Alternate Best Actor 2017: Results

5. Josh Brolin in Only the Brave - Brolin gives a consistently good portrayal of a firefighter insistent on the importance of his duty. 

Best Scene: Final fight with wife. 

4. Kamel El Basha in The Insult - Although slightly limited by the narrative El Basha finds nuance and humanity beyond the symbol the screenplay sometimes forces him into. 

Best Scene: The apology. 

3. Vladimir Brichta in Bingo: The King of the Mornings - Brichta goes all in bringing an intense and dynamic energy even if the film doesn't always give him the best path to take. 

Best Scene: Removing the makeup. 

2. Jamie Bell in Films Stars Don't Die in Liverpool - Bell has one of the least interesting parts in this lineup making him all the more impressive through the nuance he consistently finds throughout. 

Best Scene: Final goodbye. 

1. Joaquin Phoenix in You Were Never Really There - Good predictions Ytrewq, Jonathan, Marcus, A, Luke, Anonymous, Tim, Matt, John Smith, Robert, Razor, RatedRStar, Calvin,Tahmeed, Emi, Shaggy & Harris. Phoenix gives an understated yet intensely powerful portrayal of a man defined by violence in a very particular way. 

Best Scene: The water. 

Updated Overall

Next: 2017 Supporting

Note: I will be updating other rankings later as I want to re-watch a few films first. 

Alternate Best Actor 2017: Josh Brolin in Only the Brave

Josh Brolin did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Eric Marsh in Only the Brave. 

Only the Brave tells the true story of a unit of Hot Shot firefighters, who use fire to fight the fires. 

In a role primed to be poorly played by Mark Wahlberg, we instead are granted Josh Brolin as the leader of the firefighters. Brolin is most welcome as an opponent and has a fitting presence for this kind of part, as his rougher look is a natural fit for the hard hat wearing firefighting pro. Brolin in turn chooses not to try to overemphasize anything in order to be believable in the part. He doesn’t heavily adjust his presence rather bringing just a naturalistic quality in being this sort of “man of the people” type of character right from the outset. Brolin delivers a quiet leader of the crew charisma in his scenes with the men, he doesn’t make big speeches but has often the right kind of stoic certainty in his manner that would be convincing that you’d follow this guy into a burning building. He’s not the greatest leader known to man in Brolin’s performance, rather just a guy who knows what he’s doing and acts as a straight shooter in most arenas. We see him bring the fatherly warmth in moments with his men, particularly troubled newcomer Brendan (Miles Teller) who he takes under his wing despite hesitations by some of the other men. Brolin brings it directly and earnestly, never going into overemphasis theatrics instead fittingly playing very straight to the bone as the guy who wants to get his job done, knows how to do it and cares for his men in a very blunt and direct fashion. 

Brolin isn’t only the leader among the men as part of the film’s story is Brolin’s Marsh getting certification for his crew to be considered elite firefighters. Something that we see early on when Eric makes some suggestions to other firefighters, who not only ignore him but dismiss Eric as lesser than. Brolin’s performance is good in the scene bringing more modest quality in the delivery of the suggestions of someone who isn’t trying to act up but genuinely trying to help, and internalizes well the frustrations that he keeps inside yet are still evident when being dismissed. Something he brings to their eventual certification test where the observer tries to pull rank on him and push him around with the approach to fighting the fire. Brolin brings just the right controlled exasperated rage when he reminds the observer of his place, and shows within the frustrations the years of having to deal with that sort of nonsense. The controlled rage being of a mad intent on setting his flag clearly and within his mind proper justification. Brolin plays the leader of the men, but a leader who has been challenged, angered by those challenges yet willing to persevere through their rather intense challenges. 

Beyond his role as a firefighter the major conflict for Eric is the relationship with his wife Amanda (Jennifer Connelly). Where Brolin and Connelly I’d say have okay though not truly remarkable chemistry in their interactions which are a mix of flirtation and frustration. The latter stemming from her concerns for his safety and his workaholic attitude towards the firefighting job. Something Brolin again handles well in presenting just this torn loyalties where he portrays the severe conviction to his job as basically a truth, but still is earnest in his frustrations towards his wife’s concerns. An idea that ends up explored in a somewhat too little too late fashion as the film introduces very late that Eric and Amanda met as mutual alcoholics who recovered together, and leads Eric even to treat Brandon’s request for a safer gig as a potential avenue for faltering once again to addiction. Brolin is good in these moments in portraying the unease when being called out about essentially a new addiction in firefighting as the truth, where his reactions take in this quiet sense of anxiety as he tries to brush it off via his conviction of the nobility of the profession. Brolin finds the appropriate complication of the sentiment to the degree he can because this is an aspect the film could’ve explored more or at least with more depth, rather than something they bring up right towards the end of the film limiting that possible exploration. And after that the film is essentially over with only the central tragedy left, where Brolin’s performance in that surprisingly short sequence is good, particularly the growing sense of dread in his face, however it doesn’t quite leave the impact one would imagine possibly given the tragic nature of the story, although that is hardly Brolin’s fault. Brolin gives a good performance that suggests a greater potential within the material than is wholly realized. 

Alternate Best Actor 2017

 And the Nominees Were Not:

Josh Brolin in Only the Brave

Vladimir Brichta in Bingo: The King of the Mornings

Joaquin Phoenix in You Were Never Really Here

Kamel El Basha in The Insult

Jamie Bell in Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

Alternate Best Actor 2008: Results

10. Kim Yoon-seok in The Chaser - Kim gives a good performance in creating this conflicted state of a former detective turned pimp returning to his roots, yet the film lets down Kim by not granting enough time or importance to the development of this idea.

