Friday 26 May 2023

Alternate Best Actor 2009: Song Kang-ho in Thirst

Song Kang-ho did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Sang-hyun in Thirst.

Thirst tells the story of a priest who gets infected with a deadly virus that he survives through a blood transfusion that turns him into a vampire. 

If just getting to the vampire part seems complicated, it is, and in this instance, I would say overly complicated. The whole first act of Thirst I would say is a rambling narrative as it touches upon several different ideas but in a way that is just a mess of them rather than any cohesive tapestry. We have our priest played by Song of course, who is going about his duties for dying patients. Song portrays the character very much as any priest you might see often in such scenes, having this calm dignity about him, and careful manner as he goes about administrating prayers and last rites. We essentially have the common priest for many an introspective film, as we see him in private quarters pained over potential doubts and that careful manner seems to show a depressed mood after all. Song certainly portrays this effectively and grants you a sense of the specific malaise of the man behind the apparent dignity. We then jump to his potentially suicidal act by asking to be part of an experimental vaccine for a deadly virus that will most likely kill him. And when asking for this Song certainly conveys just a man staring into the void seemingly without purpose in his life. And through the series of odd circumstances leads up to the other side as a cured man but as a vampire. Leading again for his local congregation to see him as a true healer, and I'll bluntly say this whole aspect of the film could've been cut out. It never really goes anywhere, or at least anywhere interesting, and frankly, Sang-hyun seems just slightly baffled by them. I'd extend that to really his occupation as a priest is nearly set dressing because aspects of faith and morality are barely considered and really only leave this one thread, represented by a one-note group of believers, that amount to absolutely nothing. I think again Song is more than fine in presenting sort of the man going through the motions as the healer, even as his belief is clearly failing him. 

The film remains on shaky ground as we explore Sang-hyun as he begins his feelings of bloodlust but also sexual lust that often seems more dominating than his blood lust more often than not. We discover this through his frequent visit to a family of his parishioners which includes Tae-ju (Kim Ok-bin), the young wife fed up with her husband and family. And here where the film really continues to be sloppy as Sang-hyun and Tae-ju begin an affair, and I would say would be his vampire allure I guess. Because in this stage of the relationship, Song and Kim's chemistry is limited at best. There's more than a little missing in the puzzle particularly if you say compare it to the relationship in Decision to Leave, where you instantly felt here, here it honestly just feels forced...at the start. This is both the writing and acting I think, as writing wise there just isn't enough substance to create any meaningful connection or even just lust between them, and performance wise the urge also specifically between them seems somewhat absent. Song isn't bad in these scenes mind you, he's good in presenting the hidden growing lust within his own performance, but the importance given to the relationship makes it seem like there should be more. Outside of those scenes what we get from Song is essentially the portrayal of the vampire as a junkie. And here Song is quite good in just exuding constant desperate need. Where he successfully switches within the moments of being completely enthralled in his desperate lust for blood and creates the vicious sense of that titular thirst. Against moments where he creates internally the pained conflict of the man literally drinking blood and the shame in it. He successfully creates the constant pull of conflict within the character of Sang-hyun and fashions successfully the idea of creating a very real idea within the mythic concept of vampirism. 

Where the film gets interesting, if not entirely non-sloppy still, is when he begins to take Tae-ju as a partner in his crimes, as she asks him to kill her husband for him. This is when they actually do discover some actual chemistry, what was missing in the just initial relationship, is found once they start realizing the "bond" is a wholly toxic one. This is where things get more interesting and Song's performance, while it has been always good, becomes its most dynamic. His performance particularly comes to life in terms of embodying the conflict of Sang-hyun who doesn't want to be a vampire but has to be one. In these moments about going for the murder, we see him go to his lowest, where Song conveys in his eyes the peak of the desperation that he accentuates as a mix between sexual lust, straight up hunger but also this sort of depressive urge to fall into a kind of despair that goes along with him at his lowest morality. Although I'll still say it doesn't quite have *it* in terms of making this a truly captivating depiction just yet. In fact, you have to go through him murdering the husband, then Tae-ju almost dying due to becoming regretful, which really doesn't feel earned, and leading her to almost die causing Sang-hyung to turn her into a vampire. Song portrays this moment well in instantly evoking such a striking sense of loneliness as he spirals into the act and revives her against his best judgment. And here is where we get slightly closer to something truly captivating, though not really writing wise, as Tae-ju becomes entirely vicious as a vampire and proceeds to kill indiscriminately. Song's performance shifts from the completely messed up drug addict to the one trying to temper his psychotic co-dependent. And there is something in his reaction as we see the sense of honest fear of what has he done and the attempts to be any sort of directing figure for her while she goes off on the deep end. Eventually leading to the ending of the film where he decides they need to both die from the sun, and here is where I most liked Song and the film in general. The quiet calm conviction in Song's performance as he shows perhaps the priest of old trying to hold strongly onto what is the right thing to do while also conveying the severity of what this choice means. He is moving in a subtle manner he takes as he quietly embraces Tae-ju, after fighting with her attempts to survive, and accepts their mutual fate. Having said that, my review probably seems all over the place, because for me the film was all over the place. There are moments I really like, maybe even love, in this film, but they are pieces of a puzzle that don't fit together. Even this ending could've been something truly special if we had a stronger connection to the relationship from start to finish. Instead, it is a messy situation that keeps far from one of Park Chan-wook's best films. Song for his efforts is good, consistently good even, but I'll be honest this is not one of his best performances, for me. There are aspects that suggest he could've brought something special, however, the unwieldy nature of the film, also keeps him from being able to craft a completely cohesive portrait of the reluctant vampire. 

84 comments:

Luke Higham said...

1. Darin
2. McHattie
3. Stuhlbarg
4. Whishaw
5. Song

Luke Higham said...

1. Rahim
2. Foster
3. Holbrook
4. Taylor-Johnson
5. Giamatti

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on the cast.

Calvin Law said...

Shame, I liked the film more on rewatch but I'll agree there are obvious flaws, particularly with the overwriting. Though I'm glad you appreciated some of the dynamic nature of Park's flourishes.

1. Darin
2. McHattie
3. Whishaw
4. Stuhlbarg
5. Song

Michael McCarthy said...

1. Darin
2. McHattie
3. Stuhlbarg
4. Whishaw
5. Song

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Stuhlbarg
2. McHattie
3. Darin
4. Whishaw
5. Song

RatedRStar said...

1. Darin
2. McHattie
3. Whishaw
4. Stuhlbarg
5. Song

Tony Kim said...

Louis: Regarding your Oscar predictions - admittedly I've been avoiding most of the reviews for Killers to go in as fresh as possible, but isn't Gladstone in Lead? That was the impression I was under, at least.

Also, this may have been asked before, but what is the biggest disparity between your positive rating for a performance and a negative rating for the film it's in? Has there ever been a 5-star performance in a 1-star film?

Luke Higham said...

Tony: To answer your questions. She's Lead in the film but more than likely she'll be campaigned as Supporting.

Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil and James Woods in Killer: A Journal Of Murder.

Razor said...

Dude might get another 5 for Cobweb. Here's hoping.

Robert MacFarlane said...

It sounds like there's currently a debate on whether Gladstone is going lead or supporting. I actually think she'd win either way.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Kim - 4(For me she honestly had the raw materials for a five performance, but I think the writing sinks here, particularly her character going from murderer to regretful in something that really wasn't earned at all in my mind. Having said that, when we get her more impish and psychotic energy I thought he rather wonderful. Bringing this fantastic intensity in sort of the new perspective she takes once she's changed that is rather captivating. Unfortunately I think how we get there doesn't quite work and maybe she plays it too blithe early on, or not strong enough to sell the guilt scenes. I think really it is just the writing is perhaps too confused but either way, one of the big wasted opportunities is her performance because what's great is truly great.)

Thought everyone else was fine, but in aggressively limited roles.

Tony:

From what I've read, Gladstone and De Niro have very substantial roles, but DiCaprio is the undisputable lead, making it an easier sell to place those two in supporting.

And Luke is correct both of those films would be 1-star movies.

Tony Kim said...

Louis: Perhaps, though given how acclaimed she is, I suspect Apple/Paramount would be foolish to put her in Supporting.

Would Along Came Polly be a 1-star film as well? That was the first to come to my mind when wondering about 5-star performances in lowly-rated films.

Louis Morgan said...

Tony:

Not quite, because Hoffman elevates it beyond that on his presence alone, and as much as I don't find the rest of the film funny, it isn't as dire as something like Killer or Apt Pupil.

Robert MacFarlane said...

How many episodes into Season 3 of The Great do you have left?

Tony Kim said...

Louis: Are there any films that were so tuned to your wavelength that it made you think, "If I was a filmmaker, that would be the type of film I would make"? On a similar note, have you ever tried your hand at (presumably amateur) screenwriting or directing, even if it was just for fun?

Matt Mustin said...

1. McHattie
2. Stuhlbarg
3. Darin
4. Whishaw
5. Song

Emi Grant said...

Told y'all. I'm changing my predictions by the next post.

Louis: Did you like the ending sequence of the film? I kinda disliked it as written, personally.

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

1. Darin
2. McHattie
3. Stuhlbarg
4. Whishaw
5. Song

1. Rahim
2. Foster
3. Holbrook
4. Taylor-Johnson
5. Giamatti

Emi Grant said...

Louis: What do you make of Barbie's chances for Oscar nominations? I feel like it could break into some big categories by way of being possibly this year's biggest film.

Perfectionist said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Matt Mustin said...

Absolutely loved The Secret in Their Eyes in pretty much every respect.

Darin-5
Villamil-4.5
Rago-4
Godino-4.5
Francella-4
Alarcon-3.5

Perfectionist said...

1. Stuhlbarg
2. Darin
3. McHattie
4. Whishaw
5. Song

1. Rahim
2. Foster
3. Holbrook
4. Taylor-Johnson
5. Giamatti

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

Louis: Thoughts on this 2000s cast for Glengarry Glen Ross and who'd you choose to direct it?

Frank Langella as Shelley Levene
Harrison Ford/Liev Schreiber as Ricky Roma
Aaron Eckhart as Blake
Rick Moranis as George Aaronow
Patrick Fabian as Dave Moss (since outside of BCS his filmography appears to be pretty middling)
Justin Theroux as John Williamson
Stephen Tobolowsky as James Lingk

Tony Kim said...

Ytrewq: Holy shit, Fabian as Moss is a great call.

Louis, what do you think of Patrick Fabian as Jack in Sideways (with maybe Odenkirk as Miles?) and Desi Collings in Gone Girl?

Louis Morgan said...

Robert:

3.

Tony:

I've never had that feeling precisely, but yes to the second question.

Emi Grant:

I liked the visuals of the scene, but wasn't crazy about how the film got there.

Uh Barbie even if it is great sounds seems too light to be an overall player, yes Gerwig's previous two efforts got the picture nomination but they also weren't BARBIE. I think it may be in play for costumes and production design though.

Ytrewq:

Langella yes, definitely lean Schrieber for Roma, Eckhart is ideal, Moranis would never have happened but I could see him in that role, Fabian I think does work for Moss in being able to create that certain vulnerable hostility. Theroux often seems punchable, so yes. And Tobolowsky is ideal.

Tony:

Wouldn't be my first choice for Jack but I could potentially see it. I think he *really* could've worked for Desi and would've been better casting than Harris quite frankly. And for director, I mean almost anyone really if James Foley was able to make the material work.

BRAZINTERMA said...

Hello Louis and folks.
Now that the Cannes Film Festival is over, let's talk about our first predictions of the 2024 Oscar nominees:

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Color Purple
Dune Part Two
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Asteroid City
The Holdovers
Maestro
Past Lives
Saltburn

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon
Taraji P.Henson – The Color Purple
Rosamund Pike- Saltburn
Da'Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr – Oppenheimer
Samuel L. Jackson - The Piano Lesson
Wagner Moura – Civil War
Jesse Plemons – Killers of the Flower Moon

LEAD ACTRESS
Fatasia Barrino – The Color Purple
Annette Bening – Nyad
Greta Lee – Past Lives
Carey Mulligan – Maestro
Emma Stone – Poor Things

LEAD ACTOR
Kingsley Ben Adir - Bob Marley Biopic
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Leonardo DiCaprio – Killers of the Flower Moon
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer

DIRECTOR
Denis Villeneuve – Dune: Part Two
Martin Scorsese – Killers of the Flower Moon
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer
Celine Song – Past Lives

PICTURE
Dune: Part Two
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Barbie
The Color Purple
Napoleon
Poor Things
Saltburn

And what are your first predictions?

Tony Kim said...

Louis: I'm assuming you want to be discreet about your past projects, but can I ask if it was in a directing, writing, or both a writing/directing capacity?

Also, your thoughts on McAdams' Oscar chances this year?

Robert MacFarlane said...

I could see McAdams being a critics’ “let’s make this happen” contender. It’s happened before, it can happen now.

Tony Kim said...

Robert: Sorry, but when has that happened with McAdams? Looking over her accolades, she hasn't been nominated for many critic's awards at all, except as part of an ensemble.

Matt Mustin said...

Tony: It's happened to other people.

Robert MacFarlane said...


