Alternate Best Actor 2002: Sol Kyung-gu in Oasis

Sol Kyung-gu did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Jong-du in Oasis.

Oasis tells the story of an off-beat ex-con trying to bond with a woman with cerebral palsy.

Telling that quick little summary really doesn't cover the half of it, as is the case it seems for every film by Lee Chang-dong, a filmmaker who tells his unique stories in his own way at his own pace. This film is no different in this regard, as all his films are more a spiral of storytelling than a through line. Poetry was about a woman dealing with dementia but also not that. Burning was about a man trying to discover what happened to his girlfriend, but also not that. Well here we have that central conceit that honestly sounds like the set up for a bad Hollywood feel good film like I Am Sam. Made by Lee Chang-dong though it is of course not that, but it isn't wholly not that either. I guess though the "feel good" intention it itself more than a bit of struggle I think, where I have to digress into how one even examines a film with a particular subject matter. I suppose this was on my mind a bit more from also watching the unlikely original screenplay Oscar winner from this year in question, Talk to Her. A film I would describe as well written in a general sense, well directed, and in general well acted, however the essential conceit of the film, and how that conceit was treated prevented me from at all embracing the film. This as that film features a man who is essentially a stalker very intimately treating a coma patient, the woman he was stalking. Now the film treats it as though that character is some innocent sort of character that alleges a purity of some sort, however that approach in a way made me reject that film all the more. Again even though I could recognize overall the film was artfully done, however that barrier stood too tall fundamentally within the narrative to quite overcome it.

I say all that as a similar experience came from Oasis, which again is by a filmmaker who clearly has a vision and is attempting to take a risk. This in this unlikely love story between Sol's ex-con and the woman with cerebral palsy, who is also related to the man's past, as she is family member of the person Jong-du killed in a hit and run that led to his imprisonment. Well the man takes interest in the woman, Han Gong-ju (Moon So-Ri), but that interest is to first attempt to sexually assault her, which is only prevented from her naturally freaking out about his behavior. This element is frankly less fundamental to this film than the conceit of Talk to Her, but it did cause my interest within the story to almost immediately cease. Again though it is more execution than just content, as obviously I've followed technically far more sinister leads in films, the problem is though this isn't the story about a sociopath, it seems like it's trying to be a sweet romance. Although all of that isn't really all that much attached to what I'm here to write about, Sol's performance, however it is a starting point that is where I come to this film. Anyway, so how about Sol's work. Well he has the secondary challenge within the film, Moon's is greater in terms of portraying a mentally and physically handicapped person, his Jong-du is just somewhat mentally handicapped, which is never gone into great detail. Sol's performance though is one of a man who just is off in some way anyways that is hard to exactly completely put your finer on though one thing that is obvious is he stands out like a sore thumb.

I must grant Sol credit that he does disappear into the role as the man he portrays he finds just a naturalism within the man's manner. This in the slightly odd way of overly smiling, and his movements that have a consistent sort of awkwardness to them. He portrays them with the right quality as basically a given as the man. This amplified further in his way of speaking that is with an over eagerness that again emphasizes a man whose mind is functioning fully, it is broken in more than one sense. This as he successfully presents a man who is too eager to please, and his whole manner seems as though the man has some constant wish to do this. Of course this then leads into the relationship that portrays that initial meeting, which I won't fault Sol's performance. His portrayal is that of the man's awkwardness going to the point of becoming dangerous in the moment of the attempted rape, which I'm not quite sure why it is in the film. Anyway past that questionable inclusion though we get to the meat, which is why it is more questionable, as the film has scenes of more sincere bonding between Jong-du and Gong-ju. This that I had no real interest in again, not to keep harping on it, but..."what the hell Lee?". In a setup like this though the worst thing that can happen is becoming detached from the film's reality, which unfortunately happened for me....so things went a bit more slowly as the film went on. This in that I just didn't care about the romance of any potential at this point, so I guess I really looked just at the acting, which for a film like this is a bit of a problem actually.

Not taking stock into the character's leads one to just look at the posturing of the actors. Again I can praise Sol to the extent that I believed him, less so for Moon So-Ri unfortunately who sadly is no Daniel Day-Lewis. This in that I wasn't at all convinced by her physical portrayal of the palsy leading to me just feeling as though it was just...well acting. Again this leading to further problems in the romance I was already not invested in, this as I found half it not even convincing as a person within the film. This only leaving Sol in his character that I didn't care about, playing his part with a reasonable degree of effectiveness, again only in that I believed his portrayal of the disability. The character though remained static, this as really the creation of the humanity and sympathy for him should come from the romance. The romance I don't care about nor do I believe. So there's a bit of a problem here for Sol, who honestly can only do so much in my mind. This in that he hits the note that he does hit, he sets up really the template for the man and is convincing in that. Lee Chang-Dong's choices though left it as a template and only that however. Again I say this without relishing the criticism as I've liked all his others films that I've seen and found their off-beat approach intriguing to say the least. I suppose though then it is only befitting that one of his great gambles doesn't pay off. Well that was the case for me and Oasis. The off-beat choices frankly detracted from the conceit rather than amplifying it. A conceit that was genuinely already a big enough risk on its own. Its choices for brutality to avoid sentimentality didn't work for me, frankly didn't even make it any less overly sentimental, just jarring. Sol does what he can in the lead, but I'll admit the film ended up obscuring my perspective of his work.

Alternate Best Actor 2002: Mads Mikkelsen in Open Hearts

Mads Mikkelsen did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Niels in Open Hearts.

Opens Hearts tells the intertwined lives of two couples created after an accident.

Well in a bit of a reworking of this year's lineup I've decided to hold off on Timothy Spall's work in All or Nothing, where I have to describe him as supporting for the said to supporting work of Mikkelsen here, who I must describe as lead. This is while the film gives time for all four parties, that is those being cheated on and the adulterers, the latter is the focus, with Mikkelsen's doctor almost taking the major focus later on in the film. Anyway I think this can continue off my review of Hiroyuki Sanada's work, as Mikkelsen is another actor somewhat wasted in the world of Hollywood, not to the extent of the former, but still notable. I think this falls into the unfortunate Hollywood mentality where apparently if you have a European accent you must be evil. This unfortunately doesn't give Mikkelsen enough of a chance to show of his ability in multiple types of roles, such as this fairly low key one here. This in playing the doctor to, and husband of the person who ran over, a man Joachim who becomes bitter as a tetraplegic. In turn he meets the man's financee Cecile (Sonja Richter), whom he takes a liking to. This being an example of Mikkelsen excelling as the normal man. This in portraying initially just this general likability within the films purposefully overtly reality based style. Mikkelsen thrives in this normalcy in presenting just an ease onscreen and in particular an earnest charm that is never too much but importantly never too little in making the doctor just a sympathetic man.

The man though that falls into an affair with Cecile which Mikkelsen excels in portraying in avoiding extreme cliche. This in presenting the man just naturally coming together with her in the moment, and portraying the complexity after their initial tryst. This in the shyness he brings as he speaks that it is the first time he has cheated on his wife, and captures in the moment his affection for the woman he just had sex with along with though the embarrassment for the betrayal of the situation. Mikkelsen's work is remarkable in how tangible he makes every element of the situation within his performance. This that he strictly ever avoids melodrama within Niels's manner at every point. This being entirely convincing in portraying the genuine moments of affection with Cecile, though being just honest and vulnerable as he is confronted by his wife. Mikkelsen is great in how much he downplays these moments in just showing in his reactions the man pulling within himself and accentuating the shame that overwhelms the man. My favorite scene of the film actually is after Niels moves out for some time from his family to be with Cecile though coming back to visit his kids for Christmas. Mikkelsen is outstanding in the scene because he very much articulates the difficultly of the situation within Niels, without forgetting a single complication. This in that he finds an a real warmth in his moments with his kids showing that Niels is genuinely loving towards them. This though even towards his wife though that captures the underlying tension that still exists.

This though when pressed about his affair, Mikkelsen is great in his expression that captures again the palatable shame of his existence. This though again not simplifying it as he shows a believable sense of the man living with that shame though evidently still of course pained by it when pressed to really look upon the duality of his life. This with the forces of his family he still cares about out against his affair that he's in part forgotten them for. Although the film does cover other facets of the situation the most compelling moments are consistently the depiction of Niels's failing marriage. A great deal of this is Mikkelsen's work that manages to so effortlessly create the reality of the situation. This finding artfully what can be found in the real degradation that is created within Niels as even the affair begins to struggle. Mikkelsen's work is heartbreaking in crafting every moment with just pure honesty of this normal man dealing with the harsh situation. This moment of lashing out against her, with just a distraught pain of a man realizing his mistakes as the "perfection" of the relationship falls apart. Mikkelsen crafts every moment of the man's reality that is potent with emotion yet never feels forced or inconsistent with overall design of the film. It again shows his great ability to portray just a normal man going through a difficult situation. Mikkelsen's work here is example of his incredible range which is rarely touched upon in this way in his international work. This in one of his greatest assets being his ability to portray such intimate vulnerability so potently.

Alternate Best Actor 2002: Hiroyuki Sanada in The Twlight Samurai

Hiroyuki Sanada did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Seibei Iguchi in The Twilight Samurai.

The Twilight Samurai is a wonderful film depicting a widower samurai near the end of the feudal system.

If I may quickly bemoan the Hollywood mentality when it comes to foreign language actors. Where evidently they wish to cast them after seeing or at least hearing of their work in their own home countries then only to cast them in largely thin and generic roles. That is of course the case for Hiroyuki Sanada, though I will say that always creates a bit of a bread crumb trail for me to find what was that sparked this interest to begin with. Well here it takes me to this film, where I'll admit I always have a bit of enthusiasm to find Japanese cinema outside of the golden era, given sadly so little of it makes an international impression. This film being both a throwback and modernization I'd say on so many of the films of that golden era however, being based around the life of the samurai. The difference being that our central character of Seibei Iguchi isn't some great lord or general, nor is he a renegade ronin or something. He's really just a guy who happens to be a samurai. Well and Hiroyuki Sanada's performance is wonderful by portraying him just as that. This in the early scenes of the film where we see him interacting in his little home with his 2 daughters and his mother. Sanada bring such a fantastic unassuming quality to his work. This in just a guy really very much content within this existence and most importantly brings this warmth within his interactions with his family. There's such a sense of love in his eyes and we see a man who really adores his existence in a certain sense.

We witness though Seibei interact within society where things are a little different however from that contentment within his home life, no matter how simple or small his surroundings might be. In this we see Sanada portray this certain shyness within the samurai as he must interact with the feudal hierarchy,  however as a man unable to really deliver on the pomp or circumstance requested for his class of samurai. This to the point that when he ponders if he could maybe someday be a farmer instead of being a samurai Sanada delivery is of just this earnest question of a man who really would rather live as such. Sanada shows the shyness really in this sense of a man who knows he will be looked upon with ridicule by other along with this sense of unease largely by the nature of the life he really has no great comfort with. This when he is admonished for his somewhat unkempt demeanor Sanada is great in showing that rather it really being a blow to his pride it rather just the intense reactions of others that causes a sense of any distress. This as Sanada shows a man really just wanting to do the best to succeed with his family and with those around him rather than holding a need to be seen anything more than he is...in fact Seibei might honestly be fine with being seen as less if it would help his circumstances. Sanada creates the right sympathy for this though in creating that understated quality of the man who isn't looking to make a big splash but rather just float within the joys he does have.

Things change slightly when an old childhood sweetheart returns, Tomoe (Rie Miyazawa) who comes to stay with his family and reminisce though no romance is spoken of. Sanada's chemistry with Miyazawa is pitch perfect. This in as Sanada brings a genuine charm within that warmth he brings with the interactions and a strong sense of their connection from the past. In that though he grants still that hesitation and shyness of the relationship of old now technically detached. Sanada being terrific again in showing the man's very palatable love for her in glimpses though hidden still within his nearly always retiring manner. This even when Seibei is proposed the idea of marrying Tomoe through an intermediary, Sanada honestly is heartbreaking through how genuine he makes Sanada's distress in the moment. This in reacting with embarrassment as though it would be ridiculous for a woman of some status to marry a samurai of his low standing of wealth. Sanada is great as he speaks every word of his own struggle with his former wife due to the very little he makes from being a retainer samurai. Sanada is fantastic in bringing such a quiet heartbreak within every word of Seibei struggle that shows the man's wish more than anything to avoid further complication knowing how life can be difficult within poverty. Sanada emphasizing the man's vulnerability of this beautifully within the man's modest style as a person.

The one place where it seems that perhaps there is more to Seibei than meets most eyes as the samurai derided by most as the "twilight samurai" that is in dueling. This we initially see as he defends a friend from an ornery samurai through fighting with a wooden sword. In this duel though Sanada's performance is important as he presents a man directly to the point in every action. This as a man attempting to end the conflict as quickly as possible, not as a purposeful badass but really an accidental one. This in he grants the sense of conviction but only to finish the fight, not to relish in any sense of defeat. This as we see after the successful duel, Sanada's manner shows a man looking down and away, along with a timid voice that denies any great feat or any great skill within himself. This again showing a man avoiding being beyond his source of contentment within his family. Eventually though pressed to take on a rogue samurai by his Zenemon Yogo (Min Tanaka) who has balked at a request harakiri and instead killing anyone who approaches his home. Although in his usual manner Sanada depicts the man avoiding really pushing his boundaries, but eventually is forced to through the demands of his lords.

We then see different shades of the man one real and one sort of fake. The real one is when he decides to take the chance to fully declare his love to Tomoe. This is an amazing scene for Sanada as the earned pride in the moment, and the reflection of the internalized love now externalized is palatable. This made heartbreaking when it appears she can't accept because she's accepted a different proposal. Sanada's switch back to the man's old self is heartbreaking, as in his eyes you see the man's being torn up from it but he speaks with just quiet assurances that he was foolish to make any such request. Now there Sanada showed a real different side, however in his intention as a lord's warrior we see the false side. This in Sanada showing the man basically trying to be the cold calm samurai as he approaches his task, and faces the man in his home. Sanada's manner though instantly reverts when the Yogo instead surprises him by inviting him to a drink to discuss their mutual lives of hardship despite their status as samurai. Sanada is outstanding in the scene in his reflections upon Seibei's hard life particularly regarding the death of his wife. This as Sanada brings the right somberness but almost this comical manner of laughing upon his own misfortunes given how poverty seemed to create one problem after another for himself. Sanada in the moment granting this idea of truly living the memory within his head as he speaks the words to Yogo. Sadly these troubles eventually amount to Yogo believing Seibei isn't taking the man seriously leading to a duel after all. Again I love the way Sanada makes the inherent skill of the man a given as he attempts to avoid killing the man as long as he can in this state of consistent control but never hateful violence. This within the overarching idea of the character that Hiroyuki Sanada so beautifully realizes This as a samurai who is defined through his love for his simple life and his family, not his ambitions of any kind. This creating a uniquely moving portrait of a samurai in turn, one of quiet power of a family man just trying to life his simple life.

Alternate Best Actor 2002: David Gulpilil in The Tracker

David Gulpilil did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying the titular character in The Tracker.

The Tracker is an intriguing off-beat film about a posse tracking an indigenous man accused of murdering a white woman.

The posse features a tyrannical and violent leader known as the Fanatic (Gary Sweet) with two other white men whom he also berates, and their tracker played by David Gulpilil. As mentioned some reviews ago, Gulpilil has a unique presence as a performer which once again comes to play here. This as he can stand out really without doing much of anything. This being essential in the early scenes of the film which almost play like a musical in a strange way where there is very little dialogue as we see the men walking through the desert, title cards telling us their purpose, and really the music filling most of the blanks past that. In these scenes we see the tracker technically as part of the group but not as part of the group. This as Gulpilil delivers this certain distance in his manner as a man doing a job he doesn't particularly like. This in his eyes a gaze of lack of investment as they follow the brutal Fanatic. One of the earliest acts of the Fanatic being to slaughter a group of aborigines. The initial cut to Gulpilil's immediately after this act is depicted through a painting is incredible. This as his reaction is a specific heartbreak. He's clearly devastated but more internalized as a man who knows how he must behave in order to survive the circumstances he is in. This as even with that monstrous act he must continue going on with the group and the Fanatic's whims.

Gulpilil is great though in almost bringing a comic quality to his performance as it continues on. This as he finds the right tone in his manner that is both uncaring to Fanatic's cause, but also as disarming as possible. Gulpilil finds this effortless combination as he portrays the Tracker showing his ways to try to basically avoid the Fanatic's wrath while also in a way mocking him in his sort of quiet way of delivering every mention of his expertise in trying to find the supposed murderer. This of course doesn't satiate the mad man who instead chain up the tracker to bring him along the trip.Gulpilil still makes remarkable use of his presence in he has this certain command in presence in the sense of assured intelligence within the man even when shackled the way he is. He keeps both a reality and dignity intact with the character that simply is wonderful. There is a particularly great moment for Gulpilil takes a moment even to eulogies one of the fallen men of  the posse. Gulpilil brings such an understated yet palatable warmth in the moment, showing the tracker caring for another even within this divide with such a honest humanity. Again Gulpilil is captivating in his work by being so genuine in every moment here even in the film's rather atypical and at times overtly stylistic approach, Gulpilil is able to stand out in this essential reality within his own work.

After the tide turns though, where the tracker and the other surviving posse member team up against the fanatic, Gulpilil's performance changes. Naturally he shows the tracker more overt in his defiance, after all he is in charge. This is so powerfully shown though in the intensity he brings in a moment when he shows the fanatic directly his cruelty by looking upon a dead aborigine. There is such a notable strength in Gulpilil's glare no longer diluted by the need to seem harmless. This eventually leading to the tracker condemning the fanatic, where I love how straight forward Gulpilil is in the moment. This as his sentencing is even delivered with almost this casual quality, however in this creates such an honesty if even humor in the moment by showing that same manner of how he used to survive now inform him in his way of punishing the Fanatic. In this though still Gulpilil's casual quality has a real power to it as it feels so pure to the man and the character. It is again part of the man's presence so wonderfully. The film continues past this point as the tracker decides to still go to figure if the man is guilty or not. Gulpilil's sort overt confidence in terms of how much he expresses grows all the more. This again reinforcing the idea of the hidden intelligence of the tracker basically no longer being hidden, and the confident man that was there all along just being completely open in the moment. In the end we see the man wholly within his power and it is great just to see Gulpilil own the screen in these moments, no longer on the edge of moments but just dominating them. Now that is a relatively brief part of his work, however it is the natural end to his work. This being a fantastic realization of this arc of the tracker in a way revealing himself, but Gulpilil's artful gradual increase of his basically his charisma as a performer.

Alternate Best Actor 2002: Bill Paxton in Frailty

Bill Paxton did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Mr. Meiks in Frailty.

Frailty is a chilling directorial debut by Bill Paxton about a man (Matthew McCoanughey) recounting his childhood that involved his father claiming God has told him to kill demons in the form of people.

The one of a kind Bill Paxton cast himself within the co-leading role of the Meiks' father, who we initially meet in semi-idyllic settings where he lives as a single father, his wife having died in childbirth, with his sons Adam and Fenton. Paxton's performance beautifully sets up really the unnerving switch we will quickly see. Paxton creating this seemingly just warm and loving father. This in just an earnest demeanor as he hangs out with his two sons and has a generous caring demeanor. This quickly switches though as the film takes it turn, and exactly what this film is, is essential really to Paxton's performance. This is it is a horror mood piece, a scary sort of southern Gothic style story, not in a fully kitschy way, but in a definitely stylized fashion. I think one can almost take this as the type of performer Paxton was, which he had a style kind of within himself that was typically heightened. This made him far more ideal for certain roles more than others, however it definitely granted him an idiosyncratic presence that made him stand out nonetheless. This being ideal for his directorial debut here, where there is just something particularly skin crawling the moment Mr. Meiks wakes up his two sons in the middle of the night. This where he immediately begins to tell them of his vision from angel that he has been told that he must start killing demons on the earth and will be given tools to do so. Although this is technically lower key Paxton, Paxton is terrific in carrying that same earnestness before, but here speaking towards a concept that immediately raises more than just an eye brow.

Paxton though portrays the man with this sort of clarity of man that is in fact particularly disturbing as he shows his kids an axe and gloves given to him as weapons to destroy demons. Paxton speaks as though this would simply be a job for them at first. Paxton wisely does change this manner, though more info on why, later as he captures the first demon on the list, also seemingly just some woman. Paxton in the capture importantly actually shows more of a rush of emotion than any maniacal glee in the moment. When he shows her to their sons Paxton brings a certain undercurrent of fear into his own performance both upon looking at the woman but also after touching her allowing him to see her "true" nature as a demon supposedly. Paxton's delivery portraying this as not something wholly with conviction with the first kill actually. This in throughout the moment there is that undercurrent of a personal terror potentially at his own act, or potentially in seemingly the burden of his "mission". Either way though Paxton is terrifying though by making the emotional context so palatable and not portraying the moment with any distance. He rather shows very much the act of killing with his portrayal of Mr. Meiks as he goes about his perceived duty. This with the support of his one son Adam who claims also to be able to see the demons for what they are against his other son Fenton who claims to not see anything, which we as the audience also see.

Now as his mission continues and Mr. Meiks kills more people he claims are demons, while Fenton continues to doubt, Paxton's performance moves closer towards sort of the more extremes of the Paxton style. This entirely works in granting the sort of extremism needed as he paints Mr. Meiks fanaticism with this certain emotional desperation within it. This in speaking every word of his mission with a ferocity though within that an anxiety that makes it all the more unnerving as though the man is potentially trying to convince himself of his own mission. This element of his performance though actually basically has a double meaning. This as upon initial viewing it is easy to take Paxton on face value as just a desperate crazy man, but by the end of the film you learn that spoilers the demons are entirely real. With that in mind Paxton's performance works a bit differently as one can instead see that desperation as attached to both the burden of the duty and his genuine need for his son Fenton to see, the son who is in fact a demon. This informs Paxton's performance for the rest of the film as on initial viewing he is terrifying in creating the all the greater intensity of the man who is so emotional in speaking his zealotry like a deranged preacher, but upon re-watch he's a man with the same desperation trying to save his son. The key technically to this is when Fenton informs the local sheriff of the killings leading Mr. Meiks to kill the sheriff. After this kill Paxton presents Meiks differently as there is a sadness over it and there are no words that support his claims that it was an earned killing. This is against the final attempted demon kill where again Paxton shows in the view of the man, who is in fact not insane, in a way emotionally burdened still by his mission particularly as it pertains towards his son. Paxton's performance ends up working both was, and is actually quite powerful and disturbing both ways. This as Paxton portrait of a mental illness wrapped around in a wannabe zealot is chilling within that intensity he brings to it, but also works as a man being driven to a brink by the difficult calling he must fulfill. As much as the film itself is an impressive debut as a filmmaker, it's a shame his directing career was so limited overall, it is also an excellent example of his own talent as a performer. This in finding a role that effective wields his own unique presence to create a memorable impression as a deranged killer and as a burdened crusader.

Alternate Best Actor 2002: Philip Seymour Hoffman in Love Liza

Philip Seymour Hoffman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Wilson Joel in Love Liza.

Love Liza is the type of independent film that kind of give independent films a bad name, about a man dealing with the sudden suicide of his wife.

That earlier statement comes just as it features the Indie tropes of some dark topic filtered through a semi-quirky spin then processed through a whole lot of repetitious nothing. That is what we have here that is a film that believes it is creating meaning yet falls into really acts of nothingness in its procession to a particularly obvious conclusion, though hey at least it doesn't have the as obnoxious tropes of no music, unearned long takes and or even less earned ambiguous endings. What the film does have an actor that I kind of hate to look back against because once again we lost him far too soon. Of course Philip Seymour Hoffman was an incredible talent, and this film is another example of that, even when then character of his Wilson Joel I don't think is the most well written he ever played. Hoffman though was a great actor, so he can at least fill in some of the gaps of the character even if he can't quite make the film work. We have the early scenes where Hoffman creates a certain daze the man is in from reeling from the sudden suicide of his wife. Hoffman vividly realizes this sort of early state that he makes nearly denial. This as he portrays Wilson still as able to basically function, but a bit off in just how well he can function. This in his moments of reacting to the happiness of others Hoffman delivers Joel's laughs too much, of a man trying to be happy, though there is an obvious failure in this. This in showing the front that cannot really hide the obviously trauma inside.

This quickly deteriorates, again I think a problem with the film is just in the writing never quite supports Hoffman enough, though Hoffman does well in portraying this deterioration. This in now granting a man less in a daze and more so in a fixation. A fixation on the death with a sadness in his eyes though also a focus as though he is trying to uncover the meaning of his relationship. This is a bit overly represented by the last letter from his wife that he refuses to open. This pain though Wilson quickly tries to cover up, in something that hits sadly too close to home regarding Hoffman's own story, as Wilson begins to engage in substance abuse by huffing gasoline fumes. Hoffman though is terrific in realizing these moments as basically a man trying to fill his head with anything other than his pain and return to at least some kind of daze. These scenes become a bit repetitive though, and sadly quirky, as he comes across different people asking about his fumes to which he lies about being interested in model planes. This adds up to nothing really, but Hoffman is good in presenting the very limited front he can muster through the daze to appease his slowly more suspicious onlookers, his co-workers and friends. Too much of the film basically sits on that idea as we just get scene after scene of Wilson getting high without really an effective progression in the narrative or further examination of the situation of character. Hoffman is still good in all these scenes mind you but they don't give him the most interesting material to work with.

The one relationship that does offer something more interesting is with his mother-in-law Mary (Kathy Bates). This as the two develop a great kind of anti-chemistry. I like that they are able to realize in their interactions between the two, not a dislike but rather just an indifference of two people who really didn't interact before much, now are connected in their mutual grief. Hoffman is great in these moments in the way he realizes Wilson's way of becoming even more physically withdrawn around her, as against creating that sense of the connection within the lack of connection. This until late in the film where it appears she's taken his memories of his wife including her last letter. This where we finally get a more cathartic release of emotions and Hoffman unsurprisingly delivers on the sheer intensity of the man's grief. This in showing the sudden rush of emotions of trying to reclaim the little he did have of her left. This until finally getting the letter and choosing to read it. Hoffman is legitimately outstanding in this scene in quietly reading each word and in that reflecting the heartbreak in every word. This though as she essentially tells him in the letter to move on, Hoffman wonderfully realizes every ounce of pain though with the sense of the very real love he shared for all the same. It's strong work from him, and though I won't hand wave it as a "of course it is", I will say in the end there was a certain detachment from me in viewing the film. This in the flaws of the film I felt kept Hoffman from being able to quite make the next step in terms of crafting a truly unforgettable portrait of grief. Although I won't call it a technical exercise on his own part, it felt that way by the particularly manufactured feeling elements of the screenplay. I can't criticize Hoffman himself, as he excels here, I only wish the material was fully able to support his own efforts.

Alternate Best Actor 2002: Chiwetel Ejiofor in Dirty Pretty Things

Chiwetel Ejiofor did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Okwe/Olatokumbo Fadipe in Dirty Pretty Things.

Dirty Pretty Things is an effective, more character piece than thriller, about illegal immigrants in London who get intertwined in a criminal black market based within a hotel.

So I return to Chiwetel Ejiofor in one of his first major film roles in what was part of his minor breakout, that he's slowly expanded, though never quite enough to really match what I think could be his potential. Ejiofor here plays the seemingly unassuming character in Okwe who we meet working as a cab driver in the day then a hotel concierge at night. Ejiofor's performance offers his typical charisma here as we see the man going about his day. This with a consistent natural African accent that helps us see his character as the immigrant, though obviously has long spent his time elsewhere causing it to be reduced. Ejofor gets along typically as he grants early on Okwe's this sort of quiet near stoicism. He doesn't simplify him but rather establishes him as a man who obviously wishes to fly under the radar. He still has a low key charm about him as he picks up passengers at an airport, but at the same time there's a weight within his work. This Ejiofor has a certain sense of trauma within the man, a dormant quality within Ejiofor's work that is a given. There isn't something he immediately states about his past, but rather he creates the sense that Okwe has gone through something within his past that bares on him now. This is effectively drawn though as an internalized quality within Ejiofor's performance. This as in the present Ejiofor shows us a man attempting to live through his existence without making a particular splash at first, an existence though that is one of a near constant motion.

Ejiofor then is a captivating lead to follow as Okwe goes through his rather difficult existence as he comes across the nastier side of things in each. Whether that seeing severely injured men at his cabby station or finding a human heart within a bathroom at his hotel. Ejiofor's performance captures a careful sort of contained empathy within the man. This as Okwe obviously wants to stay under the radar yet in these moments we can see his immediate horror or low key disbelief in moments. This finding the nature of the man and the odd symmetry we find him in. This as Ejiofor finds the right balance in his reactions in terms of creating are concern in part, but also a sense of distaste towards the guilty parties that seem to be associated with the horrible acts. We get a better relationship in his moments where we see Okwe interacting with his friend Guo Yi (Benedict Wong). He and Wong share a nice chemistry between them in that you get a good sense of camaraderie within sort of attempting to make the best of an area filled with hardships. The most essential relationship though is Turkish Muslim immigrant Senay (Audrey Tautou), with whom he partially shares a home, though in technically practical not sexual relationship sort of way. This is where I'd say Ejiofor's nuance is most pivotal. This as he creates the right manner in Okwe where he portrays his manner towards her most often in an almost paternal context. This in creating a sense of warmth more so than a winning charm, in accentuating the way Okwe is trying to support her just as she supports him with her home.

The more we find about Okwe the more is revealed about him, though Ejiofor very much accentuates a man who is who he is, even if he is more than he is. This as it becomes evident that he was an educated doctor in Africa now working the menial jobs due to some past circumstance. This as we see Okwe in action as a doctor helping an injured taxi cab man, Ejiofor is fantastic. This in such conviction and empathy in his eyes, a calm determination, but also a sense of frustration in seeing the sort of failure of the system around him within the suffering right in front of him. This as he learns that there is a black market organ scheme in the hotel he is working for, spearheaded by its sleazy manager Sneaky (Sergi Lopez). Ejiofor is fantastic in creating such an honest heroic quality within Okwe as he undergoes these revelations. Those revelations along with seeing Senay continued hardships that are slowly leading towards the desire to exploit her, particularly sexually. Ejiofor is great by making these moments of interacting with Sneaky and Senay separately so powerfully inform his characters actions. This in his interactions with Sneaky, and thinking about them later, there is that profound sense of both distaste and distress over this horrible behavior. With Senay, Ejiofor is wonderful in again projecting this pitch perfect chemistry with Tautou, who presents an overt infatuation, while Ejiofor is marvelous by slightly deflecting as pure love, but wholly non-sexual in that sense. Ejiofor instead so poignantly emphasizes in every moment he looks upon her the genuine concern just for a person he cares about.

Ejiofor makes it wholly convincing then as Okwe takes rather extreme action, though heroic action, by exploiting the devious Sneaky, by getting passports from him, before drugging him to use him for a kidney payoff rather than Senay as Sneaky intended. Ejiofor's terrific though by making the determination of Okwe in these scenes a given, and with that conviction in his eyes of a man simply committing a righteous act in the moment. After taking the successful gambit, that will allow him to return to Africa and let Senay go to the US, first Okwe reveals his past. This where he was forced to flee when his wife was purposefully murdered and he was forced to flee away from his daughter. Ejiofor is marvelous in the scene in so quietly yet still emotionally raw delivering of the recounting of the story. Ejiofor suggesting the lost of his wife but also that very real pain of being separated from his daughter. This is why he and Senay must part ways. Their two final parting just being excellent work from Ejiofor again. Here in portraying just a slight ease away from the purely paternal to grant a sense of perhaps the potential for more overt romance internalized with him, though still with this manner that keeps a distance while only expressing the strongest of affections for her. This though is a prelude to when just a moment later when Okwe finally calls his daughter again and calling home. Ejiofor is outstanding in this moment as that haunted quality in his work come to the forefront in this outpouring of pent up emotion and is absolutely heartbreaking. This in making one care wholly about this relationship in a moment that we only really heard about a few minutes before. This is a great performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor, as he not only leads the film effortlessly in just a low key charismatic turn, but also anchors it with such a palatable sense of humanity.