Best Actor: Jeff Bridges

Showing posts with label Jeff Bridges. Show all posts

Tuesday, 12 February 2019

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2018: Results

10. Russell Hornsby in The Hate U Give - Hornsby gives a very strong performance realizing the intense determination of his character based around both his past hardships and his genuine love for his family.

Best Scene: How to behave when pulled over.

9. Peter Bogdonavich in The Other Side of the Wind - Bogdonavich's performance, 40 years in its making, is a surprisingly nuanced portrayal of the vulnerable ego of a man who built his own legacy by imitating his mentor.

Best Scene: Trying to tell Hanneford the truth.

8. Brian Tyree Henry in If Beale Street Could Talk - Henry gives the highlight of his banner year in his moving portrayal of essentially memory both those of a loving friendship and a harrowing traumatic experience.

Best Scene: His scene.

7. Alessandro Nivola in Disobedience - Nivola disappears into his role as one of the pillars of a Jewish community and gives a particularly powerful portrayal of a man coming to terms with his beliefs and how they relate to his friendship and his marriage.

Best Scene: "Choose"

6. Linus Roache in Mandy - Roache gives an amazing turn capturing both the hilarity and the horror of a wannabe prophet with severe delusions and pathetic desperation.

Best Scene: Presenting himself.

5. Nicholas Hoult in The Favourite - Hoult once again is given a meaty role and once again makes the most of it in his masterful portrayal of a vicious wit and ambition.

Best Scene: Abigail's Offer.

4. Russell Crowe in Boy Erased - Crowe gives one of his best performances in his nuanced portrayal of a father failing then slowly learning to understand his homosexual son.

Best Scene: Ford Dealership.

3. Tom Waits in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - Waits delivers a wonderful one man show that creates such an empathetic journey in one man's search for gold.

Best Scene: "You Didn't Hit Nothin' Important"

2. Steven Yeun in Burning - Yeun gives a masterful portrayal of an egotistical detachment that creates a most unnerving sort of possible evil.

Best Scene: Burning Greenhouses.

1. Jeff Bridges in Bad Times At the El Royale - Good prediction Michael McCarthy, and AnonymousBridges takes the top spot overall for me as he delivers one of his best performances. This is giving a thoroughly engaging turn in giving so much life to every facet of his character from the various levels of the facade he puts on, the camaraderie he finds, and most of all his absolutely heartbreaking depiction of a man with dementia.

Best Scene: Describing his memory loss.

Overall Ranking:

Jeff Bridges in Bad Times At the El Royale

Steven Yeun in Burning
Tom Waits in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Richard E. Grant in Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Lewis Pullman in Bad Times At the El Royale
Russell Crowe in Boy Erased
Tim Blake Nelson in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Nicholas Hoult in The Favourite
Linus Roache in Mandy
Lily Franky in Shoplifters
Bill Heck in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - 4.5
Alessandro Nivola in Disobedience
Jonathan Pryce in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
Harry Melling in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Jonjo O'Neill in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Grainger Hines in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Brian Tyree Henry in If Beale Street Could Talk
Peter Bogdonavich in The Other Side of the Wind
Daniel Kaluuya in Widows
Chris Hemsworth in Avengers: Infinity War
Robert Forster in What They Had
Anton Yelchin in Thoroughbreds
Russell Hornsby in The Hate You Give
Josh Brolin in Avenges: Infinity War
Michael B. Jordan in Black Panther
Jesse Plemons in Game Night - 4
Mark Rylance in Ready Player One
Riz Ahmed in The Sisters Brothers
Kairi Jō in Shoplifters
Sam Elliott in A Star is Born
Dolph Lundgren in Creed II
Florian Munteanu in Creed II
Josh Brolin in Deadpool 2
Josh Hamilton in Eighth Grade
James Smith in The Favourite
Brian Tyree Henry in Widows
Gabriel Byrne in Hereditary
Liev Schreiber in Isle of Dogs
Sylvester Stallone in Creed II
Tom Waits in The Old Man and the Gun
Sean Harris in Mission Impossible: Fallout
Armie Hammer in Sorry to Bother You
Wyatt Russell in Overlord
Cameron Mitchell in The Other Side of the Wind
Richard Brake in Mandy
Topher Grace in Blackkklansman
Dave Bautista in Hotel Artemis
Ron Livingston in Tully
Ben Whishaw in Mary Poppins Returns
Robert Downey Jr. in Avengers: Infinity War
Adam Driver in Blackkklansman
Jake Johnson in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
Christian Slater in The Wife
Matthew McConaughey in White Boy Rick
Ed Helms in Chappaquiddick
Benedict Cumberbatch in Avengers: Infinity War
Harry Belafonte in Blackkklansman
Paul Bettany in Avengers: Infinity War
Joel Edgerton in Boy Erased - 3.5
Sebastian Stan in Destroyer
Jake Gyllenhaal in Wild Life
Tom Holland in Avengers: Infinity War
Kyle Chandler in Game Night
Joe Alwyn in The Favourite
Sterling K. Brown in Black Panther
Mads Mikkelsen in At Eternity's Gate
Bruno Ganz in The House That Jack Built
Jon Hamm in Bad Times At the El Royale
Steve Buscemi in Nancy
Edoardo Pesce in Dogman
Masaharu Fukuyama in Mirai
Michael Shannon in What They Had
Bradley Cooper in Avengers: Infinity War
Bruce Dern in Chappaquiddick
F. Murray Abraham in Isle of Dogs
Lin Manuel Miranda in Mary Poppins Returns
Henry Cavill in Mission Impossible: Fallout
Julian Dennison in Deadpool 2
Brendan Gleeson in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Norman Foster in The Other Side of the Wind
Edward Norton in Isle of Dogs
Jeff Goldblum in Isle of Dogs
Bill Murray in Isle of Dogs
Bob Balaban in Isle of Dogs
Chelcie Ross in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor in Avengers: Infinity War
Andrew Dice Clay in A Star is Born
Jude Law in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Cedric the Entertainer in First Reformed
Anthony Welsh in Journeyman
Jason Clarke in First Man
Brian Tyree Henry in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
Ben Mendelsohn in Ready Player One
Bill Camp in Wild Life
Jasper Paakkonen in Blackkklansman
Paul Stewart in The Other Side of the Wind
Stephen Root in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Colin Farrell in Widows
Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins Returns
Corey Hawkins in Blackkklansman
Stephen Dillane in The Outlaw King
Nicolas Cage in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
James Franco in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Steven Yeun in Sorry to Bother You
Simon Pegg in Mission Impossible: Fallout
Rob Delaney in Deadpool 2
Gregory Sierra in The Other Side of the Wind
Ned Dennehy in Mandy
Saul Rubinek in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Noah Jupe in A Quiet Place
Paul Sparks in Thoroughbreds
Joe Alwyn in Boy Erased
Willie Watson in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Mark Ruffalo in Avenges: Infinity War
Rupert Friend in At Eternity's Gate
T.J. Miller in Deadpool 2
Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Outlaw King
Colman Domingo in If Beale Street Could Talk
Flea in Boy Erased
Michael Beach in If Beale Street Could Talk
Trevante Rhodes in Bird Box
Michael Douglas in Ant-Man and the Wasp
J.K. Simmons in The Front Runner
Jeff Goldblum in Hotel Artemis
Bill Duke in Mandy - 3
Rory Cochrane in White Boy Rick
Jeffrey Donovan in Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Tom Hiddleston in Avengers: Infinity War
Ving Rhames in Mission Impossible: Fallout
Tamuera Morrison in Aquaman
Blake Jenner in American Animals
John Leguizamo in Nancy
Chris Evans in Avengers: Infinity War
Roland Møller in Papillon
Corey Stoll in First Man
Winston Duke in Black Panther
Benedict Wong in Avengers: Infinity War
Dave Chappelle in A Star is Born
Liev Schreiber in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
Kevin J. O'Connor in Widows
Tom Hollander in A Private War
Dave Bautista in Avengers: Infinity War
Ted Danson in Hearts Beat Loud
Steve Buscemi in Lean on Pete
Alfred Molina in The Front Runner
Edmond O'Brien in The Other Side of the Wind
Lamorne Morris in Game Night
Udo Kier in American Animals
John Magaro in Overlord
Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
John Mulaney in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
Steve Zahn in Lean on Pete
Tom Hollander in Bird Box
Ryan Eggold in Blackkklansman
Pedro Pascal in If Beale Street Could Talk
Mahershala Ali Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
Allan Corduner in Disobedience
Lukas Haas in Widows
Danny Glover in Sorry to Bother You
Pilou Asbaek in Overlord
Brad Bird in Incredibles 2
Liam Neeson in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Travis Fimmel in Lean on Pete
Sebastian Koch in Never Look Away
Chris Hemsworth in Bad Times At the El Royale
Tom Hollander in Bohemian Rhapsody
Alec Baldwin in Mission Impossible: Fallout
Harvey Keitel in Isle of Dogs
Paul Walter Hauser in Blackkklansman
Liam Neeson in Widows
Sebastian Stan in Avengers: Infinity War
Jamie Dornan in A Private War
David Krumholtz in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Mark Gatiss in The Favourite
Woody Harrelson in Solo
John Malkovich in Bird Box
Wood Harris in Creed II
Yorick van Wageningen in Papillon
Clancy Brown in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Algee Smith in The Hate U Give
Chadwick Boseman in Avengers: Infinity War
Russell Hornsby in Creed II
Jon Øigarden in 22 July
Bruce Dern in White Boy Rick
Xavier Dolan in Boy Erased
Garrett Dillahunt in Widows
Alec Baldwin in Blackkklansman
Brian Tyree Henry in White Boy Rick
Billy Howle in Outlaw King
Joseph Mazzello in Bohemian Rhapsody
Stellan Skarsgard in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
Sam Rockwell in Vice
David Kross in Sorry to Bother You
Kyle Chandler in First Man
James LeGros in Support the Girls
Danny Glover in The Old Man and the Gun
Gwilym Lee in Bohemian Rhapsody
Terry Crews in Sorry to Bother You
Forrest Whittaker in Black Panther
Billy Magnussen in Game Night
Walton Goggins in Ant-Man and the Wasp
Tyler Perry in Vice
Courtney B. Vance in Ben is Back
Patton Oswalt in Sorry to Bother You
Wayne Knight in Blindspotting
Colin Firth in Mary Poppins Returns
Mandy Patinkin in Life Itself
Laurence Fishburne in Ant-Man and the Wasp
Jonah Hill in Don't Worry He Won't Get Far On Foot
Bob Odenkirk in Incredibles 2
Ben Kingsley in Operation Finale
Don Cheadle in Avengers: Infinity War
Donald Glover in Solo
Clancy Brown in Chappaquiddick
Jack Lowden in Mary Queen of Scots
John Cena in Bumblebee
Stacy Keach in Gotti
Benedict Wong in Annihilation - 2.5
Robert Duvall in Widows
Willem Dafoe in Aquaman
Will Patton in Halloween
Jude Law in Vox Lux
Joe Alwyn in Mary Queen of Scots
Nick Kroll in Operation Finale
Timothy Hutton in Beautiful Boy
Gen Hoshino in Mirai
Anthony Mackie in Avengers: Infinity War
Jake Gyllenhaal in The Sisters Brothers
Henry Golding in A Simple Favor
Dan Fogler in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Yahya Abdul-Manteen II in Aquaman
Jim Gaffigan in Chappaquiddick
Jack Black in Don't Worry He Won't Get Far On Foot
Stanley Tucci in A Private War
Xavier Dolan in Bad Times At The El Royale
Ben Falcone in Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Bob Random in The Other Side of the Wind
Daniel Kaluuya in Black Panther
Ezra Miller in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Mark Duplass in Tully
Jared Abrahamson in American Animals
Common in The Hate U Give
John Ortiz in Bumblebee
Ben Hardy in Bohemian Rhapsody
Paul Bettany in Solo
Dimitar Marinov in Green Book
Andy Serkis in Black Panther
Chris Pratt in Avengers: Infinity War
Patrick Wilson in Aquaman
Oscar Issac in At Eternity's Gate
Martin Freeman in Black Panther
Rufus Jones in Stan & Ollie
Dolph Lundgren in Aquaman
Dave Franco in If Beale Street Could Talk
Anthony Mackie in The Hate You Give
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Mamoudou Athie in The Front Runner
Aidan Gillen in Bohemian Rhapsody
K.J. Apa in The Hate U Give
Antonio Banderas in Life Itself
Jorge Lendeborg Jr. in Bumblebee
Danny Huston in Stan & Ollie - 2
James Cromwell in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Joe Alwyn in Operation Finale
Riz Ahmed in Venom
Steve Carell in Vice
Ted Levine in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Guy Pearce in Mary Queen of Scots
Jimmy O. Yang in Crazy Rich Asians
David Gyasi in Annihilation
Toby Jones in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Michael Pena in Ant-Man and the Wasp
Justin Theroux in Mute
Ken Jeong in Crazy Rich Asians - 1.5
Jefferson Hall in Halloween
Alex Monner in Life Itself
Allen Leech in Bohemian Rhapsody
Haluk Bilginer in Halloween
Benedict Hardie in Upgrade
Rafi Gavron in A Star is Born
Harrison Gilbertson in Upgrade
David Tennant in Mary Queen of Scots
Charlie Day in Hotel Artemis
Max Irons in The Wife
Oscar Isaac in Life Itself
Harry Lloyd in The Wife
Oscar Isaac in Annihilation
Shea Whigham in Vice - 1
Spencer LoFranco in Gotti
Jesse Plemons in Vice
Mike Myers in Bohemian Rhapsody
Justice Smith in Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom
Toby Kebbell in Destroyer
Rafe Spall in Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom

Next: 2018 Lead

Sunday, 10 February 2019

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2018: Jeff Bridges and Lewis Pullman in Bad Times At the El Royale

Jeff Bridges did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Father Daniel Flynn or is it Daniel "Dock" O'Kelly nor did Lewis Pullman for portraying Miles Miller in Bad Times At The El Royale.

Bad Times At The El Royale is a very entertaining film about a group of strangers at a rundown glamor hotel in the 1960's. Thankfully for all it isn't in reality set in the mind of man child serial killer with multiple personalities(I wish I was making up that plot point for a different film with a similar setup).

Full fledged acting veteran now, Jeff Bridges plays one of these strangers who is one of the first we are introduced to. We meet him alongside Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), whose only secret is that she's an underappreciated singer. Bridges initially appearing effectively giving us two sides of his character upon the outset. The first as he is introduced to sweet to which there is a harder look in his eyes, and a more reserved demeanor. Upon her introducing herself and recognizing his "priesthood" Bridges takes upon a much brighter disposition fitting to a priest. Bridges brings an unassuming jovial quality once this happens bringing a believable enough bright smile to his face, and eager demeanor to deflect any real interest in what he's doing beyond being a priest. Of course this is just a primer in a sense of Bridges's brilliant approach to the part from the outset that plants the seeds of the true nature of his character, well properly putting on the show of the man most would probably be convinced by. Although one can easily overlook such things initially just to be yourself taken away by very charismatic turn from Bridges, which is always a delightful thing. Bridges properly regulates though as bringing his typically endearing presence though wrapping it within the context supposedly of a priest just there to travel while living to spread the word of God.

Lewis Pullman, the son of Bill Pullman which is quite evident in his shared demeanor and voice of his old man, on the other hand is not one of the arriving strangers, but the single employee of the hotel. This is as he appears from the dark den of the maintenance closet. Pullman essentially plays the part that would be taken on by Elisha Cook Jr. in the 40's or perhaps Steve Buscemi in the 90's, that as the seemingly rather pathetic concierge who is a personification of the lost of its glory days. This is right within Pullman's performance which evokes those sort of turns, though without imitation, quite effectively in his portrayal of Miles. From the outset Pullman just exudes desperation right from his initial reaction as though even meeting the new guests is some painful exercise in holding it just long enough to do his job of presenting the hotel. The hotel presentation being a horribly purposefully poor presentation on Pullman's part, showing just the strain through every put upon smile, and just the weakness of his delivery as he attempts, and fails horribly to put a little zest in his delivery. It is perhaps the weakest of all the facades within the film as it is obvious that Miles is terrible at his job, but it goes even deeper than that. This in this 1000 yard stare that Pullman brilliantly portrays as his resting expression when not forcing himself some sort of front, immediately suggesting some terrible past before we learn a single thing about the man.

The film then becomes a clashing of secrets of many different sorts. Bridges's for one being the right texture to his work as a man with a secret, worse than some, better than others, and in turn expresses that in his work of portraying just the right sense of it even in the waiting scene. He brings in just small little glances nearly the face of another man with some weight and anxiety as he spins a coin to determine his room. Now quickly the secrets force the revelations of one another, one of the first being that each room is fitted with recording equipment including one way mirrors. This revealing one secret of Bridges's "father" looking for something beneath the floor boards with some desperation, meanwhile no one way mirror is needed to see Pullman's Miller in a state of unconsciousness as he writhes in heroine use. Soon afterwards though we see Bridges putting on the kindly act again as he invites Darlene for a meal within hotel. As now there is a bit of a task at hand, Bridges finds just the right approach in leaning as this jovial priest sort. It's a reasonably believable approach however Bridges's delivery is occasionally just a little too outgoing. This is not in a way that would alarm most, but just enough that it would alarm someone who is a little more seasoned with dealing with BS artists as Darlene is.

There is a brief moment though between Darlene and the priest where the facade completely disappears, though not to that harder look, but rather something else as the priest attempts to explain that he seems to be losing his mind and frequently loses time. Bridges is downright amazing in this moment as he captures instantly this very real unease in the man as even the explanation seems to aspire this palatable fear.. There is such a moving vulnerability in this moment that Bridges express so powerfully suggesting that even if so much else of the man may not be true, what he is speaking in this moment is unquestionably so. It is frankly one of the best acted moments of the career as there is only the most honest poignancy in his performance as he manages in the moment to show the pathos of a man facing death but wrapped with the disjointed confusion brought upon the specific disease that has befallen him. This heart to heart is cut short when the priest reveals himself to be anything but when he tries to drug Darlene, and Darlene reveals herself to be more than capable by slamming a bottle of champagne in his face. This briefly makes the switches in this review a tad easier as Miles is the one to help the priest from his injury.

Upon awakening we see again the gruffer man in Bridge's physical work that emphasizes how the real man here would react in an unknown situation. This with an internalized intensity with again this hard eyes and pointed delivery that evokes even a menace as he interrogates Miles on where he is. When he is reminded Bridges is fantastic in the moment of suddenly refashioning the facade, though almost as this halfway thing, which is enough given Miles's state. Miles's state being that he must confess his sins to a priest with perhaps as much of a need as Kichijiro's in Silence. Pullman is also great in this moment as he goes from the mild concierge to expelling this desperate need in his quietly earnest delivery of asking the father to hear his sins. Pullman is terrific in this moment by showing again that stare in his eyes as though he is looking upon those sins as he asks the priest, showing this preoccupation of thought making it believable that he in no way would pick up on the cracks Bridges reveals in the "father's" facade. Pullman expression so well internalizes this need that is just on the cusp of becoming unbearable for him, before this is silence by further inquiries about the hotel by the "priest". This being a careful scene where Bridges shows some subtle manipulations as he allows for the priestly misconception to manipulate the young man, while showing that harder of eye of a man trying to find a way to his prize.

Unfortunately for poor Miles this is disrupted when he gets, through the peeping Tom mirrors, some accidental buck shot via another guest Emily (Dakota Johnson) due to her attempt to protect her sister Rose (Cailee Spaeny), from an interfering FBI agent and the cult Emily's trying to steal her sister from. While Miles faces that though we return to the father who we in fact learn is a career bank robber named Dock O'Kelly who is trying to find an old stash of cash that was left by his brother, who was killed by a treacherous third man in their old heist crew. Bridges again is so on point in terms of giving us this other side again to his character. As even in the brief scene of the heist he accentuates the professional man during the event in his direct delivery of the frustration towards the eventual treacherous man hurting people during the robbery. We then see him in brief series of flashbacks in his time in jail for the robbery where again Bridges is quite harrowing in showing the man lost in his mind. Bridges doesn't simplify these moments but makes them truly remarkable by portraying them so genuinely. He delivers them with the right blunt distress as the Dock finds himself lost in his thoughts within jail, and is so very moving in his subtle reaction as he is told of his diagnosis of dementia. In Bridges's hands this is not just a simple plot point to enforce substance, but brings such reality to it that makes such a notable impact due to power of his performance.

Things go less well for Miles as Emily considers his fate for witnessing her murder someone, to which his defense is he's seen all sorts of terrible things at the hotel. Pullman is amazing in this scene as he outlines the horror of his job for the past few years. Pullman grants such vividness to every detail through his reactions that evoke such misery and is especially haunting as his delivery suggests how these tales weigh upon his soul. Pullman though is also so good in just granting a necessary desperation in his plea as he so effectively portrays Miles stating his reasons for being let live in addition to them being intertwined as part of the sins that trouble him so deeply. One of the reasons though being that he knows so little about the women, which Rose purposefully screws up in her demented way by giving info on both of them. Pullman's reaction to this is incredibly moving as his face takes upon such a sad resignation of his fate, which likely be death. Dock on the other hand seeks negotiations of a different sort with Darlene as he comes clean to the point of offering her half of the money he believes he buried under her room. It is here we get more of Erivo and Bridges in their interactions, which built off their initial ones to create a wonderful chemistry between the two of them. Both actors just find the right gradual warmth in this sense of understanding, that isn't focused upon too long plot wise, yet the actors in their way of speaking and physically interacting, manage to convey a believable friendship of sorts that develops between the two of them.

All of these plot threads come to a head when the cult arrives led by Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) who brings everyone together to attempt to decide their fate. Bridges is excellent here as well in portraying the complete disregard for Lee in every unimpressed glance and disrespecting delivery towards him. He also within this has some wonderful moments Erivo in their momentary trades that again bring a real warmth even within the intense situation, as they earn the gradual connection the two slowly find during their mutual present existence. Pullman on the other hand is great by being a complete wreck the entire time as he shows the man nearly ready to scream out his heart, and then naturally does so when it appears he may be killed, through a game of life or death roulette put on by Billy. Pullman is fantastic in showing in the moment as a hysterical purge as he looks to Dock for benediction as he still believes him to be a priest. Bridges in turn is fantastic in his reactions that capture a certain embarrassment and unease that the man will not be able to find any real solace in him. The one point that Billy knocks Dock off is when he asks him his name. Bridges is down right astonishing in this moment as he is able to convey the way Dock is honestly trying to recall the name, and creates such a real sense of the anguish at being able to do so. He then is equally powerful in the tenderness he brings within his confusion as Bridges delivers the line so quietly as Dock as Darlene if he ever told him his real name. Bridges again never simplifies the state of Dock's disease, but rather so consistently reveals the tragedy of it.

Fed up nonetheless with Billy's games, Dock tries to physically overpower him leaving it up to Miles to save the day when he has a handgun in reach. Pullman again is great in revealing Miles's own anxieties as he looks upon the gun and that stare again shows up as he timidly admits to killing over a hundred people. Through flashback, and when Miles gains the courage in the present, Pullman is simply marvelous in portraying Miles the soldier. In the moment Pullman shows the man entirely in his element as he kills all the cultists with this strict precision which Pullman portrays with this eloquent form of a well oiled machine. Nonetheless the crazy Rose stabs Miles leaving him for dead, and one final chance to repent for his sins. Bridges and Pullman are both outstanding in this moment. This is with Pullman finally releasing his sins though now with a sense of comfort that he portrays as the young man losing that desperation in his stare, and with Bridges showing Dock put on his priest facade one more time. This time different though as Bridges shows the respectful earnestness within every word reflecting a man who truly does want to comfort this man in his time of need. The two are heartbreaking together as Pullman portrays this moment of loving release, against Bridges who is able to portray both the facade as pure thing now along within his eyes accentuating Dock understanding that performing this lie is the right thing to do and through his impassioned delivery of each word of forgiveness. Bridges, Pullman as well as Erivo, are each essential to the film as the heightened writing could've easily led to too much exaggeration. I love the work of all three though as each find a real humanity and weight within the scenario to deliver such remarkable portraits that go beyond mere archetypes. This is truly a magnificent break through performance by the young Pullman, and for Bridges it is one of the greatest achievements of his storied career.

Friday, 1 February 2019

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2018

And the Nominees Were Not:

Tom Waits in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Tim Blake Nelson in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Alessandro Nivola in Disobedience

Russell Hornsby in The Hate U Give

Nicholas Hoult in The Favourite

Peter Bogdanovich in The Other Side of the Wind

Predict those five or these five:

Jeff Bridges in Bad Times At the El Royale

Lewis Pullman in Bad Times At the El Royale

Linus Roache in Mandy

Steven Yeun in Burning

Brian Tyree Henry in If Beale Street Could Talk

Russell Crowe in Boy Erased

Or Both, and for Prediction purposes:

Waits from Scruggs

Bridges from Bad Times

Friday, 27 January 2017

Best Supporting Actor 2016: Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water

Jeff Bridges received his seventh Oscar nomination for portraying Marcus Hamilton in Hell or High Water.

Hell or High Water is a brilliant film about two brothers, Tanner (Ben Foster) and Toby (Chris Pine), who plan a series of bank robberies in order to pay off the debt on their deceased mother's ranch, and the two Texas Rangers trying to catch them.

Now I say and the Texas Rangers trying to catch them because the film in the end is as much about the lawmen as the outlaws. Yes the film opens with a robbery, but the majority of its final moments focuses on the investigator. Jeff Bridges plays the investigator, Marcus Hamilton, who along with his partner Alberto (Gil Birmingham) goes about investigating a series of robberies. This is obviously a well worn role, particularly with the addition that Marcus is but a few weeks until retirement. Hell or High Water is a neo-western but Bridges was previously Oscar nominated for playing a lawman in the traditional western, True Grit. That was not a favorite performance of mine, and Bridges actually carries something similar over to his work here. That is his grumbly west accent, though he reduces it considerably here making feel far more natural to the character, time and place. Although both characters are lawmen, Bridges's approach diverges greatly from that earlier performance, in his portrayal of Marcus.

Again with the whole setup being that this is going to be Marcus's last case this might seem similar to Tommy Lee Jones's work in No Country For Old Men, a film this one is often compared to, despite being very different in terms of theme and tone. The comparison of the two lawful characters is particularly mistaken as Jones's Sheriff Bell has become spent working the job where that's not the case for Marcus. Bridges from his first scene importantly adds this certain energy about the man when he hears about the case. I rather love the approach as he's not tired to hear of another crime, rather he's kind of excited about getting something to do. Bridges brings a real enthusiasm to the role suggesting that Marcus very much enjoys being a lawman. In the scenes where Marcus investigates what happened at the bank there is a real comfort that Bridges brings. He not only gives the sense of the wisdom that Marcus has garnered over the year, but also the sense of ease as he does his duty with. Bridges presents a man who is most home when he's tracking down law breakers.

The film is presented as dueling stories with two sets of duos. The brothers, and the two Texas Rangers. Although the story moves forward in both it also fleshes out the relationship of each pair. On the law side with have Bridges's Marcus and his "supportive" friend of Birmingham's Alberto. The two are great together because what they offer is years of an old friendship in the perfect chemistry they have together. Honestly these scenes might not have worked at all if you did not believe their relationship. After all Marcus spends much of the time riffing on Alberto in every way he can think of including make various racial jokes about his Mexican and Comanche heritage. Every word spoken between them and just every reaction feels just so genuine with both actors. The effortlessness of it is all key in that Bridges technically doesn't exactly sugarcoat the insults by any margin, but it is balanced so well by Birmingham's reactions of just a slight smile and a head shake. In turn Bridges matches that by portraying only a real joy in Marcus when Alberto manages a good comeback or insult himself.

There is rich history established by both actors and you just feel it in every moment they have together. Although there is never a "you know I love yah you big lug moment", the real love between the two is just an unsaid truth. Bridges and Birmingham in turn actually really make the more philosophical dialogue of the film also work. In that they both essentially find any tone works because of how real the friendship feels and just breaking off into any given discussion seems normal. They don't only make them come about in a honest way though but it helps to ensure some real gravitas to these conversations. Whether it is Marcus pondering on a group of cowboys actually alone in the world, or Alberto pondering on the way it seems one group just merely steals everything from another, they earn them. They never come off as too much because of the conviction in their delivery but also in the reaction of each man understanding the other. Although they can just as easily be more than a little humorous such as with Bridges's annoyed breakdown of a television preacher, against Birmingham's portrayal of Alberto's exasperated reaction to essentially being preached at himself. They are such an endearing pair.

The main story is never forgotten, and I love the way Bridges's work so effectively attaches why it seems personal to him. As Marcus talks about potential retirement opportunities with Alberto. Bridges is great as there is no future in his eyes as he speaks about how none of the ideas really are suitable to him. What's so good though is that Bridges does not depict this as depression for Marcus rather it's simply not something that will suit him. Bridges gives us Marcus as someone who just really was meant always to be a lawman. There is one particularly pivotal moments when Marcus jokes about getting killed in a gunfight in order to die in a what he describes as a blaze of glory. Again Bridges's delivery of this is key in that it is technically more than half joking, but Bridges also carefully doesn't deliver it as though this is some suicidal death wish. Bridges brings this pride in it, as he knows something like this won't happen, but that he knows what he's doing now is the only thing he can connect with. This is only reinforced when it seems they might have figured out the robbers' plan, as Bridges brings such an earnest thrill of a man doing not only what he's good at but also what he loves to do.

Eventually all of this leads to two showdowns, the first being with Tanner in a sniper's position, acting as a distraction for Toby to get away. Marcus and Alberto arrive on the scene where Alberto is shot and killed by Tanner. Bridges's reaction is absolutely devastating as you see the years of friendship in his face as he writhes in anguish looking down at his dead friend. I have to say what the two actors did makes this scene all the more potent, and knowing the end result only made it hit me all the harder upon second viewing. Marcus though is forced to react quickly in order to stop Tanner, getting into a duel of sorts by flanking him at another sniper's position. Bridges is downright amazing in the scene. In the moment he portrays the physical exhaustion of the climb to reach the position, the violent anger at the man who killed his friend as pulls the triggers, then even the thrill of his accomplishment after he successfully avenges Alberto, Bridges though in the moment of triumph so brilliantly then breaks this into such a terrible sadness as he shows that once again he is only left with the loss of his friend. Quite honestly in that moment Bridges does more to realize the hollowness of revenge through a performance, than some actors that have an entire film do. The film still has one more showdown, between the two lead characters of the film, as a now retired Marcus goes to confront Toby who he's sure was the mastermind behind the robberies. Bridges is outstanding in this scene. Although no blood is spilled, and the actual direction of the scene is fairly low key you could cut the tension with a knife. The actors provide it offering such intensity with Bridges so quietly realizing Marcus's disgust towards Toby's since his actions indirectly caused Alberto's death. I love the way Bridges handles the scene as he presents the "Sheriff" as he has this assurance in front of Toby exhibiting a confidence fitting for a man with a real sense of justice. Bridges doesn't simplify it though as he carries an underlying nervousness in his being. Bridges suggests in this that Marcus is contemplating in his mind whether or not to take action. They do not exchange gunfire but they do exchange words with almost as much power ending with veiled threats that they will trade more than words at a later date. Bridges is incredible as he gives the strength to Marcus's words as he returns the offer to "give peace" to Toby, but also infuses it with this bleak pathos in his eyes showing that this is all Marcus has left to look forward to in his life. This is a phenomenal performance by Jeff Bridges. He transcends the trope of the old law man, elevating it to another level to give such a vivid and powerful depiction of man, not just the idea of one.

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Best Supporting Actor 2016

And the Nominees Are:

Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water

Michael Shannon in Nocturnal Animals

Mahershala Ali in Moonlight

Lucas Hedges in Manchester By The Sea

Dev Patel in Lion

Sunday, 5 July 2015

Alternate Best Actor 1989: Results

5. John Hurt in Scandal - The film actually under utilizes him but Hurt gives an appropriately colorful and eventually moving portrayal of an aging playboy who perhaps has too many connections.

Best Scene: Ward explains something about his parties to the cops.

4. Raul Julia in Romero - Julia manages to elevate his film in giving a rather powerful portrayal of a man finding the strength to stand up against injustice.

Best Scene: Romero's final sermon.

3. Jeff Bridges in The Fabulous Baker Boys - Bridges gives a subtle and very effective portrait of an artist stuck in a painful rut, and his struggle to break out of it.

Best Scene: The Bakers' final duet.

2. James Spader in Sex, Lies, and Videotape - Spader first creates a captivating enigma of a man then is quite fascinating as he strips away his character's mystery.

Best Scene: Graham's interview with Ann.

1. Michael J. Fox in Casualties of War - Good Prediction Psifonian. Michael J. Fox gives a heartbreaking depiction of a decent man being forced to live through an atrocity.

Best Scene: Max recounts the experience at the bar.

Overall Rank:

Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot
Michael J. Fox in Casualties of War
Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors
James Woods in True Believer
Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Ed Harris in The Abyss
James Spader in Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy
Jeff Bridges in The Fabulous Baker Boys
Raul Julia in Romero
John Hurt in Scandal
John Candy in Uncle Buck
Morgan Freeman in Lean on Me
Kenneth Branagh in Henry V
Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future Part II
Bill Murray in Ghostbusters II
Tom Hanks in The 'Burbs
Michael Douglas in The War of the Roses
Ron Silver in Enemies: A Love Story
John Cusack in Say Anything
Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon II
Timothy Dalton in License To Kill
Donald Sutherland in A Dry White Season
Keanu Reeves in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Alex Winter in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally
Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon II
Michael Keaton in Batman
Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams
Matthew Broderick in Glory
Woody Allen in Crimes and Misdemeanors
John Travolta in Look Who's Talking
Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation
Steve Martin in Parenthood
Bruce Willis in Look Who's Talking
Jack Nicholson in Batman
Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July
Tom Hanks in Turner & Hooch
Rick Moranis in Honey, I Shrunk The Kids
Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid Part III
William Shatner in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Fred Savage in Little Monsters
Spike Lee in Do The Right Thing
Fred Savage in The Wizard
Gabriel Damon in Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
Howie Mandel in Little Monsters
Christian Slater in Heathers
Dale Midkiff in Pet Sematary

Next Year: 1989 Supporting

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Alternate Best Actor 1989: Jeff Bridges in The Fabulous Baker Boys

Jeff Bridges did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Jack Baker in The Fabulous Baker Boys.

The Fabulous Baker Boys is a fine film about a duo of nightclub musicians who take on a female singer to rejuvenate their act.

Jeff Bridges plays the younger of the Baker boys, the older brother Frank (Beau Bridges) acts as the manager for both and takes a far more enthusiastic approach when it comes to the actual performances. The film begins with Jack basically already in a lull. Bridges has a bit of a challenge right from the start in that Jack is not exactly the most lively presence right from the start. Bridges in no way tries to falsely energizes the role, but instead plays the part accordingly. Bridges though manages to do well in the part by just vividly realizing the state that Jack is in when the film begins. Bridges portrays Jack as a man in problematic state of indifference from the beginning. He has his one night stands with women which Bridges portrays as basically just part of routine. The same certainly goes for when he is performing with his brother on stage where Bridges shows that Jack is just going through the motions of what is required of him, but there is not a hint of life in the routine for him. He just plays what he needs to and contributes the minimum of what is required of him to complete the act.

Bridges though is interesting the way he creates the state Jack is in because even though it is not especially pleasant for him it technically is far from horrible for him. What Bridges conveys so well is the certain discontent of a man who's not quite happy with his life, but he's also basically come to accept it for what it is. Within that though I like how Bridges finds a bit of room for Jack not to be as dour as he might have been otherwise. There are moments where Jack is spending time with his old dog, or with the neighbors daughter who looks to him as a father figure where there does seem to be something there for Jack. What's interesting though is that Bridges does not obviously have these moments where Jack becomes more open and outgoing or anything like that. Bridges rather very effectively carries just a certain ease and warmth in these scenes that very quietly shows that there is some things in his life that he enjoys. For the most part though he is forced just to continue through his routine but eventually even the Fabulous Baker Boys act becomes even a little too old for the crowd they play for leaving the brothers to take on aspiring singer/ former call girl Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer).

Her addition does rejuvenate their careers but Bridges does well not to show any sort of immediate change in Jack, as at first he just seems to keep going along the way things were. He does quietly begin to bring some life back into some of the performances, though Bridges carefully keeps it in a muted way. There is rarely a time where Jack still seems to absolutely accept anything, and Bridges maintains that even when they are doing well Jack is still obviously not exactly leaving up to his own dream by constantly following his brother's very specific instructions. What Bridges portrays though is that Jack is more than anything energized by Suzie's presence, as Bridges only really shows this other side to Jack when he is interacting with her or reacting to her. Bridges still keeps it low key but quite palatable. At the same though he keeps Jack as almost too opposing ends because there does seem to be some happiness there with Susie, he also portrays Jack having even worse moments of moodiness when interacting with his brother. Bridges never takes Jack wholly out of that hole he has been in from the beginning.

Bridges and Pfeiffer have an unusual chemistry together technically speaking. For most of it they don't speak directly about it but the two really say more than enough in their glances between one another. This is especially true in the "Makin' Whoopee' where there is something so sensual about the two together that it almost a dance even though all Bridges does in the scene is play the piano. This even goes so far that the fully romantic scenes between Susie and Jack are silent yet the tension so to speak in the moment could not be more keenly felt. Of course this leads to the last act where Jack frankly acts like jerk. This could have potentially fallen flat as these scenes sometimes can feel quite forced, but Bridges's work makes it work. A reason for this is that Bridges never has Jack change completely with Susie, and is convincing in that he shows how Jack just can't fall out of the routine of his life. His one night stands have been meaningless so again that's all that he treats as since that's all he's ever been use to. Of course Bridges is great in how he shows that now though the routine seems to grate on him more than ever.

Bridges makes the final scenes of the film believable because he's always been honest with the character making his final transition feel particularly earned. What Bridges presents it as is not a frustration that changes Jack, but rather shows that Jack finally taking action is what relieves his frustrations. I particularly love one scene where he visits his brother after the two of them have had a terrible fight. The two of them finally remember their old times and it allows Jack to think about the fact that he did not always hate it. They even go so far as to sing a quick song together which is a wonderful scene for both Bridges as you witness the old days of Baker boys in their faces and in their voices. In that Bridges naturally progresses Jack to finally lose that dourness, although importantly he still does keep him as the low key guy Jack happens to be. This leads to his last scene with Susie which is a fairly understated reunion. There really is not a moment where there's the dramatic declaration of love. The two's fantastic chemistry comes in again and their final reconciliation simply feels just right. The same is true for Bridges's whole performance which always feels genuine and gives complexity to a character that in the wrong hands could have been just one note of gloom.

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

Alternate Best Actor 1989

And the Nominees Were Not:

Michael J. Fox in Casualties of War

Jeff Bridges in The Fabulous Baker Boys

James Spader in Sex, Lies, and Videotape

John Hurt in Scandal

Raul Julia in Romero

Sunday, 30 November 2014

Alternate Best Actor 1998: Results

5. Tony Leung Chiu Wai in The Longest Nite - Leung's role is underwritten but he gives an effective portrayal of the cold brutality of a corrupt cop.

Best Scene: Sam and Tony in the prison cell.

4. Anthony Wong in Beast Cops - Wong gives an entertaining and sometimes moving portrayal of a lazy corrupt cop who tries to redeem himself.

Best Scene: Tung attempts his redemption.

3. Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski - Bridges gives an enjoyable performance as both a funny slacker but as well a straight man in the role he was apparently born to play.

Best Scene: The two Lebowskies meet.

2. Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil - McKellen's film is terrible as the film's direction stays in one direction while the writing goes in a completely different way. McKellen though matches the two opposing sides with his performance. The first side giving a chilling portrayal of an evil man given the chance to reflect on his evil deeds. The second being an entertaining portrayal of an evil Nazi. McKellen stays above the film by taking his own path apart from the film.

Best Scene: Dussander visits Todd's family.

1. Brendan Gleeson in The General - Gleeson gives an endearing portrayal of the "folk hero" side of his character, but is also effective in his portrayal of the growing desperation of man whose world is closing in on him.

Best Scene: Cahill and the Inspector's last meeting.

Overall Ranking:

Matthew Lillard in SLC Punk!
Nick Nolte in Affliction
James Woods in Another Day in Paradise
Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski
Brendan Gleeson in The General
Edward Norton in American History X
Anthony Wong in Beast Cops
Peter Mullan in My Name is Joe
Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters
Rufus Sewell in Dark City
Ulrich Thomsen in Festen
Shah Rukh Khan in Dil Se...
Bob Hoskins in TwentyFourSeven
John Hurt in Love and Death on Long Island
Vincent Gallo in Buffalo '66
Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil
Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan
Han Suk-kyu in Christmas in August
Tony Leung Chiu Wai in The Longest Nite
Jacques Villeret in The Dinner Game
Christopher Lee in Jinnah
Hugo Weaving in the Interview
Teruyuki Kagawa in Serpent's Path
Jim Carrey in The Truman Show
Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro
Anthony Hopkins in The Mask of Zorro
Clive Owen in Croupier
George Clooney in Out of Sight
Shô Aikawa in Serpent's Path
James Woods in Vampires
Billy Crudup in Without Limits
Richard Lintern in Jinnah
Eamonn Owens in The Butcher Boy
Martin Donovan in The Opposite of Sex
Campbell Scott in The Spanish Prisoner
Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Flowers of Shanghai
David Wenham in The Boys
Denzel Washington in He Got Game
Lau Ching Wan in The Longest Nite
Bill Paxton in A Simple Plan
Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight
Thomas Jay Ryan in Henry Fool
Robert Redford in The Horse Whisperer
Jason Schwartzman in Rushmore
Derek Jacobi in Love is the Devil: Study For a Portrait of Francis Bacon
Pruitt Taylor Vince in The Legend of 1900
Johnny Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Bill Pullman in Zero Effect
Don McKellar in Last Night
Nicolas Cage in Snake Eyes
John Travolta in A Civil Action
James Urbaniak in Henry Fool
Fernando Fernán Gómez in The Grandfather
Samuel L. Jackson in The Negotiator
Will Smith in Enemy of the State
Matt Damon in Rounders
Kevin Spacey in The Negotiator
Danny Glover in Beloved
Dougray Scott in Ever After
Daniel Craig in Love is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon
Kieran Culkin in The Mighty
Evan Adams in Smoke Signals
Bruno Ganz in Eternity and A Day
Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 4
Robert De Niro in Ronin
Hiroyuki Sanada in Ring
Elden Henson in The Mighty
Sean Gullette in Pi
Vinícius de Oliveira in Central Station
Liam Neeson in Les Miserables
Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon 4
Geoffrey Rush in Les Miserables
Chris Tucker in Rush Hour
Adam Beach in Smoke Signals
Adam Sandler in The Wedding Singer
Tony Ho in The Longest Summer
Wesley Snipes in Blade
Anthony Hopkins in Meet Joe Black
Tommy Lee Jones in U.S. Marshals
Ian Bannen in Waking Ned Devine
Joseph Mazzello in Simon Birch
Woody Allen in Antz
John Travolta in Primary Colors
Ian Michael Smith in Simon Birch
Patrick Stewart in Star Trek Insurrection
Ben Stiller in There's Something About Mary
Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love
Denzel Washington in The Siege
Sean Penn in Hurlyburly
Val Kilmer in The Prince of Egypt
Tony Martin in The Interview
Trey Parker in Baseketball
Matt Stone in Baseketball
Matt Dillon in Wild Things
Thierry Lhermitte in The Dinner Game
Dave Foley in A Bug's Life
Jackie Chan in Rush Hour
Wesley Snipes in U.S. Marshals
Adrian Lester in Primary Colors
Henry Thomas in Niagara Niagara
Eddie Murphy in Doctor Dolittle
Tim Roth in The Legend of 1900
Vincent Kartheiser in Another Day in Paradise
Brendan Fraser in Gods and Monsters
Leslie Nielsen in Wrongfully Accused
Ralph Fiennes in The Avengers
Warren Beatty in Bulworth
Elijah Wood in The Faculty
Bruce Willis in Armageddon
Michael Caine in Little Voice
Cary Elwes in Quest for Camelot
Harrison Ford in Six Days Seven Nights
Elijah Wood in Deep Impact
Ethan Hawke in Great Expectations
Jared Leto in Urban Legend
Michael Keaton in Jack Frost
Robin Williams in Patch Adams
Kenneth Branagh in The Gingerbread Man
Nicolas Cage in City of Angels
Gregory Smith in Small Soldiers
Tobey Maguire in Pleasantville
James Marsden in Disturbing Behavior
Brad Pitt in Meet Joe Black
Bill Paxton in Mighty Joe Young
Norm MacDonald in Dirty Work
William Hurt in Lost in Space
Ben Affleck in Armageddon
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Man in the Iron Mask
Eddie Murphy in Holy Man
Michael Wong in Beast Cops
Robin Williams in What Dreams May Come
Kenneth Branagh in Celebrity
Scott Bakula in Major League: Back to the Minors
Jay Mohr in Jane Austen's Mafia
Ray Allen in He Got Game
Adam Sandler in The Waterboy
Jay Mohr in Paulie
Matthew Broderick in Godzilla
Ryan Phillippe in 54
Brad Renfro in Apt Pupil
Vince Vaughn in Psycho

Next Year: 1998 Supporting

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Alternate Best Actor 1998: Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski

Jeff Bridges did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski in The Big Lebowski.

The Big Lebowski tells the story of a slacker who is mistaken for an apparent millionaire causing him to get involved in a strange kidnapping plot. I'll preface that I enjoy the film just fine but I don't love the way some do.

Jeff Bridges technically might very well have been playing against his type that he was before this film came out, but now it is considered perhaps his signature role since it also seem to become evident that his own personality is not that far from the Dude's and even took on the nickname. Well it's not surprising that the Dude frankly became his type since Bridges frankly could not be more comfortable in the role. He certainly is just the Dude and there is never a question of that fact for the moment. Bridges absolutely embodies the role with that slow sloppy way of walking that always reinforces the fact that The Dude definitely does not need to be in a rush to get anywhere. Bridges also just has that especially relaxed quality about every physical movement and his whole speech pattern even when he's not under the influence of marijuana. Bridges is the Dude and it does not take long before it feels like you know just who the Dude is.

The Dude rather oddly is kinda the private eye protagonist for a neo noir. The only reason is that he is mistaken for someone else and is strung along into an odd world mostly because he wants his carpet replaced which was ruined by thugs. Well since the plot itself is much less than it appears the Dude is perhaps the best guy to investigate into it. Of course the Dude hardly really investigates he more of is strung along since people keep showing up at his house or request his company simply due to his incidental involvement with the kidnapping plot that involves some very weird people. He also is prodded along on his own side by his crazy best friend Walter (John Goodman) who comes up with his own absurd ideas involving the plot since it includes a large sum of money. As stated in the film though The Dude is purposefully a constant therefore Bridges keeps his performance on a very similair note throughout, although importantly he never feels one note either.

Bridges is good in the role by keeping a certain realism in the part even though the Dude technically really should have nothing to do with what is going on around him. Bridges does not take his approach too far though and still portrays the Dude as a real guy. This becomes most evident when at first it appears that the kidnapping plot may be serious and that someone's life really is in danger. Bridges is effective in portraying The Dude's reaction as one of genuine fear and concern that his actions and the actions of his friends might have caused someone harm. Bridges is equally good as he gets threatened, and slightly physically accosted by the likes of some Nihilists, the thugs of a pornographer, and a cop. Bridges again does well to portray The Dude rightfully becoming slightly more exasperated and even more intense as the business involving the Big Lebowski becomes more harmful to him. Bridges never makes it that heavy so to speak, but he effectively does bring the right sort of weight to the noir elements.

The majority of his performance is of course not being serious and in fact being that easy going guy as others keep laying down more information on him. Bridges's does well to be both a straight man yet flamboyant in his own sort way as well. Bridges is funny on one end of things in portraying the Dude's confusion at the weird people he comes across as well as the annoyance when Walter's behavior gets too out of hand sometimes. At the same time Bridges is funny as well by not necessarily being the straight man, particularly in the scenes where he interacts with the Big Lebowski and his assistant. Here technically Bridges is the one more actively comical and he does well in that to by being so easygoing, and mostly uncaring, as the Big Lebowski goes on about one thing or another that technically has little to do with The Dude. Bridges has just enough fun in portraying the Dude keeping up his trademark manner even while the Big Lebowski goes off on an overly dramatic monologue.

Bridges does indeed seem born for the role as it is one of those cases where it is hard to see anyone else playing the part especially as it appeared to become one with him after this point. Bridges is quite entertaining in the role, and I do thoroughly enjoy his performance. In addition to this Bridges does as well never goes too far with the role still making the few dramatic points work as they should, as he never makes the Dude purely into caricature. I suppose though this is where it comes into play with how much you love the film as I could easily see someone loving the film loving this performance equally. Well I like the film just fine, and I like Bridges in mostly the same way, I guess I might like the performance slightly more. To be sure I don't have anything to complain about his work here it just doesn't work quite as well for me as it does for so many others, although I can see why his work here is loved by some.

Saturday, 22 November 2014

Alternate Best Actor 1998

And the Nominees Were Not:

Anthony Wong in Beast Cops

Tony Leung Chiu Wai in The Longest Nite

Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski

Brendan Gleeson in The General

Ian McKellen in Apt Pupil

Saturday, 23 June 2012

Alternate Best Actor 1993: Results

5. Jeff Bridges in Fearless- Bridges shoots for the sky but never quite reaches the heights that his performance wants to reach.

4. Kevin Costner in A Perfect World- Costner in a very atypical fashion dominates his film well, as well as gives a moving portrait of a man wounded by abuse.

3. Bill Murray in Groundhog Day- This is just a great performance by Bill Murray that is both a hilarious joy that makes this film enjoyable to watch all the way through, but as well does realistically portray his character's life changing realizations.

2.Michael Douglas in Falling Down- Douglas who gives both an incredibly viscerally effective performance that pierces through every scene, but he as well shows a moving portrait of a man completely lost in the ills of modern society.

1. David Thewlis in Naked- Thewlis gives an outstanding performance that is a fascinating portrayal of drifter, that is extremely watchable.

Overall Ranking of the Year:

Jeff Daniels in Gettysburg
Anthony Hopkins in Shadowlands
Daniel Day-Lewis in In the Name of the Father
Anthony Hopkins in The Remains of the Day
Daniel Day-Lewis in The Age of Innocence
Liam Neeson in Schindler's List
David Thewlis in Naked
Michael Douglas in Falling Down
Bill Murray in Groundhog Day
Leslie Cheung in Farewell My Concubine
Tatsuo Matsumura in Maadadayo
Robert Duvall in Falling Down
Kevin Costner in A Perfect World
Max von Sydow in Needful Things
Jesse Bradford in King of the Hill
Clint Eastwood in In the Line of Fire
Kenneth Branagh in Much Ado About Nothing
John Lone in M. Butterfly
Donald Sutherland in Six Degrees of Separation
Anthony Wong in The Untold Story
John Goodman in Matinee
Harrison Ford in The Fugitive
Jeremy Irons in M. Butterfly
Jason Scott Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Sam Neill in Jurassic Park
Kevin Kline in Dave
Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire
Johnny Depp in Benny and Joon
Kevin Conroy in Batman Mask of the Phantasm
Fengyi Zhang in Farewell My Concubine
Tom Cruise in The Firm
Kurt Russell in Tombstone
Nicolas Cage in Red Rock West
Al Pacino in Carlito's Way
Jeff Bridges in Fearless
Johnny Depp in What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Danny Elfman in The Nightmare Before Christmas
Chris Sarandon in The Nightmare Before Christmas
Bill Pullman in Malice
Tom Berenger in Gettysburg
Ed Harris in Needful Things
Mike Myers in Wayne's World 2
Charlie Sheen in Hot Shots Part Deux
Aidan Quinn in Benny And Joon
Sean Astin in Rudy
Trey Parker in Cannibal The Musical
Carey Elwes in Robin Hood Men in Tights
Tom Hanks in Philadelphia
Will Smith in Six Degrees of Separation
Alec Baldwin in Malice
Laurence Fishburne in What's Love Got To Do With It
Denzel Washington in Philadelphia
Francis Capra in A Bronx Tale
Lilo Brancato in A Bronx Tale
Max Pomeranc in Searching for Bobby Fischer
Arnold Schwarznegger in Last Action Hero
Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger
Sylvester Stallone in Demolition Man
Bob Hoskins in Super Mario Bros.
Ernie Reyes Jr. in Surf Ninjas
Omri Katz in Hocus Pocus
Tom Guiry in The Sandlot
Dan Aykroyd in Coneheads
Thomas Ian Nicholas in Rookie of the Year
Austin O'Brien in Last Action Hero
Chris O'Donnell in The Three Musketeers
Simon Fenton in Matinee
Mason Gamble in Dennis Menace
John Leguizamo in Super Mario Bros.
Christian Slater in True Romance
John D. Lemay in Jason Goes to Hell

The Next Year Will Be 1985

Alternate Best Actor 1993: Jeff Bridges in Fearless

Jeff Bridges did not receive and Oscar nomination for portraying Max Klein in Fearless.

Fearless is film about a man dealing with his new found fearlessness after surviving a terrible plane crash, the film itself is well made, but I always felt it was never nearly as moving as it wanted to be.

Jeff Bridges is an actor I must admit I liked more before I started reviewing his performances. This really is mainly because most of the performances are saw of him beforehand are relatively lighter performances where is unique charm and humor came into play. When he goes for more complex portrayals I can't say he always succeeds. Here Bridges goes for something unique as well as quite strange as he portrays the man who lost all his fears because a traumatic accident. Bridges actually attempts to show almost an otherworldly quality to his performance as the character of Max Klein frankly feels between the world of the living and the dead.

I hate to say it, and I know many will disagree with me, but I just was not all that impressed by his performance here which is for a great while rather repetitive. He keeps giving that same stare as if he is looking between life and death a lot of the time, while usually smiling in his Bridges sort of fashion, while still seeming to be perfectly detached at the same time as well. His detachment goes away randomly, but it does goes away at times. Sometimes in the form of anger at those seeking to trivialize the tragedy, or just at those who do not understand because they were not part of it. There is not really a lot of method to this side of Max, but nor does there really need to be.

Now what did not astound me about this performance is I never really felt Bridges achieved that otherworldly quality he most certainly is looking to portray. He certainly tries to but I more of saw always as Bridges just being stuck in the same slightly out of it stare for most of it. Now I do not want to be mistaken I do no think in any way shape or form Bridges is bad here, especially achieving what Bridges is going for here is most certainly not easy task, but nevertheless I have to say I never did feel Bridges reached the place in his performance. Because he does not reach the point he needs to the performance never quite comes to life as vividly as it needs to be.

In the scene where he does break the mold actually do work well enough, they do not have a great deal lasting impact on the overall characterization really since Bridges portrays them as random as they should be considering his character's state of mind. Bridges shows the quick outbursts of anger pretty well as they are quick sharp and to the point, less impressive for me is his big scene where he tests his fear by standing on the very edge of a building looking down. This scene should be the powerful pivotal moment for the performance, but Bridges whole portrayal of it seems like he is just going through the motion of a powerful scene more than making it a truly powerful scene.

There is not anything about this performance that ever became as outstanding as it should be, he never really drove the film to the degree he should have. Much like the film itself it is always a work that wants to be more than it really ends up being. Bridges though really is never bad though either I should point this out as he does still portray the emotions as they should be I suppose for the character in mind, but as you might notice I am mentioning this in a very technical fashion because it only ever felt Bridges' performance to be technically good in almost every aspect, never turning into a great one.

Bridges does have one moment in his performance that I feel shows what might have been the rest of his performance which is when it shows the scene on the plane just when he it is about to crash. In this scene Bridges finally does seem to achieve that otherworldly quality, and shows exactly how good the rest of his performance could have scene. It is a very remarkable scene and Bridges finally creates this feeling of being in the in between. This scene only really serves in showing just how good he possibly could have been through the entire film, but for me this is the only great moment in an otherwise adequate performance.

Best Actor