Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1986: Results

10. David Bowie in Labyrinth - Bowie delivers a perfectly serviceable performance which coasts heavily on his presence, a little too heavily as he's strangely just sort of there much of the time. Playing very much with a lack seriousness without being funny, a lack of menace without being fun and even is musical performances don't really have that much flair to them despite his costuming. 

Best Scene: Dance magic dance.  

9. Rutger Hauer in The Hitcher - Hauer is effective at being menacing in his charismatic way even if it asks far too little of him. 

Best Scene: Opening. 

8. Clancy Brown in Highlander - Brown basically gives two performances, one as a brute, one more so as a crazed villain. He's good at both even if there is a lack of cohesion. 

Best Scene: Church

7. Chow Yun-Fat in A Better Tomorrow - Chow is charismatic and brings the only real emotional impact within the overall scheme of his film. It's only a shame he's not the lead. 

Best Scene: Shoot out. 

6. Michael Caine in Mona Lisa - Caine gives a properly menacing and sleazy performance. 

Best Scene: Final confrontation. 

5. Tom Noonan in Manhunter - Noonan gives a quietly creepy performance that gets under your skin by his calm. 

Best Scene: Do you see?

4. Ray Liotta in Something Wild - Liotta takes over is film with ease giving a charismatic but properly threatening performance of a man going out of control in pursuit of his wife. 

Best Scene: Home invasion. 

3. Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet - Stockwell gives a brilliantly idiosyncratic work that is so wonderfully one of a kind in its Lynchian goodness. 

Best Scene: His scene. 

2. John Goodman in True Stories - Goodman delivers the most compelling vignettes consistently in is first funny though later moving portrayal of a man searching for love. 

Best Scene: "People like us" first try. 

1. Alan Ruck in Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Good predictions Luke, A, Tahmeed, 8000's Ytrewq, Lucas, Harris & Bryan. Though within overall a light comedy Ruck gives a genuinely emotionally nuanced and in the end quite powerful portrayal of an depressed teenager finding is strength. 

Best Scene: Killing the car. 

Updated Overall

Next: 2017 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1986: Michael Caine in Mona Lisa

Michael Caine did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Denny Mortwell in Mona Lisa. 

Michael Caine had a decent show of range for 86 between his Oscar winning performance as a fussy intellectual type going through an affair with his own wife’s sister in Hannah and Her Sisters, and the extreme shift away from that here as a gangster Mortwell, who gives recently released from prison George (Bob Hoskins) a job chauffeuring high class prostitute Simone (Cathy Tyson). The full backstory we get from Mortwell and George is relatively limited though with key hints within just a few lines of dialogue, and through the performances of Hoskins and Caine. Caine’s work has largely a singular purpose here as the central villain of the piece but what can elevate things is a keyed in performance which is what Caine delivers here. On one hand this is an entirely successful villain turn by Caine. He is menacing, particularly using his height against Hoskins to very much emphasize that presence in their scenes together, or even with Tyson as well. Caine enforces himself in certain scenes and very much presents himself with the inherent threat of Mortwell within his presence. Caine calling back, but artfully twisting his work from Get Carter, where you have that same kind of cold intensity within his work, which like that film is remarkable in itself given Caine’s common cinematic presence is charming and approachable. Caine here isn’t charming, he’s not approachable, and he is intimidating by removing those extended presence elements, yet unlike Get Carter where he is the protagonist, Caine shortens the leash that much more to make his depiction of Mortwell that much colder and contained. Which in a fascinating way the less Caine does, the more oppressive he becomes, as Caine looking at someone usually is affable, here when he stares, there is a soullessness about him that unnerves you. 

Caine is the effective villain which would be enough for this to be a good performance but what makes this a standout Caine performance is creating the sense of history and internal life within Mortwell that adds color to the role and the film. I love Caine's way of creating the story of Mortwell where we are granted the sense of basically a gangster attempting to elevate himself beyond that of the street thug, but is struggling to do so. Something we allude to in his background with George where we get the sense, George took a fall for the sake of Mortwell with the promise that Mortwell would take care of him. And what we get from Caine in one of his early scenes is a man attempting to reinvent himself, despite still being himself, as we see him talk with George with a skewed and phony grotesque version of how someone like Mortwell would believe “high class” would be. Caine’s amazing in a way by muting his own charm instead presenting someone like Mortwell failing to be charming. Caine has a smile but there’s an obvious sleaze behind it. There's a way of chatting up George like he has big plans for himself, but Caine delivers the words as empty platitudes. What Caine shows is more comfortable, or at least more natural is the violence sleazy gangster beneath any of that. Such as when George trespasses on Mortwell working a deal, Caine in a second's notice shows the real truth of Mortwell as he shows his teeth quickly and you see the vile man beneath that. Contrasting that is Mortwell pushing George to get blackmailing info on a client of Simone’s where again the asking moment is with phoniest kindly quality in Caine’s performance that perfectly sets up a gangster pretending to be far more than he ever could be. Again we see the real man, where Caine is so brutally honest by being horrible in the just barely held together raging frustration as George fails to perform what he has asked. Whenever Caine appears he makes an impact, and one of my favorite scenes honestly is when George rescues Simone’s fellow prostitute from a house Mortwell is overseeing, and we just see the silent reaction of a calm menace that is perfect work from Caine in showing the calculations in Mortwell without saying a thing. Leading to the ending where we get great acting from Caine where he begins by being terrifying by starting so quiet, letting the menace just ooze by only using the implication of danger (IASP reference intentional). As Caine presents essentially any civilized quality of Mortwell being forced and breaking down as his portrayal of the snap is not a gradual build up but just the natural reveal of the reality of Mortwell as he begins to openly threaten her and browbeat George, before physically assaulting her. We get a great subversion of this, however where the moment Simone fights back, by shooting him with a hidden gun, I love that Caine shows all the bluster and immediately leaves Mortwell and his delivery of his screams to George to help him are just a genuine pathetic man begging for his life. Caine delivers a great micro reflection of Hoskins’s work, by instead of slowly revealing the good man within the thug, Caine reveals only more sleaze, darkness and insecurity within the “respectable businessman”. 

