Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1997: Results

5. Billy Zane in Titanic - A hilarious portrayal of absurdity unfortunately Zane was trying to be serious.

Best Scene: Pretty much every scene.

4. Jude Law in Gattaca - Law gives a powerful portrayal of a man embittered through his own life but finds inspiration in the life of another.

Best Scene: Jerome sends Vincent on his way.

3. James Cromwell in L.A. Confidential- Cromwell gives a particularly effective subversion of the warm mentor.

Best Scene: Sid Hudgens's interrogation.

2. Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential - Spacey gives a wonderfully entertaining portrayal of a pompous detective more interests in celebrity than crime, but also a very poignant portrayal of man realizing he's lost his way.

Best Scene: Jack Vincennes reflects on his life in a bar.

1. Robert Blake in Lost Highway - Good Prediction Psifonian. Well this came down to Spacey who had almost a leading role to Blake's relatively small role. Although I did love Spacey's work the supporting performance that I feel made the strongest impact from 1997 is Blake's portrayal of a walking nightmare which is one of the most viscerally effective performances of all time.

Best Scene: Fred meets the Mystery Man at a party.

Overall Rank:

1. Robert Forster in Jackie Brown 
   
2. Robert Blake in Lost Highway
3. Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential
4. Masato Hagiwara in Cure 
5. Don Cheadle in Boogie Nights 
6. James Cromwell in L.A. Confidential
7. Bruce Greenwood in The Sweet Hereafter
8. Alfred Molina in Boogie Nights
9. Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights 
10. J.T. Walsh in Breakdown
    
11. Jude Law in Gattaca
    
12. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Hard Eight 
13. John C. Reilly in Boogie Nights 
14. Dan Aykroyd in Grosse Pointe Blank
    
15. Danny DeVito in L.A. Confidential 
16. Ray Liotta in Cop Land
    
17. James Rebhorn in The Game   
18. Phil Davis in Face
    
19. Samuel L. Jackson in Hard Eight
20. Pete Postlethwaite in The Lost World Jurassic Park 
21. Tom Wilkinson in The Full Monty 
22. Chang Chen in Happy Together
23. John C. Reilly in Hard Eight
24. Anthony Hopkins in Amistad
25. Thomas Jane in Boogie Nights 
26. Greg Kinnear in As Good As It Gets
    
27. Mark Benton in Career Girls 
28. Fred Willard in Waiting For Guffman
    
29. Eugene Levy in Waiting For Guffman
    
30. Gary Oldman in The Fifth Element 
31. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Boogie Nights 
32. Ray Winstone in Face
    
33. James Woods in Hercules 
34. Reza Naji in Children of Heaven
    
35. Danny DeVito in The Rainmaker 
    
36. Robert Loggia in Lost Highway 
37. Robert De Niro in Jackie Brown 
38. Jason Lee in Chasing Amy
    
39. Kevin Kline in The Ice Storm 
    
40. Alan Arkin in Four Days in September
    
41. Cary Elwes in Liar Liar 
42. Jon Voight in The Rainmaker 
    
43. John Malkovich in Con Air  
44. Robert Wagner in Austin Powers 
45. Bernard Hill in Titanic
46. Gary Oldman in Air Force One
47. Harvey Keitel in Cop Land
48. Tom Selleck in In & Out
    
49. Vincent D'Onofrio in Men in Black
50. Tobey Maguire in The Ice Storm 
51. Frank Giering in Funny Games 
52. Tony Doyle in I Went Down
53. Peter Caffrey in I Went Down
54. Ian Holm in The Fifth Element
55. David Strathairn in L.A. Confidential
56. Elijah Wood in The Ice Storm
57. Michael Madsen in Donnie Brasco
58. Al Pacino in The Devil's Advocate 
59. Samuel L. Jackson in Eve's Bayou
    
60. Tony Shalhoub in Gattaca 
61. Sverre Anker Ousdal in Insomnia
62. Jamey Sheridan in The Ice Storm
63. Rip Torn in Men in Black
64. Michael Keaton in Jackie Brown
65. Brion James in The Fifth Element 
66. Roger Guenveur Smith in Eve's Bayou
    
67. Brian Cox in The Boxer 
68. R. Lee Ermey in Prefontaine
    
69. Bruno Kirby in Donnie Brasco
70. Adam Hann-Byrd in The Ice Storm
71. Walton Goggins in The Apostle
72. Ron Rifkin in L.A. Confidential
73. Rupert Everett in  My Best Friend's Wedding
    
74. Dwight Ewell in Chasing Amy 
75. Bob Balaban in Waiting For Guffman
    
76. Matthew McConuaghey in Contact 
77. Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting  
78. Ken Stott in The Boxer 
    
79. John Leguizamo in Spawn
80. Michael Ironside in Starship Troopers
81. Alan Arkin in Grosse Pointe Blank
    
82. Billy Bob Thornton in The Apostle 
83. Nicol Williamson in Spawn
84. Richard Norton in Mr. Nice Guy
85. Gary Busey in Lost Highway 
86. Frank Langella in Lolita
    
87. Richard Attenborough in The Lost World Jurassic Park
88. Patrick Stewart in Conspiracy Theory
89. Martin Sheen in Spawn 
90. Michael Rooker in Rosewood
    
91. Jonathan Pryce in Tomorrow Never Dies 
92. Michael York in Austin Powers
93. Steve Buscemi in Con Air
94. Dean Stockwell in The Rainmaker 
95. Christopher Walken in Mousehunt
96. Alan Arkin in Gattaca 
97. Curtis Vondie-Hall in Eve's Bayou
    
98. Victor Garber in Titanic
99. Bruce McGill in Rosewood
    
100. Seth Green in Austin Powers
101. Jason Isaacs in Event Horizon 
102. Will Ferrell in Austin Powers 
103. Mickey Rourke in The Rainmaker 
104. Ving Rhames in Con Air
105. William H. Macy in Wag the Dog 
106. M.C. Gainey in Breakdown
     
107. Robert Patrick in Cop Land
108. Antony Sher in Mrs. Brown
109. Michael Gough in Batman and Robin
110. Danny Glover in The Rainmaker
111. Stellan Skargard in Good Will Hunting
112. Clancy Brown in Starship Troopers
113. Giustino Durano in Life is Beautiful
114. Abe Vigoda in Good Burger
115. Paul Giamatti in Donnie Brasco 
116. Ciaran Hinds in Oscar and Lucinda
     
117. Chris Tucker in The Fifth Element 
118. Danny DeVito in Hercules
     
119. Tenzin Lodoe in Kundun
120. Morgan Freeman in Amistad
121. David Warner in Titanic 
122. Rip Torn in Hercules
     
123. Ruben Blades in The Devil's Own
     
124. Woody Harrelson in Wag the Dog 
125. Jeremy Piven in Grosse Pointe Blank
     
126. Joe Don Baker in Tomorrow Never Dies
127. Gerard Butler in Mrs. Brown
128. Tom Wilkinson in Wilde
     
129. Martin Short in Jungle 2 Jungle
130. Kenneth Bryans in Macbeth 
131. Ernest Borgnine in Gattaca 
132. Michael Gambon in The Wings of the Dove
133. David Cross in Men in Black
134. Denis Leary in Wag the Dog
135. Thomas Haden Church in George of the Jungle
136. Dean Stockwell in Air Force One
137. William Snape in The Fully Monty
138. Robert De Niro in Cop Land
139. Matthew McConaughey in Amistad
140. D.B.Sweeney in Spawn 
141. Don Cheadle in Volcano
142. William Hickey in Mousehunt 
143. Sean Penn in The Game
144. Tom McCamus in The Sweet Hereafter
145. Neil Patrick Harris in Starship Troopers
146. Giorgio Cantarini in Life is Beautiful
147. Loren Dean in Gattaca 
148. Michael Caine in Blood and Win
     
149. Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting 
150. Richard Roundtree in Steel 
151. Jude Law in Wilde
     
152. Vince Vaughn in The Lost World Jurassic Park
153. Cuba Gooding Jr. in As Good As It Gets
154. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Batman and Robin
155. Jake Busey in Starship Troopers
156. Randy Quaid in Vegas Vacation
157. Tom Wood in Ulee's Gold
158. Robin Shou in Beverly Hills Ninja
159. Richard Schiff in The Lost World Jurassic Park 
160. Michael Sheen in Wilde
     
161. Colm Meaney in Con Air
162. Nick Cassavettes in Face Off 
163. Gyurme Tethong in Kundun
164. Charles Hallahan in Dante's Peak
165. Graham McTavish in Macbeth
166. Chris Rock in Beverly Hills Ninja
167. Bill Paxton in Titanic
168. Dermot Mulroney in My Best Friend's Wedding
     
169. David Ogden Stiers in Jungle 2 Jungle
170. Judd Nelson in Steel 
171. Aleksander Krupa in Home Alone 3
172. Patrick Muldoon in Starship Troopers 
173. Dan Schneider in Good Burger
174. Lenny Von Dohlein in Home Alone 3
175. Nathaniel Parker in Beverly Hills Ninja
176. Arliss Howard in The Lost World Jurassic Park
177. James Remar in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
178. John Corbett in Volcano
179. Jan Schweiterman in Good Burger
180. David Thornton in Home Alone 3
181. Greg Crutwell in George of the Jungle
182. Gotz Otto in Tomorrow Never Dies
183. Justin Cooper in Liar Liar 
184. Litefoot in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
185. Alessandro Nivola in Face Off
186. Chris O'Donnell in Batman and Robin
187. Danny Nucci in Titanic
188. Brian Thompson in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
189. Billy Zane in Titanic

Next Year: 1933 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1997: James Cromwell in L.A. Confidential

James Cromwell did not receive an Oscar nomination Captain Dudley Smith in L.A. Confidential.

James Cromwell is probably best known for his portrayal of the kind farmer Hoggett in Babe, and certainly was best known for that role when he was cast in L.A. Confidential. This was likely was well in mind when he was cast in this role as the Captain who is the superior of the two homicide detectives Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) and Bud White (Russell Crowe) that we follow through the film. Cromwell in Babe ended up being a great portrait of the gentle warmth of rugged man. This again seems like it is going to be the case as we first meet him and see his interactions with both Bud and Ed. Cromwell to top it all off plays the role with his Cork Irish accent. Cromwell does this all again and it all seems to be done to make us absolutely trust Dudley Smith. Cromwell certainly succeeds as you can see why Ed and Bud would believe what he says, because we the audience believe him as well.

This is not to say that Cromwell's portrayal is overly simplistic, as just like Pearce and Crowe, Cromwell slowly peels away the role you thought he was fulfilling from the beginning. Cromwell does disarm you for most of the film with his considerable old guy type of charm, even though we slowly see that Dudley is not exactly on the level from start. Cromwell brings a certain edge to the character form the very beginning, and the film itself brings as one of the first things he does is grill Ed on his ability to break the law to uphold the law. Cromwell plays incredibly well because the way he delivers the lines is that of good mentor just testing the man as one should. Of course throughout the main investigation Cromwell plays Dudley as very calm and considerate to both officers, and reserved in that he seems to be ready for any result. Cromwell does it well because it could just be taken as a man who's seen enough to know what to expect, or maybe old Dudley just isn't really the man he appears to be.

Well that's where the major spoiler for the film comes into play which is that Cromwell actually is the chief villain in the film. Dudley is actually behind pretty much everything that has being going in the film in his attempt to take over organized crime in the city by using any means necessary. Cromwell reveals that all of his personal style is no that of a father figure but merely that of a power hungry master manipulator. The whole impact of the revelation is made extremely palatable because of Cromwell's performance. On one hand it is is a twist that holds up to scrutiny as you simply see Cromwell's earlier performance only makes more sense in this new light, and another its a very effective twist because how good of a villain Cromwell makes Captain Dudley. It is very disconcerting to see Cromwell play such a cold man in the last third of the film, instead of warmth in his eyes there is only a killer's calculation there. Cromwell is especially chilling in one moment where he reveals to one of his accomplishes that he's expendable with the simple statement of "Hush Hush".

The casting here was certainly quite clever as it has the effect that I'm pretty sure was well intended by the filmmakers. They do not deserve all the credit though as Cromwell wholly delivers in the role as well, and turns Dudley into quite the memorable character. Like Pearce and Crowe slowly reveal a depth behind the straight forward by the books cop and the rough thuggish cop respectively, Cromwell reveals the truth behind the mentor. In Cromwell's case it has the opposite effect, where Pearce and Crowe allowed a greater sympathy and understanding for their characters, in Cromwell case, he subverts the whole idea of the comforting experienced mentor type character that was expected. It's a brilliantly devious and devilish turn, that brings a strong menace to the film the moment that it is needed. Cromwell's performance might not be the best performance in the film, but its a very good performance that is yet another fantastic facet of this terrific film.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1997

And the Nominees Were Not:

James Cromwell in L.A. Confidential

Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential

Robert Blake in Lost Highway

Jude Law in Gattaca

Billy Zane in Titanic 

Best Supporting Actor 1995: Results

5. Ed Harris in Apollo 13- Ed Harris gives a very standard performance that never turns into anything special.

4. Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys- Pitt's performance is somewhat interesting in his first few scenes even if over the top in his craziness, but as he continues to appear his performance just become repetitive.

3. Tim Roth in Rob Roy- Tim Roth gives an appropriately flashy villainous performance with a certain slimy charm.

2. James Cromwell in Babe- James Cromwell gives a wonderful performance that is genuinely moving and heart warming. It is a unique performance that finds just the right tone, and creates the right presence throughout the film.

1. Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects- Good prediction Dinasztie. Kevin Spacey gives a great performance that perfectly conveys the right sort of mystery with his character without ever giving away too much or too little through the course of the film.

Best Supporting Actor 1995: James Cromwell in Babe

James Cromwell received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Farmer Arthur Hoggett in Babe.

Babe is an enjoyable film about a Pig who tries his best to find his place on the farm that isn't on the food menu.

James Cromwell portrays the stoic Farmer Hoggett who is a man of few words but clearly is the man in charge of his farm. Cromwell whole performance really is the sort of presence he  is able to convey with Hoggett since his performance really is nearly silent for the most part. The farmer Hoggett despite just being a simple farmer is harder to bring to life than one might think, as there could have been many pitfalls to his character but Cromwell never seems to make a single mistake with his performance that finds just the right tone throughout the film.

Farmer Hoggett frankly could have just been a dull character, after all commonly in stories of this nature the humans are the least interesting characters, but Cromwell never allows himself to be dull despite the fact that his role is so often one of few words. Cromwell has just the perfect sort of manner in his performance that suggests Famer Hoggett's long history of being a farmer, as well as being very much an old timey fellow in his own personal style. Cromwell absolutely nails this aspect of Hoggett and his performance almost feels like just an extension of the old farm itself in a way.

The most important aspect with Cromwell's performance though is actually his relationship with the Pig. In most of the early moments of the film Cromwell in very small but effective reactions suggests his slow movement to growing to become very found of the pig. Cromwell is really brilliant in just his tiniest of glances, and smiles at the mention or at the sight of the pig that are simply wonderful. He also slowly builds this change from almost indifference to fondness to really love which comes out fully in a scene where Hoggett completely loses his stoicism.

His scene where he completely breaks out into song is simply splendid. Cromwell reaches this point believably actually, and does not force this action of Hoggett instead it actually feels like a natural transition brought by Cromwell. It is a terrific moment where Cromwell brings such genuine joy to the song and dance that make the moment wonderful. The only moment I might like more in the performance than that though is his final "That'll do Pig". Cromwell gives such a warmth in his performance that is really something special.

James Cromwell simply gives a charming entertaining performance with Farmer Hoggett that does so much with what seems like a relatively simple role. Hoggett could have easily been boring, or overly sweet frankly. Cromwell's ability to make the character's change through the film, and relationship with his pig honestly heart warming without a single forced moment it actually quite an achievement. This is really a one of a kind performance by Cromwell, in a one of a kind film.

Best Supporting Actor 1995

And the Nominees Were:

Ed Harris in Apollo 13

James Cromwell in Babe

Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects

Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys

Tim Roth in Rob Roy