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Editor's note: Welcome to the fifth of a 32-part series dissecting the 84th Academy Awards, brought to you by the Large Association of Movie Blogs and its assorted members. Every day leading up to the Oscars, a new post written by a different LAMB will be published, each covering a different category of the Oscars. To read any other posts regarding this event, please click the tag following the post. Thank you, and enjoy!
By Sati of Cinematic Corner
Demián Bichir for A Better Life (2011)
previous Oscar nods: none
Verdict: A complete surprise despite SAG nomination,
completely unknown actor from a movie I have not heard of until it got
mentioned during Tuesday's nominations. Then I looked him up and it turns out
he was actually playing Esteban on “Weeds”. I have not seen A Better
Life so I can't comment on his
performance, but it proves one thing – SAG nod is almost a guarantee for an
actor to get nominated for Oscar.
George Clooney
for The Descendants (2011)
previous Oscar wins: Syriana
previous Oscar acting nods: Michael Clayton, Up in the Air
Verdict: Clooney's role in The Descendants is perhaps
the only great thing about the movie – if it wasn't for him, the film would
lose majority of its charm and appeal. As a father of two girls and a husband
of a cheating, comatose wife Clooney channels the kind of strength and
vulnerability that we rarely see in his performances. And considering that he
won for Syriana which along with The Descendants is nowhere near his
brilliant work in two other movies he got nominated for, he is quite possibly
getting his second Oscar this year.
Jean
Dujardin for The Artist (2011)
previous Oscar nods: none
Verdict: Dujardin's performance in The Artist is perhaps
the most charming performance of last year. As a silent movies star he
captures that particular kind of magic that allowed people to be stars back
then – great smile, being very polite to his fans, being lovely and all around a genuinely sweet guy.
And then when talkies come into the picture – literally – he falls into deep
despair being convinced nobody wants to hear his voice. The movie, for me
easily the most wonderful film that came
out last year, contains many incredible scenes – most notably the dream
Dujardin's character has that shows just how much his fear overwhelms him. From
all the nominees, in my opinion, that is the most remarkable and deserving
performance. Dujardin doesn't act with something many actors use as important
tool in their work – his voice. But still he manages to show much more than
half of the actors working today, talking, yelling or whispering. Dujardin
managed to make the silence his great ally and he is truly riveting to watch.
Gary Oldman for
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
previous Oscar nods: none.
Verdict: The time has come for one of the most famous and
well liked by many fans actors to have his first Oscar nomination – that is
perhaps the most ecclesiastically received nomination of this year's Academy
Awards. Is it deserved? Of course an actor like Oldman deserves to have
“Academy Award nominee” added in front of his name. But for me his best work
will always be in The Professional. In Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy he plays
quiet, focused man who remains unmoved for most of the movie – he listens, he
plans, he thinks. I'm not a fan of this performance – I thought Benedict and
Strong were much better. But it's nice to see Oldman finally getting some
recognition for his work, especially since so many awards this season omitted
him.
Brad Pitt for
Moneyball (2011)
previous Oscar nods: Twelve Monkeys, The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button
Verdict: Moneyball is not only one of the best movies of
the year – it brings with it career best performance from Pitt who plays a man
determined to end his losing streak in life with a lot of quiet desperation and
determination. For a lot of time Pitt plays his character using just his eyes,
which express everything that is happening inside his mind. Pitt has many triumphant
scenes in the film – most notably the one where his character is listening to
his daughter sing for him. It's one of those performances that is so good you
actually forget you are watching someone pretend to be another person. And when
that someone is a person as famous as Pitt it is truly a big achievement.
To sum up: It's interesting how much irony this year's Best
Actor in a Leading Role nominations have – the Academy chose to nominate
three people without previous
nominations at the same time omitting the most deserving performance of
last year – Michael Fassbender's tortured Brandon in Shame. And yet the Oscar
will be probably be handed to someone who was not only nominated three times but
also has one Academy Award. Ah, how badly I want to shout “For shame!”
While it's nice to see regular guy roles getting noms--Clooney and Pitt--I really think Dujardin deserves it.
ReplyDeleteHe had to balance his performance between an older medium (silent films) and a modern audience; he could have easily tipped either way but instead kept it perfectly level.
Great article Sati! While I haven't seen it yet, the nomination for Bichir is one that I welcome. It's the type of thing that can completely elevate his career, as opposed to someone like Pitt or Clooney who will have no problem getting roles regardless of the outcome.
ReplyDeleteReally sad about Fassbender. He definitely tops the snub list for the year.
I see the SNUBBED label is strategically placed ....
ReplyDeletefassbender was definitely snubbed! but i favor dujardin over all these performances. i appreciated a better life, but i've seen more interesting movies about the subject matter, not to take away from bechir (who was good in the movie).
ReplyDeleteclooney i haven't seen (but i've never been impressed with him as an actor), and brad pitt was kinda terrible in moneyball. his performance was vacant, but then again the character was poorly drawn too
I don't know, man. Dujardin's the man and all, but if Oldman doesn't get it, I might just have to go Stansfield and take it out on everyone in the Academy. Everyone? EVERYONE!
ReplyDelete