Alternate Best Actor 2021: Results

10. Peter Dinklage in Cyrano - Dinklage delivers a properly impassioned and witty Cyrano, with the right nuance in his vulnerabilities though there are limitations within the film's presentation of the material.

 

Best Scene: Confrontation with Christian.

9. Nicolas Cage in Pig - Although I wish the film let him dive deeper, Cage gives a consistently captivating and quietly emotional portrayal of a recluse who is more than meets the eye.

 

Best Scene: Restaurant. 

8. Joaquin Phoenix in C'Mon C'Mon - Phoenix gives wonderful show of his range in his quietly human and warm portrayal of an average guy's connection with his nephew.

Best Scene: It's okay.

7. Amir Jadidi in A Hero - Jadidi gives a powerfully layered performance of a man who is endearing yet his smile hides a troubled soul.

 

Best Scene: Asking for the video to be deleted.

6. Caleb Landry Jones in Nitram - Jones gives a powerfully disturbing performance as a man who just does not relate to humanity the way most do.

 

Best Scene: "Hear to Heart" with his mom.

5. Dev Patel in The Green Knight - Patel gives a grounding performance for this fantasy, but also delivers so much more in his emotional and spiritual journey as Gawain.

 

Best Scene: The vision. 

4. Jason Isaacs in Mass - Isaacs gives a deeply powerful portrayal of a man's anger and sadness when coming to terms with his grief

 

Best Scene: Describing the shooting.

3. Simon Rex in Red Rocket - Rex gives an uncompromising yet wholly charismatic portrayal of a man who is intent on getting out of his hole by digging himself deeper into it. 

 

Best Scene: Hiding during the arrest.

2. Hidetoshi Nishijima in Drive My Car - Nishijima gives a deeply powerful and nuanced portrayal of man slowly coming to terms with his complex grief.

 

Best Scene: The shattered house. 

1. Bradley Cooper in Nightmare Alley - Good prediction Luke. Cooper gives an absolutely brilliant performance as the great Stanton, finding such variety in his grifts, such nuance in his self-loathing, and such power in his journey of a descent into a personal hell. I had to give Cooper the win here, he just had the biggest impact on me of any performance emotionally, while also being just so technically accomplished. If I didn't it would only be because I already gave him the win in supporting for the funniest performance of the year in Licorice Pizza. He left the biggest impact on me in both a leading and supporting turn, though in very different ways, but I can't deny that impact in either example. The funny thing is, frankly I probably was less positive on Cooper as an actor than many, though I certainly thought he was good actor. He definitely wasn't someone I looked upon as being "overdue" for me, so this purely based on the performances. And in this year, with these two performances, he has forced a new perspective upon me, as he's achieved greatness both dramatically and comedically.

 

Best Scene: "I was born for it".

Overall Ranking:

1. Bradley Cooper in Nightmare Alley
2. Benedict Cumberbatch in The Power of the Dog
3. Hidetoshi Nishijima in Drive My Car
4. Denzel Washington in The Tragedy of Macbeth
5. Simon Rex in Red Rocket
6. Jason Isaacs in Mass
7. Dev Patel in The Green Knight
   
8. Caleb Landry Jones in Nitram
9. LaKeith Stanfield in Judas and the Black Messiah
10. Cooper Hoffman in Licorice Pizza
11. Reed Birney in Mass
12. Daniel Kaluuya in Judas and the Black Messiah
13. Amir Jadidi in A Hero
14. Bo Burnham in Inside
    
15. Joaquin Phoenix in C'Mon C'Mon - 5
16. Nicolas Cage in Pig
17. Adarsh Gourav in The White Tiger
    
18. Andrew Garfield in Tick Tick...Boom
19. Peter Dinkalge in Cyrano  
20. Tim Blake Nelson in Old Henry
    
21. James Norton in Nowhere Special
    
22. Tahar Rahim in The Mauritanian 
    
23. Stephen Graham in Boiling Point 
24. Mahershala Ali in Swan Song
    
25. Frankie Faison in The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
26. Udo Kier in Swan Song
    
27. Tom Holland in Spider-Man: No Way Home
28. Michael Greyeyes in Wild Indian
    
29. Timothee Chalamet in Dune 
30. Woody Norman in C'Mon C'Mon 
31. Riz Ahmed in The Encounter 
32. Benedict Cumberbatch in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain - 4.5
33. Vincent Lindon in Titane  
34. Dan Stevens in I'm Your Man
35. Cillian Murphy in A Quiet Place Part 2
36. Yuriy Borisov in Compartment No. 6
    
37. Luke Kirby in No Man of God
    
38. Alex Wolff in Pig
    
39. Stanley Tucci in Supernova
    
40. Colin Firth in Supernova
41. Jim Broadbent in The Duke
    
42. Benedict Cumberbatch in The Courier
43. George MacKay in Wolf 
44. Frank Grillo in Boss Level
    
45. Adam Driver in The Last Duel
    
46. Daniel Craig in No Time to Die
    
47. Adam Driver in Annette 
48. Matt Damon in The Last Duel
    
49. Clint Eastwood in Cry Macho
    
50. Tom Holland in Cherry
51. Adam Driver in House of Gucci
52. Ralph Fiennes in The Dig 
53. Idris Elba in The Suicide Squad
    
54. Will Smith in King Richard 
55. Anthony Ramos in In the Heights 
56. Alessandro Nivola in The Many Saints of Newark
57. Justin Chon in Blue Bayou
    
58. Bob Odenkirk in Nobody 
59. Kanji Tsuda in Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle
    
60. Filippo Scotti in The Hand of God - 4 
61. Jonathan Majors in The Harder They Fall
62. Frank Grillo in Copshop
    
63. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Candyman
64. Gerard Butler in Copshop
65. Tom Hardy in Venom: Let There Be Carnage
    
66. Hugh Jackman in Reminiscence  
67. Tim Roth in Bergman Island
    
68. Dave Bautista in Army of the Dead - 3.5
69. Jason Statham in Wrath of Man
    
70. Benicio Del Toro in No Sudden Move
    
71. Don Cheadle in No Sudden Move
    
72. Jude Hill in Belfast 
73. Hilmir Snær Guðnason in Lamb
    
74. Oscar Isaac in The Card Counter 
    
75. Leonardo DiCaprio in Don't Look Up
76. Will Brill in Test Pattern
77. Matt Damon in Stillwater
    
78. Jack Dylan Grazer in Luca
79. Jacob Tremblay in Luca
    
80. Simu Liu in Shang-chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings
81. Denzel Washington in The Little Things
82. Trevante Rhodes in The United States Vs. Billie Holiday
83. Lucas Hedges in French Exit
    
84. Ansel Elgort in West Side Story
85. Elijah Wood in No Man Of God - 3 
86. Dwayne Johnson in Jungle Cruise
    
87. Eddie Murphy in Coming 2 America  
88. Jake Gyllenhaal in The Guilty 
89. Ed Helms in Together Together
    
90. Aidan Gillen in Those Who Wish Me Dead - 2.5
    
91. Javier Bardem in Being the Ricardos 
92. John David Washington in Malcolm & Marie 
    
93. Jermaine Fowler in Coming 2 America 
94. Keanu Reeves in The Matrix Resurrections 
95. Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy - 2
96. Rami Malek in The Little Things 
97. LeBron James in Space Jam: A New Legacy
    
98. Lewis Tan in Mortal Kombat - 1.5 
99. Daniel Ranieri in The Tender Bar
    
100. Tye Sheridan in The Tender Bar - 1
     
101. Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen - Wiseaus
     

Next: 1997 Lead (though I won't be starting until after the Oscars.)

Alternate Best Actor 2021: Nicolas Cage in Pig

Nicolas Cage did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a Critics choice as well as winning and being nominated for several critics' awards, for portraying Robin Feld in Pig.

Pig is an intriguing film, though one that doesn't quite reach its ambition though the attempt is admirable.

The whole setup for Pig and the casting of Nicolas Cage in the leading role establishes what is a misleading idea for the film. Makes it sound like a revenge thriller of the man to avenge his Pig a la John Wick did for his dog, or Cage himself did for his girlfriend in the revenge thriller Mandy. In turn, one would probably expect a no holds barred Cage's performance like that earlier film, of the man going off the deep end of that dangerous edge he already seems to be leaning on just by being Nic Cage. Well, none of that is true and this is honestly one of the quietest turns you'll see from Cage, who love him or hate him, is known for going all-in with his performances regardless. In fact, Cage barely says a word when we first enter into his world as a hermit in the middle of the Oregon woods, where he goes around with his truffle pigs and makes his home alone and away from others, though not entirely isolated. Except for his obviously striking physical state, Cage doesn't portray any innate many or craziness to the man, there is really a naturalistic approach in Cage's portrayal of the man as he minds the world of his own. Cage just portrays man going about his duties with really what I think is best described as a stoic calm. The only breaks in the calm being these glints of warmth as he looks upon the Pig.

The one sort of interruption of this world is brought on by a young wannabe power player who wants to break into the black market food world of Portland, Amir (Alex Wolff), who comes to Cage's Robin for his truffle supplies. Cage initially treats the man with generally just a near non-entity around him as Cage still portrays this dutiful manner of the man just keeping to himself, and keeping to his particular life. This is quickly shaken when intruders in the night steal Robin's Pig. Again really subverting the expectation we don't get a classic Cage freakout as the Pig is being stolen, in fact, it is with a surprisingly normal, though caring, delivery as he asks the thieves not to hurt the Pig. He returns to his stoicism on the quest to reclaim the pig with Amir, and we get what I feel is the weakest part of the film. This as we see them interrogate random people to get closer to the truth, and even have a scene where they randomly go to an underground fighting ring where Robin gets beat down by an old friend in his search for information. A scene that I honestly think almost was made to help sell the film, to offer the wrong impression as more so a revenge thriller, as it really has little to do with the story, or the rest of the film. Cage though I suppose admirably takes the beating as Robin showing the man portraying it as more so as this penance rather than as punishment. 

After the beating we enter the second phase of the film where Robin goes with Amir coming across many people he's known before and it is revealed that Robin was a famed chef before the recluse. In this sequence Cage takes upon an unlikely role which is as this man designed to challenge others for their existence rather than just to find his pig. This is throughout with Amir, who puts on all the fronts for his power player lifestyle, yet Robin challenges this which Cage portrays well just by the fact that Robin is barely challenged by him, just keeping a largely intense stare with the young man, unless he has a moment to share more information with him. Although the greater change is with Amir overall within the scheme of the film, what we see in Robin is revelations within his changing state that is often to challenge others in some way. The moment for example when Cage speaks to an upcoming earthquake that will destroy Portland followed by a giant wave, Cage alludes to part of his isolation in his aggressively blunt delivery of this information, but with something more. This in the moment of speaking of the giant wave Cage speaks it almost with this kind of sense to prod for some kind of inspiration in the younger man, to push the man into something more than his more basic shallow choices in his life. 

The greatest moment in Cage's performance and film, which I think alludes to a greater film than Pig is, when he and Amir go to a fancy restaurant, and Robin asks the lead chef a few questions. Cage is amazing in this scene with this penetrating stare as his delivery is just cut down of the chef, as Robin refers to him as a former chef he had fired. That isn't the cut down though it is rather when Cage begins to inquire what the chef actually wanted. It is here where Cage is fantastic as his stare is penetrating with intensity but also this honest empathy. This as he questions the chef of his old dream of an English pub which causes the chef to break down speaking to his denial of his dream. Cage is genuinely moving by being actually rather inspiring as he speaks almost a councilor by easing into this conversation through telling the man that the chef is a failure. A failure not for his success rather because the chef gave up his dream for the sake of such a shallow success. Cage brings such a real poignancy as he lectures the chef that his costumers "don't know him" because he hasn't shown himself to them, by not playing as just this take down, rather bringing this genuine sense of concern within it. Cage presents the moment as though Robin truly would truly love to see this man reform himself, and be himself in his culinary output rather than this falsehood. 

Within this quest we seem to find a bit more Robin as when he visits his old home, reconnects with an old friend, or when he finds an old tape, that we later find from his wife, Cage is moving in these scenes by just bringing a sense of the honest loneliness of the man in these moments. When he speaks of the old home, or just looks upon or listens the tape, Cage's silent performance evokes purely the sense of the old relationship of his and the pain from his loss. We see the very much wounded man behind the seemingly impenetrable nature of the man we were introduced in the first sequence of the film. All of these moments leads to the final confrontation with Amir's father, the man who hired the thieves, Darius (Adam Arkin), and it is a culmination of everything in Cage's work. This as we get this sudden shift in physical manner as he goes to prepare dinner for Darius and Amir, Cage's goes from the saunter of the vagrant to the calm precision of a chef. A remarkable moment that the film barely brings attention to however Cage's shift to the chef suddenly is a brief brilliant bit. In the dinner then we get the interrogator again by commanding both this sense of living up to one's self while also just asking for his pig. Again Cage brings that unmistakable and specific passion to the forefront. An atypical but fascinating sort of intensity, until Darius breaks down and reveals the pig died. Cage's sudden reaction of pure devastation is heartbreaking, even if the scene itself feels a touched rushed in the moment. As is the following scene of Robin's Schrödinger's cat contemplation as he feels he killed the pig in a way by looking for it. Still all credit to Cage in bringing this quite yet palatable pathos to the moment, and granting a sense of the closure of Robin's journey. Still, much like the film, though I will submit myself the beat down of the true lovers of this performance by merely thinking this is a very good performance. To elucidate a bit more, where the film has fault in a screenplay of potentials that aren't full achievements, I really think only the restaurant scene fully finds what I think the film is looking for, Cage has no faults in his performance. It is a well realized and internalized character, that shows the range of the actor, something that should never be doubted in the man, unlike his money spending habits. Having said that, I do think there are certain limitations due to the limitations of the film. Cage delivers on everything the film asks him to do, however so much of that seems like just the surface of a pool that Cage should've been able to dive far deeper into. This is with so many fascinating ideas that we get touched upon, somewhat, making it so Cage himself can only go so far with his work. 

Alternate Best Actor 2021

And the Nominees Were Not:

Bradley Cooper in Nightmare Alley

 

Nicolas Cage in Pig

 

Joaquin Phoenix in C'Mon C'Mon 

 

Amir Jadidi in A Hero

 

Dev Patel in The Green Knight 

Predict those five, these fives, or both: 

Hidetoshi Nishijima in Drive My Car

Jason Isaacs in Mass

Simon Rex in Red Rocket

Peter Dinklage in Cyrano

Caleb Landry Jones in Nitram

Alternate Best Actor 1999: Results

5. Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut - Cruise fulfills the general needs of his performance however never seems ideal for the general needs of his character. 

Best Scene: His confession.

4. Nicolas Cage in Bringing Out the Dead - Cage delivers the more expected extremes of his insomniac paramedic, however it his more subdued moments that perhaps leave the strongest impression.

Best Scene: Saving the dealer.

3. Anthony Hopkins in Titus - Hopkins delivers both the needed gravity for any Shakespearean performance, but with a sense of fun needed for the work that is Titus Andronicus.

Best Scene: Some nice pies.

2. Heath Ledger in Two Hands - Ledger delivers a terrific early star turn that manages to effortlessly balance the romantic, dramatic and comedic elements of his film.

Best Scene: Confronting Pando.

1. Jim Broadbent in Topsy-Turvy - Broadbent gives an absolutely winning turn in his approach as a humorous man who takes himself very seriously.

Best Scene: His inspiration.

Updated Overall

Next Year: 1999 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 1999: Nicolas Cage in Bringing Out the Dead

Nicolas Cage did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Frank Pierce in Bringing Out the Dead.

Bringing Out The Dead is kind of the middle ground for Martin Scorsese's middle of the night in NY films, between the largely comic After Hours and the very dark Taxi Driver, here in a mix following a paramedic's long nights. I found it to be a largely effective film, if especially off-beat almost set to to be "lesser" Scorsese, however I'd probably say it's his 3rd best film from his 90's output.

As much as this may be the third part of a midnight trilogy for Scorsese, it is part of a far longer list of films from writer Paul Schrader who basically specializes in film's about men on a razor's edge. It is only natural then for Nicolas Cage to portray one of his written protagonists, specializing in men on an extreme himself, although this film and performance is perhaps bit different than one may expected from only hearing the general synopsis. This is particularly within the early scenes of the film where we come to know of his paramedic, Frank Pierce's experience within his strange world of very long nights. Cage's performance in about the first two thirds of the film is rather subdued, especially for Cage, though quite effective in establishing the state of his character. Now this is of course in a physical sense where one can become a bit fatigued themselves by just looking at Cage who is able to emphasize the insomniac state of the man. This with his worn eyes, his retiring physical presence, and his whole face just wearing too many nights within it. Frank is spent, and this is obvious from seeing Cage in the first frame of the film. Of course the nature of how he is in this state isn't just because he's tired, it is something deeper, something rather spiritual.

Cage for the first half of the film almost portrays the part as though Frank is a priest with some sort of faith self-examination. This is in his moments of staring into the eyes of the dead woman he failed to save, but also in his way of approaching the various people he helps. These people in a range of smelly drunks, self-mutilating crazies, drug addicts and just dying people. Frank speaks of seeing the spirits of the dying and Cage narrates with a contemplative calm. A man trying to decipher his existence while also being haunted by it all the same. In his moments of the man on the job Cage initially carefully administers a zen like conviction who is earnest in his attempts to help others even if exasperated by them. Cage balances well though within this approach the appropriate tone for the film. This as much as he creates that sense of exhaustion, and that haunted quality, there is also a sense of the every day nature of his job. This humor within his lighter calls of a man who has been doing it for a long time and has been able to have this casual demeanor in very strange, yet not particularly intense situations. In way this leads towards a detachment at times, befitting a man who when threatened to lose his job encourages his boss to fire him, as though it would be a sweet release.

Cage's performance exists well within playing off actually whoever it is that Frank is interacting against specifically. There are the more humorous beats that he emphasizes with that more casual almost sarcasm of sorts when interacting with his three "partners" of such extreme personalities themselves or the less dangerous calls he falls on. In these Cage plays well as strangely enough the straight man, despite Frank's peculiar state, though by showing this man on his wavelength that creates a certain comedy in his ease with such disparate personalities. I especially love his "are you serious" reactions to Tom Sizemore's especially tightly wound and violent paramedic. On the other side though is his relationship with the drug addict daughter of a man he "saved", really went into a vegetative state, Mary, (Patricia Arquette). Here Cage dials into these scenes particularly effective in trying to provide solace to the woman, while in his reactions conveying the way that Frank himself is finding solace within his interactions with her. These moments of calm within his otherwise haggard state. Of course this is a bit different though with his relationship with her father, who he envisions wants to die rather than stay in his state. This Cage garners a clever intensity though again of this sort of spiritual entrancement and guilt as he sees the dead man "speaking" to him. Cage largely, and effectively downplays this part into this subdued state of the troubled insomniac. The amount of sort of "Cage unleashed" that one expects from any given Cage turn, is limited to the scene of Frank on his deepest end, compelled by a bit of drug use and a bad trip of sorts. Cage thrives with this madness however he uses it selectively, however effectively though as these moments of release in Frank as side effects from specific extremes that push him that little more off the brink. This film doesn't have as concise of trajectory as many of these types of film, as his sort final act is something he's been toying with the whole time anyways, and is less of leap. His major change really otherwise is getting a decent night of sleep. Cage's performance works within the confines and within anchoring the film. It's a compelling turn within a more subdued approach to the man on an edge narrative.

Alternate Best Actor 1999

 And the Nominees Were Not:

Anthony Hopkins in Titus

Heath Ledger in Two Hands

Nicolas Cage in Bringing Out the Dead

Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut

Jim Broadbent in Topsy-Turvy

And a review Of:

Ralph Fiennes in Sunshine 

CANCELLED: WACKY WORLD OF WISEAU: Oscar Nominees Edition

And They Are:

Nicolas Cage in Deadfall

Nicolas Cage in The Wicker Man

John Travolta in Battlefield Earth

Jon Voight in Anaconda

Eddie Redmayne in Hick

Now for prediction purposes they should be ranked from most Wiseaus worthy to least Wiseaus worthy.

Alternate Best Actor 2009: Results

5. Nicolas Cage in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - Nicolas Cage is at his mad best here giving a wildly entertaining depiction of the corrupt and drug addicted bad Lieutenant.

Best Scene: The Lieutenant watches the soul dance.

4. Sam Rockwell in Moon - Rockwell gives two great performances here and creates a genuine moving depiction of two men who have more in common than they would like.

Best Scene: Old Sam tells New Sam to go instead.

3. Tom Hardy in Bronson - Hardy gives an amazing and incredibly magnetic performance that brings to life his very strange and violent character in a compelling fashion.

Best Scene: Bronson's "performance" in regards to the sanitarium.

2. Sharlto Copley in District 9- Sharlto Copley gives one of the greatest feature debut performances of all time in his complex, poignant and surprisingly believable depiction of the transformation from a bureaucrat to a half alien freedom fighter.

Best Scene: Wickus is used as a guinea pig by his own company.

1. Viggo Mortensen in The Road- This was a great year for leading performances and it is real shame that the academy could not be bothered to drift out of traditional baity fair to recognize any of these performances. Although I loved all five of these performances the one that left the most lasting impact on me was Mortensen's performance. He gives his best performance with his heartbreaking and almost painfully realistic portrayal of a single man trying to save his son in the horrible conditions of a post-apocalyptic world.

Best Scene: The man says goodbye to the boy.

Overall Rank:

1. Viggo Mortensen in The Road
2. Sharlto Copley in District 9
3. Tom Hardy in Bronson
4. Ricardo Darin in The Secret in Their Eyes
5. Tahar Rahim in A Prophet
6. Sam Rockwell in Moon
7. Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man
8. Nicolas Cage in Bad Lieutenant
9. Ben Foster in The Messenger
10. Stephen McHattie in Pontypool
11. Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy
12. Michael Sheen in The Damned United 
13. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Mary and Max
    
