Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001: Results

5. Justin Theroux in Mulholland Drive - Theroux gives an enjoyable turn by providing a reality of sorts within the film's mad dream as his hapless director.

Best Scene: Meeting the cowboy.

4. Ian Holm in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Holm manages to give a terrific balance between the warm father-figure and the pained man weighed down by a peculiar burden.

Best Scene: Letting go of the ring.

3. James Gandolfini in The Mexican - Gandolfini steals his film wholesale through his humorous, moving and surprisingly nuanced portrayal of an atypical hit man.

Best Scene: Reacting to the suicide. 

2. Paul Bettany in A Knight's Tale - Bettany gives a terrific turn that manages to find a proper mix between a classic orator and a barker cutting a wrestling promo.

Best Scene: *Scenes deleted*

1. Anthony Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantis - Hopkins delivers an especially moving turn showing his remarkable range in creating such a quietly warm character while also showing his great ability with child actors through his chemistry with Anton Yelchin. 

Best Scene: Helping Carol. 

Updated Overall

Next Year: 1952 Lead/Supporting (Not sure I'm going to do a lineup)

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001: Paul Bettany & Mark Addy in A Knight's Tale

Paul Bettany did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Geoffrey Chaucer nor did Mark Addy for portraying Roland in A Knight's Tale.

To A Knight's Tale benefit beyond Heath Ledger's charismatic leading turn, is having a wonderful ragtag crew to tag along the way. One of these being Mark Addy's Roland who is loyal to helping Ledger's William Thatcher take him, and his crew to the top in the jousting circuit. The underrated Mark Addy really is here to do some right proper character actor work, and make the most out of whatever he can bring. This in part just giving such a winning and charming turn. This with this natural warmth within his performance that brings such an appropriately assumed friendship within the group. Addy delivers just the right earnest quality in this even in the moments of disagreement, which he portrays with just this genuine concern and care. This also though with the right enthusiasm within seeing his "boy" succeed or at least attempt to do so. This is with at time almost being the sort of "coach" character to Thatcher advising him towards his jousting career. Addy is an expert at really the  digestible type of exposition, where every line no matter how obvious it may be to setting of scene, is given a bit more color thanks to Addy's always spirited delivery. He never just says anything, but adds a nice bit of character in Roland. Of course this is with the needed bit of just the approach of enough cynicism within that as a friend who isn't exactly 100 percent assured of his friend's plan.  This making it so he can underline any given a moment with a bit more than there would be otherwise by offering either a bit in Roland's concern whether it be in a loving way, or more of a friendly bit of doubt.

Paul Bettany is eventually part of the ragtag group as well, but with a bit more "prestige" playing the eventually famous Geoffrey Chaucer evidently in a less successful time as he is initially found nude trudging a foreign country side. This role seems ideal for Bettany as he appears here in really what is just a fun film, for an actor who, for this brief period, would be best known for his more prestigious work. This sort of dynamic one can perhaps be seen at all from Chaucer's clothes, or lack thereof, even as speaks of a man of the highest academic class. Bettany makes it rather abundantly clear from the outset he will be a wonderful delight in his manner as he walks with a seeming purpose, and dictates every line as though he is speaking words towards which will be eventually cherished by all of mankind. This of course while obviously being a man without a single piece of gold to his name. Bettany though brandishes himself with this style of the great writer nonetheless, and is effortlessly entertaining as he ingratiates himself in the crew, for his own financial well being, or at least a decent pair of clothes. This though is partially a front as we see as despite helping Thatcher get into a tourney he also in turn runs up a debt almost immediately. Here though Bettany though is effective in portraying the desperate modesty of the man. This he portrays particularly well with this timidness of a man who hates himself to be in this state of weakness.

Chaucer off course prefers to be a man in his element, and it is most enjoyable to have Bettany in his in portraying Chaucer as a grand orator to "sell" the greatness of William. This being an arc in itself as Chaucer essentially builds up his showmanship throughout the film. An early example in the fighting pits that Bettany delivers with a bit rougher manner, but still a proper sale. Though Addy must be given credit for stealing the moment in his delivery out the side of his mouth the "yeah" to get the crowd going. A moment that apparently was needed during filming to get the non-English speaking crowd of extras going, though the particulars are vague, either way Addy's delivery is nonetheless hilarious no matter the precise context. Before the joust though we get a bit grander bit from Bettany, as Chaucer rallies the commoners rather than the royalty to cheer for royalty. Bettany is terrific in his precise "rabble rousing" delivery as he explains the great "deeds" of William. Bettany is fantastic as a proper storyteller in his moment of raising the spirit of the crowd, but also going quiet to bring them in. Bettany sells the scene magnificently in a combination of a historical recitation and a professional wrestling promo. One shouldn't forget though Addy's reactions in the scene of partial befuddlement and exasperation at Chaucer's way with the "truth".

A lot of what makes this film work as an entertainment though is just being with the characters with Chaucer and Roland being two particularly delightful ones. Bettany often in his more bombastic redirection fitting to Chaucer as he tries to make William into a proper knight, and Addy consistently offering a bit more of a common and modest touch. A enjoyable example of this being his so sincere shyness when attempting to communicate with William's love interest's lady-in-waiting communicating a message. Addy though throughout doesn't waste a reaction shot, or a short line in just making Roland stand out as a funny yet loyal sidekick. Bettany on the other hand is very much there to "steal the show" as the showman that is Chaucer. This eventually climaxing in Chaucer's introduction for William in the final tournament, technically as a time diversion. Bettany lives up to the finale in his grandiose approach where he is soaking up every word both in his overjoyed exuberance at his own confidence but also with such a supreme passion for the man he's calling out. Of course I would be remiss if I didn't mention Bettany's best scene that was left on the cutting room floor initially though restored in the director's cut. This where Chaucer defends William having been placed in the stockade for falsely claiming his status as nobility.  This is truly the highlight of Bettany's work as it is finally Chaucer without any pomp and circumstance to his speech. Bettany delivers it more quietly and with an even greater conviction. This with nearly an emotional breakdown in the moment as Bettany shows the man not selling something, but rather stating without exception an essential truth. It's a powerful moment, that should've been in the original cut. This is as it takes Bettany's work beyond that of just one of the best hype men you could ask for, and reveals this hope for the acceptance of the commoner. Both performances that I mention here are well worth praising with Addy making most of a fairly meager part, and Bettany not wasting a bit of the juicy role that is Geoffrey Chaucer.

(For Addy)

(For Bettany)

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001

And the Nominees Were Not:

Paul Bettany in A Knight's Tale

Mark Addy in A Knight's Tale

Ian Holm in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Justin Theroux in Mulholland Drive

Anthony Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantis

James Gandolfini in The Mexican 

Bettany for prediction purposes.

And a review of:

 

Hayden Christensen in Life As A House

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2003: Results

5. Albert Finney in Big Fish- Finney gives a fairly simplistic performance, but appropriately so. He fills his role with the right charm and warmth necessary.

4. Peter Sarsgaard in Shattered Glass-Sarsgaard gives an understated and effective performance in his depiction of a editor who slowly sees his popular writer for the liar he is.

3. Kevin Bacon in Mystic River- This was the battle of the subtle, and understated really. I must say that this is most certainly a toss up, really I hate to put Sargaard fourth but I don't really feel him as fourth. I really liked all four equally and I basically just had to pick one. Bacon is my choice at the moment giving a moving performance, that is again very understated, that finds a way to give the best performance of his film.

2. Paul Bettany in Master and Commander- Bettany another good understated performance this year as a quiet source of reason and warmth on a war ship.

1. Sean Astin- The Return of The King- Astin capitalizes on his work from the previous film fully realizes his character with a powerful passion.

Overall Rank:

1. Sean Astin in The Return of the King
2. Yoo Ji-tae in Oldboy
3. Paul Bettany in Master and Commander
4. Kiefer Sutherland in Phone Booth
5. James Caan in Dogville
6. Peter Sarsgaard in Shattered Glass
7. Bernie Mac in Bad Santa 
8. Jason Isaacs in Peter Pan
9. Ian McKellen in The Return of the King
10. Anthony Wong in Infernal Affairs II
11. Billy Crudup in Big Fish  
12. Park Hae-il in Memories of Murder
13. Viggo Mortensen in The Return of the King
14. Albert Finney in Big Fish
15. Sonny Chiba in Kill Bill Vol 1  
16. Bobby Cannavale in The Station Agent
17. John Ritter in Bad Santa
18. Bernard Hill in The Return of the King 
19. Eric Tsang in Infernal Affairs II
20. Dennis Leary in The Secret Life of Dentists
21. Robert Duvall in Gods and Generals 
22. Laurence Fishburne in Mystic River 
23. Lee Ingleby in Master and Commander
24. Brian Cox in X2
25. Stellan Skarsgaard in Dogville
26. Geoffrey Rush in The Curse of the Black Pearl
27. Sam Rockwell in Matchstick Men
28. Ben Gazzara in Dogville
29. Bill Nighy in Love Actually 
30. Elijah Wood in The Return of the King
31. Ruben Blades in Once Upon a Time In Mexico
32. Brendan Gleeson in Cold Mountain 
33. Max Pirkis in Master and Commander
34. Alan Cumming in X2 
35. Forest Whittaker in Phone Booth
36. Burghart Klaussner in Goodbye, Lenin!
37. Cillian Murphy in Cold Mountain 
38. Ken Watanabe in The Last Samurai 
39. Ethan Suplee in Cold Mountain
40. Kevin Conway in Gods and Generals 
41. Francis Ng in Infernal Affairs II
42. James Caan in Elf 
43. Willem Dafoe in Finding Nemo
44. Florian Lukas in Goodbye, Lenin!
45. Christopher Lee in The Return of the King
46. Chris Cooper in Seabiscuit  
47. Bob Newhart in Elf
48. Andy Serkis in The Return of the King
49. Michael Parks in Kill Bill Vol. 1 
50. Tony Cox in Bad Santa
51. Konstantin Lavroneko in The Return
52. James D'Arcy in Master and Commander
53. Michael McKean in A Mighty Wind
54. Christopher Guest in A Mighty Wind
55. Harry Shearer in A Mighty Wind
56. Tim Robbins in Mystic River
57. Billy Boyd in Return of the King 
58. David Hyde Pierce in Down with Love
59. Fred Willard in A Mighty Wind
60. Ian McKellen in X2
61. Jeff Bridges in Seabiscuit
62. Gene Hackman in Runaway Jury
63. Patrick Stewart in X2 
64. Ray Liotta in Identity 
65. Ray Winstone in Ripley's Game
66. Liam Neeson in Love Actually
67. Mickey Rourke in Once Upon a Time in Mexico
68. William H. Macy in Seabiscuit 
69. John Hawkes in Identity
70. Dustin Hoffman in Runaway Jury
71. Peter Dinklage in Elf 
72. Alfred Molina in Identity
73. Max Benitz in Master and Commander 
74. Vladimir Garin in The Return
75. Tom Guiry in Mystic River
76. Michael Caine in Secondhand Lions 
77. Peter Mullan in Young Adam
78. Hank Azaria in Shattered Glass
79. Judah Friedlander in American Splendor
80. David Wenham in The Return of the King 
81. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Cold Mountain 
82. Alan Rickman in Love Actually 
83. Steve Buscemi in Big Fish
84. Richard Briers in Peter Pan
85. Charles Dance in Swimming Pool
86. John Hurt in Owning Mahowny
87. Dan Janjigian in The Room
88. No-shik Park in Memories of Murder
89. John Rhys Davies in The Return of the King
90. Roe-ha Kim in Memories of Murder
91. Christopher Walken in The Rundown 
92. Hugo Weaving in The Return of the King
93. Eugene Levy in A Mighty Wind
94. Oliver Platt in Pieces of April
95. Orlando Bloom in The Return of the King
96. Dominic Monaghan in The Return of the King
97. Alec Baldwin in The Cooler
98. Aidan Gillen in Shanghai Knights
99. Billy Bob Thornton in Intolerable Cruelty
100. Donnie Yen in Shanghai Knights
101. Derek Luke in Pieces of April
102. Colin Firth in The Girl With The Pearl Earring
103. Hugh Grant in Love Actually 
104. Tom Wilkinson in The Girl With the Pearl Earring
105. Colin Firth in Love Actually
106. Danny DeVito in Big Fish 
107. Cillian Murphy in The Girl With The Peal Earring
108. Geoffrey Rush in Intolerable Cruelty
109. Bruce McGill in Matchstick Men
110. Willem Dafoe in Once Upon A Time in Mexico 
111. R. Lee Ermey in Willard
112. Michael Gambon in Open Range
113. Paul Adelstein in Intolerable Cruelty
114. Aaron Stanford in X-2
115. Djimon Honsou in In America 
116. Shawn Ashmore in X-2 
117. Bret Loehr in Identity
118. John Noble in The Return of the King  
119. Shawn Yue in Infernal Affairs II 
120. Edison Chen in Infernal Affairs II
121. Kyle Vogt in The Room
122. Greg Sestero in The Room
123. Ron Eldard in House of Sand and Fog
124. Scott Holmes in The Room
125. Philip Haldiman in The Room

Next Year: 1984 Supporting 

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2003: Paul Bettany in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Paul Bettany did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for Bafta, for portraying Dr. Stephen Maturin in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

Master and Commander is quite an entertaining film about a British Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) who pushes his ship and crew to take down a French vessel during the Napoleonic Wars.

Paul Bettany portrays the ship's hard working doctor who is also the loyal friend and confidant of the Captain. As the Captain is far more of a passionate and romantic sort who pushes everyone to get the task at done. Crowe does this all very well, but what makes his performance really work is from the support of Bettany who acts as almost someone there just to bring the Captain down a bit. Bettany rightly does not portray the doctor in any way cynical but rather just a very down to earth man who is always very aware of what his job requires him to do.

Bettany finds just the right tone for the doctor to create the right dynamic with Crowe's Captain. Both show just the right warmth and kinship with one another, but they are not overbearing of it. In fact the two have such great chemistry here by simply playing that their friendship is pretty much just a given, it is not something that they even need to discuss. The two are both excellent in portraying the two have an easy understanding of each other, and they do this incredibly well because of how effortlessly the two create the relationship together.

In the first half of the film Bettany is very reserved in the film mostly going about the duties required of him. Bettany does this very well though as he shows the doctor as quiet but warming man. Bettany is particularly good in his scene where must amputee the forearm of one of the very young crew members. Bettany conveys well the reassurance the doctor is able to give the young boy, as he portrays the doctor as a man who has a genuinely good heart. Bettany is very good because he succeeds in creating the stress the doctor does suffer from his job, but still has the same reassurance.

The doctor's role drifts from being supportive as their mission seem far less likely of success despite the Captain's views to the contrary. The doctor frankly does his best to slam the Captain's thought of getting the ship no matter what, while the doctor seems the crew being discontented as well as his own personal regrets by not being to do research on the Galapagos island. Bettany is very strong in these scenes because he does not portray the doctor's anger in any sort of hatred toward the Captain, but rather an earned frustrations he feels over the Captain's selfish behavior. Bettany is able to portray properly that it is of Maturin's very real concerns for the crew, and his friend that propels his passionate disagreement with the Captain. 

Bettany serves the needs of his part splendidly. It is one that is very supportive and he works the function brilliantly. When he needs to stand out on his own though he brings a power to the part very nicely as well. He particularly finds the inner strength of his character well. Bettany even succeeds in making the scene in which the doctor operates on himself after he has been accidentally shot. The scene very well could be one that would be hard to believe but Bettany stays absolutely convincing in the scene. Bettany's work here stand out in how natural he handles every scene, and every relationship within the ship. He stands out as he should, but he also stands almost to the side as he should. His work excels through how vivid he makes this doctor on this particular ship, he is not simply anyone he is Dr. Stephen Maturin.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2003

And the Nominees Were Not:

Sean Astin in The Return of the King

Paul Bettany in Master and Commander

Kevin Bacon in Mystic River

Albert Finney in Big Fish

Peter Sarsgaard in Shattered Glass