Best Actor: Stanley Tucci

Showing posts with label Stanley Tucci. Show all posts

Sunday, 7 February 2016

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015: Results

10. Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation - Elba gives a charismatic performance as a godlike military commander, even if his character gets progressively less interesting as the film proceeds.

Best Scene: The Commandant prepares the men to attack.

9. Stanley Tucci in Spotlight - Tucci, much like the majority of the cast of spotlight, gives a realistic portrayal of a man in the film's story, and only stands when it aids this story.

Best Scene: "You don't know the half of it"

8. Adam Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Driver creates a most unusual yet still very effective and complex villain

Best Scene: Kylo and Han.

7. Emory Cohen in Brooklyn - Cohen gives an extremely charming performance that is essential the film's success, as he flawlessly avoids the various potential pitfalls of his technically simplistic character.

Best Scene: Tony and Ellis the night after the dinner with Tony's family.

6. Michael Sheen in Far From the Madding Crowd - Sheen gives a very moving performance in his portrayal of a man whose emotions reveal themselves, for better or worse, after being shown a hint of love.

Best Scene: Boldwood joins Bathsheba in song.

5. Benicio Del Toro in Sicario - Del Toro is appropriately chilling in his depiction of a cold killer, yet is particularly compelling in revealing the man behind the actions.

Best Scene: A family dinner.

4. Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina - Isaac is wildly entertaining yet also appropriately enigmatic as his odd tech genius who he plays as though he's a real BRO at heart.

Best Scene: "Have you tried dancing with her?"

3. Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight - Goggins gives quite the impressive performance, as he's hilarious, incisive, and somehow makes a friendship between a racist Sheriff and a black bounty hunter believable.

Best Scene: Reading the Lincoln Letter.

2. Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk - Jenkins is completely unrecognizable in his funny yet heartbreaking portrayal of a real old timer of the old west.

Best Scene: The flea circus.

1. Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road - Good prediction Psifonian. This year is simply amazing, and having to choose between them is absurdly difficult. I could go so many different ways for my winner, since I love all these performances. I could go with any performance in my top 12 and they'd be deserving. My top two came down to the two performances that I've found myself quoting the most incidentally. I could easily switch at any time. Hoult is outstanding in his compelling and entertaining portrayal of zealotry, then is quite heartbreaking in his depiction of a loss of this blindness.

Best Scene: A promised trip to Valhalla.

Overall Rank:

Tom Hardy in The Revenant
Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road
Sylvester Stallone in Creed
Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk
Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight
Mark Rylance in Bridge of Spies
Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight
Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina
Benicio Del Toro in Sicario
Michael Sheen in Far From The Madding Crowd
Emory Cohen in Brooklyn
Kurt Russell in The Hateful Eight
Bruce Dern in The Hateful Eight
Michael Angarano in The Stanford Prison Experiment
Matthew Fox in Bone Tomahawk
Adam Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Sam Elliot in Grandma
Stanley Tucci in Spotlight
Josh Brolin in Sicario
Matthias Schoenaerts in Far From The Madding Crowd
Liev Schreiber in Spotlight
Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation
Michael Keaton in Spotlight
Tim Roth in The Hateful Eight
Joel Edgerton in The Gift
Jeff Daniels in Steve Jobs
Roland Møller in Land of Mine
Ethan Hawke in 10,000 Saints
Jan Bijvoet in Embrace of the Serpent
Michael Shannon in 99 Homes
Toby Jones in Tale of Tales
Tom Noonan in Anomalisa
Jason Statham in Spy
Will Poulter in The Revenant
Brian d'Arcy James in Spotlight
Richard Kind in Inside Out
Louis C.K. in Trumbo
Domhnall Gleeson in The Revenant
Michael Madsen in The Hateful Eight
Rory Cochrane in Black Mass
James Parks in The Hateful Eight
Brendan Gleeson in In The Heart of the Sea
Billy Crudup in The Stanford Prison Experiment
Peter Sarsgaard in Black Mass
Sean Harris in Macbeth
Demian Bichir in The Hateful Eight
Louis Hofmann in Land of Mine
W. Earl Brown in Black Mass
Hugo Weaving in The Dressmaker
David Morse in Concussion
Liev Schreiber in Pawn Sacrifice
Paul Giamatti in Straight Outta Compton
Tye Sheridan in The Stanford Prison Experiment
Hugh Keays-Byrne in Mad Max: Fury Road
John Cusack in Chi-Raq
Chiwetel Ejiofor in The Martian
Dave Bautista in Spectre
Jeremy Renner in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Seth Rogen in Steve Jobs
Peter Sarsgaard in Pawn Sacrifice
Michael Douglas in Ant-Man
David Harbour in Black Mass
Forrest Goodluck in The Revenant
Oscar Isaac in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Billy Crudup in Spotlight
Domhnall Gleeson in Brooklyn
Sean Bean in The Martian
Paul Dano in Youth
Luigi Sciamanna in Embrace of the Serpent
Mark Strong in Kingsman: The Secret Service
Jeff Daniels in The Martian
Nathan Jones in Mad Max: Fury Road
Richard Jenkins in Spotlight
Tom Hardy in London Road
Jack Reynor in Macbeth
Jim Beaver in Crimson Peak
Jim Broadbent in Brooklyn
John Goodman in Trumbo
Josh Helman in Mad Max: Fury Road
Lewis Black in Inside Out
Brendan Gleeson in Suffragette
Peter Mullan in Sunset Song
Michael Stuhlbarg in Trumbo
Bill Camp in Love & Mercy
Jon Gries in Faults
Arthur Redcloud in The Revenant
Lourenço Mutarelli in The Second Mother
Mikhail Gorevoy in Bridge of Spies
Tom McCamus in Room
Mark Rylance in The Gunman
Corey Stoll in Black Mass
Samuel L. Jackson in Chi-Raq
Domhnall Gleeson in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Neal Huff in Spotlight
Chris Ellis in Faults
Jurgen Prochnow in Remember
Kit Harington in Testament of Youth
Vincent Cassel in Tale of Tales
Paddy Considine in Macbeth
Ben Whishaw in Spectre
Bruno Ganz in Remember
Jude Law in Spy
Simon Pegg in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Kurt Russell in Furious 7
Harvey Keitel in Youth
Martin Landau in Remember
Cory Michael Smith in Carol
Sylvester Groth in The Man From Uncle
Chris O'Dowd in The Program
Albert Brooks in Concussion
Brionne Davis in Embrace of the Serpent
James Spader in Avengers: Age of Ultron
John Slattery in Spotlight
Ben Whishaw in The Lobster
Franz Rogowski in Victoria
Michael Cyril Creighton in Spotlight
Milo Parker in Mr. Holmes
Paddy Considine in Child 44
David Arquette in Bone Tomahawk
Colin Morgan in Testament of Youth
Colin Quinn in Trainwreck
Benedict Wong in The Martian
Alan Rickman in A Little Chaos
Kurt Egyiawan in Beasts of No Nation
Jeffrey Donovan in Sicario
Josh Brolin Everest
Christian Berkel in Trumbo
Tom Holland in In The Heart of the Sea
Forest Whitaker in Southpaw
Angus Sampson in Mad Max: Fury Road
Ralph Fiennes in Spectre
Kobina Amissa-Sam in Beasts of No Nation
Ryan Gosling in the Big Short
Ron Livingston in James White
Stacy Keach in Truth
Christopher Plummer in Danny Collins
Bradley Cooper in Joy
Jesse Plemons in Black Mass
John Hawkes in Everest
Bobby Cannavale in Danny Collins
Taron Egerton in Testament of Youth
Sebastian Koch in Bridge of Spies
Paul Giamatti in Love & Mercy
Brad Pitt in The Big Short
James Badge Dale in The Walk
Ben Mendelsohn in Slow West
Corey Stoll in Ant-Man
Stephen Root in Trumbo
Wesley Snipes in Chi-Raq
John C. Reilly in The Lobster
Robert Downey Jr. in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Alec Baldwin in Concussion
Jamey Sheridan in Spotlight
Christian Bale in The Big Short
Taron Egerton in Legend
Jason Statham in Furious 7
Sid Haig in Bone Tomahawk
Jeremy Strong in The Big Short
Scott Shepherd in Bridge of Spies
Kyle Chandler in Carol
Steve Carell in The Big Short
Derek Jacobi in Cinderella
Jake Weary in It Follows
Jake Gyllenhaal in Everest
Kevin Bacon in Black Mass
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in Trumbo
Hugh Grant in The Man From Uncle
Ving Rhames in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Jeremy Renner in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Bill Hader in Inside Out
Bobby Cannavale in Spy
Harry Lennix in Chi-Raq
Dwayne Johnson in Furious 7
Jesse Plemons in The Program
Javier Bardem in The Gunman
Ed Harris in Run All Night
Dave Chappelle in Chi-Raq
Chris Evans in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Sean Bridgers in Room
Kid Cudi in James White
Jim Broadbent in The Woman in the Van
Michael Stuhlbarg in Steve Jobs
Norman Lloyd in Trainwreck
Robert Redford in Truth
Nonso Anozie in Cinderella
Bobby Cannavale in Ant-Man
Mark Ruffalo in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Graham McTavish in Creed
Ben Whishaw in In the Heart of the Sea
Rory McCann in Slow West
David Thewlis in Legend
David Thewlis in Macbeth
Ben Whishaw in The Danish Girl
Keir Gilchrist in It Follows
John C. Reilly in Tale of Tales
Channing Tatum in The Hateful Eight
Jon Bernthal in Sicario
John Magaro in The Big Short
Finn Wittrock in The Big Short
Chris Hemsworth in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Hiroyuki Sanada in Mr. Holmes
Ezra Miller in The Stanford Prison Experiment
Matthias Schoenaerts in The Danish Girl
Daniel Bruhl in Woman in Gold
William H. Macy in Room
Michael Stuhlbarg in Pawn Sacrifice
Edgar Ramirez in Joy
Dennis Quaid in Truth
Michael Caine in Kingsman: The Secret Service
Charlie Hunnam in Crimson Peak
Benedict Cumberbatch in Black Mass
Donald Glover in The Martian
Sean Bean in Jupiter Ascending
Sean Harris in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Ty Simpkins Jurassic World
Michael Pena in Ant-Man
Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Ben Kingsley in The Walk
Adam Scott in Black Mass
Ben Whishaw in Suffragette
Alexander Skarsgard in The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Andy Serkis in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Common in Run All Night
Robert De Niro in Joy
Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight
Samuel L. Jackson in Kingsman: The Secret Service
Michael Pena in The Martian
John Cena in Trainwreck
Tony Bellew in Creed
John Magaro in Carol
Nick Robinson in Jurassic World
Lebron James in Trainwreck
Curtis Jackson in Southpaw
Anthony Bourdain in The Big Short
Hugh Jackman in Chappie
Barry Otto in The Dressmaker
Vincent D'Onofrio in Jurassic World
Liam Hemsworth in the Dressmaker
Richard Thaler in The Big Short
Miguel Gomez in Southpaw
Austin Stowell in Bridge of Spies
David Dastmalchian in Ant-Man
Christoph Waltz in Spectre
David James Elliot in Trumbo
Dean O'Gorman in Trumbo
Adam DeVine in The Intern
Nat Wolff in The Intern
Anders Holm in The Intern
Caleb Landry Jones in Heaven Knows What
Andrew Rannells in The Intern
B.D. Wong in Jurassic World
Douglas Booth in Jupiter Ascending
Nat Wolff in Grandma
Emile Hirsch in 10,000 Saints
Tom Sturridge in Far From the Madding Crowd
Jose Pablo Cantillo in Chappie
Ninja in Chappie
Joel Kinnaman in Child 44
Topher Grace in Truth
Guillaume Canet in The Program
Quentin Tarantino in The Hateful Eight
Eddie Redmayne in Jupiter Ascending

Next Year: 2015 Lead (Please name and rank the top three you'd like to see reviewed)

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015: Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci in Spotlight

Michael Keaton, did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Walter "Robby" Robinson, nor did Liev Schreiber for portraying Marty Baron, nor did Stanley Tucci for portraying Mitchell Garabedian in Spotlight.

It needs to be said that Spotlight is a film with a great acting ensemble, well except of course one of the actors who was Oscar nominated for it. The smaller roles are essential in receiving insight into its Boston setting and honestly feeling the effects caused by the Catholic Church sex scandals that the journalist of the Boston Globe are trying to uncover. Now within those trying to uncover the scandal there is a nice variations of personalities. The head of the team tasked with uncovering it, the titular spotlight, is headed by Robby Robinson played by Michael Keaton. Keaton's performance is actually very low key right down to his sorta Boston accent that one could argue is consistent, but one could also argue is realistic rendering of someone with a light Boston accent. Either way it's not a big deal. Despite being head of the team Keaton does give this large overly commanding performance, but is very believable as a more likable type of boss. Keaton makes it clear when he's demanding something from one the writers, but he does this in a very authentic way, suggesting just how comfortable the Spotlight team is with one another.

Now what's great about the film though is the ease in which the film depicts the various personalities involved with the story while still spreading the focus all around. Despite being the head of Spotlight the man who actually provokes the investigation is the new Editor-in-chief for the Globe Marty Baron, played by Liev Schreiber. Liev Schreiber often seems to be the right actor in the wrong film so it is good to see him in something a little better for once. Schreiber technically gives a very mannered performance, but unlike he who shall not be named, does it well. One would just assume that this is the way Schreiber really is in, in his calm low pitched voice, his slightly shy demeanor, his slow way of speaking and just his particular way of interacting with others. Schreiber's performance is very interesting in the way he plays it. Marty is probably a guy who was shy in the past, but has gotten over that for the most part. The certain trademarks that go along with that behavior is still evident but he is not being controlled by that in any way. In addition to that. Marty is going to a whole new place, as well as being seen as an outsider, this will make him seem all the more out of the loop which Schreiber portrays in such a natural fashion.

What's intriguing about Schreiber's performance is that despite having that certain awkwardness that would go with a shyness, he is not a meek figure in the film, as again he is basically the only one who sees what everyone else failed to. Schreiber's really effective in the way he actually has this dominating presence in a very unique fashion. Though he never even comes close to raising his voice Schreiber actually carries this incisiveness in his delivery, as he goes about it in his own way, and there is always the sense that it would be impossible to deter Baron from his stance. It's remarkable as Schreiber is able to do this effortlessly, as he makes Baron a truly persuasive man, whose in charge without question, yet never has to force his hand. Schreiber presents the whole personality of Marty Baron just so flawlessly, and it's quite something that he's able to still give an engaging performance by giving one that would appear as low energy. Schreiber though makes it so that Marty certainly does not come off as though the actor portraying him is tired, but rather this is merely a man who we are seeing in his normal behavior.

Baron's own interest is set off though by an article about the lawyer taking on the case of the victims against the church, Mitch Garabedian played by Stanley Tucci. Now in a way Garabedian is a pseudo Hal Holbrook for the story, though he remains secretive rather than secret for a very specific reason. Garabedian wants the story out in the open, but he cannot divulge very much information on the case lest he be disbarred. Tucci plays a character who is described as a character, but he resists the urge to overact, something Tucci is capable of. Tucci certainly brings a flamboyancy to the role that feels exactly right for his character, who most definitely has many time needed to yell in order to get his day in court. Tucci does not allow this overwhelm his performance though as there is this certain precision of the way he talks, as though he's always getting to the point, given his amount of clients this would be the only way he could be. He carries himself with the right haggard qualities suggesting the burden of his job so well. Tucci's very good in his first scene though especially in the way he uses his eyes as he watches the reporter (some guy) as though he's trying to decipher him a bit, seeing whether or not talking to this man will be beneficial or not for his clients.

Tucci is incredibly good at portraying the way Garabedian is not just in it for the potential money from the settlements of the victims. Tucci does this so quietly yet so eloquently as he reveals an earnest passion in Garabedian as he speaks about the crimes. He also importantly always portrays a strong undercurrent of empathy in Garabedian as he interacts with the few clients we see him with. Tucci carries the right charity in these interactions showing always Garabedian as well aware of what they've suffered, and is trying to do his best only to help them in any way he can. When he mentions to the reporter the fate of many of the victims, Tucci does well to deliver this just as blunt concern for the victims. Though it must be said that much of the cast does a fine job of providing the human element in their reactions during the scenes of the victim's testimonies, except for two of the performances that I'm covering here. Schreiber does not since Marty never directly works on the case, only providing oversight to the team to make sure they get the story right, and Michael Keaton, even though he's the head of the investigative team, though he technically does bear witness to as many of the testimonies as the others.

Keaton plays these scenes very close to the chest, but again finds the right nuance within this. It is not as though Robby is detached from any of the stories, but rather Keaton illustrates well the analytical method of the man. Keaton always shows that he is listening very carefully, but takes it all in through his own way which is to stay very reserved. There is never a question though that Robby does not also care about the victims' plight, but rather he's a man who stays professional above all else. Keaton rather skillfully reveals Robby's personal outrage in the scenes where he goes about questioning people involved with the crimes in some way, and demanding an actual answer. Keaton reveals the right intensity in these moments as Robby's distaste is keenly felt at the right moment. There's even more to it than that, as Keaton carefully alludes to something else whenever it is mentioned that the Globe received information about the cases beforehand. There's an underlying unease Keaton suggests in these moments, as though Robby is unsure of whether or not he is remembering something important correctly. He effectively builds on this unease, to the point that you could even miss it on an initial viewing of the film, but Keaton makes it feel very real as Robby has to accept his own failures of the past.

Keaton actually has the one character with a major arc, though its handled in such a subtle fashion by both the film and his performance it sneaks up on you. Keaton delivers so well though that its surprisingly powerful when Robby must admit that he failed to act just as so many did. All three of these performances work even past the notion of having a character arc. They are part of an ensemble in the best possible way. They just add to the film, giving it all the more character, in just how effortlessly they inhabit their roles. Though you barely learn anything about any of their personal lives, you definitely feel that Robby, Marty and Garabedian live outside of the confines of the story. Though to be fair the same can be said about everyone else in the cast, except somebody I'm still not going to mention. The three of them make the right impact. All three have scenes where they stand out but it's always at the right time. Keaton in his confrontation scenes. Tucci's especially great in a memorable scene where Garabedian explains his plan as lawyer, as he reveals the shrewdness of the man, though also still with that layer of concern as it also acts as a bit of a warning about the powers against everyone trying to make the scandal public as well. Schreiber is understated as usual in a pivotal moment where they talk about not taking action earlier. Schreiber makes Marty's reassuring speech to everyone resonate powerfully, as he presents such genuine warmth in his support in his words, while still Marty stays his usual low key self. These are three very strong supporting performances, that never distract from the story, but rather only help to elevate it to even greater heights.

