Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2002: Results

5. Richard Gere in Chicago- Gere throws himself completely into the role which certainly offers some entertainment even if he over does it at some points.

Best Scene: Give em the old razzle dazzle.

4. Dennis Quiad in Far From Heaven- Quiad is somewhat restricted by the writing of his character but he excels in his portrayal of a very repressed man.

Best Scene: Frank tells his wife about his early vacation.

3. Andy Serkis in The Two Towers- Serkis creates a unique and very interesting character through his portrayal Gollum and his multiple personalities.

Best Scene: Smeagol and Gollum face off.

2. Robin Williams in Insomnia- Robin Williams gives probably his best performance giving a chilling performance as a killer who seems absolutely genuine in his innocence even while admitting he is completely guilty.

Best Scene: Walter Finch tells why he murdered the girl. 

1. Bernard Hill in The Two Towers- This is another very personal choice but I love Bernard Hill's work in the Two Towers. He takes a character that could have been a complete throwaway but instead brings such humanity and power into his role of King Théoden.

Best Scene: King Théoden mourns his son.

Overall Rank:

1. Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York
2. Bernard Hill in The Two Towers
3. Christopher Walken in Catch Me If You Can
4. Robin Williams in Insomnia
5. Christopher Plummer in Nicholas Nickleby
6. Paul Newman in Road to Perdition
7. Tom Hanks in Catch Me If You Can
8. Brendan Gleeson in 28 Days Later 
9. Andy Serkis in The Two Towers
10. Brian Murray in Treasure Planet
11. Leandro Firmino in City of God
12. Brendan Fraser in The Quiet American
13. Timothy Spall in All or Nothing
14. Jude Law in Road to Perdition
15. Daniel Craig in Road to Perdition 
16. Brendan Gleeson in Gangs of New York  
17. Tony Leung in Hero
18. Tom Courtenay in Nicholas Nickleby
19. Chris Cooper in Adaptation
20. Min Tanaka in The Twilight Samurai 
21. Forrest Whitaker in Panic Room
22. Thomas Kretschmann in The Pianist
23. Sean Astin in The Two Towers
24. Dennis Quaid in Far From Heaven 
25. Willem Dafoe in Auto Focus 
26. Alan Arkin in 13 Conversations About One Thing 
27. Tatusya Mihashi in Dolls
28. Gabriel Byrne in Spider
29. Matthew McConaughey in Frailty
30. Barry Pepper in 25th Hour 
31. Christopher Lee in The Two Towers 
32. Ralph Waite in Sunshine State
33. John C. Reilly in Gangs of New York
34. Seu Jorge in City of God 
35. Benedict Wong in Dirty Pretty Things
36. Stephen Dillane in The Hours 
37. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Punch-Drunk Love 
38. Eric Tsang in Infernal Affairs 
39. Brian Cox in 25th Hour 
40. Ralph Fiennes in Red Dragon
41. J.K. Simmons in Spider-Man 
42. Philip Seymour Hoffman in 25th Hour 
43. Cliff Robertson in Spider-Man 
44. Anthony Wong in Infernal Affairs
45. Brian Cox in Adaptation 
46. John C. Reilly in Chicago
47. Ed Harris in Buffalo Soldiers
48. Powers Boothe in Frailty
49. Liev Schreiber in The Sum of All Fears 
50. Phellipe Haagensen in City of God 
51. Scott Glenn in Buffalo Soldiers
52. Brad Dourif in The Two Towers  
53. Douglas Silva in City of God 
54. Mekhi Phifer in 8 Mile
55. Kenneth Branagh in Rabbit-Proof Fence
56. Nathan Lane in Nicholas Nickleby
57. Anthony Hopkins in Red Dragon
58. George Clooney in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 
59. Jim Broadbent in Gangs of New York 
60. Marcel Iures in Hart's War
61. Ian McKellen in The Two Towers  
62. David Gulpilil in Rabbit-Proof Fence
63. Matheus Nachtergaele in City of God
64. Jamie Bell in Nicholas Nickleby
65. Sean Bean in The Two Towers
66. Willem Dafoe in Spider-Man 
67. Dwight Yoakam in Panic Room
68. Dennis Haysbert in Far From Heaven
69. Max von Sydow in Minority Report
70. Joaquin Phoenix in Signs
71. Denzel Washington in Antwone Fisher
72. Liam Neeson in Gangs of New York 
73. Michael Byrne in The Sum of All Fears
74. Stanley Tucci in Road to Perdition 
75. Richard Harris in The Count of Monte Cristo
76. Ciarian Hinds in The Sum of All Fears
77. Timothy Spall in Nicholas Nickleby
78. Billy Boyd in The Two Towers 
79. Richard Harris in The Chamber of Secrets
80. Frank Finlay in The Pianist
81. Noah Huntley in 28 Days Later
82. Kenneth Branagh in The Chamber of Secrets 
83. David Wenham in The Two Towers 
84. Rutger Hauer in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
85. Christopher Lee in Attack of the Clones
86. Richard Gere in Chicago 
87. Nikolaj Lie Kaas in Open Hearts 
88. Barry Pepper in We Were Soldiers
89. Bruce Willis in Hart's War 
90. Harvey Keitel in Red Dragon
91. Brian Cox in The Bourne Identity
92. Luiz Guzman in Punch-Drunk Love 
93. Terence Howard in Hart's War
94. Michael Wincott in The Count of Monte Cristo
95. Matthew McConaughey in 13 Conversations About One Thing
96. Jared Leto in Panic Room
97. Sergei Lopez in Dirty Pretty Things
98. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Red Dragon
99. Jason Isaacs in The Chamber of Secrets 
100. Colin Farrell in Minority Report   
101. Alfred Molina in Frida 
102. Chris Cooper in The Bourne Identity
103. James Cromwell in The Sum of All Fears
104. John C. Reilly in The Hours 
105. Michael Shannon in 8 Mile
106. Rupert Grint in The Chamber of Secrets
107. Morgan Freeman in The Sum of All Fears
108. John Rhys-Davies in The Two Towers
109. Jeremy Irons in The Time Machine 
110. Peter Stormare in Minority Report
111. Alan Bates in Sum of All Fears 
112. Orland Bloom in The Two Towers  
113. John Turturro in 13 Conversations About One Thing
114. Dominic Monaghan in The Two Towers
115. Karl Urban in The Two Towers
116. Tom Wilkinson in The Importance of Being Earnest 
117. Jeremy Davies in Secretary
118. Guy Pearce in The Count of Monte Cristo
119. Gary Cole in One Hour Photo
120. Tim Blake Nelson in Minority Report 
121. Henry Cavill in The Count of Monte Cristo
122. Christopher Eccleston in 28 Days Later
123. James Franco in Spider-Man 
124. Jeff Goldblum in Igby Goes Down
125. Henry Thomas in Gangs of New York 
126. Luis Guzman in the Count of Monte Cristo
127. Rory Culkin in Signs 
128. Orlando Jones in The Time Machine 
129. Martin Sheen in Catch Me If You Can
130. John Noble in The Two Towers
131. Geoffrey Rush in Frida 
132. Ed Harris in The Hours
133. Jared Harris in Igby Goes Down
134. Olivier Martinez in Unfaithful
135. Rip Torn in Men in Black 2 
136. David Hyde Pierce in Treasure Planet
137. Tony Siragusa in 25th Hour
138. Dermot Mulroney in About Schmidt
139. Dylan Smith in One Hour Photo
140. Michael Madsen in Die Another Day
141. Howard Hesseman in About Schmidt
142. Toby Stephens in Die Another Day
143. Eric Lloyd in The Santa Clause 2
144. Johnny Knoxville in Men in Black 2 
145. Ryan Phillipe in Igby Goes Down
146. Rick Yune in Die Another Day
147. Martin Short in Treasure Planet
148. Rob Schneider in Mr. Deeds

Next Year: 1950 lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2002: Bernard Hill in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Bernard Hill did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

I found when re-watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy that the first two films have one character each whose performance I really took for granted the first time I watched the films, but I have come to really appreciate for the depth they bring to their parts. The first film had Sean Bean as Boromir who turned what could have been just a one note bully to a tragic portrait of patriot brought down by his own devotion to his country. The third film perhaps could have had a performance like this in John Noble's Denethor, but the writing of the character and Noble's performance really leave a lot to be desired. I have to admit now that I made a mistake listing Noble far too high in my ranking for the supporting actors of 2003 as I wrongfully blamed only the writing, but really Noble is all over the place in his characterization and really overplays his role.

Now how about the second film though. The second film follows the very strings of the story, but the one that actually gets the most focus depicts Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), and Legolas (Orlando Bloom) as they attempt to help the human kingdom of Rohan fight against the evil hordes of Orcs brought down upon them by the evil wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee). A central figure in this story is that of the King of Rohan Théoden. Although to be sure he isn't at first when he is a slightly moving corpse who basically just gives out orders to make it so his own kingdom will fail since he is under the control of Saruman. Hill does not have much to do in these brief scenes for sure, but he certainly gets his chance to shine once Théoden regains control of himself.

When a King is a supporting character in a film they often are rather simplistic characters either being just kind of simple higher up good guys or bad guys. Bernard Hill deserve a great deal of credit for really making an honest character out of Théoden not just a place holder for power. Hill's work is one that I only appreciate more on additional viewings of this film as he brings so much to this part. What Hill does in the part is create the King as a real man, and what really what there is to the King as whole. When he regains his power it is a great scene for Hill as he goes from the living corpse to the King once more. It is a great scene because Hill naturally infuses into the part the inner strength and really the majesty there should be within a great King.

Of course immediately after that scene where Hill set up the strength of the King the tone quickly changes when Théoden asks to see his son who has recently been killed. Hill has a difficult scene as we did not know the son in any way and we just met Théoden so it very well could have fallen flat, but Hill absolutely delivers in the scene importantly bringing a great humanity to his role. It is a incredible scene not only due to Hill's heartbreaking reaction as he grieves over the death of his son, but as well in this brings a great deal of emotional weight to what will come through Hill's portrayal of Théoden feelings toward the conflict as the whole. There is such a haunting quality Hill brings as he regrets being the one who lives as the young dies and the world around him seems to be turning to darkness.

Hill continues to excel in the role by bringing depth to the part that very easily could have been overlooked. When Théoden makes his decision for his people to whole in the fortification of Helm's Deep this is not a decision that is just there to make the plot move forward rather Hill offers far more in the part realizing the duties of the King in his portrayal. These are not just skimmed over in an improper fashion by Hill he brings a great deal of heart in his performance and Hill always shows the devotion in Théoden to the welfare of his people. There is never a moment where the idea of being the King is that of just being a man of power to have power, what Hill really brings to life is the idea of the responsibility of the power, and Hill expresses this through his portrayal which is commanding yet always carries a certain empathy as well.

When Hill is the most important is in the central set piece of the film which is the battle of Helm's deep. With Mortensen needing to play the role of pretty much the leading action star and Bloom and Rhys-Davies being the killing machine comic reliefs it leaves Hill to be the one to to express what the battle really means throughout its course. Where as soon as the battle begins the others stay fairly consistent in manner Hill is excellent as he portrays the experience of the King in his battle that will either save or destroy his Kingdom. Hill is spellbinding in a scene just before the battle as Théoden asks one of his men if he will follow him to whatever end the battle might bring. Hill's expression conveys the heavy burden responsibility in Théoden, a doubt if he is worthy of such loyalty, and the fear of what may come from his leadership.

As the battle proceeds Hill acts as the face of the reality of the situation and is very effective as his honest portrayal of what the King goes through the experience of the decisive battle. At first with the hesitations but he moves toward confidence as it seems the battle is in his favor. This does not last long though as the battle continues. Hill in every act of battle allows us to see the seriousness of the situation even as the others are jumping head first into crowds of enemies or surf boarding shields. Hill makes Théoden always brings the power alive and makes it more than just a series of action scenes. He always brings the meaning to the moments and is especially powerful at the end of the battle as Hill shows the way the length of the fight has worn down Théoden. This makes it all the more inspiring as Théoden makes one last charge against the enemy. It is an amazing scene for Hill as he brings out the final strength of the King as he makes one final attempt to personally save his people.

I suppose I am committing some serious blasphemy when I say that Andy Serkis's performance as Gollum is not my favorite performance in this film, but even though I like that performance my favorite performance in that film and my favorite of the whole trilogy actually is Hill's portrayal of King Théoden. I just love this portrayal of a character that could have been so easily just brushed aside or been just a pretty unremarkable character. Bernard Hill gives a great performance that doesn't simply any aspect of his performance making Théoden a fully fleshed character and a remarkable look into the mind of this King. Hill brings a true poignancy in his performance giving the gravitas needed for each of his scenes, and his delivery of Théoden's speeches are some of the best moments in the film.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2002

And the Nominees Were Not:

Andy Serkis in The Two Towers

Bernard Hill in The Two Towers

Dennis Quaid in Far From Heaven

Robin Williams in Insomnia

Richard Gere in Chicago