Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1997: Results

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

Best Scene: Pretty much every scene.

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

Best Scene: Jerome sends Vincent on his way.

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

Best Scene: Sid Hudgens's interrogation.

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

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

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

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

Overall Rank:

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

Next Year: 1933 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1997: Jude Law in Gattaca

Jude Law did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Jerome Eugene Morrow in Gattaca.

Gattaca is an interesting and mostly effective sci-fi thriller, although I think it does try too hard to pull all the story lines together at the end, about a man who is deemed genetically inferior who assumes the identity of a genetically superior man in order to achieve his dream of space travel.

Ethan Hawke plays the man, Vincent, who usurps a genetically "perfect" man's position who is played by Jude Law. Hawke and Law seem to make sense for this type of arrangement. Not only because they do bear some physical similarities but also rather strangely, I feel, both are, in the general public sense, somewhat undervalued as actors. Jude Law is an interesting actor to me in that despite being a leading man, and I do like him just fine as a leading man, his best performances come from more character actor type roles like in A.I., The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Road to Perdition. This is once again a supporting role for Jude Law as he plays the genetically "pure" man who allows his identity to be taken since he has suffered an injury which leaves him crippled from the waist down. Jerome gives his name to Vincent as well as various samples needed for various tests in exchange simply for the cash to allow him to live a similar lifestyle to the one that he had been accustom to before his accident.

Law effectively makes a fierce impact the moment we see him in onscreen. Law's creates a palatable sense of bitterness in his performance as Jerome is forced to give up his own "perfect" status for another. Law does not simply leave this as the only reason for Jerome's overall state as Jerome explain that even in his seemingly perfect state of health he was unable to be the best at his own chosen goal. Law does not simply suggest the emotions as something simple but brings the complexity they deserve. Law has a cynicism in his manner fitting for a man who seems to have been betrayed by fate as well as the whole promise of his existence. Along with that though Law as well conveys the depression of Jerome, as he seems to be pained by the simple fact that he is living a life that is anything but perfection. Law gives the state of the man and brilliantly gives us the past life of the man without ever having to show a single scene of Jerome before his accident.

Once they begin their ruse Law and Hawke share many scenes together discussing the various success and problems that arise from their arrangement. Law almost supersedes Hawke in portraying the main character arc of the film because Hawke perhaps plays the role with a little too much confidence from the beginning. He plays his character as almost completely ready from the beginning and there is not all that much change. Law on the other hand is extremely effective in showing how the real Jerome is changed by the exploits of the fake Jerome. Law makes Jerome extremely easy to invest into despite the fact that Jerome simply is becoming invested into the exploits of fake Jerome. Law is convincing in creating this odd form of empathy as Law in a way becomes the one who shows a growing intensity due to the growing intensity of the situation. Law as well is the one who shows Jerome grow as they seem closer to the goal, and brings an honest poignancy to showing basically life come back to this man simply by seeing another man fulfill his inspiration.

Most of the problems in the film actually come from the fact that the film fails to completely give Law his due. Every scene with Law is compelling because Law makes Jerome such a compelling person all on his own, when he very easily could have simply been a plot device. I wanted more of him and of the odd relationship between the two men playing the same men, but the film unfortunately too often decides against this approach. This only becomes more problematic though by the ending which I think completely undervalues what Law does in the role. The film ends with Hawke's Vincent managing, against all the odds, to make it out into space finally, but at the same time Jerome decides to suddenly commit suicide at the same time. I can only feel that this was the writer trying for too much symbolism as the imperfect man makes it to the stars, and the perfect one burns alive. The ending was not deserving for the character and certainly not the life Law managed to give him. It might have made sense for the Jerome we met at the beginning, but not in the way Law grew the character as the film progressed. Technically Law, I suppose, should have given a lesser performance that just kept Jerome as constant to make the ending make more sense, but no I prefer the great performance he gave instead, and really it's the ending that should have changed not Law's performance.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1997

And the Nominees Were Not:

James Cromwell in L.A. Confidential

Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential

Robert Blake in Lost Highway

Jude Law in Gattaca

Billy Zane in Titanic 

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001: Results

5. Steve Buscemi in Ghost World- This is an entirely solid performance by Steve Buscemi, but for me it is just that.

4. Viggo Mortensen in The Fellowship of the Ring- Mortensen gives a strong performance balancing well both the strength and underlying weakness in his character. He never becomes the highlight of any of the individual films, but his Aragorn is a highlight of the trilogy as a whole.

3. Brian Cox in L.I.E- Brian Cox plays a very risky role to say the least and Cox maybe plays it too well being a complete creep, but still a charming and very down to earth sort of creep.

2. Jude Law in A.I. Artificial Intelligence- Law is very effective here being quite artificial in his showman's manner. but still having a decent amount of humanity that brings out in his character's warmth and wisdom.

1. Sean Bean in The Fellowship of the Ring- When I watched this film for the first time over ten years ago Bean probably would not have been the first actor I would have mentioned when speaking about the strengths of the film. It was not that I did not like him, I liked him but I took what he did in the role for granted. Bean goes beyond his call of duty here in his portrayal of Boromir who could have easily just been a prideful dupe. Instead he brings a great deal of honest emotion to the role and turns Boromir's folly into the tragic portrait of a patriotic career soldier whose emotions slowly overwhelm and get the best of him.

Overall Rank:

1. Anthony Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantis 
2. Ian McKellen in The Fellowship of the Ring
3. Sean Bean in The Fellowship of the Ring
4. Jude Law in A.I. Artificial Intelligence
5. Brian Cox in L.I.E.
6. Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast
7. Alan Cumming in Josie and The Pussycats
8. Paul Bettany in A Knight's Tale
9. James Gandolfini in The Mexican
10. Ian Holm in The Fellowship of the Ring
11. Luke Wilson in The Royal Tenenbaums
12. Teruyuki Kagawa in Devils on the Doorstep
    
13. Justin Theroux in Mulholland Drive
14. Tsutomu Yamazaki in Go
15. Viggo Mortensen in The Fellowship of the Ring
16. Ben Stiller in The Royal Tenenbaums
17. Tony Shalhoub in The Man Who Wasn't There
18. Mark Addy in A Knight's Tale 
19. Héctor Benjamín Alterio in Son of the Bride
20. Mark Pellegrino in Mulholland Drive
21. Steve Buscemi in Ghost World 
22. Timothy Spall in Intimacy
23. Ed Harris in A Beautiful Mind
24. Geoffrey Rush in Lantana
25. Monty Montgomery in Mulholland Drive 
26. Sean Astin in The Fellowship of the Ring
27. Robbie Coltrane in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
28. Paul Bettany in A Beautiful Mind
29. Clive Owen in Gosford Park
30. Kenya Sawada in Devils on the Doorstep
    
31. Ian McShane in Sexy Beast
32. Christopher Lee in The Fellowship of the Ring
33. Martin Landau in The Majestic 
34. Ricky Jay in Heist
35. Peter Boyle in Monster's Ball
36. James Gandolfini in The Man Who Wasn't There
37. Mickey Rourke in The Pledge
38. Yuan Ding in Devils on the Doorstep
    
39. Heath Ledger in Monster's Ball
40. Jim Broadbent in Moulin Rouge!
41. Danny DeVito in Heist 
42. Zhijun Cong in Devils on the Doorstep
    
43. Patrick Fischler in Mulholland Drive
44. Richard Harris in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
45. Owen Wilson in The Royal Tenenbaums
46. Delroy Lindo in Heist
47. Federico Luppi in The Devil's Backbone 
48. Alan Tudyk in A Knight's Tale
49. Aries Spears in Josie and the Pussycats
50. Cast of Black Hawk Down
51. Bill Murray in The Royal Tenenbaums
52. Hugh Bonneville in Iris
53. Jon Polito in The Man Who Wasn't There
54. Andy Garcia in Ocean's Eleven
55. John Lone in Rush Hour 2
56. Holmes Osborne in Donnie Darko
57. John Rhys-Davies in The Fellowship of the Ring
58. Nick Stahl in In The Bedroom
59. Carson Daly in Josie and the Pussycats
60. Peter Falk in Made
61. William Hurt in A.I. Artificial Intelligence
62. James Whitmore in The Majestic
63. Hugo Weaving in The Fellowship of the Ring
64. Angelo Badalmenti in Mulholland Drive
65. Alan Rickman in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
66. John Hurt in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
67. Patrick Swayze in Donnie Darko
68. Kurt Russell in Vanilla Sky
69. Gene Hackman in The Mexican
70. Alan Bates in Gosford Park 
71. Marlon Brando in The Score 
72. Lindsay Honey in Last Resort
    
73. Seth Green in Josie and the Pussycays
74. Breckin Meyer in Josie and the Pussycats
75. Donald Faison in Josie and the Pussycats
76. Billy Boyd in The Fellowship of the Ring
77. Noah Taylor in Vanilla Sky
78. David Duchovny in Zoolander
79. Mario Van Peebles in Ali 
80. Sam Rockwell in Heist
81. Seymour Cassel in The Royal Tenenbaums
82. Eduardo Noriega in The Devil's Backbone
83. Paul Reubens in Blow
84. Moni Moshonov in Late Marriage
85. Ed Harris in Enemy at the Gates
86. Pete Postlethewaite in The Shipping News 
87. James Gandolfini in The Last Castle
88. Simon Cowell in No Man's Land
89. Sam Rockwell in Made
90. Richard Jenkins in The Man Who Wasn't There
91. Brendan Gleeson in A.I. Artificial Intelligence
92. Christopher Plummer in A Beautiful Mind
93. Scott Glenn in The Shipping News
94. Will Ferrell in Zoolander
95. Richard Griffiths in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
96. Tom Noonan in The Pledge
97. Owen Wilson in Zoolander
98. José Dumont in Behind the Sun 
99. Cavan Kendall in Sexy Beast
100. Carl Reiner in Ocean's Eleven
101. Jason Lee in Vanilla's Sky
102. Michael Gambon in Gosford Park
103. Kumar Pallana in The Royal Tenenbaums
104. Bob Balaban in Gosford Park
105. Benecio Del Toro in The Pledge
106. Michael Badalucco in The Man Who Wasn't There
107. Gabriel Mann in Josie and the Pussycats
108. Don Cheadle in Swordfish
109. Paul Blackthorne in Lagaan
110. William Mapouther in In The Bedroom
111. Christopher Walken in Joe Dirt
112. Elliot Gould in Ocean's Eleven
113. Danny Glover in The Royal Tenenbaums
114. Stephen Dillane in The Spy Game
115. Jon Voight in Zoolander
116. Ron Silver in Ali
117. Michael Jeter in Jurassic Park III
118. Ian Hart in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
119. Ryan Phillipe in Gosford Park
120. Jerry Stiller in Zoolander
121. Orlando Bloom in The Fellowship of the Ring
122. Bran Renfro in Ghost World
123. Bernie Mac in Ocean's Eleven
124. Bob Balaban in Ghost World
125. J.K. Simmons in The Mexican
126. Aaron Eckhart in The Pledge
127. Tom Felton in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
128. William H. Macy in Jurassic Park III
129. Steve Buscemi in Domestic Disturbance
130. Eddie Murphy in Shrek
131. Cuba Gooding Jr. in Pearl Harbor
132. Hayden Christensen in Life as A House
133. Rupert Grint in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
134. Matt Damon in Ocean's Eleven
135. Dominic Monaghan in The Fellowship of the Ring
136. Don Cheadle in Ocean's Eleven
137. Oded Fehr in The Mummy Returns
138. Vince Vaughn in Domestic Disturbance
139. Joseph Fiennes in Enemy At the Gates
140. Mark Ruffalo in The Last Castle
141. Paulo Costanzo in Josie and The Pussycats
142. Alec Baldwin in Pearl Harbor
143. Sam Robards in A.I. Artificial Intelligence
144. Rufus Sewell in A Knight's Tale
145. Jon Voight in Ali
146. Arnold Vosloo in The Mummy Returns
147. Jamie Foxx in Ali
148. Jon Voight in Pearl Harbor
149. Iain Glen in Tomb Raider
150. Richard Roxburgh in Moulin Rouge!
151. Alessandro Nivola in Jurassic park III
152. John Hannah in The Mummy Returns
153. Trevor Morgan in Jurassic Park III
154. Freddie Boath in The Mummy Returns
155. John Leguizamo in Moulin Rouge!

Next Year: 1975 Supporting

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001: Jude Law in A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Jude Law did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a Golden Globe, for portraying Gigolo Joe in A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence is an intriguing film, although a far from perfect film that wears out its welcome by the end, about an artificial boy named David (Haley Joel Osment) who wishes to become real to be loved by his human mother.

Jude Law plays Gigolo Joe an artificial prostitute who befriends David after David has been abandoned. Joe himself is in a precarious place by being framed for the murder of one of his clients. Joe acts as David's guide to the real world and the world of the robots as they both travel along as David searches for the blue fairy he believes will be able to turn him into a real boy. Law much like Osment is very good in making the android. They both are good in making certain tics that seem unnatural and that of a robot yet still seeming very human as well, and create the androids as truly strange things that both seem like real humans but are not quite.

Law is great as being the hustler selling his "wares" with his own particular and rather sensual style. Law does not play the part as the usually sort of selling himself, as he is not the usual sort, after all he was only ever programmed to do such things. Law instead shows Joe as a performer above else, and does this with considerable style and charm. He does not show Joe as a troubled man, but rather something selling its trade using his charisma and abilities to do so. Law is very effective showing that for Joe being a prostitute is merely something he was born to do therefore he will be don it with plenty of pleasure, and never a single thought questioning his "life" path.

Law has a great presence here making Joe very likable, and adding some much needed humor to a film that is pretty harsh otherwise. He is great in his scenes with Osment and the two make a rather particular pair. They form an unusual friendship that never seems like the mentor/protege, but instead they strike up a rather unique dynamic that is rather interesting. Law mixes well the various emotions that Joe comes with when it comes to dealing with David's journey. He has a nice warmth though still in Joe's hustler style that comes with the information he lends to David as David attempts to help David find his blue fairy. Law makes the connection between Joe and David moving as well as believable.

The balance of their relationship comes with that Joe is also aware of the hatred humans have for the artificial beings. Law balances a certain coldness from Joe's experiences with the warmth in being caught up with David's dreams quite brilliantly. It is difficult to be both the optimist and the cynic but Law manages it in a rather memorable fashion. His scenes total not a great deal of time but Law makes his stamp on the film with his performance despite this film being easily one where the acting could be overshadowed by the writing, and direction. Law finds just the right path with his character making him a certainly a robot but one where humanity lies as well. This is strong work, and honestly I wished his exit from the film was a little less abrupt as Joe could have easily lead a film.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001

And the Nominees Were Not:

Sean Bean in The Fellowship of the Ring

Viggo Mortensen in The Fellowship of the Ring

Jude Law in A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Brian Cox in L.I.E

Steve Buscemi in Ghost World

Best Supporting Actor 1999: Results

5. Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules- Caine with a strange accent gives a dull sometimes almost lifeless performance that never seems to bring the genuine emotions one would for a part that seems like it is only ever trying to be emotional.

4. Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile-Duncan achieves this well with his performance by finding just the right sort of characterization for Coffey all the way through the film.

3. Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley-  Law gives an performance effective because he never only seizes one note with his performance and realistically portrays both Dickie's cruel and charming side equally well.

2. Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense- It would have been very easy to lose the human element to the horror that comes into the film, but Osment always is able to keep the humanity in his character alive throughout the film in his performance.

1. Tom Cruise in Magnolia- Cruise might not be my favorite actor, but he is absolutely brilliant here absolutely succeeding with a character that could have gone wrong in a great number of ways but never does. He turns his bizarre guru in a memorable and very intriguing character.

Deserving Performances:
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Magnolia
Alan Rickman in Galaxy Quest

Best Supporting Actor 1999: Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley

Jude Law received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Dickie Greenleaf in The Talented Mr. Ripley.

The Talented Mr. Ripley details Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) a strange young man who sent to Europe return a rich man's son, but does far differently than what was planned.

Jude Law portray Dickie Greenleaf the rich man's son who is a rather shallow character. The whole point of his character though is this fact as he is not a very depth filled man in the least. Dickie is far more of just a spoiled rich brat who wants to just sort of live his way no matter what the consequences may be to others, or how he treats some of the various people around him. Portraying a shallow character actually can be more difficult that it might seems because one must avoid only giving an entirely shallow performance as well. Law though avoids this portraying the rather shallow Dickie creating a realistic portrait of a shallow man.

In his early scenes when he first meets Ripley there the right sort of welcoming quality in Law's performance. I would not say a warmth but most certainly there is a great deal of charm Law has as Dickie. He effectively does make us like him even if he really is lacking in likable qualities simply because of this charm that is present in Law's performance as Dickie. He makes it entirely believable that everyone around him is basically swept up by him whether it be Tom, his girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow), or his other friend Freddie (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Dickie though is in a way just a charm though that can only last for so long as he still is a shallow man who most certainly uses whatever he wants out of other just like Tom Ripley. The difference though between he and Tom though is that Law shows Dickie manipulations of still a man rather than the calculated villain that is Ripley. What makes the the cold side so effective though is the way Law's completely authentic fashion in which he portrays this coldness. He shows it as just a part of the spoiled brat that is Dickie it is just something he does and barely even thinks about.

Law effectively portrays this cruelty he is just as believable in causing Ripley's alienation as he was in bringing him in with his charm. Law is effective because he never only seizes one note with his performance and realistically portrays Dickie many sides of his personality well. He can go from absolutely charming to absolutely cruel in just a few moments believably because of Law. Dickie is indeed a shallow individual, but Law never portrays him in shallow way. He realizes a fully fledged character in his own right that fulfills his role in the film.

Best Supporting Actor 1999

And the Nominees Were:

Tom Cruise in Magnolia

Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley

Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules

Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile

Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense

Best Actor 2003: Results

5. Ben Kingsley in The House of Sand and Fog- Kingsley stays far too stiff throughout his performance to ever create an effective or even at times believable character.

4. Sean Penn in Mystic River- Penn's is one over the top hammy work that overcompensates in basically every moment.

3. Jude Law in Cold Mountain- I was very close to giving the win to Law because his performance really is the most consistent. He is good throughout but I never felt he was required to do that much overall.

2. Bill Murray in Lost in Translation- The only performance in this year that does not do an accent is my choice in a very close margin with Law, and in a year where I did not fell strongly about a single performance. But my choice goes to Murray because when he being basically Murray that is something no one else can do anyways, and when he tries for more with the performance he does succeed very well.

1. Johnny Depp in The Pirates of the Carribbean - Depp gives an instantly iconic performance that's entertaining to watch, but here in the original incarnation contains an actual depth as well.

My Nominees:
 I can't really think of any performances I feel strongly about oh wait...

Tommy Wiseau in the room should have been the only nominee because no performance can stand next to this one.

Best Actor 2003: Jude Law in Cold Mountain

Jude Law received his second Oscar nomination for portraying W. P. Inman a confederate deserter in the civil war in Cold Mountain.

Cold Mountain is a film that has some interesting moments but overall it is a bit of a confused effort partially due to its inability to keep a successful tone for the film.

Jude Law's performance as Inman is a rather interesting nomination because it is not showy in the least. The most showy thing Law does in the film is the fact he does a southern accent I suppose. He is actually fine with the accent because he does not overdo it unlike fellow cast members whose last name starts with a Z, it might be perfect but it is not distracting. But beside that Law never really has many "acting" scenes so to speak. There are not many scenes where he has to really control a scene with his performance instead he mostly reacts to what is going on around him.

I do not have a problem with that really because what he does do suits his purpose in the film well, because he acts as a guide through the Civil War South, someone that the viewer follows and experiences the stranger things with. He really has a mostly standard leading  man role and he does a fine job with it. He is always a fine presence throughout the film. He never does or needs to do anything overly amazing with his performance but he is good throughout.

He can always be watched plainly and keeps his story interesting enough to follow, but this is not the greatest lead performance ever. Law does not have the greatest screen presence ever but he has a fine presence. Law only really has one extremely emotional scene near the end and he does fine with it. His romantic chemistry with Kidman is fine.  Everything about his performance is fine. He never is great but he never is bad. A performance that completely serves its purpose and is never wrong.

Best Actor 2003

And the Nominees Were:

Sean Penn in Mystic River

Jude Law in Cold Mountain

Bill Murray in Lost in Translation

Ben Kingsley in The House of Sand and Fog

Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 

Who do you Pick? What do you predict my ranking will be?