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1986

And the Nominees Were Not:

John Goodman in True Stories

Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet

Alan Ruck in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Ray Liotta in Something Wild

Clancy Brown in Highlander

Chow Yun-Fat in A Better Tomorrow

Tom Noonan in Manhunter

Rutger Hauer in The Hitcher

Michael Caine in Mona Lisa

David Bowie in Labyrinth

Alternate Best Actor 1988: Results

5. Daniel Day-Lewis in The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Day-Lewis plays an often indifferent character however he still strikes up very effective chemistry with both of his female co-stars and stands out well in any moments of real urgency for his character.

Best Scene: Throwing the paper away.

4. Michael Caine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Caine along with his co-star Steve Martin gives a delightful turn that is particularly enjoyable in tandem with Martin's more wacky turn.

Best Scene: A cure.

3. Michael Keaton in Clean and Sober - Keaton elevates and energizes his film giving an effective and affecting portrayal of an addict slowly coming to terms with his problem.

Best Scene: Final speech.

2. Willem Dafoe in The Last Temptation of Christ - Dafoe gives a great atypical approach to his depiction of Jesus giving a powerful depiction of Jesus as the messiah but also the man dealing with facing his destiny and sacrifice.

Best Scene: Asking for the cross.

1. John Neville in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - Perhaps a surprise winner however I loved everything about this performance. Every second Neville's work is entertaining and a sheer delight in his larger than life performance. Every moment of it is a risk, and every risk pays off in this wildly endearing turn.

Best Scene: Battle with the Turks.

Updated Overall

Next Year: 1988 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 1988: Michael Caine and Steve Martin in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Michael Caine did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a Golden Globe, for portraying Lawrence Jamieson and Steve Martin did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is an enjoyable film about two rather different con men making a wager of which one can extort a rich American woman.

For the film we get perhaps get a somewhat unusual team up between Michael Caine and Steve Martin, although actually it feels quite natural as the two often play some form of scoundrel to begin with so here we get to see both fully embrace that side of their onscreen persona. Both are well cast in their respective roles and in creating their respective types as con men. Caine emphasizing very much his most suave English qualities at his disposal and offers the proper sort of grace for the character. That grace of course being this dignified method of conning women out of their cash by pretending to be a Prince in need of funds. Caine exudes such an upbringing so well though with that little glint in his eyes that always reminds of his true intentions. This is against Martin he is a bit less subtle since he's a far less subtle conman, going for the small gains, but in a big way. Martin is a terrific other side of the coin by presenting the completely unabashed style going big in the right way as his Freddy isn't afraid to look utterly pathetic in order to steal meal. Although these two both setup their differing characters well what makes this film work is cramming the two unlike pairs together.

The two's dynamic is a delight given how well their atypical chemistry comes together through their very different styles. Caine, who actually can go rather overt when he wants to as well, wisely keeps his Lawrence the far more subdued of the two, which works quite well against Martin's portrayal of Freddy's fairly bombastic approach to conning. The two are initially quite enjoyable by delivering this extreme clash as the two try to outsmart the other in a more general sense. Caine bringing almost cutthroat sort of deviousness with everyone of his knowing smiles, against Martin who just plays so well into the outrageous behavior of Freddy. Martin goes about taking every moment in bringing not a hint of modesty particularly in a scene where we see Freddy almost parading around in some of his ill-gotten games, and Martin is hilarious by being as coarse as Caine is refined. The two clash so well and I especially enjoy just the initial reactions to each other with Caine conveying a low key disgust against Martin's intrigue and a bit of confusion at his upper class rival.

When the two initially seem to come together, although it is in fact just a ploy by Lawrence to get rid of Freddy, we are granted the great dynamic the two share for much of the film. As we get Caine playing very much the straight man, well to a certain degree as he always captures that duplicitous nature of Lawrence even when he's working with Freddy, against Martin's performance. Martin often actually will often play the straight man himself and this a great example of him doing anything but. This is particularly seen in the series of scenes where Freddy helps Lawrence rid himself of some of his conned women by posing as the Prince's stunted brother. Both Caine and Martin are so enjoyable in these scenes by how well they make them work. Martin is very much off the deep end with his strange twangy accent, and the ridiculousness of his apelike physical performance, which is made all the funnier by the way Caine reacts to it. Caine giving this sincere affection with only the occasional respectful correction towards Martin in these moments is what makes them truly work. Martin goes off to sea, but Caine offers the right anchor in every moment.

Thankfully this continues though in an altered way as the two men make a bet to outfox the other in trying to con the seemingly rich and naive American Janet (Glenne Headly) out of her money. Each taking up a different approach with a Caine going the quieter route, though quieter in that he is a quietly manipulative German psychiatrist, against Martin's more overtly manipulative crippled navy man though only crippled due to a mental trauma. Each are just splendid in their own ways with Caine having such a striking undercurrent of deviousness at everyone of his concerned deliveries about Martin's Freddy though with that sinister intention in his eyes, and the always joyous grins to set him up for failure. Martin meanwhile is comic gold in being such an overt sad sack in every regard. I especially love his reactions of hidden pain when Caine sadistically tests his "injury" or his hilarious wailing when he sees Lawrence dance with Janet, since dancing "caused" Freddy's "injury". The two make so much out of every single setup. Now there is a bit of a divide though as Martin stays wholly vapid, though purposefully so even as Freddy tries to seduce Janet, while Caine slowly portrays a concern for her when it is revealed she is in fact poor. Again this isn't given too much focus however Caine makes the transition work for just a few moments, plus importantly does not drop the comedic nature of his scenes with Martin. The two are simply wonderful to watch together and let us in on the fun they seem to be having in portraying Lawrence and Freddy getting ahead of each other, then eventually both of them meeting a mutual failure.

Alternate Best Actor 1988

And the Nominees Were Not:

John Neville in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Michael Keaton in Clean and Sober

Willem Dafoe in The Last Temptation of Christ

Daniel Day-Lewis in The Unbearable Lightness of Being 

Michael Caine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Steve Martin in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

For Prediction Purposes:

Caine out of the Scoundrels

Alternate Best Actor 1969: Michael Caine in The Italian Job

Michael Caine did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Charlie Croker in The Italian Job.

The Italian Job is an enjoyable enough heist film, although I do feel it could have more fun with the colorful gang aspect. I mean why even have Benny Hill if you're going to barely use him?

Michael Caine plays cockney crook Croker who's just after being released from prison looks to find a new heist. He finds that in the form of the message of a dead man who gives him the plans on how to rip off an armored car in Italy. After some difficulty in convincing the powerful incarcerated mobster Mr. Bridger (Noël Coward) he heads the plan, with a fairly large team, to go through with the complicated plan while avoiding the Italian mafia who are very much opposed to it. This is not exactly the most complex part Michael has ever played as Charlie is just a carefree crook not at all like the ruthless crook he would play just two years later in Get Carter. Caine's performance is really just all about his charm. He's certainly likable enough in his happy go lucky manner as Croker goes about the early steps of the job, and even smiles his way through a beating at the hands of Mr. Bridger's men after he dared to interrupt his time in the bathroom.

Caine has some down moment of sorts when he's just going through the plan which he handles just fine I suppose. There are also the few moments where he interacts with the mafia boss. Caine is commanding enough in these scenes to deliver some intensity to the standoff and in turn deliver a bit gravity though this almost seems like a pointless effort since the mafia ends up factoring very little into the final conclusion of the film. Most of Caine's performance is strictly based around his charisma, and it is not like he even has really a comic presence here so to speak it's more lighthearted than anything else. Caine is charming here though in his usual slight smile Michael Caine sort of way. As charming Caine performances go I would not necessarily call it his best, as I found him more charming in The Man Who Would Be King just for one example, and that film also bothered to give him more to do than this film does. 

The whole third act of the film barely features Caine actually in that the actors barely factor in when the film depicts the heist. It keeps everything really about the images associated with it and there really are not any character moments for most of the final act. Something finally does happen though in the film's literal cliffhanger ending. It's still pretty limited stuff though but Caine certainly delivers his "great idea" line quite enjoyably. It's a fun little moment to end things on and is rather fitting for his performance which is a fun little performance. Considering the film decides to limited Croker's as a character about as much as it can he still manages to to make something out of almost nothing in terms of material. Caine is entertaining with what he does have, and what he does do works for the film's breezy tone. This is a great distance from his best work as an actor though it is a decent enough showcase for his movie star sort of appeal.

Alternate Best Actor 1969

And the Nominees Were Not:

Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider

Lino Ventura in Army of Shadows

William Holden in The Wild Bunch

Michael Caine in The Italian Job

Jean Louis Trintignant in Z

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2006: Results

5. Sergi López in Pan's Labyrinth - López gives an appropriately imposing portrayal of his sadistic character, but there just always felt like there was something missing.

Best Scene: Vidal's first torture session.

4. Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale - Mikkelsen gives an appropriately slick villainous turn, but also manages to bring more depth than one might expect from such a character.

Best Scene:  A most painful torture session. 

3. Steve Carell in Little Miss Sunshine - Carell gives a rather assured portrayal of his suicidal character who gradually finds some will to live.

Best Scene: Frank tells Dwayne to suffer.

2. Michael Caine in Children of Men - Caine gives a great supporting work where he gives a enjoyable off-beat yet still poignant turn. It's the sort of work that seems like he has more screen time than he does because of the impact he makes with the little he has.

Best Scene: Jasper says goodbye to his wife. 

1. Ben Affleck in Hollywoodland - He'd be my supporting win but I can't quite agree with that placement. In either category though Affleck gives a great performance. He brings to life the charisma yet weakness of Reeves brilliantly to life, and gives a heartbreaking portrayal of a man who never felt he soared high enough.

Best Scene: Reeves's wrestling footage. 

Overall Rank:

1. Michael Caine in Children of Men
2. Jackie Earle Haley in Little Children
3. Steve Carell in Little Miss Sunshine 
4. Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale
5. Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine
6. David Bowie in The Prestige 
7. Robert Downey Jr. in A Scanner Darkly
8. Rob Lowe in Thank You For Smoking
9. Michael Caine in The Prestige 
10. Toby Jones in The Painted Veil
11. Alec Baldwin in The Departed 
12. John Hurt in V For Vendetta
13. Sergi López in Pan's Labyrinth
14. Martin Sheen in The Departed
15. Morgan Freeman in Lucky Number Slevin
16. Bob Hoskins in Hollywoodland
17. Joe Pesci in The Good Shepherd
18. Ben Kingsley in Lucky Number Slevin
19. Giancarlo Giannini in Casino Royale
20. Mark Wahlberg in The Departed
21. Noah Emmerich in Little Children
22. Richard Sammel in OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
23. Ray Winstone in The Departed
24. Liam Cunningham in The Wind That Shakes the Barley
25. Ulrich Tukur in The Lives of Others 
26. Paul Dano in Little Miss Sunshine
27. Jeremy Piven in Smokin' Aces
28. Padraic Delaney in The Wind That Shakes the Barley
29. Jeffrey DeMunn in Hollywoodland 
30. Stephen Rea in V For Vendetta
31. Woody Harrelson in A Scanner Darkly
32. Alex Angulo in Pan's Labyrinth
33. Michael Clarke Duncan in Talladega Nights in The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
34. Tsuyoshi Ihara in Letters from Iwo Jima
35. Chris Pine in Smokin' Aces
36. Boubker Ait El Caid in Babel
37. Gary Cole in Talladega Nights in The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
38. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Mission Impossible III
39. Rufus Sewell in The Illusionist  
40. John C. Reilly in Talladega Nights in The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
41. Brad Pitt in Babel
42. J.K. Simmons in Thank You For Smoking
43. Paul Newman in Cars
44. Andy Serkis in The Prestige
45. Ray Liotta in Smokin' Aces
46. Chiwetel Ejiofor in Children of Men 
47. Leslie Phillips in Venus
48. Sam Elliot in Thank You For Smoking
49. Michael Gambon in The Good Shepherd 
50. Stephen Fry in V For Vendetta
51. Bill Nighy in Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
52. David Oyelowo in The Last King of Scotland
53. Thomas Thieme in The Lives of Others
54. Ryo Kase in Letters From Iwo Jima
55. Ben Affleck in Smokin' Aces
56. Peter Mullan in Children of Men
57. Arnold Vosloo in Blood Diamond
58. Koji Yakusho in Babel
59. Liev Schreiber in The Painted Veil
60. Robert De Niro in The Good Shepherd
61. Stellan Skarsgaard in Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
62. Alfred Molina in The Hoax
63. Dustin Hoffman in Stranger Than Fiction 
64. Gael Garcia Bernal in Babel
65. Paul Giamatti in The Illusionist 
66. Ben Foster in X-Men The Last Stand
67. John Turturro in The Good Shepherd 
68. Nestor Carbonell in Smokin' Aces
69. Michael Sheen in The Queen
70. Chiwetel Ejiofor in Inside Man
71. William H. Macy in Thank You For Smoking
72. Bill Nighy in Notes on a Scandal
73. Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls
74. Terry Crews in Idiocracy
75. Burt Young in Rocky Balboa
76. Charlie Hunnam in Children of Men
77. Simon McBurney in The Last King of Scotland
78. Stanley Tucci in Lucky Number Slevin
79. Anthony Mackie in Half Nelson
80. Willem Dafoe in Inside Man
81. Tom Hollander in Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
82. Stanley Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada
83. David Koechner in Thank You For Smoking
84. Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns
85. James Badge Dale in The Departed
86. Alec Baldwin in The Good Shepherd 
87. Greg Kinnear in Invincible
88. Billy Crudup in The Good Shepherd
89. James Cromwell in The Queen
90. William Hurt in The Good Shepherd 
91. Richard Griffiths in Venus
92. Ian McKellen in X-Men: The Last Stand
93. Jack Davenport in Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
94. Mike Starr in The Black Dahlia
95. Stanley Tucci in The Hoax
96. Bruce Willis in Lucky Number Slevin
97. Jack Nicholson in The Departed
98. Tony Burton in Rocky Balboa
99. Larry The Cable Guy in Cars 
100. Dax Shepard in Idiocracy
101. Danny Glover in Dreamgirls  
102. Kelsey Grammer in X-Men The Last Stand
103. Frank Langella in Superman Returns 
104. Jaden Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness
105. Dick Van Dyke in Night at the Museum  
106. Patrick Stewart in X-Men The Last Stand
107. Kevin McNally in Pirates of Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
108. James Marsden in Superman Returns
109. Milo Ventimiglia in Rocky Balboa
110. Jeff Daniels in RV
111. Jamie Foxx in Dreamgirls 
112. Alan Arkin in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 
113. Robin Williams in Night at the Museum
114. Aaron Eckhart in The Black Dahlia 
115. Martin Short in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 
116. Mickey Rooney in Night at the Museum
117. Dan Castellaneta in The Pursuit of Happyness
118. Andrew Simpson in Notes on a Scandal
119. Andy Garcia in Smokin' Aces
120. Rory Cochrane in A Scanner Darkly
121. Spencer Breslin in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
122. Vinnie Jones in X-Men: The Last Stand
123. Tristan Lake Leabu in Superman Returns
124. Eddie Redmayne in The Good Shepherd

Next Year: 1965 Supporting

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2006: Michael Caine in Children of Men

Michael Caine did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Jasper Palmer in Children of Men.

Michael Caine is actually rather cleverly playing a role in terms of its intent very much in type yet in a particularly against type way for Michael Caine. Caine certainly is no stranger to player the mentor type in fact that might be every other role during his later career. In fact you can see him in such a role, a rather good example of it to be sure, in The Prestige. Caine technically plays kinda a mentor of sorts to Clive Owen's Theo, but Caine's not nearly as respectable and dignified as he usually is. Jasper's a rather off-beat guy who spends his time in his hidden house where he grows his own weed for sale. Caine takes a rather cheeky approach in the role as this is more of a hippie sage style of performance rather than that of the wise old teacher he usually plays. Caine proves himself just as suited for such a role though and he transforms from his more usual style of performance quite seamlessly.

Caine based his performance on John Lennon and this certainly can be seen easily through the long locks Caine sports in the film. This extends past that though as Caine imitates the certain body language that Lennon had such as the way he would focus or his eyes or just the way he would bend over. This can almost be taken for granted though as Caine never makes a big deal out of these mannerisms but rather just quietly uses them to help establish the particularly artist flamboyancy of Jasper. Caine does splendid work here most importantly by being the only guy who seems to be genuinely happy in the film, and  even Jasper has plenty to be sad about such as his wife being in basically a comatose state. Caine though portrays the part of Jasper as the sort of guy who tries to be happy no matter what the situation as he brings such a natural glee in the part. There just a genuine warmth about everything Caine does and he does do a fantastic job of being one of the particularly colorful spots in a grey world.

It's actually rather interesting since the role of Jasper is relatively simple as he only has two sequences in which he appears. In both he tells a few jokes while delivering a bit of exposition and giving the most proper definition of being a supporting character. Caine though shows exactly how to do such a role through his exceptionally endearing portrayal of Jasper. When delivering lines about the governments oppression, the theories behind what has caused the infertility problems, how Theo and his wife met, or just very simply setting up where the next sequence of action will go Caine simply is terrific. Caine never makes these moments seem forced or at all just there to serve the plot. He also brings so much life in the character of Jasper that in these explanations he offers that of the view of a man actually having lived in the world. In addition to that Caine has just the right bit of fun when Jasper tells his often rather uncouth jokes. Caine is certainly entertaining and enjoyable, and again makes Jasper's whole style just come to life.

I would not have minded if the film had included more of Jasper since Caine is such a delight in the role. The funny thing is I always for some reason think Caine has more screen time than he does because of the impact he makes in the little time he does have. I think his very best scene shows exactly just how much Caine does with just a little bit of material. The scene is when Jasper is going to mercy kill his comatose wife just before the violent rebels looking for Theo are going to show up. It's a short moment but so beautifully handled by Caine. There such a tenderness Caine brings as Jasper says goodbye by telling his wife that he loves her one last time, and even though we never see their past Caine makes the moment perfectly heartbreaking. Caine succeeds in enlivening every second he is onscreen, and he gives a particularly memorable turn here. Caine establishes Jasper as the bright spot on the film making his final moments as disconcerting as they should be. I love Caine's performance here and it is a great example of making a small role seem grand.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2006

And the Nominees Were Not:

Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale

Michael Caine in Children of Men

Ben Affleck in Hollywoodland

Sergi Lopez in Pan's Labyrinth

Steve Carell in Little Miss Sunshine 

Alternate Best Actor 1964: Results

5. Michael Caine in Zulu- Caine makes a misstep with his characterization at the beginning of the film, but makes up for it through his more assured performance later in the film.

Best Scene: The volley.

4. Dirk Bogarde in King & Country- Bogarde gives a very solid and rather unique performance as a soldier who slowly grows more invested into his case even if that growing investment means a growing personal shame.

Best Scene: Captain Hargreaves questions his superior after the trial.

3. Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars- Eastwood is terrific in his creation of the Man with No Name who can be enjoyably deadpan but is as well can bring emotional poignancy when necessary.

Best Scene: The final duel.

2. Tom Courtenay in King & Country- Courtenay gives a heartbreaking portrait of the end result of an endless time in the trenches of World War I.

Best Scene: Private Hamp tells why he deserted.

1. Richard Attenborough in Guns at Batasi- Good Prediction RatedRStar. Attenborough gives two great performances this year with his moving portrayal of a weak man in Seance on a Wet Afternoon and his absurdly entertaining performance as Major Lauderdale a man with unshakable resolve.

Best Scene: The Major refuses to give up his arms.

Overall Rank:

1. Richard Attenborough in Guns at Batasi
2. Anthony Quinn in Zorba the Greek
3. Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove
4. Donald Pleasence in The Caretaker
5. Innokenty Smoktunovsky in Hamlet
6. Peter Ustinov in Topkapi 
7. Tom Courtenay in King & Country
8. Peter O'Toole in Becket
   
9. Richard Attenborough in Seance on a Wet Afternoon
10. Robert Shaw in The Caretaker
11. Saro Urzì in Seduced and Abandoned
12. Richard Burton in Becket
13. Eiji Okada in Woman in the Dunes
14. Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars
    
15. Dirk Bogarde in King & Country
16. Ivan Dixon in Nothing But a Man
17. Ryō Ikebe in Pale Flower
    
18. Burt Lancaster in The Train
19. Sean Connery in Goldfinger 
20. Peter Sellers in A Shot in the Dark
21. Stanley Baker in Zulu
22. Richard Burton in Night of the Iguana 
23. Vincent Price in The Masque of the Red Death
24. Yūzō Kayama in Yearning
25. Jean Desailly in The Soft Skin
    
26. Cary Grant in Father Goose
    
27. Henry Fonda in Fail-Safe
28. Alan Bates in Zorba the Greek 
29. Soumitra Chatterjee in Charulata
    
30. Cliff Robertson in The Best Man
31. Kirk Douglas in Seven Days in May
32. Sean Connery in Marnie
33. Marcello Mastroianni in Marriage, Italian Style
34. James Garner in The Americanization of Emily
35. Stephen Boyd in The Third Secret
    
36. Michael Caine in Zulu
37. Vincent Price in The Last Man on Earth
38. Maximilian Schell in Topkapi
39. Henry Fonda in The Best Man
40. Peter Finch in The Pumpkin Eater
41. Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady
    
42. Bernie Hamilton in One Potato, Two Potato
    
43. Jean-Paul Belmondo in That Man From Rio
44. Glenn Ford in Dear Heart 
45. Stephen Boyd in The Fall of the Roman Empire
    
46. Bendt Rothe in Gertrud
    
47. Richard Widmark in Cheyenne Autumn
48. Richard Boone in Rio Conchos
    
49. Nino Castelnuovo in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
    
50. Richard Harris in Red Desert 
    
51. Harve Presnell in The Unsinkable Molly Brown
52. Tony Randall in 7 Faces of Dr. Lao
    
53. Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins
54. Fred MacMurray in Kisses for My President 
55. Cameron Mitchell in Blood and Black Lace
    
56. Don Knotts in The Incredible Mr. Limpet
57. Tommy Kirk in The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
58. Ringo Starr in A Hard Day's Night
59. Paul McCartney in A Hard Day's Night
60. John Lennon in A Hard Day's Night
61. George Harrison in A Hard Day's Night
62. John Call in Santa Clause Conquers the Martians
63. Victor Stiles in Santa Clause Conquers the Martians
64. Leonard Hicks in Santa Clause Conquers the Martians

Next Year: 1964 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 1964: Michael Caine in Zulu

Michael Caine did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lt.Gonville Bromhead in Zulu.

Zulu is excellent film that depicts battle of Rourke's drift that involved less than 150 British soldiers against over three thousand Zulu warriors.

Michael Caine plays one of the two leaders of the British, the other being Lt. Chard played by Stanley Baker. Caine's role is the secondary lead though in that Bromhead ends up becoming the secondary commander to Chard who has the newer orders. I might as well start with the negative which is that this definitely is not Michael Caine's most assured performance to say the least. In the early scenes of the film Caine plays Bromhead as the overly British sort, but does not do this nearly as masterfully as Richard Attenborough did in Guns at Batasi. He's kind of enjoyable doing the stiff upper lip thing but he does over do it a tad bit especially because of the turn his performance takes later.

Eventually in the film, really once the action starts, Caine completely drops the stiff upper lip act quite quickly. There really is not too much of a transition rather he just kind of stops it immediately and begins to give a far more natural performance. This is of course poorly handled by Caine and it seems like he was not sure about exactly how to play Bromhead at first resulting in this somewhat odd change in character. I have to admit though since the film is as strong as it is I never really found Caine sudden drop of his early characterization all that distracting especially since how he portrays Bromhead for the rest of the film is a much more assured turn from Caine and suggests some of his best work as an actor.

Although I would say that Baker and Caine are the leads, this is a film that gives plenty of time to flesh out the supporting player, and the only thing that really makes Caine feel lead is that the film ends and begins with the discussions between Chard and Bromhead. Caine stands out well among the entire cast through his physical presence that properly alludes to why Caine became a star. Caine is very effective in the action scenes themselves adding a great deal of intensity to them through his performance throughout the course of the long battle. Caine basically makes up for his earlier awkward transition by being so good in his portrayal of the way Bromhead gets worn down by the battle.

Michael Caine's performance does suggest some inexperience on his part because of the mistaken approach he takes with the character at the beginning of the film, but to his credit I would still not describe him as bad in those scenes really. Caine importantly though does suggests his great talent as an actor though by doing his very best to overcome his missteps at the start with a tighter grasp on his character as the film progresses. This is a far from perfect performance by Michael Caine but in the end I would describe as a good one because once he does find the right place for Bromhead within the scope of the film he does bring the right sort of power to proceedings.

Alternate Best Actor 1964

And the Nominees Were Not:

Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars

Michael Caine in Zulu

Richard Attenborough in Guns At Batasi

Dirk Bogarde in King & Country

Tom Courtenay in King & Country

Alternate Best Actor 1975: Results

5. Gene Hackman in Night Moves- Gene Hackman as usual gives a solid performance as a footballer turned private detective who is out of his element, but his best work this year was his heartbreaking reprise of Popeye Doyle in French Connection II.

Best Scene for the French Connection II: Doyle suffers withdrawal.  

4. Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show- Curry gives a delightful entertaining strange performance that is by far the highlight of his film.

Best Scene: "Sweet Transvestite" 

3. Roy Scheider in Jaws- Scheider gives a great reactive performance that amplifies the intensity of his film by being a very human guide and who we can relate to.

Best Scene: Chief Brody sees the Shark attack. 

1. Michael Caine and Sean Connery in The Man Who Would Be King- I find it almost impossible to separate these performances as they both amplify each other through their impeccable chemistry and together they create two marvelous characters that end up both being very entertaining as well as rather heartbreaking as well. As for the year itself I feel like kicking myself for my placement for any one of the top seven performances because I love all of them. I hate putting Hackman as low as he is because I love that performance. This is just a tremendous year and all seven of my top seven would be a worthy winners.

Best Scene: Danny apologizes to Peachy. 

Overall Rank:

1. Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
2. Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon
3. Gene Hackman in French Connection II  
4. Michael Caine and Sean Connery in The Man Who Would Be King
5. Roy Scheider in Jaws  
6. Giancarlo Giannini in Seven Beauties
7. Maximilian Schell in The Man in The Glass Booth
8. Robert Redford in Three Days of the Condor 
9. Richard Dreyfuss in Inserts
10. Gene Hackman in Bite the Bullet
11. Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
12. Maxim Munzuk in Dersu Uzala
13. Gene Hackman in Night Moves
14. Robert Mitchum in Farewell, My Lovely
15. Charles Bronson in Hard Times
16. Jack Nicholson in The Passenger 
17. Sean Connery in The Wind and the Lion
18. Jack Lemmon in The Prisoner of Second Avenue 
19. Glynn Turman in Cooley High
    
20. Fabio Testi in That Most Important Thing: Love
21. Rafael Roco in Manila in The Claws of Light
22. Woody Allen in Love and Death
23. William Atherton in The Day of the Locust
24. Don Johnson in A Boy and His Dog
25. Warren Beatty in Shampoo
26. David Hemmings in Deep Red
27. George C. Scott in The Hindenburg
28. Steven Keats in Hester Street
29. Daniel Olbrychski in The Promised Land
30. Tim McIntire in A Boy and His Dog
31. James Caan in Rollerball 
32. James Coburn in Hard Times 
33. John Wayne in Brannigan
34. Dharmendra in Sholay
35. Amitabh Bachchan in Sholay
36. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs in Cooley High
    
37. Clint Eastwood in The Eiger Sanction
38. Michael Caine in The Wilby Conspiracy
39. Yury Solomin in Dersu Uzala
40. Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys
41. Victor Lanoux in Cousin Cousine
42. Sidney Poitier in The Wilby Conspiracy
43. Ryan O'Neal in Barry Lyndon
44. John Wayne in Rooster Cogburn
45. Barry Bostwick in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
46. Kirk Douglas in Once is Not Enough
47. Paul Hampton in Shivers
48. Roger Daltry in Tommy
49. David Carradine in Death Race 2000
50. James Caan in The Killer Elite

Next Year: 1948 lead

Alternate Best Actor 1975: Sean Connery and Michael Caine in The Man Who Would Be King

Sean Connery and Michael Caine did not receive Oscar nominations for portraying Daniel "Danny" Dravot and Peachy Carnehan respectively in The Man Who Would Be King.

The Man Who Would Be King is an extremely enjoyable adventure film about two former British soldiers in India who wish to set on a journey that would make them Kings in an even more secluded land.

It is interesting to note that its director John Huston intended to make it for some time originally planning for Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable to play the lead roles. Although that probably also would have made a pretty good film the performances probably would not have been nearly as fitting for the parts of Danny and Peachy. The reason I am reviewing both of them together is that it is hard to separate them, there are a few differences in their performances which I will get to, but a great deal of the success comes from their work together as one. One aspect that the two share that makes both Danny and Peachy great characters is the past of the two men that we learn from both Caine and Connery's performances.

Danny and Peachy are adventurers and con men to say the least who intend to find some fortune by out scheming one of the natives out of a fortune of some sort. These two are a mischievous sort and the duo play this marvelously. The both have wink and sly grin to go along with their scheme. They handle this just right bringing us into the scheme right along with them through their mutual charms, and never seeming self indulgent as they could have easily been. Caine and Connery are both of the time and are always within in their story with their scheming. They have a certain knowing in their style but this always feels natural to the pair while still naturally bringing out the humor of the situations they get into quite effectively.

One of the ways they do this is although they are mischievous con men they are mischievous con men who are former proper British soldiers as well. Both of their styles are a brilliant combination of both of the rather low with the oh so proper. Connery and Caine both play them with a great firmness in style and step. They were soldiers their is no doubt about that and they absolutely sell the idea that the two men would write up a proper contract about their insane expedition before starting it. They play this type of style both with the utmost conviction, but as well with the utmost wit about it too. They are able to make their march not only the march of soldiers but as well easily finds the humor in making it part of the dynamic between their actions and method.

The two act as the best type of guides as they take us through their adventure through this strange mix of proper British conviction along with their more technically low brow scheming. Connery and Caine take such an unique approach for the leads of an adventure film and it absolutely pays off. It is interesting in the way that Caine and Connery bring out the pride of individualism as men in the manner in which they go about their task even teaching the natives how to fight and die like "real" soldiers, while they have this sharp edge still as they still show a sarcasm in their delivery. Connery and Caine find such an enjoyably dichotomy that makes this such a particularly fun ride.

Caine and Connery as a duo are perfect for one another. Caine and Connery are two of the most charming and charismatic actors around, and the fact that neither out charms the other it only makes the charm of the two only amplified with the two. Caine and Connery play off each other with expert timing never seeming to lose their place as one never does for a moment overwhelm the other performance together they are just an extremely entertaining pair. What is so special though is they are able to each stand out on their own when necessary as well. When they do stand out it does not seem like they are trying to one up the other instead they each allow one another great individual moments while never losing the terrific chemistry they have together.

There is a splitting point for each though as Danny is accidentally declared a god by the natives taking a role as a King. Connery changes his style a little bit when he starts portraying Danny who is swept up into the whole idea of being a god and begins to believe it himself. Connery nicely changes from the slightly sarcastic soldier to a man of lordly dignity who wants to rule his dignity as a king and a god should. Connery is excellent as he eases into this delusion and shows that the con man starts to leave him and the over confidence of his delusions begins to rise in him. Connery makes Danny become exactly what he believes him to be, and effective shows how the former con man could so easily forget his purpose and be enveloped by the delusion.

Caine's performance moves in the other direction as Peachy's cynical edge only becomes stronger as Danny becomes more and more earnest. Caine is equally good as he moves Peachy in the opposite direction of Danny in his portrayal of Peachy's reactions to Danny. He shows Peachy almost in complete disbelief to the point that he just finds it all very amusing. Caine is very good as he moves Peachy's reaction from a cynical bemusement to the situation to a much sadder disappointment in his comrade. Caine is a very to the point as Peachy bluntly expresses this disappointment and does well to stand as basically the call for reality to Danny which is made particularly incisive because Caine expresses that the humor in Peachy is now gone from this matter.

Thanks to the schism between Danny and Peachy is believably portrayed it really makes the finale of the film all the more powerful. After Danny's godhood is shown to be nothing more than a falsehood. This revelation leads them both two a bitter end and a quick reconciliation as they find themselves surrounded by angry natives. When Danny apologizes to Peachy it is a great  moment because it not only is it very funny in the way they still do things in their proper British fashion, but it is also very sweet in that it shows how genuine the friendship between the two has been all along. This also contributes incredible final scene between the two of them as Danny goes to meet his maker. It is a beautiful scene as they both sing "The Son Of God Goes Forth to War" and we see just how much Danny and Peachy really meant to each other as well as how much we as the audience have grown to love the rascals.

These are great performances all on their own and truly something special when considered together. Sometimes with two leads there is a duel to see who conquers the picture, but in this case Caine and Connery rule the picture as Kings together. Neither shines brighter than the other they together instead are almost symbiotic in their characterizations of these peculiar yet very endearing pair of adventurers. The two together are both in top form throughout the picture, they are brilliant as a team and stay brilliant even when they slide apart. These are wonderful turns from both actors and rank as some of the very best work from each of the actor's cannon, and they just might create two of the very best characters you have ever been able to go on an adventure like this with.