14. Ben Whishaw in Bright Star
15. Filippo Timi in Vincere
16. Jean Dujardin in OSS 117: Lost in Rio
17. Patton Oswalt in Big Fan
18. Hal Holbrook in That Evening Sun
19. Alex Descas in 35 Shots of Rum
20. Colin Firth in A Single Man
21. Paul Giamatti in Cold Souls
22. Mark Ruffalo in The Brothers Bloom
23. Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
24. Matt Damon in The Informant!
25. Vincent Gallo in Tetro
26. Alden Ehrenreich in Tetro
27. Luis Tosar in Cell 211
28. Alberto Ammann in Cell 211
29. Sébastien Huberdeau in Polytechnique
30. Song Kang-ho in Thirst
31. Aamir Khan in 3 Idiots
32. Robin Williams in World's Greatest Dad
33. Michael Caine in Harry Brown
34. Maxim Gaudette in Polytechnique
35. Adrien Brody in The Brothers Bloom
36. Jake Gyllenhaal in Brothers
37. Kodi Smit-McPhee in The Road
38. Ranbir Kapoor in Wake Up Sid
39. Jared Leto in Mr. Nobody
40. Vincent Lindon in Mademoiselle Chambon
41. Willem Dafoe in Antichrist
42. Benno Fürmann in Jerichow 
43. Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes
44. Tony Leung Ka-fai in Bodyguards and Assassins
45. Johnny Depp in Public Enemies 
    
46. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 500 Days of Summer
47. Tony Leung Chiu-wai in Red Cliff Part 2
48. Christopher Plummer in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
49. Max Records in Where The Wild Things Are
50. Barry Humphries in Mary and Max
    
51. Bruno Campos in The Princess and the Frog
52. Russell Crowe in State of Play
53. Ed Asner in UP 
54. Michael Nyqvist in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
55. Wyatt Cenac in Medicine for Melancholy
56. R. Madhavan in 3 Idiots
57. Sharman Joshi in 3 Idiots
58. Edgar Flores in Sin Nombre
59. George Clooney in Fantastic Mr. Fox
    
60. Zachary Quinto in Star Trek
61. Evan McGuire in The Secret of Kells
62. Jesse Eisenberg in Zombieland
63. Chris Pine in Star Trek
64. Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2012
65. Lluís Homar in Broken Embraces
66. Jason Palmer in Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench
67. Bill Hader in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
68. Daniel Day-Lewis in Nine
69. Adam Sandler in Funny People
70. Daniel Radcliffe in The Half-Blood Prince
71. Hugh Jackman in X-Men Origins Wolverine
72. Morgan Freeman in Invictus
73. Rupert Friend in The Young Victoria
74. James McAvoy in The Last Station
75. Tobey Maguire in Brothers
76. Colin Hanks in The Great Buck Howard
77. Bradley Cooper in The Hangover
78. Nicolas Cage in Knowing
79. Jim Carrey in A Christmas Carol
80. Mark Wahlberg in The Lovely Bones
81. Seth Rogen in Funny People
82. George Clooney in Up in The Air 
83. John Cusack in 2012 
84. Zac Efron in Me and Orson Welles
85. Tom Sturridge in The Boat That Rocked
86. Zach Galifianakis in The Hangover
87. Ed Helms in The Hangover
88. Sam Worthington in Avatar
89. John Krasinski in Away We Go
90. Quinton Aaron in The Blind Side

Next Year: 2009 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 2009: Nicolas Cage in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Nicolas Cage did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Terence McDonagh the titular character of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.

Werner Herzog's own Bad Lieutenant's name may sound like a bad straight to DVD release sequel, but its actually a very entertaining sorta re-make to 1992 film directed by Abel Ferrara with Harvey Keitel as the Bad Lieutenant.

The similarities in the two films are that they focus on the exploits of a bad Lieutenant who is tasked to solve one major crime while he indulges in sex, drugs, gambling, and all while abusing his power as a police officer. The earlier film was a very serious depiction of this troubled man, but in this case it goes for much more of a dark comedy type of approach to the material. The same goes for Cage's depiction of the Lieutenant which differs greatly from Keitel's work. The Lieutenant engages in the same behavior but in a vastly different fashion. Also I would say that this named Lieutenant, although definitely makes problematic decisions throughout the film, it is easy to see that he is far more competent individual than the unnamed Lieutenant who was completely incompetent in basically every single facet of his life.

 Nicolas Cage receive a bit of a bad rap these days with many calling him a terrible actor, but I think I would more of categorize him as a wasted actor. Yes he's in plenty of bad films due to his lack of selectivity, but so is Gary Oldman for the same basic reason. Cage when he really goes for a role, like in his two Oscar nominated performances, he goes all in which thankfully is the case here. There is no really reason to compare him to Keitel because he does not go for anything like Keitel's great performance. This is mainly a comic performance by Cage. That is not to say he is going for laughs directly even once, but Cage knows what he is doing. Cage was probably the absolute perfect choice for the role as this Lieutenant is someone you should never be able to guess what he is going to do next much like a Nicolas Cage performance.

It is funny in that in terms of the drug problem with this Lieutenant you might actually be able to attribute it, at least in part, to his his back pain which Cage illustrates quite well through a constant hunch. The Lieutenant is never off any single drug through the film and Cage can practically make you see it coursing through his veins through the certain malaise that he gives him. There is always something working through his system and Cage rather brilliant brings this through his performance as any highs or lows seem on a physical level as well as a mental one. When for example he abuses some young people outside of a club for drugs his sleazy style is that of a lowly addict just constantly pleading for drugs, but Cage cleverly subverts but still having the appropriate command that still is what you may expect from a normal cop handling the situation.

Cage is never set to set a scene in just a scene lay down as there is a constant energy he brings to role that is effective as it is always in character for the manic nature of his character. Even when the character comes down from one of his highs Cage even manages to that with some great gusto. Some of my favorite scenes though are when Lieutenant McDonagh proves himself far more capable than the original Lieutenant such as one scene where he goes through one house to sneak behind one the murder suspects they are after. Cage is great in the scene once he catches the man as it is a truly intense high he presents in the Lieutenant from his accomplishment. It is not just that of the success but Cage puts the drugs right in there to as the Lieutenant is not doubt on the up swing when it comes to whatever he had possibly ingested most recently.

One of the most interesting things I found watching this performance is how likable Cage manages to make the Lieutenant despite the fact that the bad is definitely earned as torturing old ladies is not even out of the question if it meets his demands. Cage succeeds well in two points in this regard. One being that he does have so much fun in the role and he properly channels that at the right times to concise for any particular success the Lieutenant may be having. Another reason though is the comic manner Cage has. He is pretty spot on in all manners that he takes in this regard. On one side one will be a little broader moment that he makes work because he has set up the Lieutenant to be just this spontaneous. Anything does go for the Lieutenant it seems and Cage completely makes that work often to a rather hilarious degree.

There are two particularly fantastic moments for Cage in that regard. One being when he threatens his new criminal associates for his cut in a criminal bargain. Cage goes from possibly killing them type insanity to a joking jubilation so naturally that is riotous. The other scene though is when he uses the murderers he's suppose to be catching to kill another set of gangsters that he has crossed in some way. After the murders the Lieutenant hallucinates one of their souls break dancing afterwards ordering his associates to shoot the man again to stop it. That might go on the too absurd side but Herzog and Cage make it work. Cage's is expression is awesome in nature as his totally gone expression seems to honestly be that of a man who is in fact seeing a break dancing soul. That is not all there is though to Cage here.   

Cage oddly enough goes from insanity to a calmer at times in such an extreme way yet only fitting for the character that he has developed. Cage even manages to bring humor to some technically dark scenes, like letting some men have their way with his prostitute girlfriend. In this case he does in such a matter of fact way that he allows the blackness of the situation to have the right tinge of farce to stop it from becoming a little too serious. This is not to say Cage is even all fun and games, even if there is plenty of that to go around. There is a strange underlying heart that Cage suggests that is underlying in any scene where the lieutenant must actually do the right thing. There is no confession scene like in the other film yet Cage still manages to subtly suggest the good man behind the very bad one.

Before writing this review I thought perhaps a 4.5 for Cage here, but as I've gone through all that I liked about his performance I have had an even greater appreciate for his work here. This is Cage probably at his very best as he goes for broke and gets the appropriate pay off in return. Cage never becomes dour he never becomes even slightly uninteresting for a second. There is always something he brings to the part and his twisted comedic nature makes the film soar far more than if an actor took a more straight forward, and to be honest less Cagey, approach really the film may have been a complete failure. Cage matches the style exactly as he should and gives a incredibly enjoyable performance. This definitely might not be everyone's cup of tea I suspect but I have to admit I loved it.

Alternate Best Actor 2009

And the Nominees Were Not:

Nicolas Cage in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Tom Hardy in Bronson

Viggo Mortensen in The Road

Sam Rockwell in Moon

Sharlto Copley in District 9

And since I'm a man of my word BONUS REVIEWS:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 500 Days of Summer

Tobey Maguire in Brothers

The prediction contest will just be for the first five.

Best Actor 2002: Results

5. Michael Caine in The Quiet American- Michael Caine gives an effective performance portraying a good mix of cynicism with care. It never is amazing work, but it is consistently good.