Tony: What I mean is that every few years, an early-in-the-year performance “happens” during awards season because of a critical push. Think McCarthy in Bridesmaids. The movie stands at 99% on RT, and every review of the movie effusively praises her work. I think it is possible, albeit not a safe bet, that she can get a boost if critics say “Yeah, we can make her happen!” during the precursors (NBR, NYFCC, LAFCC, etc.)

Anonymous said...

Luke, do you think there will be a 5 in Supporting.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I think Paul Schneider will get a 5 for Bright Star. Helps that he tied with Waltz for the NSFC award who are the only Critic organization that I have any trust in.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I could see Melamed getting upped to a 5. It’s a small role, but let’s face it, we all remember Sy Ableman for a reason.

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

Robert: Thanks to his performance Sy Ableman has legitimately become one of my favorite movie antagonists, so I'm all up for it.

(Sidenote: Melamed has to play a Bond villain at some point)

Tony Kim said...

Robert: OK, gotcha. Yeah, we definitely shouldn't count her out when it comes to critics' awards.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Darin
2. Stuhlbarg
3. McHattie
4. Whishaw
5. Song

Mitchell Murray said...

Everyone: Random film question here...what are some of the most cathartic or impactful film fight scenes for you? As in fight sequences that are well shot and choreographed, but more importantly have an emotional threadline fueling them. The classic example for me - Inigo finally confronting Count Rugen in "The Princiess Bride".

Also, a music related question for anyone whose interested; Thoughts on the following three songs (one being a cover)...

Unstoppable - No Resolve (Cover of the original song by Sia)
Under Your Scars - Godsmack (Might have asked about this one before, but I forget)
So Far Away - Avenged Sevenfold
Breaking Through - The Wreckage

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

Mitchell: I'd single out these two examples.

-The entire Paris fight sequence from John Wick 4. It's great to watch, but it also succeeds in the emotional department as the biggest test of the titular character's abilities due to the stakes being higher than ever (fifth installment was annouced, so I may be forced to eat my words in the future)

-Spider-Man vs Green Goblin at the end of first Raimi movie. Goblin's sheer brutality was a truly horrifying thing to witness when I was a kid, so you can bet seeing Osborn getting bested by Spidey felt truly cathartic.

Anonymous said...

I rewatched Thirst and unfortunately the movie fell flat for me. It's not bad, for me it's Park's weakest film compared to I'm a Cyborg But That's OK, Stoker and The Little Drummer Girl.

I saw all the mentioned films and reviewed some others, I don't think there will be anyone who will take away the victories from Mortensen and Waltz.

Perfectionist said...

Unfortunate Louis considers Mortensen's performance an all timer, otherwise 2009 would have been bit more competitive. My personal pick would be between Rockwell and Copley, which I personally think are superior performances.

Matt Mustin said...

No, Mortensen I think deserves to keep the win. That performance is heroic.

Tony Kim said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Cox's comments here? https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/brian-cox-logan-death-succession-too-soon-1235624326/

Sarah Snook was one of the finalists for Lisbeth in Fincher's TGWTDT. How do you think she would've approached the role?

Louis Morgan said...

Tony:

Writing.

I think she has a chance, but will require a critical boost. Obviously we have a LOT of race to run as there are always more unexpected contenders that come from Fall festivals, so there will need to be reminders for her.

I take it 100% as an actor, in jest, wanting even more for his character, no more than that. Particularly as that decision I think was 100% essential for how the show went.

Well as shown by Succession she has a tremendous emotional range, and ability to be quite cutting when needed. Although the film is far from perfect Snook's performance in Predestination also shows she has a far greater range in character range than she's always given the chance to show off. So I think it would've likely been something dynamic and daring, obviously would have to see it to see how she would've compared to Mara, but I think it could've worked, would've had traits of Mara's turn but also probably would've been rather different.

Louis Morgan said...

Succession was astonishing, one of the greatest series of all time with that finale, which managed to do one more power play dance and do it at its most epic and most powerful. Every moment was absolutely captivating here, and I loved how it has such intimate moments, such gigantic ones, moments of intimacy and just the moments of harrowing intensity. Loved every minute of it.


Season ranking:

Top four are honestly interchangeable:

1. Kieran Culkin
2. Jeremy Strong
3. Sarah Snook
4. Matthew Macfadyen
5. Alan Ruck
6. Brian Cox
7. Alexander Skarsgard
8. Nicholas Braun
9. David Rasche
10. Fisher Stevens
11. Peter Friedman
12. J. Smith-Cameron
13. James Cromwell
14. Hiam Abbass
15. Justine Lupe
16. Harriet Walter
17. Zoe Winters
18. Adam Godley
19. Elli Harboe
20. JĂłhannes Haukur JĂłhannesson
21. Natalie Gold
22. Dagmara Dominczyk
23. Justin Kirk
24. Cherry Jones
25. Arian Moayed
26. Juliana Canfield
27. Hope Davis

Robert MacFarlane said...

Barry: Well, at least the ending was funny.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Now that was a finale worthy of the masterpiece that was Succession. I don't mind saying it, probably the greatest final season I've ever seen on any TV show. Strong MVP for the finale, and I mostly concur with Louis's cast ranking for the season.

Louis: Your series cast ranking, and your top 10 Succession episodes when you're ready to give them.

Louis Morgan said...

Barry's ending scene was indeed funny (and I have to admit I wondered for a split second if they somehow got DDL), but I don't think the major swing was justified by the end of it. I think in a way they failed to really cohere the acting/crime sides to something that fully worked. As the crime side I do think resolved effectively (Hank/Fuches) but the acting side got a bit lost in the merger. I'll probably have more thoughts the more time I spend with it, but I think the series ended up failing to come together in a dramatic sense, though I still think it was entertaining enough to watch it reach its wonky conclusion.

Also unless I missed something what happened to Albert?

Season ranking:

1. Sarah Goldberg
2. Anthony Carrigan
3. Stephen Root
4. Henry Winkler
5. Michael Irby
6. Bill Hader
7. Robert Wisdom
8. Fred Melamed
9. Patrick Fischler
10. Andrews Leeds
11. John Bubniak

Robert MacFarlane said...

Still trying to wrap my head around the arc they gave Sally this year.

(Also, speaking of missing characters, I find it disappointing the show never fully capitalized on JB Blanc’s Batir. He was an intimidating and funny presence. They should have found a way to have him around more.)

Tony Kim said...

Well... I liked it. Didn't love it, but it stuck the landing well enough. The final sequence probably is the best part, being darkly ironic and yet oddly moving in a twisted sort of way. Difficult to discuss my problems in-depth without getting into spoilers... so I'll use good ol' ROT13.

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Naq Shpurf univat n ynfg-zvahgr punatr bs urneg nobhg Oneel ntnva... V fhccbfr vg'f abg bhg-bs-punenpgre, ohg vg nyfb cynlrq yvxr Unqre naq pb. fgenvavat n ovg gbb uneq gb gvr hc gur ybbfr raqf. Noehcg onvg-naq-fjvgpurf va gur cybg unf orra guvf fubj'f sbegr sbe n juvyr abj, naq juvyr gur fprar jnf jryy-npgrq rabhtu gung V pbhyq zber be yrff ohl vg juvyr jngpuvat, vg xvaq bs snyyf ncneg gur zber V ersyrpg ba vg. Vg whfg qvqa'g srry rnearq.

Everyone did a good job, with Goldberg and Carrigan being the most impressive. I don't want to come down too negative on this show, so I'll say this: This show has been on quite a journey over the years, essentially abandoning the initial premise halfway through just to take these characters to what it saw as being their natural endpoints, being completely unafraid to divide viewers with the wild swings it took while doing so. At its best the show was a brilliant meld of surrealism, satire, and character drama; and at its worst its daring ambition ensured that it was still never less than fascinating. There was nothing else quite like it on TV. Despite all my reservations, I'll miss this show.

Calvin Law said...

Yep, Succession stuck the landing beautifully. No further notes, but the perfect blend of everything I love about the series and a great conclusion that devastated and offered catharsis in equal measure.

8000S said...

Louis: In the same vein as The Damned United, who would you cast as these English soccer managers in biopics, by looking at photos of them?

Matt Busby
Bill Nicholson
Alf Ramsey
Bill Shankly
Bob Paisley

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis and everyone else: What are some sports events/figures you guys would like to see films about? I'd love to see Leicester City FC's 5000/1 title charge dramatized on film eventually.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on Cutler Beckett's death scene in POTC: At World's End.

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

Tahmeed: A Vince McMahon biopic I mentioned under Peter Cushing's recent review.

Everyone: What would be your opinion on this scrapped song from the 2012 "adaptation" of Lorax (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cpyuolKoeAY)? When I first stumbled upon it, I was quite schocked to learn that it was originally meant to be featured in an Illumination movie of all things.

Emi Grant said...

Tahmeed: I might be a bit biased for obvious reasons, but I'd like to see a biopic based off of the 2011 Sub-17 WC Mexican Football team. Both due to the glory they achieved (that semi-final game is the legendary stuff sports dramas are made of) and due to the very strange obscurity all members fell to right afterwards.

Otherwise, I wanna see someone make a proper sports drama about curling.

Shaggy Rogers said...

1. Darin
2. Stuhlbarg
3. McHattie
4. Whishaw
5. Song

Shaggy Rogers said...

Hey guys!
Tell us your ranks of 2009 nominees in each category:

Song
1. "The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart
2. "Loin de Paname" - Paris 36
3. "Almost There" - The Princess and the Frog
4. "Down in New Orleans" - The Princess and the Frog
5. "Take It All" - Nine

Original Score
1. Up
2. Fantastic Mr. Fox
3. Sherlock Holmes
4. Avatar
5. The Hurt Locker

Sound Mixing
1. The Hurt Locker
2. Star Trek
3. Inglourious Basterds
4. Avatar
5. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Sound Editing
1. Up
2. The Hurt Locker
3. Star Trek
4. Inglourious Basterds
5. Avatar

Editing
1. The Hurt Locker
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. District 9
4. Avatar
5. Precious

Special Visual Effects
1. District 9
2. Star Trek
3. Avatar

Makeup and Hairstyling
1. Star Trek
2. The Young Victoria
3. Il Divo

Costume
1. Bright Star
2. The Young Victoria
3. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
4. Coco Avant Chanel
5. Nine

Production Design
1. Sherlock Holmes
2. The Young Victoria
3. Avatar
4. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
5. Nine

Cinematography
1. The White Ribbon
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
4. The Hurt Locker
5. Avatar

International Feature Film
1. A Prophet (France)
2. The Secret in Their Eyes (Argentina)
3. The White Ribbon (Germany)
4. Ajami (Israel)
5. The Milk of Sorrow (Peru)

Animated Feature Film
1. Coraline
2. Up
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. The Secret of Kells
5. The Princess and the Frog

Adapted Screenplay
1. In the Loop
2. District 9
3. Up in the Air
4. An Education
5. Precious

Original Screenplay
1. Inglourious Basterds
2. A Serious Man
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Up
5. The Messenger

Supporting Actress
1. Mo'Nique
2. Vera Farmiga
3. Anna Kendrick
4. Maggie Gyllenhaal
5. Penélope Cruz

Supporting Actor
1. Christoph Waltz
2. Woody Harrelson
3. Matt Damon
4. Stanley Tucci
5. Christopher Plummer

Lead Actress
1. Carey Mulligan
2. Gabourey Sidibe
3. Meryl Streep
4. Helen Mirren
5. Sandra Bullock

Lead Actor
1. Colin Firth
2. Jeremy Renner
3. Jeff Bridges
4. Morgan Freeman
5. George Clooney

Director
1. Quentin Tarantino
2. Kathryn Bigelow
3. James Cameron
4. Jason Reitman
5. Lee Daniels

Picture
1. Inglourious Basterds
2. District 9
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Up
5. A Serious Man
6. Up in the Air
7. Avatar
8. An Education
9. Precious
10. The Blind Side

And what are your ranks?

Tony Kim said...

For my fellow Barry watchers, what would you consider to be the best season? Personally I find myself looking back on Season 2 the most favourably, I think the show was the most successful at balancing comedy and drama there.

Louis: Will you be giving your thoughts on Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria once you're done with the alternates?

Bryan L. said...

Tony: Season 2 for me as well.

Now that the finale is sinking in for me, I can’t help but feel a bit underwhelmed as to how everything wrapped up, especially considering how good Season 2 & 3 were.

Bryan L. said...

Succession though……grand slam.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Tony:

For Barry I’d rank them 2 > 3 > 1 > 4

Robert MacFarlane said...

I hope Louis enjoys this season of The Great as much as I did.

Bryan L. said...

Tahmeed: Just spitballing here.

-Patriots Dynasty with Bill Camp as Belichick and an unknown as Brady, fashioned as a father-son story
-The 2016 Chicago Cubs with Bradley Whitford as Joe Maddon
-Roberto Clemente biopic (Directed by Damien Chazelle)
-Something about the steroid era of baseball in the early 2000s (A companion piece to Eight Men Out)
-Doc Ellis's no-hitter on LSD

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your extended thoughts on the cast of barry

Michael McCarthy said...

Tahmeed: Moe Berg was a Major League Baseball player who went on to become a literal spy during WWII, I’d watch the shit out of that biopic.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Surprised they never turned Jim Bouton’s Ball Four into a movie.

Matt Mustin said...

I want to see a movie about Harold Ballard's ownership of the Toronto Maple Leafs, including his criminal trial and the so-called "Curse of Harold Ballard".

Tony Kim said...

Ytrewq: Don't think it would've improved the film much even if it was included. Just sounds very overblown, a bit too serious to fit with the tone but a bit too tongue-in-cheek to work as something emphasizing a dramatic beat. Of course, the real problem lies in that it was servicing a very dull and generic corruption arc.

How did you even stumble upon that? I recognize the band from Community's theme song but I never would've guessed they were written by the same guys.

Tony Kim said...

Louis: Your thoughts on DFW's David Lynch Keeps His Head, if you've read it?

Also, have you read anything by George Saunders or Steven Millhauser?

Marcus said...

Louis: Your favorite line deliveries and quotes from Succession and Barry.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Marcus: I don't have an exact ten off the top of my head from Barry, but 'If I suck balls, you are king of Suck Balls Mountain!' would be my #1.

As for Succession:

"I love you, but you are not serious people"
"I wonder if the sad I'd be without you, would be less than the sad I get from being with you"
"Your principles?!"
"You're so fucking jealous of what you've given your own kids"
"We just walked in on Mom and Dad fucking us"
"Lester's wife is Maria. They were married for 15 years. Now she is sad"
"You come for me... with love?"
"Because I don't need love. It's like a superpower"
"It's a Times New Roman firing squad"
"You couldn't wait a few days, you actually couldn't do that for us?"
"If it is to be said, so it be - so it is"

Had to leave off a lot of great lines from the supporting cast.

Bryan L. said...

Robert: Apparently, they did make a sitcom of “Ball Four” but it only last five (5) episodes and it’s locked away in a vault somewhere.

Bryan L. said...

I’d also like to throw in a couple of line deliveries for Succession…(Excuse my French on one of them)

“He’s still Connor, but he won having drinks with us at an auction.

“Control the narrative; you probably yell that when you cum.”

Razor said...

Michael: They actually did make a movie with Paul Rudd as Moe Berg. Not really any good though.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Even though I have a few questions about the way they got there, Ted Lasso mostly stuck the landing for me. Managed to bridge everything together one last time for a conclusion emblematic of the show's bittersweet optimism. I definitely wish they built up to it better just in terms of the time given to some parts (like I don't think we needed both Shandy and Jack, just one of them would have been enough for Keeley's growth). I'm slightly less critical on Nate's arc, because I think it makes sense for Ted to forgive him character-wise, but I wish there was more hesitation from the team to let him return. That being said, enough worked for me in every other story to still consider it a satisfying ending, if still a definite step down from the first two seasons.

My top 10 for the final season:

1. Phil Dunster
2. Brett Goldstein
3. Hannah Waddingham
4. Jason Sudeikis
5. Brendan Hunt
6. Juno Temple
7. Anthony Head
8. James Lance
9. Billy Harris
10. Nick Mohammed

Robert MacFarlane said...

I think Lasso fell off a bit this year. The bloated runtimes, Keeley’s unnecessary romantic arc, the complete fumbling of Nate, and the show’s overall aversion to too much conflict did make it feel less consistent than the previous two years. Dunster and Harris were my choice for MVP’s. Actually, I liked how they handled the team dynamics a lot.

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

Tony: I first came upon it via a YT video in which the song itself was accompanied by the storyboard of the scene. I still think it would've worked, but only if the entire movie was made in style of a serious rock opera without unnecessary plot changes and that kid-friendly vibe the 2012 version was plagued with.

Also it's funny how at times the singer sounds like Jack Black.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your top 5 for 1972 and 1976 Best Director?

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

1. Matthew Macfadyen
2. Jeremy Strong
3. Brian Cox
4. Sarah Snook
5. Kieran Culkin
6. Alan Ruck
7. Nicholas Braun
8. J. Smith Cameron
9. James Cromwell
10. Harriet Walter
11. David Rasche
12. Peter Friedman
13. Fisher Stevens
14. Alexander Skarsgard
15. Holly Hunter

Top 15, as the bottom performers really are more "fine" than bad even.

