Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1994: Results

5. Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction- Willis utilizes his usual on screen persona effectively in a role that suits it.

Best Scene: Butch saves Marcellus.

4. Bob Gunton in The Shawshank Redemption- Gunton gives a terrific performance portraying the evil Warden viciously yet never comprising the "proper" manner of his character.

Best Scene: Warden Norton threatens Andy in the hole.  

3. Gary Oldman in Leon: The Professional- Oldman is one flamboyant fireball here delivering a delicious performance as a corrupt DEA agent with almost no scruples.

Best Scene: Stansfield murders Mathilda's family. 

2. Raul Julia in Street Fighter- I give Julia the edge over Oldman as Julia seemed to give his performance all on his own accord since his film otherwise is pretty bad. Julia though is insanely entertaining in his brilliantly over the top turn as General M. Bison.

Best Scene: (This was a hard choice to make) The Bisonopolis Speech.

1. James Whitmore in The Shawshank Redemption- James Whitmore gives a very powerful and heartbreaking performance as a man whose been so institutionalized by prison that he fears the outside world.

Best Scene: Brooks's Letter

Overall Rank:

1. Martin Landau in Ed Wood
2. James Whitmore in The Shawshank Redemption
3. Jean-Louis Trintignant in Three Colours: Red
   
4. Raul Julia in Street Fighter
5. Gary Oldman in Leon: The Professional
6. Jean-Hugues Anglade in La Reine Margot 
   
7. Delroy Lindo in Crooklyn
   
8. Bob Gunton in The Shawshank Redemption
9. Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction
10. Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction
11. Clancy Brown in The Shawshank Redemption 
12. Jeremy Irons in The Lion King 
13. Ian Holm in The Madness of King George
14. Richard Attenborough in Miracle on 34th Street 
15. Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump
16. Paul Scofield in Quiz Show
    
17. Giancarlo Esposito in Fresh 
18. Stephen Rea in Interview with the Vampire
19. Bokeem Woodbine in Jason's Lyric
    
20. Michael Wincott in The Crow
    
21. Maximilian Schell in Little Odessa
22. Daniel Auteuil in La Reine Margot
    
23. William Sadler in The Shawshank Redemption 
    
24. Dennis Hopper in Speed 
25. David Paymer in Quiz Show
26. Ving Rhames in Pulp Fiction 
27. Bill Hunter in Muriel's Wedding
    
28. Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway
29. Willem Dafoe in Clear and Present Danger
30. Jim Broadbent in Bullets Over Broadway 
31. J.T. Walsh in The Last Seduction
    
32. Bill Hunter in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
33. James Garner in Maverick  
34. Randy Quaid in The Paper
    
35. Tim Roth in Pulp Fiction
36. Bill Murray in Ed Wood
37. Samuel L. Jackson in Fresh 
38. Eric Stoltz in Pulp Fiction 
39. Robert Duvall in The Paper
    
40. Jeffrey Jones in Ed Wood
41. Martin Scorsese in Quiz Show
42. John C. Reilly in The River Wild
43. Clive Merrison in Heavenly Creatures
44. Aidan Quinn in Legends of the Fall 
45. Dennis Quaid in Wyatt Earp
    
46. Kevin Spacey in Iron Will
47. Paul Newman in The Hudsucker Proxy
48. Joseph Mazzello in The River Wild 
49. Gabriel Byrne in Little Women
    
50. George Steele in Ed Wood
51. James Earl Jones in The Lion King
52. Danny Aiello in Leon: The Professional 
    
53. Mark Rolston in The Shawshank Redemption 
54. Christian Bale in Little Women
    
55. Bill Pullman in The Last Seduction
    
56. Jack Palance in City Slickers II
57. Jeff Daniels in Speed 
58. Rade Šerbedžija in Before the Rain
    
59. Antonio Banderas in Interview with The Vampire
    
60. Jeffrey DeMunn in The Shawshank Redemption 
61. Don McKellar in Exotica 
62. Pascal Greggory in La Reine Margot
    
63. Charles Durning in The Hudsucker Proxy 
64. Campbell Scott in Mrs. Parker and The Vicious Circle
    
65. James Coburn in Maverick 
66. Walter Olkewicz in The Client
67. Jean-Pierre Lorit in Three Colours: Red
    
68. Rupert Graves in The Madness of King George
69. Peter Greene in Pulp Fiction
70. Mike Starr in Dumb and Dumber 
71. Taungaroa Emile in Once Were Warriors
    
