Best Supporting Actor 1988: Results

5. Dean Stockwell in Married to The Mob- Stockwell plays his part as he should be but it never amounts to anything that special. I think I was actually more impressed by his single scene performance in Tucker as Howard Hughes.

4. Martin Landau in Tucker: The Man and His Dream- Although he has a rather limited part Landau makes the most out of his performance.

3. River Phoenix in Running on Empty- Phoenix gives an appropriately quiet and effective lead performance.

2. Alec Guinness in Little Dorrit- As usual with Guinness, Guinness naturally gives a layered and effective performance. Guinness easily shows the various facets of his character as well as makes his progression that seems unnatural natural.

1. Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda- Kline gives an extremely enjoyable and entertaining performance. Although broad comedy can easily be done wrong Kline never gets it wrong for a moment in his hilarious performance.

Deserving Performances:
Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda
Alan Rickman in Die Hard

Best Supporting Actor 1988: Martin Landau in Tucker: The Man and His Dream

Martin Landau received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Abe Karatz in Tucker: The Man and His Dream.

Tucker: The Man and His Dreams depicts the efforts of Preston Tucker (Jeff Bridges) to bring to life his pioneering car design despite severe opposition from the big three Automobile producers.

Martin Landau plays a businessman Abe Karatz who is the first person of business to hear about Tucker's specific idea. Landau does a good job of just establishing the type of man Abe Karatz is simply through the way he walks and talks. Landau shows just from an always slightly harried look, and a tired walk that Karatz has frankly been through some bad buisness deals. Landau though shows not so many that he has given up his pursuit of money, but Landau shows in his whole body language that Abe is a business man through and through.

Martin Landau actually for a good amount of the film does not get to do very much other than talk about business and be aghast at some of Tucker's more flamboyant actions. There are certain moments though which shows Abe's slowly growing more attached to Tucker and his family, as well as Tucker's idea. Although for most of the film it is not given much time, but Landau is effective as he slowly shows Abe warm up to Tucker and his group quite effectively without it seeming at all forced.

Landau's most important scenes though come at the end of the film where Tucker faces some serious troubles when he is being prosecuted for fraud, and Abe reveals that he had earlier served time for bank fraud. Landau is great in his two key scenes one where he tells Tucker how he has grown to truly believe in Tuckers dream, which is effectively moving becuase Landau shows that this is first thing Abe has really ever believed in a very long time.

Landau's other most important moment comes from his single scene where he is testifying at the trial. Landau's performance is just great when Abe is asked if he expects anyone to believe him, and he says in reply "one". Landau in this moment shows an honest portrayal of friendship with Tucker as well as an earnest belief in Tucker himself. Although Landau never quite is amazing, and his part is sometimes limited he gives an effective performance that adds well to his film.

Best Supporting Actor 1988

And the Nominees Were:

Alec Guinness in Little Dorrit

River Phoenix in Running on Empty

Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda

Martin Landau in Tucker: The Man and His Dream

Dean Stockwell in Married to the Mob

Best Supporting Actor 1989: Results

5. Dan Aykroyd in Driving Miss Daisy- Aykroyd is not given much to do, but he adds a nice charm, as well as a descent amount of humor to the part.

4. Marlon Brando in A Dry White Season- Marlon Brando is in basically two scenes, and he is good in them both, although not amazing.

3. Denzel Washington in Glory- Although he overacts a bit at the beginning of the film, after that he gives a consistently effective performance particularly in his quiet scenes where he shows the true beliefs of the character.

2. Danny Aiello in Do The Right Thing- Aiello's performance is great throughout the film and manages to make a fascinating character. Aiello always stays true to the part, and life as he gives a interesting characterization of a man who believes in what he has built more than anything else.

1. Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors- Although Landau is clearly the lead in the film I do not disqualify therefore Landau is my choice. Landau gives a powerful and haunting performance as a man who confronts his morals, and looks into his own soul when faced with his crimes.

Deserving Performances:
Hugh O'Connor in My Left Foot
Sean Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Best Supporting Actor 1989: Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors

Martin Landau received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Judah Rosenthal in Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Crimes and Misdemeanors tells the stories of two men's marital indiscretions one done in a very dark and serious fashion the other done in a light comic fashion.

Martin Landau is the man of the serious half of the film, and there really is nothing supporting about his performance. He is the absolute lead of his half of the film, which has just as much probably more importance than Woody Allen's personal section of the film. In Landau section Judah has already performed the adultery, rather than just attempting it. He is forced to face his crime against his family because the woman (Angelica Huston) he had the affair with is emotionally unstable and plains to tell Judah's wife everything.

Martin Landau performance is a very intriguing one as he portrays Judah's entire moral dilemma as he examines his entire moral philosophy, and some of his religious ideas he still holds in some way deep inside himself. His moral dilemma really does not come from the fact of the affair, but it mostly comes from the idea of doing away with his mistress in order to be able never to have to directly face his crimes in any sort of way.

Landau whole performance is a very subtle, and very powerful performance. What is so strong about his performance is the fact that he never has a false note in the entirety whether it is during Judah's moments of morality, or amorality Landau always give an entirely truthful performance through every aspect of his story Landau always presents the story of a really man in this situation this is what makes Judah's story all the more haunting.

In the short flashback moments of the affair Landau certianly shows a happy Judah, certianly not in the least minding his degree of amorality by partaking in his affair. At the end of the affair it is offset by Judah ending it before being face with responsibility of the crime. In these scenes again Landau is yet to show true guilt over his actions instead he merely shows that Judah's anxiety and anger over the idea of having to lose anything he has gained in life due to his faults.

It is only when he is about to face his decision to deal with the situation, and after that decision where he truly examines the morality of himself. Landau is absolutely brilliant in all of these scenes showing the eternal struggle within Judah. Landau combines a coldness, particularly when he decides to take action that has an incredibly chilling quality due to Landau showing the Judah's agreement with lack of immorality.

To counterpoint that after his decision he comes face to face with a tremendous guilt he feels over his crime finally coming face to face with his ideas of morality. This is something amazing about Landau entire scenes of guilt not only because of his incredible transition to finally feeling the fully, but also because of the depth of the soul Landau manages to bring out in these scenes particularly in his scene where he see his old family having dinner, and asks them about his dilemma. Landau face, and reaction in this scene is simply perfect.

In the end though Judah comes to grips with himself and his morality to determine that in fact he can live with himself despite the crimes that he has done. There is a dark quality to his performance here because Landau shows that Judah has a great comfort in himself. Landau though I do no think leaves it a closed case entirely, although he almost does. Landau carefully does such a little ambiguity in the end with Judah, an ambiguity that suggests that maybe his guilt still resides, but no longer as it was. Landau entire performance is a brilliant portrait of this man that is both intriguing, as well as haunting.

Best Supporting Actor 1989

And the Nominees Were:

Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors

Marlon Brando in A Dry White Season

Denzel Washington in Glory

Danny Aiello in Do The Right Thing

Dan Aykroyd in Driving Miss Daisy

Best Supporting Actor 1994: Results

5. Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway- Palminteri plays his role straight as the play writing gangster, and just as it should be played.

4. Paul Scofield in Quiz Show- Scofield gives a quiet dignified performance that effectively places the emphasis on the underlying warmth of his character.

3. Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump- Sinise finds the right balance within the film's tone. Although held back by it to a degree, Sinise never underwhelms within those limitations.

2. Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction- Jackson works well with John Travolta to create a some very iconic moments. More importantly Jackson has a strong presence throughout the film, and makes a believable and effective transition from a man of violence to a man of peace.

1. Martin Landau in Ed Wood- This actually is a pretty good supporting year. The Palminteri, Sinise, and Scofield are all good in their own ways, Jackson is great and would have been a deserving winner in many other years, but Landau still stands high above the rest. His portrayal of Bela Lugosi is just astounding from beginning to end. It is a sad poignant performance, but also an incredibly entertaining performance. It is a true embodiment of Lugosi, which is simply a pleasure to behold.

Deserving Performances:
Open to suggestions

Best Supporting Actor 1994: Martin Landau in Ed Wood

Martin Landau won an Oscar from his third nomination for portraying Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.

I am not a fan of Tim Burton, but I must admit to really enjoying Ed Wood every time that I watch it.

Martin Landau's performance as the has been  drug addicted Bela Lugosi is simply an outstanding performance. The first incredible part of his performance is how much he simply is Bela Lugosi in this role. I never at all saw him as Martin Landau in the performance, all I ever saw was Bela Lugosi. Landau is amazing in that every single time I have seen the film I have never questioned for a second that he was Lugosi, he just was this. The amazing part is that the make up was only part of this. More importantly was the way managed to introvert his manner, into the distinct way Lugosi walks and moves. Something even more impressive though is the fact he is able to realize the eyes of Lugosi, that one would think only Lugosi has, but Landau is able to convey the same mysterious feeling from his eyes as Lugosi had been able to which is simply amazing.

His performance though is not only a perfect embodiment of Lugosi but also a brilliant comedic and tragic performance as the broken down Lugosi. Landau handles the comedic aspects of Lugosi with gusto. The film exploits Lugosi's presence and accent, also exceptionally well done by Landau by the way, for great comedic effect. The whole swearing, and anger is surprising how funny it is without being forced. I really thought Landau did wonders with Lugosi's swearing, he firstly actually made it sound natural, but also utilized it for rather brilliant comedic timing. Landau simply has hilarious moments throughout his performance, particularly when he has to fake a struggle with a non functioning Octopus prop, or when he flips out at the mention of Boris Karloff. Landau performance simply is a pitch perfect comedic performance.

The astonishing part though is how effective of a dramatic performance he gives as well. I really find his creates an intricate portrait of a sad man who has gone far past his prime. Landau's performance is sad and quite profound. In his face Landau shows a really sad history of a man whose truly fallen from what he once was. Landau shows that Lugosi truly wishes for a time once again. That he wishes for some sort of success even though he saddened by his past and his current failures. Landau performance only ever contains honest emotion in conveying the struggle of this sad man with the utmost poignancy and power. Something interesting to note is Lugosi is a morphine addict. Most performances would focus only or too much on this aspect, but Landau simply weaves into the whole of Lugosi. Landau portrayal of his withdrawal and sickness is superb as well, but it just shows how brilliant this performance is when that aspect of Lugosi is only a small part of his performance.

Landau does not only portray his as sad or funny, but also does show a certian amount of exhilaration from meeting Ed Wood. Landau shows honestly that Lugosi enjoys acting, even acting in the terrible films of Ed Wood. Landau shows the perfect amount of energy and joy he has when eh is performing in the films, it is quite astounding how Landau shows Lugosi joy of performance within his own performance. Another aspect of some joy in Lugosi's otherwise sad life is his friendship with Ed Wood. I think both actors actually are very good in showing that Lugosi and Wood honestly have a very sweet friendship with one another, a simple friendship but a very effective one. Overall Landau's work is just astounding, it is a truly exceptional piece of actor that honestly puts other performances to shame since it never simplifies his character or his performance. It is not only an embodiment of a real person, but also a brilliant, sad, funny, thrilling performance. It really is just one of the best performances I have seen, period.

Best Supporting Actor 1994

And the Nominees Were:

Paul Scofield in Quiz Show

Chazz Palminteri in Bullets over Broadway

Martin Landau in Ed Wood

Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction

Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump