Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001: Results

5. Justin Theroux in Mulholland Drive - Theroux gives an enjoyable turn by providing a reality of sorts within the film's mad dream as his hapless director.

Best Scene: Meeting the cowboy.

4. Ian Holm in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Holm manages to give a terrific balance between the warm father-figure and the pained man weighed down by a peculiar burden.

Best Scene: Letting go of the ring.

3. James Gandolfini in The Mexican - Gandolfini steals his film wholesale through his humorous, moving and surprisingly nuanced portrayal of an atypical hit man.

Best Scene: Reacting to the suicide. 

2. Paul Bettany in A Knight's Tale - Bettany gives a terrific turn that manages to find a proper mix between a classic orator and a barker cutting a wrestling promo.

Best Scene: *Scenes deleted*

1. Anthony Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantis - Hopkins delivers an especially moving turn showing his remarkable range in creating such a quietly warm character while also showing his great ability with child actors through his chemistry with Anton Yelchin. 

Best Scene: Helping Carol. 

Updated Overall

Next Year: 1952 Lead/Supporting (Not sure I'm going to do a lineup)

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001: Ian Holm in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Ian Holm did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Bilbo Baggins in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Ian Holm's role in the original LOTR trilogy is technically an essential, though in a way minor role as technically the hero of the previous book to the trilogy. That of The Hobbit where Bilbo was front and center the whole time, despite what overblown adaptations will tell you. Ian Holm then has an interesting role here in that he really must tell you a story you haven't seen within his own work as Bilbo, at least when the film originally came out, well really we still didn't see it. Ian Holm was the protagonist of the previous story, in fact it seems just the right for the role of any lead hobbit, and it is no surprise that he had in fact played Frodo (here played by Elijah Wood) in the 1981 radio adaptation. Holm's casting in itself was something that was just right from the very outset. Of course even the best casting can occasionally disappoint, however that is most certainly not the case here. The richness of Holm's work really is evident from his early narration explaining the nature of hobbits in general. Holm delivers the words with real texture of appreciation and warmth in explaining the quaint life of the denizens of the Shire. This sentimentality though nicely balanced with an equally sincere irascibility as initially mistakes Gandalf (Ian McKellen) for another "well wisher" for Biblo's birthday party that essentially opens the film, as brushes off Gandalf befitting an elder man who doesn't like to suffer fools. Holm's initial work has this sort of wonderful balance between the bitter and the sweet.

This is as we see a rather endearing sense of joy in his greetings and interactions to the old friend of Gandalf. This giving a sense of their old adventure even though we don't see it beyond glimpse. This being even more evident as he regales the children with his conflict with some trolls that Holm illuminates with a proper zest of living the dreams of the youth. In this though Holm effectively realizes shades of darkness, and not just a slight grumpiness to unwelcome "friends". This in the moment of reflecting upon his age, even though he doesn't look it, Holm evokes both a melancholy of age but also a painful weight upon his existence. That weight of course being the one ring of power he has been using on and off since his journey in The Hobbit. This becoming more evident when Bilbo decides to leave the Shire to "retire", thought not before one final confrontation as Gandalf insists Bilbo leave the ring behind. Holm is fantastic in the scene and very much indicates towards the eventually much praised work of Andy Serkis as Gollum, the previous twisted owner of the ring by the ring. Holm is terrific in portraying this fixation, that is obviously weaker than it what we eventually see in Gollum, yet conveys well the obsession as an addiction. This in portraying his accusations towards Gandalf as a vicious irrational reaction of the moment. When snapped from this by Gandalf, Holm delivers such an honest moment of clarity in his poignant delivery of Bilbo plea for forgiveness. His greatest moment in the introductory section of the film though is actually a silent one, as he manages to leave the ring on the ground and walk out the door away from it. Holm brings for a moment this fierce frustration and angry in his face, before this moment of purging it himself to almost looking to his future. Holm makes it such natural moment, and essentially creates this humanity to this fantastical concept of the lure of the one ring. Holm makes a proper impression helping to establish the world of the film, but through textured character. His Bilbo not only grants sight of what the ring means, but we also get sense of who he is and really the nature of hobbits. There is also Bilbo's return later in the film, when Frodo and his group find refuge in the Elvish valley of Rivendell. There Bilbo finally seems his age, and there is a brief but special moment between he and Elijah Wood. There in just a brief reaction from Holm you see both a sense of acceptance, though not without a twinge of somberness in Holm's eyes, of his old age. We are also granted just the utmost tenderness in his reunion with Frodo evoking if for a few seconds the sense of the relationship of a surrogate father to his adopted son. Holm's final scene in the film coming shortly there after as he prepares Frodo for his adventure. A similar scene to his confrontation with Gandalf, though technically the most extreme moment of temptation is handled by a puppet, nonetheless Holm's expression of regret towards Frodo is heartbreaking as he conveys the intensity of this burden he's place upon his beloved nephew. Holm's character here is but a minor role in the scheme of the epic, yet alluding the strength of the film, he still leaves a striking impression.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001

And the Nominees Were Not:

Paul Bettany in A Knight's Tale

Mark Addy in A Knight's Tale

Ian Holm in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Justin Theroux in Mulholland Drive

Anthony Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantis

James Gandolfini in The Mexican 

Bettany for prediction purposes.