72. Ben Silverstone in The Browning Version
    
73. Joe Viterelli in Bullets Over Broadway 
74. Cliff Curtis in Once Were Warriors
    
75. Christian Slater in Interview with the Vampire 
76. Gene Hackman in Wyatt Earp
    
77. Robert Englund in Wes Craven's New Nightmare
78. Peter Riegert in The Mask
79. Frank Whaley in Pulp Fiction 
80. Julian Arahanga in Once Were Warriors
    
81. Gill Bellows in The Shawshank Redemption
82. Mike Starr in Ed Wood
    
83. Bill Cobbs in The Hudsucker Proxy
84. Duane Whitaker in Pulp Fiction 
85. Powers Boothe in Blue Sky
    
86. Malcolm McDowell in Star Trek Generations
87. Judge Reinhold in The Santa Clause
88. Peter Green in The Mask
89. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Nobody's Fool
90. Jeroen Krabbé in Immortal Beloved
91. Christopher McDonald in Quiz Show 
92. Max Casella in Ed Wood
93. Roshan Seth in Street Fighter
94. Alfred Molina in Maverick 
95. David Krumholtz in The Santa Clause 
96. Brent Spiner in Star Trek Generations
97. Bruce Willis in Nobody's Fool
98. Bill Paxton in True Lies 
99. Anthony Hopkins in Legends of the Fall
    
100. Tommy Lee Jones in The Client
     
101. Tom Hulce in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
     
102. Joaquim de Almeida in Clear and Present Danger
103. Tom Arnold in True Lies
104. Henry Thomas in Legends of the Fall
     
105. Wes Studi in Street Fighter
106. Jason Mewes in Clerks
107. Kevin Smith in Clerks 
108. Forest Whitaker in Jason's Lyric
     
109. Michael Madsen in Wyatt Earp
     
110. Art Malik in True Lies
111. Mykelti Williamson in Forrest Gump 
112. John Mahoney in The Hudsucker Proxy
113. Michael Ironside in The Next Karate Kid
114. Tone Loc in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
115. Pat Morita in The Next Karate Kid
116. Charles Rocket in Dumb and Dumber
117. Hank Azaria in Quiz Show   
118. Donald Moffat in Clear and Present Danger
119. Jim True-Frost in The Hudsucker Proxy
120. Matthew Modine in The Browning Version
     
121. Jeremy Davies in Nell 
     
122. Dylan Walsh in Nobody's Fool
123. Jaye Davidson in Stargate 
124. Anthony LaPaglia in The Client
     
125. Eric Lloyd in The Santa Clause
126. The Rest of the Cast of Street Fighter
127. Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction
128. Michael Cavalieri in The Next Karate Kid

Next Year: 1943 lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1994: James Whitmore in The Shawshank Redemption

James Whitmore did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Brooks Hatlen in The Shawshank Redemption.

After having two large delicious servings of ham it is time for a serious change of style as I look at the performance of James Whitmore in The Shawshank Redemption. Whitmore plays an elderly inmate who has clearly been in the jail for a long long time, and runs the prison library. We see his Brooks in the prison where he seems perfectly at home actually. In Whitmore's performance there is no sense of pain or fear rather he seems entirely comfortable in his confined surroundings. Not only does he seem comfortable Whitmore suggests that Brooks all together like being there which enables Brooks to be just a likable old man who seems to barely even think about his incarceration.

Brooks just seems to be one of the characters in the prison, a particularly endearing one, that is until Brooks suddenly has an emotional fit in which he puts a knife up to another man's throat. Whitmore doesn't suggest that Brooks has suddenly become psychotic, but rather this is an intense emotional breakdown from this man as something seriously gone wrong. This of course is understandable as the prison certainly has many things to make a man troubled over, but what causes Brooks to be so upset is that his parole actually has come up. It might seem strange for a man to have such a reaction to being released from jail, but Whitmore is absolutely convincing in portraying the anguish of Brooks.

After Brooks is released Whitmore becomes basically the star of his own short film within the film about Brooks's attempt to try to become part of society again outside of the jail. The scene is done mostly in Whitmore's narration over his physical portrayal of Brooks as he tries to deal with a world that isn't surrounded by concrete. Whitemore is excellent as Brooks just leaves the prison and he suggests just a glimmer of hope in an uneasy smile which conveys more of an attempt at happiness rather than the actual happiness that one would expect from a man finally being release from confinement after having been in there for so many years.