4. Nicolas Cage in Adaptation- Nicolas Cage as the twin brothers in this film gives an extremely enjoyable, as well as effective performance. Having the right joy, and entertaining quality with one brother, well finding the right pathos with the other. It is a great mix.

3.Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt- Nicholson channels a completely different side of himself here, more than any other performance, it a rather humorous, as well powerfully heartbreaking performance as well.

2. Adrien Brody in The Pianist- A simple yet brilliant performance by Adrien Brody, that stressed naturalism over everything else. He makes the troubled journey of the man, a real one, as well as a heartbreaking, and very powerful one.

1. Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York- Day-Lewis gives a brilliant portrayal of an idiosyncratic man of the past in the way only he honestly could.

Best Actor 2002: Nicolas Cage in Adaptation

Nicolas Cage received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Charlie, and Donald Kaufman in Adaptation.

Adaptation depicts Charlie Kaufman's attempt to adapt the Orchid Thief.

The twin brothers are quite the opposite in terms of personality, and ability. Although they look the same and eventually are both screen writers, Charlie is far less confidant of a person, and far more withdrawn. Donald is far more outgoing, easygoing, and just a far more relaxed person. As screenwriters they again differ with Charlie trying his best to be original, whereas Donald is quite content writing a contrived multiple personality serial killer thriller. Cage of course plays both of the brothers, and easily separates them in his portrayal. Both of his portrayals are entirely their own characters. Cage also finds room to explore two very different types of performances through the film. One that is lead, the other supporting, one that is happy the other sad, one that changes over the time, but the stays basically the same.

Cage as Donald, the supporting brother, is quite entertaining in portraying the sort of naive glee that Donald has in life. Cage is consistently funny in portraying Donald's constant joy that he has at all times, as well as his external happiness that is always quite clear. Cage always finds the right amount of humor in Donald's way whether it is his dumb smile, or his rather crude way at times. Cage's best scenes as Donald though, are amazingly enough his scenes with Cage as Charlie. Cage has a terrific chemistry with himself. His scenes with himself are extremely fun to watch, and not because of the novelty of Cage playing against himself, but because they have an extremely amusing dynamic between the two with Charlie's depressed manner that is perfectly contrasted by Donald's joyful one.

In the leading role of Charlie Cage is equally effective. He has the perfect depressed manner that is consistent. Cage has the right withdrawn quality at all times as Charlie, which he always shows making Charlie always a little bit awkward around other people. Cage makes it a struggle to really talk to anyone easily, besides his brother anyways. Cage appropriately displays this as a real pain that Charlie suffers from. Cage turns Charlie into an effective character to follow through in his Adaptation through each of his troubles. Cage is excellent in showing Charlie's constant suffering over his attempts to make something out of the Orchid Thief, and it is appropriately underlined with a certain passion, although a very restrained passion that only comes out on certain breakthroughs of his script.

Charlie actually does indeed go under a change through the film, in which he gains more confidence, and learns a life lesson and all that. Cage is effective in this transition. It is the slowest of transitions, but it is one that is purposefully, a little contrived, but a realistically one as portrayed by Cage nonetheless, giving  rather powerful performance in the end. Cage's performance in this film certainly is a unique one because it is one of the few examples of an actor being nominated for a duel role, as well as being the only time an actor was nominated for portraying the screen writer, who is writing the film during the film. Cage takes the odd and make the most of it. Cage with the two brothers together gives a funny, entertaining, as well as interesting, and effective.

Best Actor 2002

And the Nominees Were:

Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt

Nicolas Cage in Adaptation

Adrien Brody in The Pianist

Michael Caine in The Quiet American

Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York

Best Actor 1995: Results

5. Massimo Troisi in The Postman- This is an odd nomination, becuase this is simply just a terribly uninteresting lightweight performance that never really seems to do anything. 

4. Anthony Hopkins in Nixon- Hopkins is all over the place with his over the top turn as Nixon. He frankly goes to far with his slimy portrayal, making Nixon a rather hard to believe character, which is a problem when the character is a real person.

3. Richard Dreyfuss in Mr. Holland Opus- Although I care not for the film I must admit that Dreyfuss does a fine job in a cliched role. He is properly passionate, and inspiring in his role, I really cannot fault him here.

2.Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking- Penn gives a  powerful performance, that is very hard to forget. Penn finds the right path throughout his performance, to show the facets of the convicted man, and to show him as a honest human being.

1. Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas- Nicolas Cage leaves a memorable impression in his role as a slowly dying alcoholic. Cage is realistic in the technical aspects of his performance, and properly powerful in his more dramatic aspects. 

Deserving Performances:
Morgan Freeman in Seven