And a review of:

 

Hayden Christensen in Life As A House

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1968: Results

5. Trevor Howard in The Charge of the Light Brigade - Howard gives a properly strict and slightly ridiculous portrayal fitting to a man who cares more about his stature as an officer than for any of his men. 

Best Scene: Strange seduction.

4. Klaus Kinski in The Great Silence - Kinski gives an effective villainous performance interestingly by taking a rather low key approach showing his Loco as always taking a calm and easy approach to his killings.

Best Scene: Loco wins.

3. Ian Holm in The Bofors Gun - Holm makes an impact through his limited screentime by so effectively presenting the incisiveness of the one man willing to confront both his immediate superior and his out of control fellow soldier.

Best Scene: Flynn confronts O'Rourke.

2. Tom Courtenay in A Dandy in Aspic - Courtenay gives a brilliant performance that creates a complex portrait of a spy who purposefully hates everything and everyone as a means of defense, and rises far above the one note villain the film likely would have settled for.

Best Scene: Gatiss visits Eberline in the hotel. 

1. Tony Curtis in The Boston Strangler - Curtis gives a chilling and effective performance which never relishes in the idea of playing a serial killer, instead offering a haunting and vivid depiction of a psychotic.

Best Scene: DeSalvo's breakdown. 

Updated Overall

Next Year: 2003 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1968: Ian Holm in The Bofors Gun

Ian Holm did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite winning BAFTA, for portraying Gunner Bill Flynn in The Bofors Gun.

The Bofors Gun I found to be a little bit of a hidden gem about the conflict that develops one night between a recently promoted Lance Bombardier, Terry Evans (David Warner), and a self-destructive Gunner, O'Rouke (Nicol Williamson).

The film focuses on one small section of men through a night where they are assigned to guard a useless gun for an extended period. There is a difficulty to begin with with Warner's Evans being put in charge the small group of men he use to be part of as just one of the regulars. Further complications from Evans's success of the night determines his ability to go home and attempt officer training. Most of the men of the section have little respect for Evans and are at best indifferent to him, his only friend in the group is Holm's Gunner Flynn. Holm makes important use of his early scenes by providing just this warmth in his early interactions with Warner. Holm provides a most genuine support in these moments just providing earnest encouragement presenting Flynn well as just looking out for his friend. This is even found when Evans takes command, and Holm even utilizes a few important reaction shots. In these moments he shows Flynn watching Evans, not looking for flaws to exploit but rather watching with an honest concern hoping his friend will not falter.

As the night goes on O'Rourke's behavior becomes more and more problematic with the other men either partially encouraging it or doing nothing to prevent it, and with Evans hesitating to do anything since it may compromise his return home. Flynn appears for a while as Evans's only solace, but only a solace of sorts as provided by Holm's performance. Holm portrays very specifically a directed delivery representing Flynn attempting to encourage Evans to do the right thing. In each scene we see him in though Holm also reveals a slowly growing frustration in Flynn as Evans keeps avoiding directly dealing with O'Rourke, and allows the problem to continue to grow. Holm builds those frustrations until a scene with Flynn and Evans are alone together, and Flynn tells Evans the blunt truth. Holm is excellent in this scene as he brings such a incisiveness to every one of Flynn's words towards Evans, as he tells him that he is doing the wrong thing. Holm is careful though as he does offer such an intensity in revealing anger towards his friend, but he still shows that Flynn is remaining a friend. Holm's delivery does not go towards hatred just a striking disappointment, portraying Flynn's words as tough love. This stands well as a foil to his scene where he goes and confronts O'Rourke over his behavior. Holm is as incisive in this scene as well but this time offering a strict hatred towards the man. Every word Holm gives a strong coating of venom as Flynn reveals his severe disdain for O'Rourke, and it is cathartic moment through Holm's work as the one man willing to stand up to the out of control O'Rourke. Although the film ends away from Flynn, focusing naturally on a more direct confrontation between Evans and O'Rourke, Holm though in his limited screentime makes his impact particularly through those two aforementioned scenes. Holm gives a terrific performance as he delivers the needed uncompromising sanity that ensures Flynn stands out by being part of the group, but never exactly one of them. 

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1968

And the Nominees Were Not:

Ian Holm in Bofors Gun

Trevor Howard in The Charge of the Light Brigade

Tony Curtis in The Boston Strangler

Tom Courtenay in A Dandy In Aspic 

Klaus Kinski in The Great Silence

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1985: Results

5. Ian Holm in Wetherby - Sorry about doing it again. Holm though has only a few minutes of screen time sprinkled throughout the film as one of the main character's friends. Holm does what he can in establishing a real pathos to his character's diatribes. He's good but there's almost no time for him to fully flesh out his character.

Best Scene: Stanley ponders about Thatcher. 

4. Roddy McDowall in Fright Night - McDowall gives a delightful performance as he brings just the right amount of humor as his vampire hunter actor turned vampire hunter.

Best Scene: Peter gives Jerry the vampire test.

3. John Lone in Year of the Dragon - Lone is the highlight of his film giving a complex and consistently compelling portrayal of an ambitious gangster.

Best Scene: Joey Tai meets with the soldiers.

2. Ian Holm in Dreamchild - Holm gives a downright brilliant performance as he makes his Lewis Carroll a fascinating enigma that allows for the needed interpret while never seeming vague in his portrayal either.

Best Scene: Dodgson asks Alice about marriage.

1. Daniel Day-Lewis in My Beautiful Laundrette - Day-Lewis gives a great performance as per usual, as less per usual for him here he shows off his ability to be quite charming and crafts a truly endearing and sympathetic character.

Best Scene: Johnny and Omar meet up again.

Updated Overall

Next Year: 2011 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1985: Ian Holm in Dreamchild

Ian Holm did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Charles Dodgson more famously known as Lewis Carroll in Dreamchild.

Dreamchild is a curious film that covers parts of the early and later life of Alice Liddell, the girl who was the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland.

Dreamchild tells its story in a jumbled fashion as it jumps around from the younger Alice, the older Alice, a reporter hoping to get a good story out of her, and a few fantasy moments depicting sequences from Alice in Wonderland itself. We are given glimpses of Ian Holm's portrayal of the author of that novel, Charles Dodgson, who was more famously known by his pen name Lewis Carroll. We never see through Dodgson's eyes throughout the story, and the film seems to purposefully keep a distance from the man. He has few spoken line, as Holm is often silent. There are  times where it seems a pivotal line is coming in terms of explaining the character, yet the film stops just before verbalizing an exact understanding of Dodgson. The character seems left in Ian Holm's hands, and much of the film relies on what he is able to do within the confines set against him which are quite extreme. Dodgson is a ghost in the film, not literally but rather the memories of himself always haunt Alice in the future as she ponders the past. This idea is how we first see Dodgson as he is in and around Alice's life due to Dodgson being one of the lecturers at Christ Church, where Alice's father was the dean.

Holm is a performer who can indicate a great deal without directly revealing himself either as seen formerly in Alien. The brilliance of Holm's work begins with the very image he crafts of Dodgson as a man. The manner Holm takes is striking as there is something inherently withdrawn about his work. Even when he is not trying to communicate Holm effortlessly realize a difficulty in this regard through through the often closed off spirit that Holm exudes in the man. Holm alludes to a painful life in Dodgson as a man who is almost forced into an inherent awkwardness due to the standards of society. Holm is a naturally compelling performer, and that is readily apparent in these glimpses of Dodgson we are given. There is something truly fascinating about Holm's work as he succeeds in creating this sense of unease when we see him, and even by the notion of him. This is not to say this is some sort of horror based performance, it's not, but rather Holm is able to wordlessly inflict the anxiety within the unknown. This unknown being connected to the way the elderly Alice views the man, but also the way we view him since we can only ever see him through her eyes.

The complexity of this relationship is never simplified by Holm's performance, and that sense of discontent does not define Holm's work. Quite the opposite as early on there is a scene where Dodgson entertains Alice and her sisters by regaling one of his stories that would eventually become Alice in Wonderland. Holm in the moments of storytelling reveals an abundance of warmth and a sense of Dodgson calling upon something rather special within him to tell these stories. There is a tenderness about the man Holm brings to these words, but also a comfort in one's self. When Holm speaks these words there is this firm belief in them, and in the moment that unease about the man fades. Holm conveys this through the way he depicts Dodgson living through the stories in his mind while he regales them to the children. What would make Dodgson, Lewis Carroll,  a world renowned figure is realized so gently by Holm. That inspiration that created Wonderland seems something fluid in Holm's performance, which gives understanding to the eventual perspective of the man in the greater public eye.

The film stays closer in the private eye of Alice though as she spends time going over her memories in an apparent attempt to decipher the man. Holm is flawless in crafting this difficult perception of the man as he interacts with the little girl. Holm does not falter in terms of maneuvering the conflicting view of the character. The unease of the man seems to come with the man being potentially a pedophile, who is lusting after Alice. Holm glares towards her reflect a definite desire yet he does not allow one to condemn the man so easily, since he does explicitly note the desire. In those sames eyes Holm is able to suggest a certain enchantment of man who only sees a kindred spirit within the child's innocence. When one watches Holm one can also see the somberness of a lonely man, who cannot be exactly who he is. Again this could be a man hiding from society because what he hides is something disturbing, or a man of a purer nature than what society allows for. Holm enablesthis duplicity of view yet he never enforces it precisely. It's fascinating work since Holm doesn't just switch his performance in a Rashomon sort of way, he presents one man exactly as he is, and leaves it to us to see who he is. At the same time this never feels an inarticulate or vague performance, Holm knows who the man is and only ever shows us that man. It's astonishing what he is able to do since he is able to be off putting while we are still able to emphasize with the man. There is an incredible scene for Holm when Dodgson asks Alice about marriage. He doesn't finish his question. Holm in this is a lusty old man propositioning a girl, but also heartbreaking as man wishing a girl to hold on to the innocence he found so special. There are few scenes where Alice lashing against Dodgson since he never explains his intentions clearly to her either. Holm allows you to see it as a creepy man getting his comeuppance in a second, then again he seems like a broken boy who just bullied by one of his few friends. This is outstanding work by Ian Holm as he matches the challenge of the role, by making a challenging character for the audience.  Holm realizes an enigmatic yet profound portrait fitting to the mystery of the man that Lewis Carroll was.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1985

And the Nominees Were Not:

Ian Holm in Dreamchild

Ian Holm in Wetherby

Daniel Day-Lewis in My Beautiful Laundrette

Roddy McDowall in Fright Night

John Lone in Year of the Dragon

Alternate Best Actor 1997: Results

5. Al Pacino in Donnie Brasco - Pacino gives a moving portrayal of a mobster whose past his prime but has a little bit to offer to an up and comer criminal who unfortunately happens to be an uncover F.B.I agent.

Best Scene: Lefty asks Donnie about the boat.

4. Ian Holm in The Sweet Hereafter - Holm gives a interesting two sided performance one the false performance of a lawyer pushing for a cause for monetary reasons, the other being a heartfelt portrayal of a father who feels like he has lost his own daughter.

Best Scene: Mitchell recounts saving his daughter's life.

3. Guy Pearce in L.A. Confidential - Guy Pearce gives a fantastic portrayal that slowly dissects the cop who seems absolutely driven to only do good while following the letter of the law.

Best Scene: Ed interrogates the suspected killers.

2. Russell Crowe in L.A. Confidential - Crowe also gives a fantastic performance that slowly dissects the cop who seems absolutely driven to do good, but by any means necessary.

Best Scene: Bud reveals his vulnerabilities to Lynn.

1. Philip Baker Hall in Hard Eight - Good Prediction Psifonian. Hall gives such a magnetic and fascinating portrait of his incredibly unique character. Well this was not an easy decision to make between the top three. I love Pearce, Crowe and Hall's performances all equally. It was hard enough just to rank Pearce and Crowe. I could just as easily change their placement. They completely excel in their roles and get the absolute most out of them. I can at least somewhat justify it, I guess, in that I do think Hall technically has weaker material to begin with, but manages to give just as strong of a performance.

Best Scene: Sydney's final phone call with John.

Overall Rank:

1. Russell Crowe & Guy Pearce in L.A. Confidential (TIE)
   
2. Robert Duvall in The Apostle
3. Philip Baker Hall in Hard Eight
4. Tony Leung in Happy Together
5. Ray Winstone in Nil By Mouth
   
6. Ian Holm in The Sweet Hereafter
7. Al Pacino in Donnie Brasco
8. Samuel L. Jackson in Jackie Brown 
   
9. Peter Fonda in Ulee's Gold
10. Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights
11. Stellan Skarsgård in Insomnia 
12. Brendan Gleeson in I Went Down
    
13. Robert Carlyle in Face
    
14. Michael Douglas in The Game 
15. Daniel Day-Lewis in The Boxer 
16. Mark Addy in The Full Monty
    
17. Robert Carlyle in The Full Monty 
18. John Cusack in Grosse Pointe Blank
    
19. Takeshi Kitano in Hana-bi 
20. Sam Lee in Made in Hong Kong
    
21. Billy Connolly in Mrs. Brown
22. Johnny Depp in Donnie Brasco 
23. Laurence Fishburne in Event Horizon
24. Bill Pullman in Lost Highway 
    
25. Sylvester Stallone in Copland 
26. Aaron Eckhart in In the Company of Men
27. Amir Farrokh in Children of Heaven
    
28. Kōji Hashimoto in Cure
    
29. Matt Malloy in In the Company of Men 
30. Charlie Creed-Miles in Nil By Mouth
    
31. Peter McDonald in I Went Down
32. Vladimir Mashkov in The Thief
33. Ulrich Mühe in Funny Games
    
34. Mike Myers in Austin Powers 
35. Ralph Fiennes in Oscar and Lucinda
    
36. Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory
37. Linus Roache in The Wings of the Dove
38. Leslie Cheung in Happy Together 
39. Arno Frisch in Funny Games
    
40. Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element 
41. Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic 
42. Djimon Hounsou in Amistad 
43. Kevin Kline in In & Out
    
44. Sam Neill in Event Horizon
45. Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black
46. Will Smith in Men in Black
    
47. Nicolas Cage in Face Off 
48. Jonathan Pryce in Regeneration
    
49. Stephen Fry in Wilde
    
50. Jeremy Irons in Lolita 
51. Christopher Guest in Waiting For Guffman
    
52. Anthony Hopkins in The Edge
53. Jared Leto in Prefontaine
    
54. Pedro Cardoso in Four Days in September
    
55. Dmitri Chigaryov in The Thief
56. Kurt Russell in Breakdown
    
57. Homayoung Ershadi in Taste of Cherry
58. Ving Rhames in Rosewood
    
59. James Wilby in Regeneration
60. Jon Voight in Rosewood
    
61. Jack Nicholson in Blood and Wine
    
62. Jan Decleir in Character
    
63. Jack Nicholson in As Good As it Gets
64. Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog
65. Harrison Ford in Air Force One
66. Robert De Niro in Wag the Dog 
67. Balthazar Getty in Lost Highway
68. Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong in Kundun 
69. Jeff Goldblum in The Lost World: Jurassic Park 
70. Harrison Ford in The Devil's Own
    
71. Jackie Chan in Mr. Nice Guy
72. Brendan Fraser in George of the Jungle
73. Keanu Reeves in The Devil's Advocate 
74. Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting
    
75. Pierce Brosnan in Tomorrow Never Dies
76. Jim Carrey in Liar Liar
77. Ben Affleck in Chasing Amy
    
78. Nathan Lane in Mouse Hunt
79. Matt Damon in The Rainmaker 
80. Alec Baldwin in The Edge
81. Chris Tucker in Money Talks
82. John Travolta in Face Off
83. John Cusack in Con Air
    
84. Brad Pitt in The Devil's Own
85. Tate Donovan in Hercules
    
86. Nick Nolte in Afterglow
87. Woody Allen in Deconstructing Harry
    
88. Michael Jai White in Spawn
89. Robeto Benigni in Life is Beautiful
90. Chris Farley in Beverly Hills Ninja
91. Charlie Sheen in Money Talks
92. Pierce Brosnan in Dante's Peak 
93. Johnny Lee Miller in Afterglow
    
94. Tommy Lee Jones in Volcano
95. Nicolas Cage in Con Air 
96. Robin Williams in Flubber
97. Jason Connery in Macbeth  
98. Sean Penn in She's So Lovely
    
99. Chevy Chase in Vegas Vacation
100. Tim Allen in Jungle 2 Jungle
101. George Clooney in Batman and Robin
102. Robin Shou in Mortal Kombat Annihilation
103. Keenan Thompson in Good Burger
104. Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers 
105. Lee Evans in Mousehunt
106. Sam Huntington in Jungle 2 Jungle
107. Kel Mitchell in Good Burger
108. Alex D. Linz in Home Alone 3
109. Shaquille O'Neal in Steel

Next Year: 1997 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 1997: Ian Holm in The Sweet Hereafter

Ian Holm did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite receiving some critical citations, for portraying Mitchell Stevens in The Sweet Hereafter.

The Sweet Hereafter is an atmospheric and intriguing film about the way the lives of the people in a small town are changed after a tragic school bus accident. 

Ian Holm plays the opportunist lawyer who tries to get the town residents to utilize the tragedy to get money from the bus company that made the school bus. Holm plays Mitchell Stevens is technically a bit of an outsider, and if it were not for the flash forward scenes Holm would really just be a supporting character as the film focuses heavily on the reactions of the other people in the town as well. Holm almost plays two characters in the film as it cross cuts with Stevens while he is trying to get the people to hire him, and later as we meet him on far more personal terms. In the scenes that are set in the past Holm, who did so particularly well in Alien, is once again great at portraying a type of acting within in character. In the case of Mitchell Stevens he's not portraying an android pretending to be a man, but he still is playing a man who is pretending.

Almost all of the scenes set in the past show Mitchell as he attempts to sway the families of the victim into letting him represent them, this task is easier with some more than others. One of the early families is more than happy not only to hire him, but also dispense various information about the other families that might hurt the case. Holm's pretty straight forward in these scenes just showing Mitchell as an intelligent enough lawyer going through the steps as he is building his case. Things are not so straight forward though when he confronts some of the people who would rather forget the accident rather bring it all very much to the light again while going through a long court battle. Holm is terrific in these scenes as he portrays Mitchell putting on an act, the act of a true crusader rather basically just an ambulance chaser trying to make a quick buck off of people's tragic loss.

Holm is brilliant as Mitchell tries to convince two of the parents that someone must be sued for the mechanical error. Holm delivers the speech with such a passion as Mitchell says that suing the bus company is almost a moral duty to supposedly prevent something like that from ever happening again. Holm is great because he is completely believable in bringing such an emotional power to what Mitchell is saying and you could easily see how the very emotionally vulnerable people of the town would be swayed by Mitchell's plead. Holm though is so great by showing the act within the emotional power though. There is a performance that Holm shows not in his own actual performance, but rather the performance that Mitchell is giving in his impassioned speech. It's an extremely tricky yet very effective dynamic that Holm manages to achieve.

Mitchell is far from a soulless individual  Although Mitchell's daughter is still alive it is almost as if Mitchell has lost her as she is a never recovering drug addict. During the film he receives a few calls from her and Holm shows the history between the two as he portrays Mitchell as almost responding monotonously to his daughter. Holm suggests as if she has called him in such a way so many times that he can barely bother to with an emotion. There was emotion once though as shown when Mitchell confides to an acquaintance about a time when his daughter almost died when she was young. Holm is absolutely heartbreaking as the love and loss in his voice when he speaks about the time he saved her life does not have a hint of falseness. The power of the scene is only amplified by the fake passion in the early scene and it is truly moving to see the "actor" from before only speaking the absolute truth. 

Holm's work is, I suppose, would be theoretically slightly limited by his screen time, and the fact that he's lead in what still feels like an ensemble film. That never seems like it diminishes his impact on the film as a whole as whenever Holm is given the chance in the material Holm utilizes it fully. Although I would not have minded if the film had given even more to do with the character since with what he is given he creates such an interesting complex character. It's a unique piece of work as he effortlessly and very believable realizes this lawyer as a both the lying lawyer but also a man who has some very real problems of his own. It is often the case that in a "director's film" the performances can be overshadowed by the vision, and that is sometimes the case, but Holm knows how leave his mark while never trying to make a spectacle out of himself. Holm's performance, is much like the film, rather unassuming in many ways yet carries such an palatable poignancy all the same.

Alternate Best Actor 1997

And the Nominees Were Not:

Russell Crowe in L.A. Confidential

Guy Pearce in L.A. Confidential

Ian Holm in The Sweet Hereafter

Philip Baker Hall in Hard Eight

Al Pacino in Donnie Brasco 

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1979: Results

5. James Remar in The Warriors- Remar is gives a compelling and complex portrayal of the most interesting member of the Warriors even if his performance is cut short.

Best Scene:  Ajax is caught.

4. Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now-Brando earns the build up to his character and gives a fascinating depiction of a man lost in his delusions of grandeur.

Best Scene: "An errand boy"

3. Michael Palin in Life of Brian- Palin creates several hilarious characters particularly a not particularly commanding Pontius Pilate, and a particularly pleasant Centurion.

Best Scene: The guard sends men on their way to the cross.

2. Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now- Hopper, despite not even giving a name, creates a fascinating depiction, worthy of his own film, of a burn out who has discovered an odd sort of faith.

Best Scene: Photojournalist greets Willard.

1. Ian Holm in Alien- Holm gives an excellent performance, which is amplified all the more by the terrific ensemble around him, of a rather unique deception and a particularly chilling depiction of a unique sort of evil.

Best Scene: Ash's final message.

Overall Ranking:

1. Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now
2. Ian Holm in Alien
3. Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now
4. Yaphet Kotto in Alien 
5. Michael Palin in Life of Brian
6. Oliver Reed in The Brood
7. Art Carney in Going in Style
8. Lee Strasberg in Going in Style
9. Frederic Forrest in Apocalypse Now
10. Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now
11. David Warner in Time After Time
12. Albert Hall in Apocalypse Now
13. John Hurt in Alien 
14. Tom Skerritt in Alien
15. Herb Rice in Apocalypse Now
16. Harry Dean Stanton in Alien
17. James Remar in The Warriors
18. Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer
19. G.D. Spradlin in Apocalypse Now
20. Frederic Forrest in The Rose
21. Rentarō Mikuni in Vengeance is Mine
22. Utpal Dutta in The Elephant God
23. Laurence Fishburne in Apocalypse Now
24. Vladimir Samoilov in Siberiade
25. Vitaly Solomin in Siberiade
26. Nikita Mikhalkov in Siberiade
27. Sergey Shakurov in Siberiade
28. John Cleese in Life of Brian
29. Eric Idle in Life of Brian
30. Bernard Blier in Série Noire
31. Klaus Löwitsch in The Marriage of Maria Braun
32. Denholm Elliott in Saint Jack
33. Mick Ford in Scum
34. Larry Hankin in Escape From Alcatraz
35. Sam Neill in My Brilliant Career
36. Burgess Meredith in Rocky II 
37. Julian Firth in Scum
38. Paul Dooley in Breaking Away
39. Carl Weathers in Rocky II
40. Wilford Brimley in The China Syndrome
41. Michael O'Keefe in The Great Santini
42. Santosh Dutta in The Elephant God
43. Charles Grodin in Real Life
44. Richard Attenborough in The Human Factor
45. Harrison Ford in Apocalypse Now
46. Jackie Earle Haley in Breaking Away
47. Jackie Mason in The Jerk
48. Laurence Olivier in A Little Romance
49. Richard Dysart in Being There 
50. John Friedrich in The Wanderers
51. Harry Dean Stanton in Wise Blood
52. Siddhartha Chatterjee in The Elephant God
53. John Forsythe in And Justice For All
54. Andreas Katsulas in Série noire
55. Robert Morley in The Human Factor
56. Patrick McGoohan in Escape From Alcatraz 
57. Peter O'Toole in Zulu Dawn
58. Kenneth McMillan in Chilly Scenes of Winter
59. Christopher Lloyd in The Onion Field
60. David Patrick Kelly in The Warriors
61. M. Emmet Walsh in The Jerk
62. Haradhan Bandopadhyay in The Elephant God
63. Donald Sutherland in Murder By Decree
64. Ted Danson in The Onion Field
65. Ned Beatty in Wise Blood
66. Paul Benjamin in Escape From Alcatraz
67. Michael Douglas in The China Syndrome
68. Dan Shor in Wise Blood
69. Mickey Rooney in The Black Stallion
70. Deforest Kelly in Star Trek The Motion Picture
71. Sam Bottoms in Apocalypse Now
72. Mario Adorf in The Tin Drum
73. Ray Winstone in Quadrophenia
74. Michael Murphy in Manhattan
75. Laurence Olivier in Dracula
76. Roger Hill in The Warriors
77. Joe Spinell in Rocky II
78. Dennis Quaid in Breaking Away
79. Hoyt Axton in The Black Stallion
80. Dorsey Wright in Hair
81. Matt Dillon in Over the Edge
82. Roland Topor in Nosferatu The Vampyre
83. G.D. Spradlin in North Dallas Forty
84. John Gielgud in The Human Factor
85. Ned Beatty in Promises in the Dark
86. Peter Bogdanovich in Saint Jack
87. Jack Warden in And Justice For All
88. Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek the Motion Picture
89. Daniel Stern in Breaking Away
90. Warren Oates in 1941
91. Toshiro Mifune in 1941
92. Treat Williams in 1941
93. Robert Stack in 1941
94. Bobbi Di Cocci in 1941
95. Christopher Lee in 1941
96. Murray Hamilton in 1941
97. Dan Aykroyd in 1941
98. Peter Riegert in Chilly Scenes of Winter
99. Daniel Olbrychski in The Tin Drum
100. Walter Ladengast in Nosferatu The Vampyre 
101. Leigh Lawson in Tess
102. Melvyn Douglas in Being There
     
103. Peter Boyle in Hardcore
104. Alan Bates in The Rose
105. Erland van Lidth in The Wanderers
106. Donald Pleasence in Dracula 
107. Bob Hoskins in Zulu Dawn
108. Jose Ferrer in Natural Enemies
109. Charles Durning in Starting Over
110. Peter Firth in Tess
111. Michael Lonsdale in Moonraker
112. Willie Nelson in The Electric Horseman
113. Brian Dennehy in 10
114. William Andrews in The Wanderers
115. Ed Begley Jr. in The In-Laws
116. Burt Lancaster in Zulu Dawn
117. John Gielgud in Caligula
118. John Saxon in The Electric Horseman
119. Steve Bisley in Mad Max
120. Burt Young in Rocky II
121. Robert Webber in 10
122. Melvyn Douglas in The Seduction of Joe Tynan
123. Jack Warden in Being There
124. Marcelino Sanchez in The Warriors
125. Terry Jones in Life of Brian
     
126. John Belushi in 1941
127. David Hemmings in Murder By Decree
128. Trevor Eve in Dracula
129. Richard Libertini in The In-Laws
130. Tim Matheson in 1941
131. Rod Steiger in The Amityville Horror
132. Richard Keel in Moonraker
133. Sam J. Jones in 10
134. Jeffrey Tambor in And Justice For All

Next Year: 1942 lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1979: Ian Holm in Alien

Ian Holm did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Ash in Alien.

Alien is a masterful horror film about a crew of spaceship who answer a distress call that leads to contact with a deadly life form.

One of the great elements of Alien is found in its ensemble. Although I have focused on Holm for the review everyone is worthy of mention. The crew of the spaceship called the Nostromo are not just dead meat, despite their high mortality rate, nor are they the standard character usually found in Science fiction. This reflected in almost everyone's performance who play their parts in a particularly down to earth fashion, as they reflect the fact that this crew is not a group of space adventurers rather they are simply a group of people doing a routine job for money. Along with that there is considerable amount of camaraderie the actors create with each other suggesting that the group have been working together for awhile. Their performances just intertwine incredibly well, and it only ever feels like a genuine group of people you meet not just some standard sci-fi or horror archetypes as they easily could have been.

John Hurt, who actually was nominated for a Bafta, gives a very strong performance as one of Kane a crew member who is particularly tired, and finds everything is just rather routine. He very nicely though shows the right excitement in Kane when searching through the odd ship they discover from the distress call. Hurt deserves particular praise for the film's most famous scene of the chestburster. The scene may not have been as effective if it were not for Hurt's portrayal who gives one of the most searing portrayals of pain on screen, and makes you believe that this horrible thing is happening to Kane. Tom Skerritt is also quite good in portraying the ship captain's Dallas. Skerritt brings the right likability and relaxed quality to be the captain of such a ship, but he also brings the right sort of command to the part. He is a comforting factor in the film, seeming perhaps the hero, making all the more effective with his early departure.

Harry Dean Stanton is a particularly interesting choice to be in a sci-fi film, and he offers some nice comic relief early on. He's quite enjoyable in being just about a janitor for the ship. Stanton brings a different kind of exasperation one where he seems to genuinely not care about anything other than the fact that he's getting less money than the rest of the crew. Along with Stanton on the janitorial crew is Yaphet Kotto as Parker who also is upset about the lack of money, although Kotto makes it in a somewhat more amiable half joking sorta fashion. He and Stanton are great together and I love the way the two have kinda a connection between each other but a certain distance throughout the rest due to their more "lowly" jobs on the ship. Kotto gets to do a little more than Stanton, since he lasts longer, and very effectively and believably shifts Parker into passionate man who wants to stop the monster and save the crew.

The ladies are no slouches either. Sirgourney Weaver is exceptional from the beginning as Ripley, although she would later achieve even higher heights with the character in the two sequels to this film, this is still a very assured performance that leads the later of the half incredibly well. Weaver might not give the best performance in this film, as is the case in Aliens and Alien 3, but her strong screen presence adds so much to the film. Veronica Cartwright has what could have been a technically thankless role as the weakest member of the crew Lambert. Cartwright is amazing in the role though because she creates such a real and intense fear. Cartwright does not show that Lambert is just afraid, no she makes Lambert someone almost petrified by her situation. Cartwright makes her absolutely gripped with fear, and it has to be said that Veronica Cartwright is perhaps the greatest cinematic screamer of all time.

What about old Ian Holm though, the man this review is technically all about? Holm is kinda the odd man out, and this is a great ensemble in the best sense since all the other performances amplify Holm's. As I said before you really believe the crew as they all have the right relaxed quality toward one another, well everyone except Holm. Holm has a certain cold streak to his performance, and never seems to share any real connection with other crew members. The crew also all are rather tired of their jobs again this makes Holm stand out. Holm has Ash always very up to task never giving the sense that the character is tired in the least. Holm portrays Ash with constant engagement rather different from the general half-hearted attitude given by the other crew members towards their tasks. Holm and the rest of the cast together create the perfect dynamic by showing that Ash is definitely not like the rest.

Holm is very interesting in the early scene of the film as there is an oddness he brings to his performance, that is all the more pronounced when compared to the particularly naturalistic performances given by the rest of the cast. Holm's performance is particularly astute as he throws in some strange mannerisms that Ash has some of the time. The mannerisms are not strange in the usual way, and Holm is brilliant in his odd choices here. Holm adds in some overly human things to do like for example when he blows out his breath when he is suppose to be bored. It is technically something a human does, but the way Holm does it seems like it is a man acting as you know a proper human should act. You can kinda see the performance, not Holm's, but Ash's. Holm never goes too far with this to give away the game completely, but he alludes to the fact that there is something not quite right about Ash in such a clever subtle fashion.

The deal with Ash is kept a secret by the film and Holm when Kane finds himself incapacitated with an Alien facehugger. On one hand Holm portrays Ash very passionate about letting Kane back on the ship for treatment, and even fervently performs Ash's argument with Ripley since he overrode quarantine protocols which claims was for the sake of Ash. Holm carefully conflicts these claims with his portrayal of Ash's attitude toward Kane while the creature does whatever it is doing to him. Holm plays it rather interestingly as he shows Ash to be very intrigued, and quite gentle in these scenes. The thing Holm never portrays this as Ash having sympathy toward Kane, but rather his tender movements seem toward the creature. Holm again is excellent because he plays his hand in just the right fashion to not give away the truth about Ash, but still completely setting up the intent of the character.

One of my favorite scenes for Holm is the dinner after Kane has seemingly recovered. Again everyone else amplifies Holm's work as they are all just talking casually seeming ready to enjoy Earth again soon enough and happy to see their friend healthy again. Holm though is brilliant as he shows that Ash is absolutely knows something is going to happen, and happen very soon. Holm makes Ash completely knowing as he simply just watches Kane the entire time with a bit of reserved excitement ready to see what is going to happen next. When the alien does rear its ugly head its not fear or disgust that Holm expresses like the rest of the crew, but instead he shows a cruel fascination at the turn of events. Holm is so good though because again he still does not quite seem to give up the game, and it is believable that the others would take so long to suspect him because Holm does keep Ash's oddities so subtle.

Eventually Ash is caught by Ripley mainly because he seems to be bleeding but the problem is his blood is white not red. Holm is amazing though as he instantly switches to becoming incredibly imposing in an instant as Ash decides that Ripley knows to much. Despite Holm's stature, he still brings a strong menace as there is just such a sudden fierce determination to bring death that Holm portrays in Ash, while Ash seems to have far more strength than a normal human being. Well that's because Ash is in fact an android which becomes even more apparent as he is attacked by the other remaining crew members and begins to malfunction. This could lead to some rather bad overacting, but Holm actually completely sells the scene as Ash begins to convulse wildly before his head is knocked off. Holm honestly comes across as machine losing its proper functionality and its just a wonderfully acted scene by Holm.

Holm, despite only being a head, actually gets one more scene as the crew revives him temporarily to find out what he knows about the Xenomorph. Holm, again only acting with his head, is marvelous in the scene. Holm, while still being the android by showing the malfunctions, delivers Ash's final speech perfectly. He brings such dread to Ash's message while making it more fiendish by showing that Ash is so satisfied that they will soon die. Holm is absolutely bone chilling with his final smile he gives after he tells the crew that even though they are doomed they do have his sympathy. This is a fantastic performance by Ian Holm because he never gives away the secret of his performance, but when it is revealed it makes absolute sense due to the hints from his performance. A lesser actor may have given up the game instantly, or just made it a cheap twist, but Holm executes the character of Ash so perfectly creating a truly memorable villain that works so wonderfully with the rest of the cast.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1979

And the Nominees Were Not:

Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now

Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now

Ian Holm in Alien

Michael Palin in Life of Brian

James Remar in The Warriors

Best Supporting Actor 1981: Results

5. James Coco in Only When I Laugh- James Coco gives an good enough comedic performance, and his moments of drama always handled well enough.

4. Howard Rollins in Ragtime- Rollins gives a great performance that conveys the slow degradation of a man trying to maintain respect and decency. 

3. Ian Holm in Chariots of Fire- Holm gives a great performance as a very particular athletics coach realizing the humanity, the humor and intelligence of the man extremely well.

2. John Gielgud in Arthur- Gielgud gives an impressive comedic performance as well as when needed a heartfelt performance. Gielgud takes every opportunity of his character an makes the most of it.

1. Jack Nicholson in Reds- Out of this great year Nicholson tops it. Nicholson gives an amazing supporting performance that rises far above his film. Nicholson despite his short screentime creates a fully realized portrait of Eugene O'Neil as a man.