As Brooks attempts to reenter society Whitmore is absolutely heartbreaking in his portrayal of this failure. What perhaps is so haunting about his performance is how well he internalizes Brooks's sadness as he tries to go day by day, but finds nothing worthwhile in his performance. He is incredibly moving in the way he suggests to pain in Brooks in such a subtle yet very affecting. Whitemore never tries to pile on the emotions, he lets them flow gently in and effectively so. He allows us to feel every moment of Brooks's gloomy life as he suffers at his job, is lost in the modern world, and is left entirely alone without another soul to help him with his fears.

This has to be one of the most haunting depictions of a man's suicide in a fictional film. The reason being that Brooks's short time outside of jail isn't that of these big emotional moments that force him into depression then suicide. No it feels all the more tragic as Whitmore portrays his journey as just a man reaching for something yet only finding the void until the point that the only way he can end his suffering is to end his life. The brief moments of trying to be happy, like when he wishes he could see his old bird, honestly bring the tragedy of the man as Whitmore does leave that possibility that if Brooks had something out in the real world he could have lived out his days in contentment.

There is no rush in Brooks to end his life, there is nothing loud in his end, this is the end of a man who has lost what was the only thing that he had in his life which was the prison routine. Whitmore's performance is essential for the film as he stands as the worst example of what can happen to a man who has fallen so deeply into the system set by the prison that he forgets and loses any idea of what there is to the outside world which is the central theme of the film and that which Andy Dufresne tries to fight against throughout the film. Whitmore's personal "short film" alone is one of the most powerful scenes in this very powerful film, and just is a beautiful piece of acting by the character actor. His portrayal of Brooks though serves the whole of the film perfectly always leaving that memory of what could be the fate of any of the incarcerated men who slowly grow to find comfort in the confined and controlled world of the prison.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1994

And The Nominees Were Not:

Raul Julia in Street Fighter

Gary Oldman in Leon: The Professional

James Whitmore in The Shawshank Redemption

Bob Gunton in The Shawshank Redemption

Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction

Best Actor 1975: Results

5. James Whitmore in Give 'Em Hell Harry!- This simple truth about this performance is it should not have been nominated. This is not a performance for film, it was performed for an audience in the theater not for the the person watching the film. This abundantly clear throughout the film in his theatrical performance, that is completely unrelenting, and is rather awkward to watch.

4. Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys- Matthau performance is not all that funny to me in most of his scenes. In most scenes I found him rather annoying, but he makes up for it somewhat due to every scene with George Burns, because their scenes are wonderful.

3. Maximilian Schell in A Man in the Glass Booth- Schell whole performance really is nuts, but a gloriously nuts. He is incredibly entertaining in his insanity, as well as does his very best to manage the concept of his character.

2. Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon-  Pacino simply makes so many risks with this performance from his manic ways, to his voice he uses, to the extreme emotional range found in Sonny, and the thing is they all pay off completely, this is truly a great performance.

1. Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Nicholson excels in every single moment of his performance here. It is a perfect role for Nicholson, and Nicholson knows it. He gives an entertaining magnetic performance, that could not be a better lead for his film.

Deserving Performances:
Michael Caine in The Man Who Would be King
Sean Connery in The Man Who Would be King

Best Actor 1975: James Whitmore in Give 'Em Hell Harry!

James Whitmore received his second and last Oscar nomination for portraying U.S. President Harry Truman in Give 'Em Hell Harry.

Give 'Em Hell Harry really is not a film, its completely a one man show play on stage, with an audience, which happened to be filmed, there is one edit where it shows Whitmore's back and face at the same time, that is the only one short moment, rather poorly done actually, but the only moment that this is anything more than just someone filming the play.

Whitmore's nomination therefore is an especially strange nomination. Whitmore is the only best actor nomination that is not really for a film, but more of happened to be filmed, even Othello with Olivier was adjusted somewhat for film. This is a completely and only one man show about Truman, which includes Truman even talking to other people, that the audience must completely imagine themselves. Whitmore's performance therefore is constant, and is in every moment of this film. It is a rapid fire performance, where basically never stops talking. His portrayal Truman actually really feels far too rushed all the time, he is always coming at you, never ever calming down going from each topic to the next in his over an hour monologue.

Whitmore never relaxes in this performance, which makes sense for the play. He is the only part of the show, and he has to keep attention, and keep everyone interested. I imagine this performance could work in a live theater but as a film the performance really comes off as too much. It is not that Whitmore is bad, but he is most certainly theatrical which makes sense. He is always shouting his lines, and makes his facial expressions in the performance quite obvious to allow the audience to know how he is currently feeling. This again may have worked if you were actually in the theater with Whitmore but watching him on film it feels like a bit much.

Whitmore's performance is a bit repetitive. A constant passionate speech about various problems Truman must deal with, with a minor humorous touch in his delivery to punctuate certain aspects of the story to get a laugh out of the audience. I liked for about the first ten minutes, but it just keeps coming in the same fashion and the same way. There are a few minor instances of something else that this type of delivery, two I would say. One were he reenacts his speech to the Klu Klux Klan which is powerful, and well handled. Also his scene at the end where he gives a heartfelt speech, which again is well done, and not the same of the rest of the performance.

This is not a film performance, that is the key, it is a performance on the stage directed at the audience in the theater, not at the film audience. Due to the fact it is a stage performance, this has some individualistic moments for an Oscar nominee, it is probably one of the few that has to correct a few lines quickly, and probably the only one that seems to almost hold back laughter a few times during his performance. This is a performance that possibly worked on stage, in fact Whitmore shows promise here, and with a performance attuned to film rather than theater he perhaps could have given a great performance. As it is though this performance has its moments, but overall the nature of the performance just never works for a film.

Best Actor 1975

And the Nominees Were:

Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon

James Whitmore in Give 'Em Hell, Harry!

Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Maximilian Schell in The Man in the Glass Booth

Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys 

Best Supporting Actor 1949: Results

5. John Ireland in All the King's Men- I will admit the character of Jack Burden's is not a great one, but Ireland stilted and uncharismatic performance does not help matters at all.

4. Dean Jagger in Twelve O'clock High- Jagger's character actually should have been the heart of his film, but Jagger is unable to really bring an authentic emotion, or life to his character.

3. Arthur Kennedy in Champion- Kennedy does not get a lot of time to develop his character but he does manage to find himself as a moral conscience and later contrast to Kirk Douglas' character quite well.

2. James Whitmore in Battleground- Whitmore's performance is realistic and always proper as the commanding sergeant of the men in Battleground, but the most impressive part of his performance is his expertly handled physical disintegration throughout the film. 

1. Ralph Richardson in The Heiress- I do not blame anyone for not being interested in this year, since again this is another supporting year with a clear cut winner. Richardson performance is simply superb piece of acting. He is outstanding in creating a memorable, and incredibly effective character. He manages his character quiet and more obvious cruelty exceptionally well. Richardson also manages to make a fully realized and three dimensional character.

Deserving Performances:
Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets
Edmond O'Brien in White Heat

Best Supporting Actor 1949: James Whitmore in Battleground

James Whitmore received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Sgt. Kinnie in Battleground.

Battleground tells of a group of low level infantry men who seem to be fighting almost aimlessly during the battle of the bulge. Battleground stands as one of the first World War II films to show the soldiers especially unenthusiastic about their position in the war.

James Whitmore's Sgt. Kinnie is the commanding of officer of these group of soldiers. Kinnie relays orders on occasion and fights with the men in the battle. He never joins in with the men in their direct comradeship though because he still is a superior officer even though a low level one. He is seen only briefly from time to time in the film. He at first calls out order and commands his troops, in proper military fashion.

He has the right command, and manages to be noticeable despite the shortness of his performance at times. Every reaction though Whitmore has is completely spot on, he is always completely realistic as Sgt. Kinnie which is exactly what he needs to be. Whitmore makes Kinnie, charming in his own way, but also aware of his duty, and performing. Whitmore shows Kinnie to be a real man, in a very real dangerous situation.

Now the most impressive part of Whitmore's performance is actual the physical aspect of his performance. Kinnie begins in the film with a pure proper military walk and manner, but slowly through the long time in the cold Kinnie slowly begins to physically degrade. Kinnie's degradation is slow, but incredibly realistically handled by Whitmore. Kinnie truly begins to weaken, and Whitmore shows Kinnie hide his pain, but still makes it abundantly clear, especially when he walks at the end of the film. Whitmore shows he has completely lost his military straight up step, and now a very weakened painful stumble, which he tries his best to still meet the demands of his uniform and position. Whitmore genuinely showed a weakened from simply being in the cold for too long. His performance overall a realistic and effective one. A short performance that is not amazing by any means, but Whitmore utilizes every moment it has. 

Best Supporitng Actor 1949

And the Nominees Were:

Arthur Kennedy in Champion

James Whitmore in Battleground

Dean Jagger in Twelve O'clock High

John Ireland in All the King's Men

Ralph Richardson in The Heiress

I was originally not going to this year now, but since I just watched three of the nominees for Best Actor, I might as well do this now.