Out (Kevin Kline)

Louis Morgan said...

Marcus:

I had been considering moving on through multiple stages of this abhorrent awards season, not just the wins, but also things like the Academy cutting the categories. But yes, WGA's decision making a potential Branagh screenplay win a legitimate sigh of relief was something I did not think could happen, but here we are.

8000s:

Well I'll certainly probably check that out at some point then.

Robert:

I mean even without re-watching, my 2 was probably a bit harsh, so I'll give it another go to be sure.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Been meaning to ask since Rex's review, so could I have your thoughts on Nielsen's performance in Scary Movie 3?

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

Well I haven't watched it since it came out, however I thought even as the spoofs got dustier and more tired, I found that Nielsen still typically delivered with his deadpan. Hard to make deadpan work when the material isn't really working but nonetheless, didn't think he was at fault, and as I recall got some minor chuckles out of his "misplaced" conviction.

Razor said...

1. Winstone
2. Skarsgard
3. Kitano
4. Lee
5. Cusack

Been a long time since Winstone had a good role.

Marcus said...

Louis: Are you interested in watching either The Boys on Prime Video or Servant of the People on Netflix?

Tony Kim said...

To Louis and everyone else - what are your thoughts on DJ Khaled, Tony Hawk, Shaun White, and Kelly Slater being invited to present at Sunday's Oscar ceremony?

Calvin Law said...

Really hoping Leung might crack the top 5 for this performance, it’s his best performance in my opinion, though Infernal Affairs comes close.

Vincent said...

Just curious if Louis or anyone else on the blog have talked about or watched The Wire before. If so, what are your thoughts on the show and its incredible cast?

Have just picked it up recently, and I am of the belief that it truly ranks amongst the greatest TV shows of all time

Perfectionist said...

Robert: I AGREE. So glad to see someone mention that Williams is rated a little low. That's a solid performance. I am just not able to agree with him being "completely" false at worse part. Shouldn't be ranked last imo.

Luke Higham said...

Perfectionist: Tbf, it was written in the very early days of the blog and Louis isn't exactly the same reviewer now than he was then.

Louis Morgan said...

Marcus:

I'll admit I had little interest in the Boys due to hating the comic, however I have heard that it isn't the same beast, and is in fact better, so maybe at some point.

Have not heard of the other series.

Vincent:

I attempted to watch it once, but didn't get the first episode. Not that the episode was bad, just didn't grab me, however I'll certainly give it another go at some point.

Tony Kim:

You know first I read it as "Christian Slater" where I thought you know his film output has been a little limited of late but at least he's involved in film. Just add it onto the deep pile of boneheaded decisions by the academy this year, right next to not inviting Rachel Zegler to the ceremony, who only starred in a best picture nominee after all. I'm not even angry though, because I'm just passed whatever else the awards season is going to through into the mix this year.

Glenn said...

Luke, who do you predict for top 5 in all 4 acting categories.

Luke Higham said...

Glenn:

Lead Actor:
1. Hall
2. Winstone
3. Crowe
4. Pearce
5. Duvall
6. Leung
7. Skarsgard
8. Holm
9. Pacino
10. Fonda

Lead Actress:
1. Burke
2. Grier
3. Carter
4. Dench
5. Foster/Whitfeld (Eve's Bayou)

Supporting Actor:
1. Blake
2. Spacey
3. Forster
4. Cromwell
5. Law

Supporting Actress:
1. Moore
2. Smollett (Eve's Bayou)
3. Elliott
4. Morse

Anonymous said...

They invited a whole bunch of athletes and talentless singers/actors, but not Rachel Zegler? Wtf.

Shaggy Rogers said...

I hope Louis doesn't give original screenplay to Boogie Nights; PTA direction and editing are what make the movie magic rather than the script. For me The Full Monty and As Good as It Gets are superior.
But the best original screenplay of 1997 is Princess Mononoke.

HTT said...

1. Winstone
2. Kitano
3. Skarsgård
4. Cusack
5. Lee

Absolutely H Y P E D for Leung and Whalberg reviews. Skarsgård too, as Insomnia is one of the most beloved movies over here in Norway.

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

1.Winstone
2.Kitano
3.Skarsgård
4.Lee
5.Cusack

RatedRStar said...

I really hope the in memoriam segment isn't rushed like last year, I thought that was despicable and turned last years ceremony from a cringe fest into an offensive ceremony.

Calvin Law said...

Yeah the In Memoriam was pretty bad last year.

The one thing they should've kept from last year, presenting all categories and letting them all give uninterrupted speeches, was ironically the only thing they're definitely not keeping lol

HTT said...

So, I watched Hacksaw Ridge some days ago. I should by all means hate this movie, as I expected I would, but I really just love this movie. This movie is at times cringey, at times unbearably preachy, at times hammy, at times horribly contradictory, etc. But something about the pure madness of this film makes for one of the most entertaining and engaging movies I have seen in ages. As I wrote in my Letterboxd review, I love this movie, albeit for reasons both right and wrong.

9.3/10

Cast ratings:
Andrew Garfield: 4.5/5
Hugo Weaving: 4/5
Vince Vaughn: 2.5/5

Cast MVP: Andrew Garfield

Anonymous said...

Louis: What do you consider to be the most heartbreaking films revolving around animals (anthropomorphic ones as well)

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Anonymous: Hachiko would be up there for me, also probably my favorite Richard Gere performance.

Luke Higham said...

The Plague Dogs will be #1.

Matt Mustin said...

Earlier today Guillermo del Toro heavily praised Nicolas Cage on Twitter and now all I want in the world is for them to work together.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

The Plague Dogs indeed. Also Okja and Umberto D.

Matt Mustin said...

Watched The Game. Pretty solid paranoid thriller anchored by a terrific Michael Douglas performance. Don't know how I feel about the ending, I think I hated it? But it also might be brilliant, I'm not sure.

Douglas-4.5
Penn-2.5
Unger-3
Rebhorn-4

Everyone else is fine.

Tim said...

Matt: I'd say it's brilliant

Matt Mustin said...

Tim: It falls apart if you think about it for even a couple minutes, but I guess I'm not supposed to think like that.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Are you going to save Robert Pattinson in The Batman for the time being.

Matt Mustin said...

Luke: He already gave him a 4.

Houndtang said...

The Game was one of the worst endings to an otherwise good film I’ve ever seen. I remember watching it and as the end approached starting to think what might be about to go down, but rejecting my suspicions as just too ridiculous to be allowed. Then it happened.

Luke Higham said...

Matt: I already know that. But he honestly should be higher than that and there's much to discuss with his work there.

Tim said...

Matt: It's been some years sinc i last saw it, so i can't really tell how many things it actively contradicts, i just found the overall idea to be pretty cool

Tim said...

On another note, i finally got to see West Side Story (It didn't run anywhere near me, so i had to wait for the DVD). I had been open to the idea of a remake, i like the original well enough, but there are several pretty big flaws you can't ignore (Chakiris being my least favorite winner for Supp. Actor)

That said, oh my god was this fantastic! A lead whom you can at least actually see as a former gang member? YES. Giving more time to the supporting Characters on both gangs? Hell yes! Chino doing more than just walking through the screen in the beginning? Thank the gods! "I feel pretty" actually having a reason in the story? uh-huh. "Cool" still being in it and still being shit? well that's unfortunate, but how many films are perfect?


Zegler - 5
Elgort - 2.5 (this is still the most i have ever liked him i think)
DeBose - 5
Faist - 5
Alvarez - 4.5
Moreno - 4
Rivera - 4
Stoll/James - 3

Matt Mustin said...

Houndtang: Exactly.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on The Survivor trailer with Ben Foster.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Your thoughts on these anime openings?

https://youtu.be/iug12DnMNHQ (mostly interested on your thoughts on the song in this one)

https://youtu.be/EtjQVqXUPHo (just the first two minutes- also, it's more of a compilation of scenes from the anime, rather than the official opening itself)

Oliver Menard said...

I think the OP for this season of Attack on Titan was solid. But the ED is just perfection.

8000S said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the voices of Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Takashi Shimura, Masayuki Mori and Chishu Ryu.

Marcus said...

Louis: In a hypothetical world where campaigning and 'narratives' for the Oscars didn't exist, and the films simply contended, do you think there would be better or worse choices on average.

Emi Grant said...

Louis. Sorry if this is too late, but I was wondering if you ever got around to The Admiral: Roaring Currents (without a shitty dub)?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Did you finish Blackadder.

Maciej said...

Guess they changed their mindsabout Zegler. Whaddaya know.

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

Not my favorite in song that was a bit too much of everything in an over done rush or the idea of the grades then the profiles, and random objects.

I mean that is certainly some striking dark imagery there to be sure at times

8000's:

Mifune - (A certain kind of intensity incarnate at his maximum though also could project such power in calm as well.)

Nakadai - (The snake to the wolf indeed in his voice is lurid in this particular dynamic way.)

Shimura - (I mean just the natural calm about his voice that holds an innate power to it, which is something quite special.)

Mori - (I mean speaking towards his particular chameleon quality I don't really know how he sounds exactly despite not being a performer about accents.)

Ryu - (A particular accent that just seems to breath this modesty so authentically)

Luke:

No but before the Oscar nominations I had gotten far enough to see Rick Mayall's RAF Flashheart that has to be one of the funniest guest spots I've ever seen.

Well I'm certainly interested in Foster's performance (naturally), less so for the film that looks a bit all over the place.

Emi Grant:

Unfortunately the whole dub thing soured me on it for now.