2001: The Men

I hope you're not getting tired of my year be year process of reviewing the decade. I care if you do. Honest, I do. No one? Good. So, on to the actors of 2002. I didn't see a few of the films with the outstanding males, and when I did I made some different choices. Oh well. Who wants generic picks?

               

Supporting Actor

Tier Two

Matt Damon in Ocean’s Eleven

Colin Firth in Bridget Jones' Diary

James Gandolfini in The Mexican

Ed Harris in A Beautiful Mind

Clive Owen in Gosford Park

Damon, Firth and Galdolfini rise above some incredibly stock characters and make magic. Damon especially is a hoot as Linus showing some incredible comedic skills. His rapport with the cast [especially Pitt] is delightful to watch and just makes Ocean's Eleven a success. Harris is good in A Beautiful Mind and Owen only just misses the mark as the enigmatic Parks in Gosford Park. 

                            

The Nominees

Sean Bean in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Jim Broadbent in Iris

Jim Broadbent in Moulin Rouge

Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Ryan Philippe in Gosford Park

I suppose Philippe seems like a dud here, but if Gosford Park did anything it was proof that he could act. He had an oddly fascinating chemistry with Kristin Scott Thomas and lent a definite charm to the film. So in the battle of Gandalf vs Boromir, Gandalf is the winner. Obviously. Boromir is a mere human. And Jim Broadbent faces off against himself with his Zidler from Moulin Rouge prevailing.

                

Lead Actor

Tier Two

George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven

Heath Ledger in A Knight’s Tale

Guy Pearce in Memento

Sean Penn in I Am Sam

Mekhi Phifer in O

Maybe I'm easy on him, but Heath Ledger was oddly charming in A Knight's Tale, and Clooney whom I usually despise works his charm with much aplomb in Ocean's Twelve. Though I never really got into Memento Pearce was fine, and Penn had a tough job with that hammy character in I Am Sam. I'm glad he was nominated at the Oscars actually. He and Phifer are the best of this bottom five.

                 

The Nominees

Russell Crow in A Beautiful Mind

Ethan Hawke in Training Day

Ewan McGregor in Moulin Rouge

Denzel Washington in Training Day

Tom Wilkinson in In the Bedroom

I suppose it is surprising that Crow is there, but I did feel he was one of the truly strong things about the film. Of the two Training Day guys I’ve already pledged my allegiance to Ethan Hawke who emerges as the winner [surprise, no?] with Tom Wilkinson close behind for heart wrenching turn in In the Bedroom. Ewan McGregor secures the bronze for an underrated and exceptional piece of acting in Moulin Rouge.

                 

So, surprised at Ethan Hawke, Sean Bean, Ryan Philippe? Who are your choices?