Alternate Best Actor 1968: Results

5. Leonard Whiting in Romeo and Juliet- Whiting gives an earnest performance even though he is overshadowed by most of the cast around him.

Best Scene: Romeo sees Juliet for the first time. 

4. Boris Karloff in Targets- Karloff gives an entertaining performance that is a very nice reflection on his entire career.

Best Scene: The old monster stands up to the new one. 

3. Zero Mostel in The Producers- Mostel gives an enjoyable performance that leads his film well being a comedic as well as likable con man.

Best Scene: Max and Leo first meet. 

2. Walter Matthau in The Odd Couple- Matthau gives an entertaining performance which succeeds in creating a memorable dynamic with his co-star Jack Lemmon.

Best Scene: Oscar is finally pushed too far by Felix's behavior.

1. Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in The West- Fonda easily wins from this line up, but I am not sure about the entire year yet. As I will probably be watching the Lion in Winter again soon I'll be able to be sure then. Anyway Fonda is at least gives one of the greatest performances of 1968 by turning his usual screen persona into a very memorable and chilling villianous turn that helps makes his film as great as it is.

Best Scene:  Frank and Harmonica's duel.

1. Burt Lancaster in The Swimmer
2. Nicol Williamson in The Bofors Gun
3. Charles Bronson in Once Upon a Time in the West
4. Peter O'Toole in The Lion in Winter
5. Jack Albertson in The Subject Was Roses
6. Tatsuya Nakadai in Kill! 
7. Max von Sydow in Shame
8. Alan Bates in The Fixer
9. Alan Arkin in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
10. David Warner in The Bofors Gun
11. Walter Matthau in The Odd Couple
12. Terence Stamp in Toby Dammit
13. Robert Shaw in The Birthday Party
14. Toshiro Mifune in Hell in the Pacific 
15. Nicol Williamson in Inadmissible Evidence
16. Ossie Davis in The Scalphunters
17. Anthony Perkins in Pretty Poison
18. Martin Sheen in The Subject Was Roses  
19. Lee Marvin in Hell in the Pacific
20. Burt Lancaster in The Scalphunters
21. Anthony Quinn in The Shoes of the Fisherman
22. Max von Sydow in Hour of the Wolf
23. Boris Karloff in Targets 
24. Richard Burton in Where Eagles Dare  
25. Harvey Keitel in Who's That Knocking At My Door
26. Malcolm McDowell in If....
27. Peter Ustinov in Blackbeard's Ghost 
28. Clint Eastwood in Hang Em High
29. Jean-Pierre Leaud in Stolen Kisses
30. Jack Lemmon in The Odd Couple
31. Steve McQueen in Bullitt
32. Cliff Robertson in Charly 
33. Sidney Poitier in For Love of Ivy
34. Jean-Louis Trintignant in The Great Silence
35. David Hemmings in The Charge of the Light Brigade
36. Terence Stamp in Teorema 
37. George Segal in No Way to Treat a Lady 
38. Jean-Louis Trintignant in The Man Who Lies
39. Peter Sellers in The Party
40. Etsushi Takahasi in Kill!
41. Ron Moody in Oliver!
42. Hywel Bennett in Twisted Nerve
43. Duane Jones in Night of the Living Dead  
44. Fred Astaire in Finian's Rainbow
45. Rod Steiger in The Sergeant
46. John Marley in Faces 
47. Vincent Price in Witchfinder General 
48. Henry Fonda in The Boston Strangler
49. Leonard Whiting in Romeo and Juliet
50. Laurent Terzieff in Woman in Chains
51. Clint Eastwood in Where Eagles Dare
52. Frank Sinatra in The Detective
53. Keir Dullae in 2001: A Space Odyssey
54. Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes 
55. Bernard Fresson in Woman in Chains
56. Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair 
57. Dick van Dyke in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 
58. Franco Nero in The Mercenary
    
59. Dean Jones in Blackbeard's Ghost 
    
60. Omar Sharif in Funny Girl 
61. Laurence Harvey in A Dandy in Aspic
62. John Philip Law in The Sergeant
63. Ian Ogilvy in Witchfinder General
64. Tim O'Kelly in Targets
65. William Sylvester in 2001: A Space Odyssey
66. Rod Steiger in No Way to Treat A Lady
67. Mark Lester in Oliver!

Next Year: 1968 Supporting 

Alternate Best Actor 1968: Walter Matthau in The Odd Couple

Walter Matthau did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a Golden Globe, for portraying Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple.

The Odd Couple is probably the best film made out of a Neil Simon play. It tells the story of a recently divorced clean freak Felix (Jack Lemmon) who moves in with his messy friend who also is divorced.

Walter Matthau plays Oscar Felix's messy friend. Matthau apparently wanted to play Felix as the character was far less like his own personality, but Neil Simon forced him to play Oscar. Although it certainly would have been interesting to see Matthau attempt to play a tightly wound guy like Felix, but Matthau simply fits the role of Oscar like a glove. From his first scene he just gets the style down of Oscar who really can't help but be a bit of a slob. In the moment there is not anything about what he does that seems to be reaching in Oscar's messiness Matthau makes Oscar a genuine slob.

Matthau takes a slight comedic pitch throughout his performance that he know how to handle in just the right way. Where Jack Lemmon (Who bests Matthau most of the time when it comes to dramatic roles) sometimes goes a little too far to be funny which he does in just a few moments in this film, particularly in the scene where he tries to clear his head, where is Matthau takes a more natural approach with Oscar. Where Felix is insanely active with his behavior that is fairly extreme whether it is his emotional troubles or his tendency to want to clean everything. Matthau is excellent by taking the easy approach and having Oscar just a laid back sort of guy.

In their first team up, which was The Fortune Cookie, I found that Matthau basically stole the whole movie from Lemmon. In this team up the pairing makes more sense. Although I still feel that Matthau is the one who is crowned best in show they both play off each other well. Where Lemmon takes the more manic approach Matthau knows exactly how to play around this to be effective himself but in a way allow Lemmon's performance to be the way he is. The two set up the dynamic between the two marvelously by showing what makes the two the odd couple in the film in both the way that they are the complete opposites in their manner but as well why exactly they stay together as well.

Where Lemmon makes Felix go on about his own way which fits as Felix is a self-indulgent sort, Matthau really is the glue of the Odd Couple. Matthau finds just the right tone for Oscar throughout the film. He puts just the right amount of heart in his performance to show why Oscar would bother with Felix at all, it is very subtle, but Matthau very nicely adds this important facet to Oscar. Of course he keeps this in line well as this is a mainly comedic performance and in the comedic sense Matthau is terrific in the way he knows exactly when to underplay his role as Oscar but as well he knows when he needs to get a little more flamboyant in the role he knows exactly how to deliver in the role depending on the situation.

Matthau is hilarious in both styles whether it is in his exasperated reactions to Felix or his very well earned moments when he more directly confronts Felix for his antics. Matthau is consistently funny in this role being very likable in his role well still bringing about the uncouthness properly. He fulfills the main function of this role, which is to be humorous, very well yet he does manage even more with his role. He easily inserts the weightier moments well into his portrayal of Oscar without compromising the fact that this is mainly a comic role. This is an entertaining work by Matthau that shows his comedic abilities particularly well and makes the film really work on his shoulders. This is not only in the sense that he brings the material alive in a terrific fashion, but I just can't see how Lemmon could have gone without Matthau in this film.

Alternate Best Actor 1968

And the Nominees Were Not:

Walter Matthau in The Odd Couple

Zero Mostel in The Producers

Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in The West

Boris Karloff in Targets

Leonard Whiting in Romeo and Juliet

Alternate Best Actor 1974: Results

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5. Charles Bronson in Death Wish- Although the role probably could have been far more complex, Bronson still is consistently effective in his portrayal of one man's revenge even if it is in a relatively simple fashion.

Best Scene: Paul's final "duel" with the criminals. 

4. Peter Falk in A Woman Under the Influence- Falk is good in his role always giving effective reactions throughout the film, that appropriately supports Gene Rowlands's great performance.

Best Scene: Nick fails as a father. 

3. Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein- Wilder is always very funny in his role, but really makes it work is his conviction in his portrayal of the insanity of his character.

Best Scene: Frankenstein tries to make his monster live.

2. Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three- Matthau is terrific here easily bringing a great deal of humor to his role without ever compromising any of his more dramatic moments.

Best Scene: The final shot of the film. 

1. Gene Hackman in The Conversation- Hackman stands easily as my choice in his incredible performance in this film. He is simply outstanding in his complex portrayal of this man's paranoia and guilt. There is not a single moment wasted in Hackman's unique and always fascinating characterization.

Best Scene: Harry snoops in on the hotel room next to his. 

Overall Rank:

1. Gene Hackman in The Conversation
2. Warren Oates in Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
3. Art Carney in Harry and Tonto
4. Jack Nicholson in Chinatown
5. Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II
6. Martin Sheen in Badlands
7. John Hurt in Little Malcolm
8. Alan Bates in Butley
9. Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three
10. Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein
11. Jeff Bridges in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 
12. Robert Mitchum in The Yakuza
13. James Caan in The Gambler
14. Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
15. Peter Falk in A Woman Under The Influence
16. Dustin Hoffman in Lenny 
17. Burt Reynolds in The Longest Yard
18. Charles Bronson in Death Wish
19. Bruno S. in The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
20. Keith Carradine in Thieves Like Us
21. Elliott Gould in California Split
22. Giancarlo Giannini in Swept Away
23. James Earl Jones in Claudine 
24. Walter Matthau in The Front Page
25. Elliott Gould in Busting 
26. Anthony Perkins in Lovin' Molly
27. Warren Beatty in The Parallax View
28. Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein 
29. Jack Lemmon in The Front Page
30. George Segal in California Split 
31. Beau Bridges in Lovin' Molly
32. Dirk Bogarde in The Night Porter 
33. Paul Newman in The Towering Inferno
34. Steve McQueen in The Towering Inferno 
35. William Atherton in The Sugarland Express
36. Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles
37. Sam Waterston in The Great Gatsby
38. Pierre Blaise in Lacombe, Lucien
39. Robert Blake in Busting
40. Albert Finney in Murder on The Orient Express
41. Bill Cosby in Uptown Saturday Night
42. Michael Sacks in The Sugarland Express 
43. William Finley in Phantom of the Paradise 
44. Charlton Heston in Earthquake
45. Richard Dreyfus in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
46. Sidney Poitier in Uptown Saturday Night
47. El Hedi ben Salem in Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
48. Robert Redford in The Great Gatsby 
49. James Caan in Freebie and the Bean
50. Roger Moore in The Man With the Golden Gun
51. Dan O'Bannon in Dark Star
52. Alan Arkin in Freebie and the Bean

Next Year: 1992

Alternate Best Actor 1974: Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three

Walter Matthau did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lieutenant Zachary Garber in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three.

The Taking of Pelham One, Two Three is an  thrilling and entertaining film about four men who hijack a subway train threatening to kill a hostage a minute if 1,000,000 dollars is not delivered in an hour.

One of the many aspects of The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three that makes it as great of a thriller as it is, and it is ample amount of humor it brings to the entire proceedings. Someone who helps in this throughout is Walter Matthau as transit policeman Garber who ends up being the one trying to negotiate for with head hostage taker Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) who is quite firm about his timeline. Garber's a very unique hero for the film who spends much of the time behind a microphone until close to the end of the film.

Garber's role of trying to figure out the criminal's escape plan while trying to keep all of the hostages alive is technically speaking relatively simple. Matthau though never makes Garber any less than he should be though, and is always good in bringing to life any moment in terms of the severity of the situation. He also stands as frankly just a likable character to follow along through the proceedings through Matthau rather unusual charm. Matthau uses this charm well though in the role, to brings us right into the story.

Matthau makes the most out of his role through his abilities as a natural comedian though. Matthau though finds the right tone throughout his performance. He knows exactly how to combine humor in his role equally well with his more dramatic moments. He is able to find the precise tone for the entirety of his performance. He aids well in bringing a lot of lighter moments to keep the film funny the whole way through. Matthau never lays on too thick or too think, and gives delightful spin on what could have been a far less memorable role.

Matthau is just hilarious throughout through the smallest quick gestures. He has excellent comedic timing in the role with his quick sharp asides throughout the process of the negotiation. His moments with Robert Shaw are particular highlights in the film. Robert Shaw is absolutely cold as ice in his portrayal of Blue's negotiation, and Matthau creates an very enjoyable dynamic by being the lighter sides to things as Garber cracks jokes along the way. He is able to make every one of them really work well as both being funny, but as well still keeping the scenes properly dramatically compelling as well by not overdoing it.

It is actually quite amazing how well Matthau maneuvers through his role since he never runs short on being a believable man in this situation as well as always very amusing one as well. He simply never falters from one scene to next making through the film with ease. Matthau as well though does actually make Garber believable as a mind to match with Shaw's blue. He of course is never nearly as intense as Shaw in the role, but Matthau is good in showing that Garber is always taking a moment in his deciphering of their plan. Through these small moments of subtly Matthau is able to make Garber's success at the end of the film realistic.

Matthau was the perfect choice for this role of the film, since he is able to be so casual in the role while being entirely invested as well. This is just a great work by Matthau because really Garber could have sunk the film in the wrong hands, and really it would have been easy, very very easy, to allow Robert Shaw run away with the entire picture. Matthau though stands as a worthy opponent to Shaw throughout the film. He does not quite have the raw power of course as Shaw's work, but Matthau more than fulfills his particular role in the film. Matthau simply never fails to succeed in his unique role both being a hilarious and worthy protagonist for the film.

Alternate Best Actor 1974

And the Nominees Were Not:

Peter Falk in A Woman Under The Influence

Charles Bronson in Death Wish

Gene Hackman in The Conversation

Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three

Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein

Best Supporting Actor 1966: Results

5. Mako in The Sand Pebbles- Mako gives a good realistic performance. His role is limited, and his character is frankly cut off just when he is becoming interesting.

4. James Mason in Georgy Girl- Mason although has a thankless role in many ways gives a charming, and dryly comic performance, that manages to turn his character into an actual man and not just a creep as he easily could have been.

3. Robert Shaw in A Man For All Seasons- If I was giving the award to my favorite actor Shaw would take this, with close competition from Mason. Nevertheless Shaw gives a strong performance in only two scenes realizing Henry VIII's distinct personality marvelously.

2. George Segal in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?- Segal has an extremely thankless role especially compared to the flashiness of the performances around him, but Segal stays true to his part and creates an effective realistic portrait of a man in the strange situation of the film.

1. Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie- Walter Matthau stands on top for this with his consistently hilarious performance. Matthau never wastes a moment as his shyster lawyer deriving comedy from every facet of his character and makes the film.

Deserving Performances:
Richard Attenborough in The Sand Pebbles
Richard Crenna in The Sand Pebbles
Lee Van Cleef in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
John Hurt in A Man for All Seasons

Best Supporting Actor 1966: Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie

Walter Matthau won his Oscar from his first nomination for portraying William 'Whiplash Willie' Gingrinch in The Fortune Cookie.

The Fortune Cookie tells about a football cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) who is tackled on the field, and reluctantly agrees to fake severe injury to make money from a liability suit started by his shyster lawyer brother in law. 

I do not want to be misunderstood from my first two reviews of Walter Matthau's lead performances that were nominated. One which I really did not care for and the other I thought was only okay. I like Walter Matthau, but he strangely was only nominated in the lead when he played a character much much older than himself for whatever reason, and I am not crazy about Matthau old man mannerisms which strangely drove both of those performances. Walter Matthau though here portrays a character that is suppose to be basically his actual age, and there are no unneeded mannerisms to be seen.

Matthau portrays the brother in law shyster lawyer who pushes hard for the lawsuit. Walter Matthau has sometimes been argued as a lead in this film, and there certainly can be a case for that as he is the driving force of the film, and there are plenty of scenes where he is the central character. I do not mind this placement though as there is another identifiable lead in Jack Lemmon, and there are certainly many scenes where Matthau does not appear. He could really be placed in either category and I really would not mind. I really do not mind though because part of the reason Matthau even stands out the most in scenes where he is not even the focus is because just how good he is as Whiplash Willie.

Matthau is another Oscar winning performance that disputes the idea that the academy never rewards comedic performance, or at least never rewards straightly comedic performances. As with the likes of Peter Ustinov's second win, and Kevin Kline's win, Matthau is another winner who never stops going for laughs with his performance.  Matthau absolutely makes the film with his performances as the lawyer who comes up with the trumped up lawsuit to make himself rich. Matthau never tries for a moment to show that old Willie is anything more than a shyster, he wants to make a buck and that is all there is to right down the line.

Matthau simply is hilarious in the role from beginning to end. From his first scene Matthau is comedic gold as the rather amoral lawyer. Much of the humor that comes from his performance are some of his small reactions especially his brilliant look he makes after hearing that Lemmon's character had a previous injury that he could use for his own purposes in a new lawsuit. Matthau has a perfect devilish smile here as Willie that shows Willie's way of finding someway to benefit and exploit just about anything that comes his way anyway that he can. Even though Willie is completely amoral Matthau can't help but make Willie likable, there is just something absolutely endearing about Matthau's portrayal.

Matthau has a constant energy in the role that makes him the best part of every scene, even when has only a couple of lines Matthau still steals the scene, that is simply how enjoyable he is as Willie. Every moment Matthau is an enthusiastic presence and coming out with a terrific line, or reaction every chance he gets. Matthau is hilarious in his whole realization of every part of Willie's plan in every advance and set back Matthau never stops being funny in showing every trick that Willie has up his sleeve. What I like about Matthau's performance is that he always shows that Willie is the smartest man always in the room, even if he uses his intelligence so poorly.

I must say actually that I don't know if Matthau are a great pair actually since in both this and the Odd Couple Matthau absolutely steals the show, not that Lemmon is bad he is good as well actually, but Matthau definitely is the one that you remember from their scenes together. I suppose it really is not Lemmon's fault so much here because Matthau absolutely controls their scenes together, and I suppose one could attest it to Matthau just being absolutely on in his performance here. Matthau never has a wasted scene, or moment in his performance every scene he brings the humor he needs to in the role. As I watched the film I only wanted more of Matthau as Willie he just that entertaining in the role. It is a great performance that always succeeds.

Best Supporting Actor 1966

And the Nominees Were:

Robert Shaw in A Man For All Seasons

James Mason in Georgy Girl

Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie

George Segal in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Mako in The Sand Pebbles

Best Actor 1975: Results

5. James Whitmore in Give 'Em Hell Harry!- This simple truth about this performance is it should not have been nominated. This is not a performance for film, it was performed for an audience in the theater not for the the person watching the film. This abundantly clear throughout the film in his theatrical performance, that is completely unrelenting, and is rather awkward to watch.

4. Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys- Matthau performance is not all that funny to me in most of his scenes. In most scenes I found him rather annoying, but he makes up for it somewhat due to every scene with George Burns, because their scenes are wonderful.

3. Maximilian Schell in A Man in the Glass Booth- Schell whole performance really is nuts, but a gloriously nuts. He is incredibly entertaining in his insanity, as well as does his very best to manage the concept of his character.

2. Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon-  Pacino simply makes so many risks with this performance from his manic ways, to his voice he uses, to the extreme emotional range found in Sonny, and the thing is they all pay off completely, this is truly a great performance.

1. Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Nicholson excels in every single moment of his performance here. It is a perfect role for Nicholson, and Nicholson knows it. He gives an entertaining magnetic performance, that could not be a better lead for his film.

Deserving Performances:
Michael Caine in The Man Who Would be King
Sean Connery in The Man Who Would be King

Best Actor 1975: Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys

Walter Matthau received his third and final Oscar nomination for portraying Willie Clark in The Sunshine Boys.

The Sunshine Boys is about an old vaudevillian who has a big problem working with his old partner, when they reunite for a television special. 

Walter Matthau has an odd Oscar history in that his two lead nomination are for portraying characters who are supposed to be quite older than what was his actual age at the time. He did it in Kotch quite poorly, but here he does it considerably better. Willie is suppose to be old, and Matthau looks old enough to be believed in the role, unlike in Kotch. He also is quite crotchety and senile in the role. I will say his old man portrayal he is amazing, but it is adequately convincing.

Matthau portrays Willie Stark the vaudevillian as a rather temperamental and fussy showman. He also wants things his way, as well as will never admit he is wrong, but say that someone else did the wrong thing. Willie annoys basically everyone, and causes the most pain to his hard working agent/nephew Ben (Richard Benjamin) who tries everything to try to get Willie a job.

Willie troubles come from his obnoxiousness and here is the pivotal question about this performance, due you find the way Matthau plays Willie behavior funny, or just completely annoying. Well I personally find him just slightly enjoyable, but also still annoying. It just his shtick gets a little repetitive, as he goes from one situation to another.

I was not particularly amused by him when he bothers a mechanic (Played by F. Murray Abraham, what a performance!!!!), or when he bothers a commercial director, as well as gives his nephew a hard time. I just always sympathized with the person he was annoying more than with Stark, which would be fine if I found him really funny but I don't.

Not all hope is lost for this performance though because he has his pivotal scenes with George Burns as Willie's old vaudevillian partner Al Lewis. They can't stand each other, and their dynamic together makes their scenes together are the best scenes of the film.

I do like how Matthau plays it with constant obvious anger, and annoyance at Lewis, well Burns is always absolutely deadpan. It works quite well, and I do find these scenes very enjoyable. I think this is because of largely Burns' perfect reactions because  unlike the other people annoyed by Stark he does not just get upset instantly.

They have the right timing together, in both the scene where they are doing their doctor sketch, as well as just their fights, to make their scenes together work. I would say it is both of them even though Burns' is even more important, they have just the right feuding chemistry that indicates their characters' history, and current relationship quite well.

Matthau mostly just does his thing for most of the film, except for a few dramatic moments at the end of the film when Willie becomes ill. Matthau is able to show a little bit quieter of side of Willie, and it is fairly well done. It is not amazing, but Matthau keeps it within his character, I think again in particular his last scene in Burns really has an odd poignancy where despite not being able to stand each other they do shows that they do care for each other.

This performance is not amazing by any means, I wish Matthau frankly readjusted a little bit to the scenes with anyone besides Burns, simply to be more amusing and less annoying. His scenes with Burns though are quite successful though, and I think they alone make this a successful performance, even though it is a flawed one.

Best Actor 1975

And the Nominees Were:

Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon

James Whitmore in Give 'Em Hell, Harry!

Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Maximilian Schell in The Man in the Glass Booth

Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys 

Best Actor 1971: Results

5. Walter Matthau in Kotch- This performance really is nothing but smiles, and sunshine.  There is nothing to really note here except that he really is not particularly believable as an old man.

4. George C. Scott in The Hospital- A lacking character, but Scott does show the emotions he has to quite well, even if it does not form a compelling character.

3. Peter Finch in Sunday Bloody Sunday- Finch's performance is an effective enough performance, that gives a portrait of a repressed man who yearns for love.

2. Topol in The Fiddler on The Roof- Topol gives a very good joyous performance, and puts his full heart into a delightful role.

1. Gene Hackman in The French Connection- Hackman gives a commanding interesting memorable performance. I thoroughly enjoy every moment of Hackman's performance and I especially found his portrait of the obsession of the narcotics detective particularly powerful and effective.

Deserving Performances:
Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry
Michael Caine in Get Carter
Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Best Actor 1971: Walter Matthau in Kotch

Walter Matthau received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Joseph P. Kotchner in Kotch.

Kotch is not much of a film, about an old man who refuses to be put away in a old people's home. A much better similar film is Harry and Tonto made a few years later.

Something I did not point out, but I guess I should have mentioned in my last review was how convincing the 35 year old Topol was as the much older Tevye in The Fiddler on The Roof. I was really reminded how good he was at playing older, when I watched Walter Matthau in this film. The fifty year old Matthau is just not particularly convincing as the Elderly Kotch. He had white hair sure, but I never saw Matthau as an old man. He really did not do anything to be convincing as a Grandfather.  Also I personally I have noticed I much prefer Matthau when he acts as a character his own age.

Kotch is one of those nice old men, who still has energy and energetically takes to life. Although really too energetically, because he seemed more like a fifty year old guy to me, since Matthau honestly does nothing to seem older. Now I should get off his age I guess, but unfortunately there is not that much to talk about. Kotch is not too much of a character, just a nice old guy who is mistreated by a few people, and misunderstood by others.

All Walter Matthau has to do for Kotch is be charming and a nice old guy. Well is an actor I like and he certainly is charming, and a nice enough guy in the role, but he is nothing more than. I really do not have anything more to say, he is nice charming, and sweet, but nothing more. His character stays consistent throughout as a nice charming old guy, and never changes, or shows anything more than he always was a nice charming old guy.

I think I really prefer Walter Matthau when he is portraying a clever, or sly guy, and I guy who is his actual age. Matthau is technically fine throughout the role, except for the weakness of his age believability. He is never asked to do much, but what he does he does warmly I suppose.

Best Actor 1971

And the Nominees Were:

Peter Finch in Sunday Bloody Sunday

Walter Matthau in Kotch

Gene Hackman in The French Connection

George C. Scott in The Hospital

Topol in Fiddler on the Roof