Alternate Best Actor 1994: Results

10. Robert De Niro in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - De Niro is the best part of his terrible film, attempting to find some humanity in the concert of ridiculousness.

 

Best Scene: Listening to the family. 

9. Woody Harrelson in Natural Born Killers - Harrelson gives a convincing portrayal of a brutal madness, even if the character is rather limited. 

Best Scene: Interview.

8. Shah Rukh Khan in Kabhi Ha Kabhi Na - Delivers a nice charming turn as a somewhat atypical romantic hero given where the romance goes.

Best Scene: Accepting the situation.

7. Brandon Lee in The Crow - Lee tragically proves himself a capable leading man both delivering the intensity and charisma needed for the part. 

Best Scene: Before the kidnapping.

6. Kevin Bacon in The River Wild - Bacon gives a fine menacing turn bringing the right degree of sleaze with just enough charisma in there.

Best Scene: "There's no way"

5. Ge You in To Live - Although overshadowed to a definite degree, Ge You still gives a moving portrayal of man just making his way through trauma.

Best Scene: The hospital.

4. Tom Cruise in Interview With The Vampire - Cruise is surprisingly able to disappear into his role as his vampire who loves being a vampire.

Best Scene: Ending.

3. Temuera Morrison in Once Were Warriors - Morrison gives a terrific portrayal of both the brute and the charmer that allows a vicious cycle of abuse to exist.

Best Scene: Winning his wife over.

2. Xia Yu in In The Heat of the Sun - Xia gives a wonderful coming of age turn that amplifies every moment of his young man's journey into life and love.

Best Scene: "Party"

1. Ben Kingsley in Death and the Maiden - Good predictions Lucas, Tim RatedRStar, Anonymous, Matt & Jack. Kingsley delivers one of his best performances in both creating such a compelling question then delivering an unforgettable answer.

 

Best Scene: Confession.

Updated Overall

Next: 1994 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 1994: Brandon Lee in The Crow

Brandon Lee did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Eric Draven aka the titular character in The Crow. 

The Crow, for being a superhero film pre-coup de Superhero, is a decently effective, if dated and a little rough around the edges, atmospheric film about a man coming back from the dead to seek revenge against his, and his fiancee's killers. 

The career of Brandon Lee, the son of the legendary Bruce Lee, can sadly only be mentioned with the same note of tragedy same as his father. Although perhaps even greater given that it continued to the next generation and whereas Bruce was able to shine brightly, albeit so briefly, it was in this film that likely could've been his breakout sadly led to his death. His death resulting from a freak on-set accident that depicted his character's onscreen death. Lee though had completed much of the film before this enabling the film to be finished with some changes. This enabling one to see the lost potential within Lee's performance. There are a few flashback scenes with Lee pre-Crow as Eric Draven as just an average guy with girlfriend, and Lee brings a nicely lightly charming qualities to these moments. Lee playing them without overt style just rather as straight forward in showing the normal life that was broke. He takes a generally likable that rightfully distinguishes these moments from the majority of his scenes as the vicious spirit of vengeance version of Eric Draven, the white face painted, black leather sporting The Crow. 

A performance that I would say genuinely surprised me in parts for the different sides Lee brings within the role that is more than just an iconic look. This though we get his opening revival which is sort of a classic creation of a monster moment, though a bit more based around emotional anguish. Although I would say this really is a warm up as Lee's anguish is believable enough it doesn't really quite hit you in the moment with the visceral need you might want, this might be in part because you barely even know the character at this point given we really get a sense of the guy after he's already dead. Lee's performance, fittingly I suppose, comes to life once he becomes the Crow. This as Lee doesn't play the part as a hero, but in many ways how a villain might be portrayed in a more mainstream comic book film. Lee though is magnetic in the moments of the true spirit of vengeance. This as he brings the real intensity needed in his eyes more so a monster than a man. He delivers a viciousness about and offers the sort of sense of the need for vengeance that fuels him. What takes his performance further though is the real grunge style he offers. This as Lee, for the lack of a better word, is cool here in portraying the moments of Draven menacing the bad guys who killed him. There's a joy in his slick smiles, but really a rocker type style just in his movements and manner that gives the character a unique sort of life. 

 

He's not one note of dread, he is that, but there is that much needed style that Lee thrives with. As the film goes on, in kind of a Robocop sort of way, we do get more glimpses into the humanity of Draven even beyond the flashbacks. These mostly being found in his relationship with a good cop Sgt. Albrecht (Ernie Hudson), and a near orphan Sarah, who knew Draven and his girlfriend before their deaths. Lee handles these scenes well as he switches from his cutting voice of a demon, to that of a man when he interacts with both of them particularly Sarah. The switch Lee uses well as Draven basically becoming his old self in these moments represented by his voice but his whole manner. Although the scenes are relatively simple, there are genuinely affecting moments as Lee recaptures a sense of warmth in these very quiet scenes that he plays well by playing them so sincerely as the good man beneath it all. Although his arc is very rushed, there is a certain vulnerability that Lee delivers in the final climactic battle to help distinguish the final act of vengeance from the rest. This in no longer playing him really as the demon killing the men who killed him, but rather the man delivering justice. This in his final fight with the final boss (Michael Wincott), Lee in a way merges the two sides to still find a certain menace in his presence but with a greater humanity in the actions. Although I wouldn't say this is a great performance, this is a good one. Lee realizes the tricky role effectively, with that sense of style, but also just enough depth to back it up. The performance suggests a leading man in the making, and it's a true shame we never got to see it realized.

Alternate Best Actor 1994

And the Nominees Were Not:

Ben Kingsley in Death and the Maiden

 

Ge You in To Live

 

Temuera Morrison in Once Were Warriors

 

Shah Rukh Khan in Kabhi Ha Kabhi Na

 

Woody Harrelson in Natural Born Killers

Predict These Five, Those Five or Both:

Robert De Niro in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

 

Kevin Bacon in The River Wild

 

Tom Cruise in Interview With The Vampire

 

Brandon Lee in The Crow 

 

Xia Yu in In the Heat of the Sun