Best Scene: Final confrontation. 

9. Vincent Cassel in Mesrine - Cassel gives in the first part an effective, if ridiculously rushed, portrayal of the different facets leading towards the life of a gangster, then in the second part becoming the "legend" partially in truth, and partially as a purposefully grotesque creation of the man's purposeful making.

Best Scene: In seclusion/trial.

8. Mads Mikkelsen in Flame and Citron - Mikkelsen, as usual, gives a striking turn in realizing the convictions of a man fighting for a righteous cause, while also realizing the turmoil from the evil he must do to pursue this fight.

Best Scene: His final words.

7. Josh Brolin in W. - Brolin gives an entertaining performance that brings the best out of the more comedic elements of the satire, while also finding whatever nuance he can within the bit of complexity within the character.

Best Scene: Failed press conference.

6. Song Kang-ho in The Good The Bad The Weird - Song gives a very charismatic and appropriately off-beat turn that is properly fitting to his character's moniker while also creating a most unusual western hero for us to follow.

Best Scene: Tripping.

5. Chiwetel Ejiofor in Redbelt - Ejiofor gives a great performance that not only anchors the film through the sheer charisma of his presence, but also importantly grants any reality to the overly stylized dialogue as well as offering a very much needed consistency within the convoluted narrative.

Best Scene: Championship.

4. Jean Claude Van Damme in JCVD - Van Damme, who is not known for his acting ability, at least proves his ability to give a great performance in French as Jean Claude Van Damme through his amusing, yet also heartbreaking introspective turn.

Best Scene: "oos"

3. Sam Rockwell in Snow Angels - Rockwell gives a harrowing and heartbreaking performance that manages to humanizes the terrible descent of his character.

Best Scene: A moment of "clarity".

2. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Synecdoche, New York - Hoffman gives a fascinating turn here. He not only manages to tread so carefully within the film's tone, but also manages to give a deeply moving performance through this portrayal of a man who tries to make observation into his way of life.

Best Scene: Final scene with his daughter.

1. Johannes Krisch in Revanche - Good predictions Emi Grant, Michael McCarthy and Luke. Krisch gives an outstanding performance that subverts the usual tropes involved with a revenge narrative to realize a wholly atypical, yet absolutely harrowing portrayal of a man's journey involving facing hate, sorrow, and perhaps in the end finding forgiveness.

Best Scene: Revealing the truth.

Updated Overall

Next: 2008 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 2008: Josh Brolin in W.

Josh Brolin did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying George W. Bush in W.

W., though semi entertaining, stumbles in its attempt to make any statement or just any real insight into George W. Bush's presidency probably because Oliver Stone made the film before his final term was even over.

W. is Oliver Stone's third film to directly reference a U.S. president by name however it is only his second direct biography of one along with his Nixon. The two films are rather extreme in their differing tones with Nixon being a rather stark portrait of the man as well as American in general whereas W. is more of a comedic satire. Both though feature what is really Stone's way as a director, which I've mentioned before, which is there is a particular challenge it seems when an actor performs in a Stone film. In that he seems to allow, if not encourage, heavily caricatured performances, which was seen in the usually reliable Anthony Hopkins's portrayal of Nixon as this sweaty beetle humanoid. That seemed a potential idea here with Josh Brolin in the title role that could have easily been an SNL impression, the material certainly pushes towards that way at times, and a few of his fellow performers fall into this particularly Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice. Now Josh Brolin does do an impression however he carefully maneuvers it to grant some honesty to his portrayal rather than to simply make a cartoon. Brolin does go to embody the man and effectively so. He captures that right Texan twang, without overdoing it, he also captures even the same sort of rhythm in his speech patterns and even portrays very specific physical mannerisms of the man from the way he walks to even certain mouth gestures featured in his press conferences. Brolin effectively interweaves these within his performance in a natural way though so they just seem part of who the character is rather than creating this hollow front as a representation of the man.

The film jumps back and forth between Bush's early life and rise to power along with the development of the plan for the Iraq war. The actual history of Bush is not made particularly interesting by the film particularly due to the repetitive portrayal of his relationship with his father which is scene after scene of a longing Bush waiting for approval only to be denied it again and again. Brolin though to his credit makes the most of what is there. He manages to actually find the right sort of tone within his own work to grant some honesty to the character while still hitting the more comedic elements needed for the tone of the film. Brolin is terrific in the way he takes the right approach to portray the Bush of the film in as earnest of way as a possible. Brolin's take is to make him comical in an indirect fashion towards his realization of him as this man with very specific values, and a very specific head space. This is a particularly wise approach as it is another factor in his work that keeps him from falling into caricature, but also he is able to move the idea of the character to an endearing fool rather than a malevolent figure. Brolin does that by keeping a fundamental truth within his portrayal which is the man is trying to do what he thinks is the right thing, even if it is far from it. He presents this both in terms of that longing to find approval with his father, but also in his very attitude we see as the president who believes he has some personal mission to save America.