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015

And the Nominees Were Not:

Stanley Tucci in Spotlight

Liev Schreiber in Spotlight

Michael Keaton in Spotlight

Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road

Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation

Emory Cohen in Brooklyn

Benicio Del Toro in Sicario

Josh Brolin in Sicario

Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight

Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight

Kurt Russell in The Hateful Eight

Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina

Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk

Adam Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Michael Sheen in Far From The Madding Crowd

Matthias Schoenaerts in Far From The Madding Crowd

For Prediction purposes:

Tucci

Hoult

Elba

Cohen

Del Toro

and/or

Goggins

Isaac

Jenkins

Driver

Sheen

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

Best Supporting Actor 2009: Results

5. Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones- Tucci mostly just tries to be creepy which he does do well enough. His performance though lacks the visceral power a performance like this should have.

4. Christopher Plummer in The Last Station- Plummer although certainly competent never manages to make anything special out of Tolstoy.

3. Matt Damon in Invictus- This might seem like a surprise position but out of the bottom three Damon does succeed the most in his particular role. He brings the passion and spirit that the story needs.

2. Woody Harrelson in The Messenger- Harrlson gives an intense and powerful emotional performance when he is in uniform, but when out of it he relies a little bit too much on his usual style.

1. Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds- Waltz simply gives a great memorable villainous performance that manages to be both humorous and chilling, and succeeds with every single challenge found in the role.

Deserving Performances:
Michael Fassbender in Inglourious Basterds

Saturday, 3 December 2011

Best Supporting Actor 2009: Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones

Stanley Tucci received his first Oscar nomination for portraying George Harvey in The Lovely Bones.

The Lovely Bones tells the story of a teenage girl Susie Salmon who after being brutally murdered after calling watches over her family's struggles after her death.

Stanley Tucci plays the murderer who is a serial killer and implied pedophile. I will say in my initial viewing I saw Tucci as one of the few good things in the film, since the film itself is such a poorly directed film almost the rest of the way. Tucci also just happens to be part of the only section of the film that is not directed entirely ineptly which is the thriller section of the film. I must say though when I watched the film again even Tucci performance ran thin on me as well.

One thing that Tucci does do in this film fairly well in fact is being creepy, but really a lot of that has to go more with his look that even Tucci's performance. He just looks like someone with something wrong with him with his bad comb over, his mustache, his glasses, and the clothes that he wears. All that Tucci really adds to that is a strange voice that just seems like there is something wrong with it, and the occasional fake happy smiles, as well as a great number of evil stares.

After watching him once though his whole appearance, voice, and style just becomes far less effective, I suppose Tucci whole transformation into the killer just is less disconcerting after you have seen it once already. He unfortunately he almost started to fall into the rest of the badness or blandness of the rest of the film. Tucci is not used in any way that allows him to expand George into a more interesting creation and in fact I really started to find it funny the way George almost seems to teleport around to find the best bush to hide behind in a creepy fashion.

The only thing Tucci really is allowed to do is act like a creep, and their a simply more interesting and memorable film creeps than Tucci's George Harvey. A problem though actually arises from him acting like a creep, since it seems there is too much of a delay in anyone suspecting him, and frankly how couldn't you suspect him. I think this would actually been a more memorable performance if Tucci seemed more outwardly normal as George Harvey. This bad decision to make him as creepy as possible though really just shows the ineptness of the direction.

Now I do want to state that Tucci is not exactly bad, in fact he probably gave the exact performance that the director wanted, but this could have been far more than it is. He simply does not make for that memorable of a villain, and what is notable about him is mostly the way he looks. Also the film fails to create the necessary sympathy for the victim since Susie Salmon mispronounces Laurence Olivier name as Laurence Oliver, and calls him a loser HOW DARE SHE!!!! Anyways back to Tucci, not a bad performance but after watching it again it does not have the visceral effect one expects from a performance like this.

Thursday, 1 December 2011

Best Supporting Actor 2009

And the Nominees Were:

Woody Harrelson in The Messenger

Matt Damon in Invictus

Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds

Christopher Plummer in The Last Station

Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones

Best Actor