Best Supporting Actor 1992: Results

5. David Paymer in Mr. Saturday Night- Paymer is in a bad film, but does manage to be the best part of it. Although he never completely overcomes the limits of the film, he does manage to rise above the schmaltz of the film with some honest emotion.

4. Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men- Nicholson is really miscast as the devoted  to the extreme marine colonel. He always seems a little too rebellious, as well as frankly to outwardly evil for the character the film wants. He is not bad, but does not overcome his miscasting either.

3. Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game- After the twist Davidson still gives an interesting performance, although for me not an amazing one.

2. Al Pacino in Glengarry Glen Ross- Pacino gives a great performance as Ricky Roma. He perfectly realizes Roma's method of getting a sale no matter what.

1. Gene Hackman in Unforgiven- Gene Hackman gives a brilliant performance as the villianous Little Bill Daggett, because of how much depth he brings in the part. He never portrays Little Bill as a one dimensional villain. He succeeds in both bringing humanity to Little Bill while being brutal and chilling at the same time.

Deserving Performances:
Richard Harris in Unforgiven
Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross

Best Supporting Actor 1992: David Paymer in Mr. Saturday Night

David Paymer received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Stan in Mr. Saturday Night.

Mr. Saturday Night tells of the life of Jewish stand up comedian Buddy Young Jr. who the film can't decide if we are suppose to love or hate.

It is rather interesting that David Paymer was nominated for playing Buddy's brother and agent. I say this is because it was the film's only nomination, a film that seemed a to be a little too much of Oscar bait for Billy Crystal who plays Buddy and directed the film as well. Paymer is second banana in the film, but does really manage to steal the entire film from Billy Crystal and it is easy to see why he was nominated and Crystal was not.

This film is filled with a lot of overly sentimental scenes that seem rather forced, and overly schmaltzy. Paymer is better off than the rest of them though and is able to  bring out some honest genuine emotion in his part. Even though there are many factors working against Paymer as the script forces him to be overly emotional from his earliest scenes, which puts a great deal of pressure on him to begin with. What I did find interesting was Paymer did not fail despite this problem.

Paymer actually does fairly good job of showing Stan's regrets and pains over what he did not have and his brother did have. Paymer particularly does excel in a single scene devoted to him where he introduces Buddy's eventual wife to him, even though he clearly feels for her himself. It is a very strong scene by far the best in the film, although that is saying very little, because Paymer creates an honestly heartbreaking portrait of a man always put second.

Unfortunately I cannot continue to praise Paymer, although it is not really his fault due to the lackluster script, as well as due to Crystal's performance. Their chemistry together could have been really something special, but it never does because Crystal's own characterization of Buddy feels lacking. Also after awhile Paymer performance becomes repetitive. Not because of what he does, but the film requires basically to go over the same exact emotional notes over and over, which eventually becomes tiresome. Paymer is never bad, and with a better script probably could have given a stronger performance.

Best Supporting Actor 1992

And the Nominees Were:

Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men

Al Pacino in Glengarry Glen Ross

Gene Hackman in Unforgiven

David Paymer in Mr. Saturday Night

Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game