Brolin's work keeps Bush a far more compelling figure than he likely would have been with more of say a Stone caricature had been centered instead. Brolin thankfully tries to explore the idea of the character beyond the main path of the story whenever there is possible. Now some of this is just in some entertaining moments in which he delivers such a hapless attitude so well in every moment we see in his early days filled with drinking and failure. Brolin's especially good in these scenes though is because he always brings this little twinkle in his eye of a man who is just very sloppily making it through life but creates the sense in the early scenes that he's just more confused than anything by the very prospect of success. Brolin manages to make this stumbling around properly entertaining again by creating the right sort of simplicity in his every moment of this as even in the way he delivers his few moments of direct outrage against his father Brolin infuses it with the simple need for approval. The need not being conveyed as this egotistical desire, but rather just a son seeking affection through Brolin's quietly somber approach to the idea. In the same period we also see perhaps Bush's best moment, within the film, where he briefly courts his eventual wife Laura (Elizabeth Banks). Brolin and Banks are great together, even though there is not a great deal of time spent on it. Brolin though brings such an infectious charm in these moments, and along with Banks create a real chemistry that creates the love between the two as a given.

Brolin is very good in the rise to power of Bush scenes as he once again finds an honesty within the simplicity of the character. In that he makes the simplicity almost a virtue in a sense as every action Brolin in a way effectively sugar coats by showing it coming from a place of such a genuine, if at times misplaced, concern. Brolin keeps the earnest nature of the character as a constant and in turn is able to find a certain charisma even the appeal of Bush as a politician. Brolin's very good in creating the "growth" of the character's success very much intertwined with in terms of his balance of the comedic and technically straight forward moments of his performance. Brolin is able to naturally find both within the same work and without unneeded tonal shifts within his own performance. Brolin captures the right balance by keeping the state of Bush so consistent no matter the situation making it so when he's just trying to bring across a down home, have a beer with the guy, type style he is charming, however when he tries to speak about policy in this context it becomes rather funny by how ill-fitting it all is. Brolin never tries to reinforce the comedy but rather makes it work in a far better fashion by leaving it as this effortless quality interwoven into his portrayal. This comes as particularly needed in the presidential scenes which are more Dr. Strangelove than say Lincoln. Brolin's performance is the best in terms of deriving the humor from the situation by acting as this standing ground, of almost a comical man that the other strong personalities bounce off of.

Brolin is very interesting in that he acts as the straight man in a way but only in that his straight is curved into comedy the whole time. The straightness being the consistency of character which is found in Brolin's passionate delivery of every single one of Bush's platitudes regarding America or his own duties. Brolin makes this a constant fierce belief that ends up being funny though by how blind Brolin portrays this conviction to be against everyone else who is either conning in some way, or more down to earth. Brolin reveals almost a danger in the purity of the state which is effective in showing how the man could blindly into the act of war because Brolin shows only the utmost support of the man's own mind behind every step. When things start to go poorly associated with it, especially when the intelligence comes short surrounding it, Brolin again does so well by remaining consistent to his choice of the character. In that he depicts frustrations not of a shrewd politician whose mechanizations are falling apart, but the sadness of crusader for justice whose crusade has turned out to be faulty. One of Brolin's best scenes comes near the end of the film where he stumbles around a press conference attempting to describe mistakes of his administration. Brolin is great in the scene in his delivery that is this messy tapestry of a man trying to remain with this certain confidence while at the same not exuding a single bit of it. Brolin in the moment is terrific in finding this hollowness and confusion of the statements of a man broken by his conception of himself leaving him only this generalized husk of the passionate fighter of before. Now this exact journey in this film is in no way a truly compelling one, as this is not a great film. Brolin though amplifies or rises above the material through his portrait of Bush which is entertaining while finding enough substance within the little bit of complexity offered to the role. It's a strong performance as it stands and likely would have been a truly great one with material that wholly matched the quality of his own work.

Alternate Best Actor 2008

And the Nominees Were Not:

Kim Yoon-seok in The Chaser

Chiwetel Ejiofor in Redbelt

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Synecdoche, New York

Vincent Cassel in Mesrine: Killer Instinct

Josh Brolin in W. 

And for the Second Set of Predictions:

Song Kang-ho in The Good, The Bad, The Weird

Mads Mikkelsen in Flame & Citron 

Sam Rockwell in Snow Angels

Johannes Krisch in Revanche

Jean-Claude Van Damme in JCVD  

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015: Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro in Sicario

Josh Brolin did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Matt Graver in Sicario.

Sicario is a film where my initial reaction was that of some disappointment due to a certain expectation I suppose. A expectation not in terms of quality, but rather scope. The film takes pretty narrow approach in its story about the dark world of the drug war. Now my view of the film has not changed exactly in terms but as time passed the film stuck with as I found the film worked more in emotional fashion rather than a logical way, if that makes any sense.

The story follows a FBI agent Kate Mercer (Emily Blunt) who gets involved with drug world after uncovering a group of victims of a Mexican cartel, and agrees to work with the CIA to take down the cartel. This group is headed by Matt Graver played by Brolin. Although much of the praise has gone to the man, who I'll be getting to in a moment, Brolin's performance should not be overlooked. On the outset Graver acts as the encouragement for Kate to come with him on a mission to destroy the head of the cartel. Brolin's very good in this first scene representing the right authoritative and seemingly concerned presence that seems to wish to help Kate find some justice for the victims of the cartel. The next time we meet him is when Kate has agree to come along on the mission, and one of the defining traits of Graver is revealed, though it was alluded to beforehand in terms of his choice of dress, which is his extremely casual behavior whenever he's not in a dangerous situation. Brolin importantly embraces this completely with his performance, as he brings such a consistently relaxed quality to Graver whenever he's going about the business before the mission. In this Brolin actually reveals a bit of Graver's history as he's clearly been at the job some time, and Brolin reveals his comfort with the job in every moment of his performance. Of course Graver is not the only one coming along for the mission.

Benicio Del Toro did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for BAFTA, for portraying Alejandro Gillick in Sicario.