1. "All the Bells Say"
2. "Connor's Wedding"
3. "Which Side Are You On?"
4. "This Is Not for Tears"
5. "America Decides"
6. "Tern Haven"
7. "Retired Janitors of Idaho"
8. "Rehearsal"
9. "Hunting"
10. "DC"

Jack Johnson (an actual good version)
Buster Douglas defeats Tyson
Joe Louis & Max Schmeiling
Pete Rose:

8000's:

Matt Busby: Will Poulter
Bill Nicholson: Joe Cole
Alf Ramsey: Ben Chaplin
Bill Shankly: Paul Mescal
Bob Paisley: Mark Addy

Luke:

I recall as a decently dramatic death scene for the character at the very least.

Tony:

Same ranking as Robert, with 4 squarely at the bottom, the more I think about it, the less I like most of the choices, many of which failed to deal with what was set up in season 3.

I have, an interesting perspective on one idiosyncratic artist on another idiosyncratic artist.

I haven't read anything from Saunders, I have read Edwin Mullhouse and Martin Dressler.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Hader - (I'll say where we ended up with the character wasn't a terribly interesting place and I think Hader lost a protagonist intimacy in the fourth season that was not to the benefit of the series. Hader was never less than good but at a certain point Barry seemed to exist for the plot mechanics of a character rather than a progression of who he was. I mean who he really was by the end did not feel like anything of the man struggling with his existence in the earliest seasons. His actions seemed what the writing required him to do. In turn, Hader's performance just wasn't terribly interesting, though again never bad, because he just seemed to be going through the motions he had set up for himself on the writing front without really remembering there had been a bit more to the role.)

Goldberg - (A great example of why great acting can still exist when great writing did not. Because really the more I think about what they did with Sally, none of it ended up adding up and I really think a lot of the writing was set by an end goal, and basically the writers fudged whatever they needed to get the characters in that place. Having said that Goldberg was still outstanding throughout in terms of portraying every development with such emotional honesty, whether that be the malaise as she is stuck with a sort of guilt she's trying to put away or the more ferocious intensity behind her struggle with comprehending where she ended up (struggled a bit with that myself), her performance was consistently compelling even as her character's arc really was ill-advised.)

Carrigan - (The characters whose arc fully made sense and was complete. Notable really because his performance had always been for his comedy, which while funny, particularly during season 2, did shift almost entirely into dramatic in season 4. And while there were still funny moments in his performance via his obsession with Barry, where Carrigan went in shifting honest raw dramatic moments in there, he wholly delivered. Delivered in what was really quite tricky because he managed to balance the drama without feeling dishonest or sabotaging the still comic moments left for him. Rather being effective in creating the surface sort of old Hank but within it the pain of the more dramatic side that comes out so powerfully at certain moments, particularly the final confrontation.)

Louis Morgan said...

Root - (His performance obviously was a purposeful cut-off from the constantly manipulative Fuches, where he managed to be both a joke and also oddly effective in his manipulations, to "The Raven" where he was ultra serious and intense. It shows really Root's already known range where he can be as fitting in a completely goofy role as he can be in a deadly serious role. And Root delivers on those two sides very much expectedly effectively. And the whole Raven was a leap, that did work for me because it gave a new angle for the character and Root delivered well with this sort of enlightened intensity he brought in his performance. This way of seeming above it all while also still quite menacing in the way he speaks his particular "truths".)

Winkler - (I think the writers hit a wall with the character because in season 3 we had a reformed Gene who was trying to right his wrongs. While people can revert to their old selves, I'll say in general, when done in a series it is very easy to make it feel like wheelspinning when not done perfectly, Gene going back to old Gene was sloppy and unearned. In turn, it just made him seem an ill-defined presence for the rest of the series because they seemingly forgot any growth he might've had. Winkler consistently was also good, certainly selling the reverting but it wasn't particularly interesting material for him to work with quite honestly.)

Marcus:

"You need a super majority" - (Logan back to Shiv)
"If it is to be said, so it be, so it is"
"But I am the eldest son of our father"
"You are fair and squarely fucked"
"I fucking love it but that's my honest opinion"
"Come on roast me"
"When a man dies it is sad, all of us will die some day, in this case it is Lester who has done so"
"My boy squiggle kicked up this beat for me"
"Your Principles?"
"Woof Woof"

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Your ranking of the Succession seasons?

Also, when you finish Ted Lasso season 3, your thoughts on it and cast ranking.

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

1.4
2.2
3.3
4.1

3 mainly because it's only nine episodes I guess. Top three are among the best seasons of any series ever. 1 is still very good but does have those early slightly shaky episodes.

Not yet.