On His Birthday...

I have a vague antipathy towards Clint Eastwood on principle. On two separate occasions he beat out two of my favourite films for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and as silly as it is, I’ve never gotten over it. The fact that I’m hardly a fan of his work generally is just insult being added to injury. I do love him for Mystic River, though. It does appear on my list of favourite films, and with good reason. I think it’s almost perfect. I’ll forget the injustices done to James Ivory and Martin Scorsese (and the inadvertent ones done to Annette Bening and Clive Owen) and instead revel in the goodness of Clint. 

Decade in Review, Revisited: 25 Tear Jerking Scenes (Part One)

I got the inspiration for this post months ago from here. I promised to followup since then, and then the meme made me remember how much I cry at movies. I can’t remember the last time I cried in real life (I’m an emotional cripple), but I’m happy to share pain vicariously with fictional characters. It would be too much to trudge through all the films I’ve seen, I’ll stick to the last decade. Today, bottom fifteen in alphabetical order. Next time, the top ten.

Each entry has the potential to be a  spoiler-ish entry, if you haven’t seen it don’t read.
           
Atonement: Tete a tete, En Francais (Guilty Party: Romola Garai)

Briony’s adeptness in what she refers to as “school French” never fails to elicit an eye roll from me. Nonetheless, Atonement I’m already a big fan of Romola here and she’s responsible for one of Atonement’s most moving scenes. The conversation with the soldier seems odd at first, and perhaps it still is, but it works simply because Romola puts so much effort into it. Her eyes are always at work, and though it could be a bit too on the nose it’s still a brilliant moment of poignancy.
          
Avatar: Graces Dies (Guilty Party: James Cameron and Sigourney Weaver)
Call it what you will, but cold would be a dubious accusation to mete out to Avatar. The death of Grace is the most poignant. Maybe it’s because it’s Sigourney, the film’s strongest “actor”…maybe it’s just the realisation of the scope of the destruction that has occurred. Either way, her death is the film’s most moving moment (more than the burning of the tree) and a definite tearjerker.

Away From Her: “Forsaken” (Guilty Party: Julie Christie)
I’m still not certain on how I feel about Away From Her. It seems so manipulative at times, and then starkly honest at others. Either way, I like Julie Christie in it. The moment in the film that always causes me to tear up is the ending. What will happen with Fiona and Grant? Has she really regained lucidity? Alzheimer’s is just a thoroughly depressing disease throughout and Christie just makes it all the more sad.

Babel: Confession (Guilty Party:Boubker Ait El Caid)
Babel had a number of poignant moments, but the most moving came from the arc’s that’s usually most forgotten. The plot point of the two brother’s inadvertent foray into crime fails to hit home at times, but the climax makes it worth it. Boubker Ait El Caid’s confession is brilliant (for a child actor and for an adult) and yes, the words are overly precise. But it doesn’t matter. It’s too distressing for me to care.

Big Fish: The Funeral (Guilty Party: Tim Burton)
Burton gets called out for being too irreverent. Pity those detractors didn’t see Big Fish, one of the decade’s strongest films. The moment where Billy Crudup lifts his father into the water surrounded by all the “characters” we’ve met is the film’s most brilliant scene and it’s oh, so moving. It’s a tribute to parents and it goes to show that Tim Burton really can do anything, perhaps not as prolific as some, but in his own way – still excellent.

Bright Star: Crying (Guilty Party: Abbie Cornish)
It’s Abbie’s strongest moment, which is odd considering that her Fanny is built on keeping her emotions in check. We know John will die, she knows John will die and yet… It’s one of those rare bouts of crying on screen that’s realistic. Even as she says lines like “I can’t breathe” there’s no doubt that she really can’t breathe. It’s the sort of blunt sadness Jane Campion isn’t averse to showing and Abbie rises to the occasion, brilliantly. More of this.

Cold Mountain: Death (Guilty Party: Nicole Kidman)
Although I’d hardly attribute Nicole’s talents to solely being a good reactor, her brilliance in Cold Mountain (yes, brilliance) comprises her stellar ability to the more overt acting of her cast members and make her Ada Munroe work. She has already reacted to a death earlier in the film (her father), but of course it’s Inman’s death that’s the emotional juggernaut. I do think Jude Law is rather good here, but this moment is all Nicole.

Finding Neverland: The Performance (Guilty Party: Kate Winslet)
I have a soft spot for Finding Neverland and though it gets too saccharine at times I’m willing to cut it some slack, particularly in the final moments of Kate’s performance. “Peter Pan” has always been a distressing tale in its own right, and juxtaposed with the eventual death of Sylvia it only becomes more so.

Gosford Park: “Don’t cry, they’ll hear.” (Guilty Parties: Helen Mirren and Eileen Atkins)
I think, at the end of the day Gosford Park is a comedy, but that doesn’t stop Helen from eliciting a few tears. We don’t expect to get so caught up in the revelations of paternity and such, and Helen “perfect servant” Mirren’s confession doesn’t seem that emotional. Of course, she’s putting on a mask. Her stilted entry into the room, and then Eileen’s quiet line reading is just so painful (yet brilliant) to watch.

I’ve Loved You So Long: Confession (Guilty Party: Kristin Scott Thomas)
I’ve Loved You So Long is, in its way, as emotionally manipulative as many. Kristin makes me forget about that. It’s all leading up to inevitable revelation and though it’s just a trifle odd it doesn’t make it any less sad. 2008 was not as poor a film year as many think, a number of gems were just unjustly ignored.

Little Miss Sunshine: A Hug (Guilty Party: Paul Dano)

I still marvel at Paul Dano’s brilliance in Little Miss Sunshine. The scene in question is probably my favourite scene of the film. Dwayne has just had his freak-out with his parents and leaves the bus angrily to sit on the road. Olive comes up behind and gives him a hug that’s so unexpected, and yet do realistic. It’s just one of the many reasons Little Miss Sunshine is as good as we think it is.

A Mighty Heart: Crying (Guilty Party: Angelina Jolie)
Hopefully this will go down as one of the forgotten gems of the last decade. Like Abbie’s moment this is important for the crying, though it’s more a scream than a cry. From the moment Marianne learns of her husband’s death we anticipate waterworks, but the way the waterworks come is so unexpected, almost as if we’re watching something we shouldn’t be privy to. Angelina is so bloody brilliant here.

Mona Lisa Smile: Bicycles (Guilty Party: Kristin Dunst)

Who hasn’t been touched by a teacher in their lives? Mona Lisa Smile has its problems (the cast, though, isn’t one of them). The ending of the film sees the student cast riding bicycles as Julia Roberts’ bohemian teacher departs in the car. It’s Kristin Dunst who steals the moment though. She was the toughest student to win over and her frantic refusal to stop riding (you’re on a bicycle, damn it) is post ridiculous and sad. Letting go just isn’t that simple.

Mystic River: Parade (Guilty Parade: Marcia Gay Harden)

I will forever tout Mystic River as Clint Eastwood’s (lone) masterpiece. Evocative, provocative and poignant. The thing is, I’m never inclined to get teary eyed through out the machination of the main three (even Sean’s bloodcurdling scream or Tim’s moving “confession”). It's as if I’m seeing it, but not feeling it…until the end. When Marcia walks frantically through the street at that dismal parade it’s as if all the drama finally reaches it’s peak and we realise how morose the lives of these people are. And Marcia does it all without uttering a single word. brilliant? I think so too.

You Can Count On Me: Ending (Guilty Parties: Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo)

I mentioned my allegiance to this sibling pairing a few days ago. It’s the only ending that would have worked for You Can Count On Me, but it doesn’t make Terry’s departure any less sad. What’s the lesson we learned? Sometimes it’s easier to love from afar? I don’t know. Who does? The departure is real though, it works and Laura and Mark delivering brilliant performances is a significant part of that.

   

Have you shed a tear for any of these scenes?
           
(Care to wager which ten films make my top ten? Hints: a quasi stranger in a kitchen, a sexless goodbye in a bedroom, running through the streets, end credits, return of a “ghost”, death of a warrior, voiceover, revelation of truths, montage of characters, a lover’s promise, death of a star. Those are the clues…)

Performances of the Decade (Male)

I suppose it get’s a bit monotonous when a particular film keeps showing up on this list, but I can’t help it if some films just have good casts. The thing is, it’s strange, because I’m not even a fan of Clint Eastwood. His technique and oftentimes maudlin storylines always annoy me, but Mystic River is just a film that impresses me on all counts. It’s also important because without it, this brilliant man would have gone Oscar-less.

         

#7 Tim Robbins in Mystic River (2003)

 In some ways Tim’s performance reminds me of Helen Mirren’s turn in Gosford Park. It’s not that his performance depends on subtlety, as quiet a man as Dave is Mystic River demands a large amount of physical acting. The thing that ties the two together is that both performances demand a certain secretiveness. Both Dave and Mrs. Wilson play their roles knowing something that the other characters don’t. We can assume, but we’re never absolutely certain just what happened to Young Dave when he was kidnapped; and more importantly he’s the only one that knows why he came home bloody on that fateful night. It’s not until after I’ve gotten all the facts that I fully appreciate how outstanding a performance Tim Robbins.

For example, I take notice of the interrogation scene played brilliantly by Laurence Fishburne (the guy needs a proper role) and Kevin Bacon. Of course the film has us guessing towards the end, but we can now account for the look of fear and simultaneous honesty in Dave. He is after all innocent of that particular crime. If Dave is really guilty of anything though, it’s the obvious. He’s been so traumatised by his own demons he doesn’t know how to communicate with those around him. Sure, his marriage to Celeste is not a horrible one, but there remains that slight but somewhat impenetrable divide between the two. Obviously, he doesn’t know just how communicate this and it’s ultimate the reason for his demise.

…And what a demise. Mystic River is one traumatic moment after another and it’s at something of a peak during the killing of Dave. Sean Penn is all beastlike as he tries to discover the truth and it’s disconcerting to watch Dave as he realises that he’s the prey. Tim needs to reach deep and make those final moments of Dave as distressing as possible because if there’s any fault in Mystic River it is that the characters are more external than internal. But Tim doesn’t act from the inside out. Why does he give the wrong confession to Jim? Does he really expect Jim to let him go? Watch him closely and you can almost pinpoint the moment where he gives up, and it’s horrible to watch. But no one said Mystic River was an easy film.

            

I said that Marcia gives my favourite of the film, but Tim is exceptional giving a well deserved Oscar winning performance. Do you agree or were your rooting for someone else in 2003?

Performances of the Decade (Female)

I always end up having strange relationships with characters I come to love, venturing off into strange arguments about people that were never real to begin with. I don’t think I’m alone, though. The thing is, when a character I like is misunderstood I always feel particularly indignant; but when that character becomes so hated I just end up seeing red. I mean, no one’s perfect. If I were to recall one of the most hated (and misunderstood) film characters of the last, this one would be rather high up.

     

#8 Marcia Gay Harden in Mystic River (2003)

 Celeste Boyle. It’s the name I remember most vividly from Mystic River. In a way, even though I love Mystic River, I don’t leave the film caring about anyone in particular. The sympathetic Dave has died, but if I feel apathetic towards all else I can’t help but feel compassion for Celeste. Celeste is a mouse of a woman married to one of our three protagonists Dave, played excellently by Tim Robbins. The two have a son together and have a fairly average marriage. Due to his horrific childhood kidnapping and molestation Dave has never been a confident man and neither is his wife. There are unanswered questions, but Celeste seems to have a slight fear of her husband and an early moment I recall of Marcia’s talent is the scene where Tim comes home late one night covered in blood. Curiously, it’s the same night that Dave’s daughter was murdered. But I’m getting ahead of myself; Celeste doesn’t know this yet. Dave is a perpetually nervous man and the story he gives is an obvious line. The fear on Marcia’s face is pronounced even as we see her wondering what her husband is hiding. Celeste is simple, but she’s not an idiot.

 

 There’s something for being knowledgeable about things and though Celeste thinks she has the facts she really doesn’t know anything much. This is precisely what makes her so pathetic. And it’s also what makes her so endearing. Celeste is a victim of her circumstances inasmuch as the Greeks. In some way’s Lehane’s multifaceted piece bears resemblance to Greek drama with the characters being forever at the mercy of the Gods. All Celeste really wants is to be close to her husband, but Dave has been so broken in life that he can’t let anyone in – even his wife. Debate has been plentiful regarding Celeste’s visit to Jim. Even in the film Laura Linney’s sly wife asks, “What kind of wife would do such a thing.” And I suppose, it’s a good question. But is it really that difficult to see why she does? I said before she is a mouse of a woman and as Dave becomes less and less responsive to her she is at her wits end and her simplicity becomes obvious. In her naivety she truly hopes to do the right thing and feels that Jimmy should know, not only because his daughter could be the victim but she obviously sees in him what she doesn’t see in Dave she sees in Jim. Someone who can be assertive and find the truth. Of course, she doesn’t realise how unlike Dave Jim is.