Alejandro appears in quite the ominous way as he stands alone at a distance below a plane that Kate is boarding. This plane is going to take them to Mexico which is not what she expected when she joined. Alejandro appears on the plane as well and despite that almost demonic early entrance Del Toro really does not play Alejandro as one might expect. Del Toro as they just ride the plane at first shows just a very tired man, through in his eyes and expression it does seem as though he's been through a great deal in his time. Del Toro also contrasts Brolin's performance by not suggesting as much of a comfort with the life. In fact there is a certain unease that Del Toro conveys subtly through his mere presence. It is not a fear or anything even close to that that Del Toro portrays, but there is not even a sliver of joy suggested in him. Del Toro, despite being almost a boogeyman of sorts, establishes something very early on that ends up being pivotal to his character though it is never bluntly stated. I'll get to that a little later on though, as first we see Alejandro through Kate's eyes where he is a bit of an enigma. Del Toro's work never feels vague though, as when its time to transport an important member of the cartel Del Toro presents Alejandro with an extreme conviction as a man in his element, though again not necessarily in the way one might expect him to be.

Graver and Alejandro are partners of sorts in taking down the cartel, and Del Toro and Brolin play off each other extremely well. Brolin again keeps an interesting levity with his portrayal of Graver, as he depicts him as a man who most of the time seems to not really care about much of anything. Brolin in this capacity even is able to derive just a bit of humor to the film, which is needed, through just how comfortable he makes Graver with everything. This is never without purpose though as he makes Graver a bit of the good cop to Alejandro's very bad cop. Though in this case even though Brolin suggests that Graver's attitude might be a bit of an act, Del Toro very clearly establishes that Alejandro's side of things is not. A great scene for both of them is when they go about interrogating a cartel member and both show the way the things work. Brolin keeps perfectly calm as he basically just allows Alejandro to have at it. Del Toro is great in the interrogation scene by bringing such intensity in Alejandro as he goes about physically abusing the man to derive the information. Del Toro is very effective as realizes such a striking hatred in Alejandro as a goes about his task. There's no hesitation, no sympathy, Del Toro shows us an unquestionable passion even as it is obvious Alejandro will get what he wants from the man.

Del Toro and Brolin also importantly reveal more to their characters in their distinct relationships they set up with Blunt's Kate. Brolin is actual kind of enjoyable in just how dismissive he makes some of Graver's interactions with her, well especially when Kate's with her FBI partner Reggie (Daniel Kaluuya). Brolin in his manner and delivery basically shows a man putting on airs basically as he often speaks to her in a tone as though she's just an amateur in a room of professionals, and puts the only actual effort into his conversations with her when it seems like she's either going to risk the success of the operation. Del Toro on the other hand brings a surprising warmth of sorts, though understandably muted as he interacts with Kate, and when he advises her on how to get through the world. Del Toro does not make this a facade either as he portrays a genuine concern at times for her, and is particularly good in just the scenes where he listens to her as she lists of her growing anxiety due to entering the world. Del Toro's reactions do not have a hint of sarcasm or apathy. Del Toro instead plays these moments as a distant though still caring father of sorts as Alejandro does his best to advise and even comfort her in her current descent into a Hell he knows all too well.

Now both Brolin and Del Toro never makes either of their characters simplistic or one note. Brolin as the easygoing often sardonic CIA operative isn't so simple. There are moments where something is on the line and he is forced to explain his position where Brolin reveals the true nature of Graver. When Graver explains why he uses Alejandro and takes some extreme measures Brolin finally brings a gravity to his words. In that moment Brolin reveals the real passion in the man, and even alludes to the idea that his behavior the rest of the time is perhaps a bit of a coping mechanism to be able to deal with such a world every day. Del Toro on the other hand has never created a facade of any sort at any point, Del Toro always plays Alejandro in a completely truthful fashion. His concern for Kate was never false. There is a moment where he asks to make sure she's okay, Del Toro shows this to be the truth, but later when he shoots her, though just to temporarily incapacitate her, he does not subvert that actually. Every action that he takes throughout the film feels natural to the character due to Del Toro. In that moment he shows Alejandro absolutely heartless as he's on his mission, which he will not allow anyone to get in the way of. Alejandro goes off on basically a killing spree to reach the head of the cartel. The man he proceeds to sit down with to dinner, which also includes the man's wife and two sons. Del Toro is chilling in the scene as he so calmly explains his intentions then equally calmly murders the man's family in front of him. Again Del Toro doesn't portray joy when he has the man watch for a moment. It is instead cold hatred intertwined with a man who still seems to be going about a mission, and that painful moment was a requirement of that mission. Now again back to Del Toro's pivotal choice in his performance which is that in reality Alejandro's a good man, or at least was one. His lack of empathy for his victims is not that of psychopath or sociopath, but a honest man driven to a personal vendetta for his murdered family. Del Toro does not even give this pleasure though as he finds a certain element of self-loathing, as he's good man who must become the monster to kill the monster. In that dinner scene I find most powerful element to be is a sadness that Del Toro brings as he goes about the murders. Not for the victims mind you, but for the loss of his own morality that has brought him to this point. Del Toro is even heartbreaking because he does not make a soulless killer, but instead presents a man losing his soul to keep a promise to himself. Brolin gives such a strong performance alleviating what could have been a fairly standard expository role. Del Toro gives tremendous performance creating perhaps a far more complicated portrait of revenge than the film even intended.

(For Brolin)

(For Del Toro)

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2014: Results

5. Toby Kebbell in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Kebbell gives an effective portrayal of the mad villainous ape.

Best Scene: Koba returns to the gun touting fools.

4. Michael Fassbender in Frank - Fassbender gives a funny and moving performance almost entirely without the use of his face.

Best Scene: Frank starts stating his facial expressions.

3. Richard Armitage in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - Armitage overcomes most of the weaknesses of his film giving a rousing and passionate portrayal of Thorin Oakenshield's final act.

Best Scene: Thorin makes peace with Bilbo.

2. Josh Brolin in Inherent Vice - Josh Brolin gives an incredibly entertaining performance as a excessively straight laced cop that plays particularly well with Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of a hippie P.I.

Best Scene: "Moto Panacaku"

1. Gary Poulter in Joe -  Good Prediction moviefilm. I'll have to admit I'm rather unsure of my overall winner, as I love the top three about equally. Right now my win goes to Gary Poulter's only cinematic performance. Poulter is heartbreaking yet freighting, tragic yet pathetic in his portrayal of the extremes of a broken man which always feel absolutely natural despite the randomness of the man.

Best Scene: "Are You My Friend?"

Overall Rank:

1. Josh Brolin in Inherent Vice
2. Gary Poulter in Joe
3. J.K. Simmons in Whiplash
4. Shia LaBeouf in Fury
5. Edward Norton in Birdman
6. Mark Ruffalo in Foxcatcher
7. Matthias Schoenaerts in The Drop 
8. Damián Alcázar in The Perfect Dictatorship
9. Michael Parks in Tusk 
10. Ethan Hawke in Boyhood
11. Zach Galifianakis in Birdman
12. Richard Armitage in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
13. James Corden in Into the Woods
14. Robert Duvall in The Judge
15. Ben Mendelsohn in Starred Up 
16. Joaquin Cosio in The Perfect Dictatorship
17. Domhnall Gleeson in Calvary 
18. Taika Waititi in What We Do in the Shadows
19. Ray Liotta in Kill The Messenger
20. F. Murray Abraham in The Grand Budapest Hotel 
21. Ricardo Darin in Wild Tales
22. Irrfan Khan in Haider
23. Chris Pine in Stretch
24. Paddy Considine in Pride  
25. Jemain Clement in What We Do in The Shadows
26. Martin Freeman in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
27. Martin Short in Inherent Vice
28. Powers Boothe in Sin City: A Dam to Kill For
29. Riz Ahmed in Nightcrawler 
30. Rhys Darby in What We Do in the Shadows
31. Luke Evans in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
32. Benicio Del Toro in Inherent Vice
33. Chris Pine in Into The Woods 
34. Kay Kay Menon in Haider
35. Aidan Gillen in Calvary
36. Scoot McNairy in Frank
37. Tyler Perry in Gone Girl
38. Michael Fassbender in Frank
39. Dave Bautista in Guardians of the Galaxy
40. Bill Nighy in Pride 
41. Yilmaz Erdogan in The Water Diviner
42. Tom Wilkinson in Belle
43. Michael Nyqvist in John Wick
44. Toby Kebbell in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 
45. Bill Paxton in Edge of Tomorrow
46. Wayne Hapi in The Dark Horse
    
47. James Spader in The Homesman 
    
48. Jeff Goldblum in The Grand Budapest Hotel 
    
49. Luke Wilson in The Skeleton Twins
50. Domhnall Gleeson in Unbroken
51. Bradley Cooper in Guardians of the Galaxy
52. Willem Dafoe in The Grand Budapest Hotel
53. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in Pompeii
54. Micheal Rooker in Guardians of the Galaxy 
55. James Rolleston in The Dark Horse
    
56. Eric Roberts in Inherent Vice
57. Sam Shepard in Cold in July
58. Nick Thurston in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
59. John Goodman in The Gambler
60. Patrick Stewart in X-Men: Days of Future Past
61. Owen Wilson in Inherent Vice 
62. Don Johnson in Cold in July
63. Jonathan Brugh in What We Do in the Shadows
64. Alfie Allen in John Wick
65. Mel Gibson in The Expendables 3
66. Robert Pattinson in The Rover
67. Randall Park in The Interview 
68. Michael K. Williams in The Gambler
69. Michael Fassbender in X-Men: Days of Future Past 
70. Niwa Whatuira in The Dark Horse
    
71. Ken Watanabe in Godzilla
72. Olafur Darri Olafsson in A Walk Among the Tombstones
73. Dylan Moran in Calvary
74. Ed Helms in Stretch
75. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
76. William Hurt in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her
77. Evan Peters in X-Men: Days of Future Past 
78. Oscar Nunez in Wild Tales
79. Ciaran Hinds in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him 
80. Ben Mendelsohn in Black Sea
81. Oscar Martinez in Wild Tales 
82. Kristofer Hivju in Force Majeure
83. Chris O'Dowd in Calvary 
84. Dean Norris in Men, Women & Children
85. Alessandro Nivola in A Most Violent Year
86. Jim Bodnia in Rosewater 
87. Ronald Sehrfeld in Phoenix 
88. Scott Adsit in Big Hero 6
89. David Koechner in Cheap Thrills
90. Sam Claflin in The Riot Club 
91. Menashe Noy in Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem
92. Mark Strong in The Imitation Game
93. Jude Law in The Grand Budapest Hotel 
94. Fabrizio Rongione in Two Days One Night
95. Chris O'Dowd in St. Vincent
96. Charlie Cox in The Theory of Everything 
97. Cori Gonzalez-Macue in What We Do in the Shadows
98. Adrien Brody in The Grand Budapest Hotel
99. Andy Garcia in Kill The Messenger
100. Tim Blake Nelson in The Homesman
101. Willem Dafoe in John Wick 
102. Terence Stamp in Big Eyes
103. Billy Magnussen in Into the Woods 
104. Edward Norton in The Grand Budapest Hotel 
105. Albert Brooks in A Most Violent Year
106. Gary Oldman in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
107. Brendan Gleeson in Edge of Tomorrow
108. Bill Irwin in Interstellar 
109. Ian McKellen in X-Men: Days of Future Past
110. M. Emmet Walsh in Calvary
111. Bryan Cranston in Godzilla
112. Samuel L. Jackson in Captain America: The Winter Soldier
113. Ronnie Gene Blevins in Joe
114. David Wilmot in Calvary
115. James Corden in Begin Again
116. Kelsey Grammer in The Expendables 3  
117. Noah Taylor in Edge of Tomorrow
118. Casey Affleck in Interstellar 
119. Scoot McNairy in Black Sea
120. Adam Driver in Tracks
121. Tom Wilkinson in The Grand Budapest Hotel
122. David Harbour in A Walk Among the Tombstones
123. Mathieu Amalric in The Grand Budapest Hotel
124. James McAvoy in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her
125. Andrew Scott in Locke 
126. Tony Dalton in The Perfect Dictatorship 
127. Jeff Bridges in The Giver
128. Robert Redford in Captain America: The Winter Soldier 
129. Bill Murray in The Grand Budapest Hotel 
130. Billy Bob Thornton in The Judge 
131. Martin Sheen in Trash
132. Charles Dance in The Imitation Game 
133. Harvey Keitel in The Grand Budapest Hotel
134. Devin Ratray in Blue Ruin
135. Ken Stott in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
136. Peter Capaldi in Paddington
137. David Hasselhoff in Stretch
138. Joe Gilgun in Pride
139. Peter Dinklage in X-Men: Days of Future Past
140. Mickey Rourke in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
141. Andrew Scott in Pride 
142. Ray Winstone in Noah
143. John Carroll Lynch in Camp X-Ray 
144. Josh Hutcherson in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
     
145. Matthew Goode in The Imitation Game 
146. Robert Downey Jr. in Chef
147. Christopher Lloyd in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
148. Ian McKellen in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
149. Kevin Costner in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit 
150. Robert Pattinson in Maps to the Stars
151. Paul Jesson in Mr. Turner
152. Willem Dafoe in A Most Wanted Man 
153. Donald Sutherland in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
     
154. John Ortiz in The Drop
155. Anthony Hopkins in Noah
156. Gerard Butler in How To Train Your Dragon 2
157. Vladimir Vdovichenkov in Leviathan 
     
158. Ted Danson in The One I Love
159. Ray Liotta in Stretch 
160. Anthony Mackie in Captain America: The Winter Soldier 
161. Dominic West in Pride
162. Leonardo Sbaraglia in Wild Tales
163. Kit Harington in How To Train Your Dragon 2
164. David Oyelowo in A Most Violent Year 
165. Jeffrey Dean Morgan in The Salvation
166. James Frecheville in The Drop 
167. Jeffrey Wright in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
     
168. Peter Bowles in Lilting 
169. Woody Harrelson in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
     
170. Mark Boone Junior in Life of Crime 
171. Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
     
172. Vincent D'Onofrio in The Judge  
173. Jonathan Pryce in The Salvation
174. Lee Pace in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies 
175. Oscar Benavides in  The Perfect Dictatorship
176. Rupert Friend in Starred Up 
177. Andrew Leung in Lilting
178. Sebastian Stan in Captain American: The Winter Soldier 
     
179. Jason Schwartzman in Big Eyes 
180. Haley Joel Osment in Tusk
181. Michael Caine in Interstellar
182. Nicholas Hoult in X-Men Days of Future Past 
183. Danny Glover in Beyond the Lights 
184. Elden Henson in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
     
185. Josh Brolin in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
186. Kodi Smit-McPhee in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 
187. Diego Gentile in Wild Tales
188. Richard Sammel in 3 Days to Kill 
189. Sam Claflin in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
     
190. Bill Hader in  The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him
191. Djimon Hounsou in Guardians of Galaxy
192. Willem Dafoe in The Fault in Our Stars
193. David Gyasi in Interstellar
194. David Strathairn in Godzilla
195. Jared Harris in Pompeii 
196. Ethan Embry in Cheap Thrills
197. John Lithgow in Interstellar 
198. David Thewlis in The Theory of Everything
199. Johnny Skourtis in The Equalizer
200. Oliver Platt in Chef
201. Stephen Root in Selma
202. Lee Pace in Guardians of the Galaxy
203. Daniel Bruhl in A Most Wanted Man
204. Paul Reiser in Whiplash 
205. Sasson Gabai in Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem
206. Tom Wilkinson in Selma
207. Will Arnett in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
208. Ty Burrell in The Skeleton Twins
209. Dan Stevens in A Walk Among The Tombstones
210. Antonio Banderas in The Expendables 3 
211. Logan Lerman in Noah
212. William Fichtner in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
213. Sam Worthington in Cake
214. Simon McBurney in The Theory of Everything
215. Douglas Booth in Noah
216. William H. Macy in Cake
217. Erich Bergen in Jersey Boys 
218. John Leguizamo in Chef
219. James Badge Dale in Stretch
220. Djimon Hounsou in How to Train Your Dragon 2
221. Christopher Walken in Jersey Boys
222. Matt Damon in Interstellar
223. Kenneth Branagh in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
224. Mos Def in Begin Again
225. Terrence Howard in St. Vincent
226. Ben Huber in Honeymoon
227. John Cusack in Maps to the Stars
228. Patrick Fugit in Gone Girl
229. Tim Robbins in Life of Crime
230. Elyes Gabel in A Most Violent Year
231. Neil Patrick Harris in Gone Girl
232. Alec Baldwin in Still Alice
233. Joel Edgerton in Exodus Gods and Kings
234. Tim Roth in Selma
235. Jason Statham in The Expendables 3
236. Sam Worthington in Sabotage 
237. Johnny Depp in Tusk  
238. Douglas Booth in The Riot Club
239. Adam Sandler in Men, Women & Children
240. Michael Lomenda in Jersey Boys
241. Terry Crews in The Expendables 3
242. Dane Dehaan in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
243. Daniel Huttlestone in Into the Woods
244. Tony Shalhoub in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 
245. Wesley Snipes in The Expendables 3
246. Charlie Tahan in Love is Strange
247. Sam Trammell in The Fault in Our Stars
248. Scoot McNairy in The Rover
249. Marton Csokas in The Equalizer
250. Adam Levine in Begin Again
251. Cedric The Entertainer in Top Five 
252. Liam Hemsworth in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
     
253. Jon Bernthal in Fury
254. Danny Huston in Big Eyes
255. Miyavi in Unbroken
256. Orland Bloom in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
257. Harrison Ford in The Expendables 3
258. Terrence Howard in Sabotage 
259. Dolph Lundgren in The Expendables 3 
260. Steve Tom in Dumb and Dumber To
261. Michael Pena in Fury
262. Glen Powell in The Expendables 3 
263. Jet Li in The Expendables 3
264. Ryan Gage The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
265. Randy Couture in The Expendables 3
266. Brad Hawkins in Boyhood 
267. Nat Wolff in The Fault in Our Stars
268. Grigoriy Dobrygin in A Most Wanted Man
269. Anders Holm in The Interview
270. Evan Bird in Maps to the Stars
271. Jeremy Strong in The Judge
272. Rob Riggle in Dumb and Dumber To
273. Tracy Morgan in Top Five
274. Johnny Depp in Into the Woods 
275. John Turturro in Exodus Gods and Kings
276. Travis Tope in Men, Women & Children
277. Paul Giamatti in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
278. Victor Ortiz in The Expendables 3 
279. Aaron Paul in Exodus Gods and Kings
280. Chris Cooper in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
281. Kellan Lutz in The Expendables 3
282. Ansel Elgort in Men, Women & Children 
283. Christopher Meloni in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
284. Nick Krause in Boyhood
285. Jamie Foxx in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
286. Marton Csokas in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
287. Marco Perella in Boyhood
288. Kiefer Sutherland in Pompeii

Next Year: 1982 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2014: Josh Brolin in Inherent Vice

Josh Brolin did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for BFCA, for portraying Lt. Det. Christian "Bigfoot" Bjornsen in Inherent Vice.

Doc Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) comes across some peculiar characters in his investigation to find a missing millionaire along with his mistress Shasta who also happens to be Doc's ex-girlfriend. The most memorable of these is perhaps Bigfoot Bjorsen. Although Bigfoot is technically working the same exact case as Doc, although for the police rather than independently, he is sorta the antagonist for Doc although not for the reasons one would expect. Bigfoot is the polar opposite of Doc in many ways and Brolin is great in playing up this fact. In his physical performance, rather than the laid back ways presented by Phoenix for Doc, Brolin stands and sits with a specific posture, as though he's trying to be imposing to anyone he may speaking to. He walks with an excessively distinct step just as a super detective should, unlike the wandering step of Doc. Even their physical humor are on opposing ends, although just as funny, with doc's crazy pratfalls, against the incredibly structured way in which Bigfoot reigns down his blows against Doc, or the awkward way in which he must pick up Doc who is cradled up into the fetal position.

Brolin is hilariously hateful in his portrayal of Bigfoot's disdain for Doc's who is a bit of a personification of the hippies he despises so much. In there initial trade of information Brolin infuses a bit underlying delight as he uses some obscene hand gestures to mock Doc as he relates that Shasta and the millionaire were lovers. Brolin brings such a funny calmness to his casual harassment of Doc as he makes accusations against Doc, that Bigfoot probably does not believe himself, but gives him some pleasure to abuse Doc's rights a bit. Brolin and Phoenix have such a great way with the words in their scenes together as Bigfoot kinda talks over Doc while Doc kinda talks under Bigfoot yet they do have some sort of understanding nevertheless. The off-beat dialogue of the film really comes to life in their scenes together as Brolin and Phoenix create two unique wavelengths in terms of their methods of delivery that is rather wonderful to watch, and is incredibly effective in the way it shows the very different mindsets and views of the two characters.

Of course Brolin is great fun whenever he is messing with Doc. I particularly the scene where Bigfoot far too slowly and with far too much of a pained voice goes to inform Doc over the phone that Shasta disappeared because he'd rather let him think she died for as long as he possibly can. In fact any scene where Doc and Bigfoot talk over the phone is something special. Phoenix playing up Doc's confusion while Brolin being so funny, in playing up the extreme nature of Bigfoot's humorlessness as he speaks to Doc. Brolin plays every scene in interrogation mode as though Bigfoot really can't act in any other way even if he's telling his kid to go to bed. Brolin just is on here as there is just something really funny about him yelling for more pancakes in Japanese as well as stating so matter of fact that what he likes most is the respect he gets in the restaurant. One of my favorite scenes of old Bigfoot though is when he is actually the one being berated for once, and not by Doc, but rather his wife. Brolin is outstanding in the way he keeps Bigfoot still keeping his composure, yet he is so obviously defeated as his wife speaks for him.