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that Celeste has found little sympathy with audiences though. It’s difficult to hate Jimmy because of the trial he’s gone through and she makes an easy scapegoat. Still, the strongest portion of Marcia’s excellent performance erases any anger. It’s my favourite scene of the film even if it’s not really that ostensibly important. As Jim and Sean have their final conversation the parade begins and with an acute sense of the ominous Celeste may have realises just what’s happened to her husband. No lines are spoken but we just see her frantic running down the street with that frenzied look on her face. It’s then that I realise just how broken the families of this film will be afterwards. It’s an acting moment few can achieve, but Marcia’s face alone pierces me and turns into one of the most harrowing scenes of the decade. A truly great performance...

     

...Or is it? Do you think that Marcia’s Celeste was a performance worthy of recognition?

Performances of the Decade (Male)

Is a performance any worse because it has the all the usual things that we consider awards bait? – crying…shouting…loud shows of anger…? I think the obvious answer is no, but what else can we hold against this brilliant performance? Why should we hold anything against it? (Spoilers ahead, duh)

           

#9 Sean Penn in Mystic River (2003)

An actor always has a specific scene in their performance that grows into the pivotal one in the film. It’s become known as the Oscar scene and often the rest of the performance is assessed from the perspective of that scene. For Sean Penn here, that scene has his discovery of his daughter’s death. I always remember it vividly, even when I haven’t seen it in a while: the foreboding confusion as he draws near, then the tormented look of realisation and that horrifying scream of anguish. It’s easy to look at it and accuse him of overacting or of hamming it up but that’s an injudicious accusation I feel. Each of the three men, in some way, is emotionally stunted and Jimmy’s line of work demands that he be staunch and cold on the exterior but there always seem to be something at work in Sean’s head, as if something is building and the reaction here seems completely accurate.

I said in my review of it that Mystic River really is not a comfortable film, and it's hard not to come out hating many of the characters. The final scenes between Penn and Tim Robbins are some of the most harrowing scenes of the last decade and only become more morose after we've been giving all the facts. Sean Penn is no newbie at playing these difficult characters, though, so I suppose Jimmy is not really a great departure for him. He has a talent for moving line-readings. I always remember theending of the film when Sean comes up to Jimmy, he suspects what's happened. He asks: So Jimmy when was the last time you saw Jimmy? and the answer he gives: The last time I saw Dave...that was twenty five years ago, going up this street, in the back of that character. Regardless of how you feel about Jimmy's actions that line always moves me, and even though the end of the film belongs to another actor Sean makes an indelible mark on the film.

I can’t say why Sean Penn has become such a underrated actor. He gave one of the most brilliant performances of the last twenty years in Dead Man Walking and although he didn’t top that feat in Mystic River, it was still a formidable attempt. In some ways it’s as if he was born to play Jimmy – the harsh physicality juxtaposed with the unexpected bouts of emotion. It’s a difficult role to pull off and Penn does it excellently. I can’t fault his performance here.

                 

But do you agree? Was Sean Penn excellent here?

           

Previously...

Ben Whishaw in Bright Star

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Ed Harris in The Hours

Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings

Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading

James McAvoy in Atonement

2003: Breaking It Down

So I’m done with 2003. That was easy. Wasn’t it? I’ve seen 89 films that were officially released [American] in 2003. Of course it's my luck that the year I see a bunch of films many of them were horrible, so in ascending order here is the lot.

F: #89-#76

What a year, fifteen films failed. Here they are.

Kangaroo Jack, Scary Movie 3, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Boat Trip, Duplex, Haunted Mansion, Daredevil, What A Girl Wants, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Bad Boys 2, Stuck On You, Cradle to the Grave, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, Anger Management, Johnny English

Each left something a bad taste in my mouth and I don't care to see any again. They're in ascending order, but I found Anger Management especially horrible since Marisa Tomei tried so hard. But that film was just terrible.

       

D: #74-#70

Offensively bad, but it could have been worse

American Wedding, My Boss’ Daughter, Daddy Day Care, Honey

             

D+: #69-#59

They’re not very good, you probably should avoid them…but there are moments…

Gothika, Malibu’s Most Wanted, Girl With A Pearl Earring, Legally Blonde 2, How to Lose A Guy in Ten Days, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Just Married, View From the Top, Uptown Girls, Agent Cody Banks, Biker Boyz

   

C-: #58-#51

Guilty, but not so pleasurable. They’re not all bad though.

Fighting Temptations, Underworld, Terminator 3, Holes, Hulk, Tears of the Sun, Matrix Revolutions, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star

        

C: #50-#40

Hmmm. Passable.

Old School, Charlie’s Angel: Full Throttle, I Capture the Castle, Whale Rider, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Brother Bear, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, Head of State, Cheaper By the Dozen, Intolerable Cruelty

           

C+: #39-#33

Guilty pleasures…or good in parts but sometimes disappointing

Bend It Like Beckham, Cat in the Hat, Under the Tuscan Sun, Freddy vs. Jason, Beyond Borders, The Italian Job, Bruce Almighty

        

B-: #32-#18

Some are good, some are fine, some are odd…but they’re all good. ish.

School of Rock, Monster, How to Deal, The Human Stain, X Men 2, Freaky Friday, Matrix Reloaded, Bringing Down the House, The Cooler, In America, Calendar Girls, Missing, Master & Commander, House of Sand & Fog, Pieces of April

          

B: #17-#12

They’re good. Really good.

Down With Love, Mona Lisa Smile, Kill Bill, Love Actually, Seabiscuit, 21 Grams

         

The Top Eleven

#11 – Lost in Translation [B+]

As I said, I don’t think I got it as much as the mass. Sure I liked it, and sure Scarlett and Bill were wonderful together. It was a nice little film, and in that realm it was successful. One of the best things about it was that it wasn’t self conscious. Coppola did well.

              

#10 – Le Divorce [B+]

I will never understand the hate for this. It currently holds 37% on Rotten Tomatoes which bewilders. It’s light but not a bauble and it features a great cast. Sure it’s not as socially aware as we would assume, but I think it knows that. It’s blessed comedy for Christ’s sake!

            

#9 – Something’s Gotta Give [B+]

Sometimes it gets a little too full of itself, but it’s Nancy Meyers. It’s more than Keaton’s great performance. It’s a nice film altogether.

              

#8 – Peter Pan [B+]

Underrated. I really can’t say much more than that. This one really makes me tear up, and I hate the Peter Pan story. One depressing thing.

             

#7 – Phone Booth [B+]

It turns into this very pervasive character study with a solid performance from Farrell. It’s a good film, and worthy of a look.

            

#6 – Finding Nemo [B+]

Didn’t love it like a diehard, but it’s my favourite Pixar by a mile. Ellen D. steals the show of course, but all things considered it’s great.

          

#5 – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [B+]

As I said in my review, it’s a perfect crowd-pleaser. I hope that it’ll redeem itself with the next instalment, though I will miss Knightley and Bloom.

             

#4 – Cold Mountain [A-]

Unfairly maligned, in my opinion. It’s a beautiful piece from Minghella. Kidman, Law and Zellweger are the driving forces and they’re good…but it’s little performances from Kathy Bakers haunting portrayal to Donald Sutherland’s cameo of sorts along with Natalie Portman and Jenna Malone taking a few lines and making them resonate and of course Phillip Seymour Hoffman – the perfect ally. Add that to those technical achievements, and you’ve got a good film.

                 

#3 – Mystic River [A]

Eastwood can’t get any better for me. It’s a solid ensemble and each performance is outstanding. The script is subtle and so is the direction [surprisingly]. It’s just good.

         

#2 – Big Fish [A]

I have to review this sooner or later. So I’ll save it all for then. I like it much. That’s obvious.

              

#1 – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King [A+]

I’m a fanboy. I have the novels, I’ve got the DVD. I can quote the script. I’m not going to lie, maybe I’m prejudiced. But how could you not vote for this?

                      

So. There you have it. What topped your list? Which of top 11 shocked you? Is Le Divorce crap? Do those 15 films deserve Fs? What do you think?

2003: Written & Directed By…

Adapted Screenplay

Big Fish

Cold Mountain

Le Divorce

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Mystic River

Alt. Peter Pan, House of Sand & Fog, Freaky Friday

Big Fish was horribly snubbed by the Academy and every other major precursor in the big categories. It was an intelligent and poignant film and much of that depended on its screenplay. Easily the best of the lot for me, Mystic River and Cold Mountain battle it out for the runner up spot with the former just edging out in front.

          

Original Screenplay

Love Actually

Lost in Translation

Down With Love

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Something’s Gotta Give

Alt. Phone Booth, Finding Nemo, 21 Grams, Kill Bill

I never really went all out for Lost in Translation; it made me feel like I did with Sideways in 2004 – as if I was missing something. Down With Love had one of the silliest but self-aware script and it was second only to Something’s Gotta Give. I don't know, it's not that smart. But it hits me.

        

The Directors

Tier Two

Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation
P. J. Hogan, Peter Pan

Alejandro Gonzalev Inarritu, 21 Grams

Joel Schumacher, Phone Booth

Andrew Stanton, Finding Nemo

I almost had James Ivory here, but I switched to Hogan who did good work with his underrated piece. Inarritu almost made my top 5 with his good work in 21 Grams and Schumacher did good with the bluntness of Phone Booth.           
            

The Nominees

Tim Burton, Big Fish

Clint Eastwood, Mystic River

 Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Anthony Minghella, Cold Mountain

Gore Verbinski, The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black

An easy five, but it's easy to rank them. If I had to I'd throw out one I'd throw out Verbinski first. Not because he's bad, but because they're all good. Eastwood's Mystic River is my favourite of his, but he'd go next. The picture is good, his direction is not the driving force. Neither is Minghella's Cold Mountain - his screenplay is the beacon there. So it's down to Burton and Jackson and it's actually really tough. I'd say Burton just for the maturity of the piece, but I'd be lying. Jackson it is.

              

So what are your thoughts on my choices?

2003: The Acting: …Then the Men

So now it's on to the men. I suppose my picks are just about as strange as the men, but I stand by choices especially in the Supporting Actor category that was royally f***ed up. Okay not quite, but still - just saying...

           
Supporting Actor
Tier Three
Kevin Bacon, Mystic River
Billy Crudup, Big Fish
Djimon Honsou, In America
Derek Luke, Pieces of April
Viggo Mortenson, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Okay Viggo had done his best work of the trilogy in the second installment, but they could have thrown him a bone. I can't be too pissed at Honsou's nomination, I like him,  but I really wasn't all that blown away. And what made Bacon's work in Mystic River so unimportant?

                        
Tier Two
Sean Astin, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Alec Baldwin, The Cooler
Ian McKellen, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Cold Mountain
Cillian Murphy, Girl With a Pearl Earring
I really was not heavy on Oscar buzz back in 2003, but I remember loads of people predicting Sean Astin. For the record I was not a fan of Sam, but damn he carried Frodo up the freakin' mountain and you can't even give him some love. Astin is really good here, depressing, but good. Cillian Murphy was one of the few things I could tolerate in Girl With a Pearl Earring, he is desperately in need of a good role. They could even have thrown a second nomination to Gandalf. Perhaps Hoffman wasn't any good in Cold Mountain. But then again, nah.                       
The Nominees
Billy Boyd, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Benicio Del Toro, 21 Grams

Albert Finney, Big Fish
David Hyde Pierce, Down With Love

Tim Robbins, Mystic River   

So two Oscar nominees are here, and three performances that were thoroughly overlooked. I guess my one and two would be Robbins and Del Toro [in that order], they were amazing – I’ve said it before. As I’ve said that Albert Finney, my third choice, was good. Boyd was always my favourite of the hobbits, and his Pippin in this third film was perfect. Of the hobbits, he did the most growing and it was a great performance. Hyde Pierce had amazing comedic timing in the under loved Down With Love.
             
The Actors
Tier Three
Anthony Hopkins, The Human Stain
Tommy Lee Jones, Missing
Tobey MaGuire, Seabiscuit
Ewan McGregor, Down With Love
Jack Nicholson, Something’s Gotta Give
I probably should rewatch The Human Stain. I don't remember it fondly, but I do remember it with some respect. . McGregor and Tommy Lee Jones are the best of this lot...Ewan just had a great year and yet he was ignored like nobody's business. Gah!
                    
Tier Two
Collin Farrell, Phone Booth
Russell Crow, Master & Commander
Ben Kingsley, House of Sand & Fog
William H. Macy, The Cooler
Sean Penn, 21 Grams
Am I crazy with the love for Farrell? It's so weird how Russell picked up almost no traction - they've really fallen out of love with him. Sean Penn is someone else who had quite a year. Luckily they rewarded him for Mystic River. Not that 21 Grams would have been undeserving, but it would have been way too predictable. Kingsley was good of course, hr just didn't make my top 5.

         
The Nominees
Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of Black Pearl

Jude Law, Cold Mountain

Ewan McGregor, Big Fish 
Bill Murray, Lost in Translation

Sean Penn, Mystic River 

Well this is pretty easy. Sure Penn and Law battle it out and no one's a winner,because I'm a coward. Ewan gives his best performance that no one seems to care about in Big Fish, so do Depp and Murray actually but people take notice of them. Altogether, it was a very good year for the men - but damn them for not even taking a look at Ewan. Ugh. Fail.
            
So what are your thoughts? McGregor, Law, Penn, Penn. Or, Robbins, Del Toro, Finney?