Like Phoenix in the film his performance is not purely comic, although he mostly is. Brolin does not leave Bigfoot wholly one note, despite the brilliance of that one to begin with. Well there is the fact that he's a very small time actor where Brolin enjoyably shows Bigfoot very much out of his element whether it is expressing a far too much unease in his appearance on Adam-12 or the least natural delivery of "groovy" ever given. Again this is just different type of funny for Brolin to be involved with but that's not all though as Brolin does quietly exude a certain sadness about Bigfoot which he subtly grows as the case becomes thicker. Brolin artfully slowly suggests that the case does indeed have a personal connection for Bigfoot itself, and that his growing distress seems to reflect how close Doc is to closing in on the target that Bigfoot wants taken out. Brolin is particularly good at this because he never compromises just how entertaining Bigfoot is as a character, yet entirely finds the needed dramatic weight to the side of Bigfoot that shows he's more than just a detective with a big ego.

Brolin only has a handful scenes in the almost two and half hour film, with plenty of other performances that could steal a bit of his thunder, but that certainly never happens. Every single one of Brolin's scenes is a gem. This is a great dead pan performance by Brolin and almost everything he does is a bit humorous whether it's his particular way of eating a frozen Banana, or just some his perfectly timed reactionary lines such as saying that resurrections are usually left to the bunko squad with such a straight face. Honestly I could just name every single line Brolin delivers in the film as an example because of just how good of a grasp he has on his material. His best scene though may be his final scene where he gives Doc a most unexpected visit. Brolin is again really funny yet surprisingly affecting as he portrays a very disenchanted Bigfoot, who's melancholia has finally gotten the best of him, as he just breaks down first smoking then eating Doc's marijuana, but then finally fully connecting with Doc as they apologize to one another at the same exact time with the same exact words. That whole setup could have seemed a bit much the chemistry Phoenix and Brolin have make it into a natural end point for the two character's relationship. What can one really say other than Brolin gives a performance worthy of the name Bigfoot Bjornsen.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2014

And the Nominees Were Not:

Josh Brolin in Inherent Vice

Gary Poulter in Joe

Richard Armitage in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Michael Fassbender in Frank

Toby Kebbell in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Best Supporting Actor 2008: Results

5. Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road- Shannon gives an intense performance that serves the film the way it wants him to, I only wish his depiction of the mentally instability man could have been a little less obvious display of acting.

4. Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt- Phillip Seymour Hoffman gives an effective performance that succeeds in treading the fine line to keep the mystery of his character intact without making his performance seem lacking.

3. Josh Brolin in Milk- Josh Brolin although has a very limited screen time that realizes the standard politician on the outside as well as the lonely unhappy man on the inside.

2. Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder- Robert Downey Jr. gives a very enjoyable and entertaining performance by portraying a character who is entirely there to be funny by portraying him with the utmost conviction and devotion.

 

1. Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight- Excellent prediction Eddie. Heath Ledger simply gives an outstanding performance. Ledger never tries for a moment to portray the Joker in a safe fashion. Every risk that he takes with the performance that absolutely succeeds in creating a chilling entertaining and very memorable villain.

Deserving Performances:
Ralph Fiennes in In Bruges
Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading
Gary Oldman in The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actor 2008: Josh Brolin in Milk

Josh Brolin received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Dan White in Milk.

Josh Brolin portrays the eventual assassin of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) who is also his fellow San Francisco city supervisor. Watching Milk again I must say I was a little surprised to see just how little screen time Brolin actually has in the film. Yes he is a perpetual character almost throughout the film, but he only comes in and out for brief periods. Whenever Brolin is on screen though he makes a substantial impact even in the briefest moments. Brolin despite his technically limited screen time avoids ever making Dan White into just into an obvious villain for the film, or an inevitable plot development for the film, Brolin instead succeeds making Dan White into a fascinating character in his own right.

We see Dan White only really on the outside we never see him at his home, or in his personal life, and Brolin must convey everything about White in the smallest of ways. The amazing part about Brolin's performance is his success with the part, I never felt for a moment White was underdeveloped by him despite his limitations within the context of the film. Brolin performance firstly is quite successful in his representation of White for the most part such as in his public appearances. In just his public appearances Brolin just suggests Dan White as just a man passionate about his specific beliefs. He does not try to make him an evil man just a fairly typical politician, at first.

His early scenes are actually pivotal to his performance as he actually tries to be friends with the man he eventually murders. Brolin here is excellent in that he shows Dan White as a man looking for some sort of friendship, a strange man who has some sort of separation from others for whatever reason Brolin is careful not to disclose. There is a sadness though in Brolin's performance creating strangely enough a great deal of sympathy for White. He is able to keep this degree of sympathy even when he is fighting with Milk over there eventual divergences. Brolin shows White to honestly feel betrayed actually no so much for Milk not doing what he wanted, but rather clearly not being his friend that he believed he might have been.

Brolin's performance builds over every little scene showing a pressure building on him in each moment he is on screen up until the murders. Brolin is absolutely brilliant in his final scenes as he goes about the killing because of how matter of fact he is. He never shows it to be some sort of act of a lunatic for a single moment, but rather far more chilling by the act of a man who has simply gone off the edge that just seemed what he had to do. This is a terrific performance by Brolin that realizes his character fully despite his limited screen time. I only wish he frankly was given more time since what he does with White is incredible, and left me only wanting to actually see more of his character.

Best Supporting Actor 2008

And the Nominees Were:

Josh Brolin in Milk

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road

Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder