Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1975: Results

5. Leon Vitali in Barry Lyndon- Vitali gives a good performance being properly pompous but as well managing to be somewhat sympathetic by showing where his character is coming from.

Best Scene: Bullingdon duels Barry.

4. Charles Durning in A Dog Day Afternoon- Durning doesn't have much of a role, but he makes more than the most of it portraying the method of the police negotiator in a very compelling fashion.

Best Scene: Moretti tries to handle Sonny and the crowd. 

3. Max von Sydow in Three Days of the Condor- Max von Sydow is excellent in his portrayal of the cold calculated killer who we absolutely believe when he says his job is refreshing.

Best Scene: Joubert warns Condor about his possible fate.  

2. John Cazale in Dog Day Afternoon- Cazale once again gives a great tragic performance. He is terrific in creating both a danger in that violence bubbling underneath the man, but as well the sadness by earnestly showing just how lost his character is.

Best Scene: Sal asks Sonny if they will really kill the hostages. 

1. Robert Shaw in Jaws- Good Prediction RatedRStar, Michael Patison, and JamDenTel. Although I loved the performances of Max von Sydow, John Cazale, George Burns and Burgess Meredith I did not have to think twice about who would be my choice for the year overall. Robert Shaw is amazing in the role of the Ahab like shark hunter Quint. He is outstanding every moment he is on screen giving an equally entertaining and heartbreaking turn. His delivery of the Indianapolis speech alone should have guaranteed him both an Oscar nomination and an Oscar win.

Best Scene: The Indianapolis monologue. 

Overall Rank:

1. Robert Shaw in Jaws
2. John Cazale in Dog Day Afternoon
3. Max von Sydow in Three Days of the Condor
4. Burgess Meredith in The Day of the Locust
5. George Burns in The Sunshine Boys
6. Brad Dourif in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
7. Richard Dreyfuss in Jaws
8. Charles Durning in Dog Day Afternoon
9. Chris Sarandon in Dog Day Afternoon
10. Donald Sutherland in The Day of the Locust 
11. Will Sampson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
12. Leon Vitali in Barry Lyndon
13. Cliff Robertson in Three Days of the Condor 
14. Fernando Rey in Seven Beauties
15. Keenan Wynn in Nashville
16. Christopher Lloyd in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
17. Lance Henriksen in Dog Day Afternoon
18. Henry Gibson in Nashville
19. John Houseman in Three Days of the Condor
20. William Redfield in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
21. Christopher Plummer in The Man Who Would Be King 
22. Richard Benjamin in The Sunshine Boys
23. Allen Garfield in Nashville
24. John Houseman in Rollerball
25. Sully Boyer in Dog Day Afternoon
26. Philippe Leotard in French Connection II
27. Saeed Jeffrey in The Man Who Would Be King
28. Ned Beatty in Nashville
29. Sydney Lassick in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
30. James Woods in Night Moves
31. Keith Carradine in Nashville
32. Jack Warden in Shampoo
33. Scott Glenn in Nashville
34. Jackie Earle Haley in The Day of the Locust
35. Hardy Kruger in Barry Lyndon
36. Michael Murphy in Nashville
37. Murray Hamilton in Jaws
38. Fernando Rey in French Connection II
39. Kenneth Mars in Night Moves
40. Patrick Magee in Barry Lyndon
41. Danny DeVito in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
42. James Broderick in Dog Day Afternoon
43. William Duell in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
44. Luther Adler in The Man in the Glass Booth 
45. Scatman Crothers in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
46. Edward Binns in Night Moves
47. Robert DoQui in Nashville
48. Lawrence Pressman in The Man in the Glass Booth 

Next Year: 1975 Lead

Read More

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1975: Leon Vitali in Barry Lyndon

Leon Vitali did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon.

Barry Lyndon tells the misadventures of a Irishman who attempts to move up the social latter during the 18th Century. It has plenty of great moments, but it is held back considerably by Ryan O'Neal's inadequate performance in the titular role.

Stanley Kubrick is known for his clinical nature as a director and is never afraid to make a detached film. This film certainly is one of his coldest and most of the performances in this film match that style. O'Neal perhaps was not suppose to match the style but being so bland he ends up doing so. Leon Vitali though gives the most emotional performance in the film at least in an extroverted fashion. He plays the son of the wealthy aristocrat whom Barry marries Lady Lyndon, and Lord Bullingdon as he is known does not care very much for his step father who he sees as a lowly opportunist and usurper.

Vitali actually does not appear until late in the film as the older version of the Lady's son. Vitali makes him someone who appears to always be off on the wrong foot, and he does make an impression despite his late appearance because his character marks a shift in style. It is not that Vitali's performance seems out of place, but it is very notable due to the intensity of his performance which differs greatly from the rest of the cast. He plays Bullingdon as immensely juvenile whose emotions certainly play first with him making it so he will not think twice about infuriating his step father, and is willing to make big scenes about his hatred for both his Barry and what his mother has done.

Vitali mixes rather well the pompousness that one would except from a spoiled brat as Bullingdon is, yet he does manages to elicit sympathy as well. On one hand he does play up his background and emphasizes well the stiff upper lip of the Lord. He expresses just the great bile the Lord feels of being put in such a place, and is rather effective in just the amount of hatred he espouses getting across just how much he can't stand what Barry has done to him. His performances works particularly well because he doesn't do it in a villainous fashion instead the hatred seems to be entirely an emotional response from being stripped of his place by Barry who he views as the lowest of the low.

Vitali although fully pompous in his performance does allow us to feel a little sorry for him as he is correct in his statements that Barry is an opportunist. Yes he shrill, but Vitali also plays him as entirely genuine in terms of where this comes from. Yes he may be a pompous twit but the harm that Barry has caused him is portrayed honestly, even if it becomes overblown due to his background.Vitali's much emotional approach is effective particularly in the scene where he and Barry duel. Vitali allows the scene to really work as he reflects realistic reactions to what occurs during the duel whether it be fear as he awaits Barry's shot, or the unbridled joy when he knows he managed to shoot Barry.

Leon Vitali performance here is a nice addition to the film as he succeeds in being quite different from the rest of the cast without seeming like he is in the wrong movie either. This is a good performance by Vitali although a little too limited for me to quite say it is a great one. Bullingdon is not given a great deal to do and his exit from the film is fairly brief leaving only a quick moment where he silently shows a more confidant Bullingdon which is handled well, but does not really give him that much of a chance to explore the character any further. Vitali does come in at the right moment though and infuses the right type of life into Barry Lyndon at the right time with his emotional portrayal of Lord Bullingdon.

Read More

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1975: John Cazale in Dog Day Afternoon

John Cazale did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a Golden Globe, for portraying Salvatore "Sal" Naturile.

John Cazale did not find himself nominated for The Godfather Part II despite that the film was absolutely loved by the academy receiving many nominations including three best supporting actor. For that film Cazale not only should have been nominated but he also should have won. Cazale once again found himself not nominated despite receiving a Golden Globe nomination, his only award he ever was nominated for in his entire career so really it was not just the academy who was at fault, as well as his film once again received several nominations including one for best supporting actor which went to Chris Sarandon although I do have to admit that was a deserving nomination as well.

Cazale plays Sal the man who goes along with Sonny on his bank robbing and than later hostage taking venture. I praised Durning for his performance which did a great deal with almost nothing, Cazale might seem like he given more, but I actually think that might just be part of what makes this such a good performance. Sal despite being in the bank the entire time with Sonny is actually frequently in the background and Cazale needs to make his impression sometimes quite quickly and in rather short spread out scenes. A great deal of what he does in his creation of Sal of a character which is something special considering and its no surprise that he was able to win over Sidney Lumet for the part despite the fact that Sal was only 18 in the real story.

Where Pacino's Sonny is all about his overwhelming expressive emotions that leads him to be a nervous flamboyant fellow, Cazale downplays Sal considerably creating a great dynamic with Pacino just as he done with Pacino in The Godfather Part II. This is a very unique performance and he portrays him as a man who, unlike Sonny, can keep his emotions in check although he may share many of the same emotions but instead bottles it up. Cazale is great though because of the fashion in which he shows Sal's emotions. Cazale has a great intensity in his performance that expresses the way Sal's difficultly in dealing with the stress of the situation in almost the opposite fashion that Sonny takes in dealing with it.

Cazale makes Sal like a volcano in that he is always simmering and you never know if he might burst. Where it is pretty clear pretty quickly Sonny has no actual intentions to kill anyone Cazale leaves the possibility in Sal. It is quite effective how he portrays the potential violence in Sal because he internalizes so much yet realizes it magnificently in that strained unpredictability in his face. Cazale is particularly great when he asks Sonny about the legitimacy of Sonny's threat to kill people, and then states that he is ready to massacre the hostages. The blunt fashion in which Cazale says this truly chilling and shows that Sal potentially burst out into violence in any second. Cazale is brilliant in creating just that right unnerving quality there making it so we never quite know what Sal is capable of.

Cazale doesn't leave Sal as just a possible killer though and suggests, even though we never learn anything about him directly, that Sal like Sonny also comes from a very disjointed and troubled life of his own. Cazale makes him into a lonely figure who is withdrawn and detached from everyone else to at least some degree, and he suggests perhaps Sal did have his own reason for going for Sonny, but it is just something he is going to keep to himself. Cazale, as with all of his performances, is just so genuine in his portrayal of his character. Sal is a man who clearly does not know where he is going, or really where he is and Cazale makes such a compelling character simply within playing this sort of character in as honest of a fashion as he can.

Although Sal can be taken as the less sympathetic of the two, as he is the one willing to kill, Cazale still manages to create a great deal of sympathy for Sal. He allows the sympathy to come naturally by that honesty I mentioned before. He creates such a sad portrait of Sal who really is lost. One moment in particular stand out one being when Sal is asked by Sonny where he would like to fly out of the country and Sal responds "Wyoming" (an ad lib by Cazale). It would be quite funny if it were not so sad as Cazale so genuinely portrays Sal as a man out of his element. He just is so earnest that it is heartbreaking like  Sal is upset that the news reported him as a homosexual, or the brilliant scene where he scolds the bank tellers for smoking. Sal line “the body's the temple of the Lord” is so tragic because Cazale shows that Sal absolutely does believe this, and although it might seem a contradiction with his willingness to kill Cazale makes all feel part of the lost soul that is Sal. 

Like Durning's Moretti, Cazale's Sal could have easily been someone you just forgot about especially in light of Pacino's tremendous performance. Cazale though never allows himself to be forgotten by creating such intricate and complex portrait despite the limitations of his character. He is believable in every aspect of the character and his intense internal style is perfectly done here. He is able to be both the man way over his head who has no idea what really to do with himself, as well as the chilling potential killer. He balances these aspects flawlessly making Sal the perfect variable in the film as we never know exactly how to feel about nor do we know exactly what way he is going to go. Cazale succeeds in making us feel sorry for him while we fear him adding just another layer of complexity to this film. This simply is spectacular work from John Cazale.

Read More

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1975: Charles Durning in Dog Day Afternoon

Charles Durning did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite winning NBR and being nominated for a Golden Globe, for portraying detective Moretti in Dog Day Afternoon.

It is quite notable that Durning managed to receive a Golden Globe nomination and win the NBR for his performance in this film. The reason it is notable is that Moretti really isn't much of a part. He simply is the police negotiator who must deal with bank robber/hostage taker Sonny (Al Pacino). Clearly in the script Moretti was not meant to be much of anything since he does lose his importance completely from just one sentence from the FBI agent who replaces him. It is a testament to Durning's talent what he is able to do with role considering the film frankly could care less about Moretti as a character.

We learn nothing about Moretti as a person. We don't know where he comes from we only know what it is that he is trying to do which is to keep the situation from escalating. This is a performance that is all about surface, this is not a criticism but rather the nature of the role. We never find out what Moretti really thinks about the situation we simply see that he is just going to do his best to reach a solution to it. Durning plays the negotiator in many ways, and is quite good in showing the methods of the negotiator. He plays Moretti in a variety of fashions, and effectively conveys the way that Moretti will try and get the hostages out.

The very time he talks to Sonny he is very firm and hostile as he tries to get him to immediately surrender, but after that clearly is not going to happen Moretti changes his tune considerably. Durning is excellent in establishing the way that the kind approach Moretti takes afterwards is just that an approach. It is not that Moretti is necessarily a nice guy, but rather the hostile approach clearly was not going to work so he has to change. Durning is very good in portraying how Moretti goes about talking to Sonny which is to keep him calm no matter what while trying to negotiate and push Sonny to release the hostages at the same time.

Durning makes Moretti both natural and artificial as he so gently speaks to Sonny. Although Durning makes Moretti genuine in that he genuinely wants to get the hostages out, but the artificiality comes in exactly how he speaks maybe too calmly and the way he always seems to be trying to make a certain eye contact and a physical closeness to Sonny. Durning gets across the way Moretti is just trying to play Sonny into seeing his way through almost a psychological conditioning as Moretti tries to seem like Sonny's best friend, even though he really is just trying to get the job done.

Durning is very effective throughout though and shows him realistically reacting to the situation and showing that Moretti can't keep up his method completely. He is very good in showing the frustrations he faces, and the believable reactions Moretti has throughout all the developments of the day. Durning is very compelling here in his own way creating an effective dynamic with Pacino and their back and forth throughout the day. It is a performance that adds a great deal to the whole of the film and makes the negotiation scenes properly come to life. Durning makes his own mark on the film despite this being such a limited role. His stamp is somewhat limited by the way his character exits with so little ceremony, but this a great example of an actor making something out of almost nothing.

Read More

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1975: Robert Shaw in Jaws

Robert Shaw did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Quint in Jaws.

Jaws is one of the greatest thrillers ever made which is of course about a tourist filled island being terrorized by a shark.

Robert Shaw is one of my favorite actors and one of the reasons is the variety of ways he takes on parts. The last three times I have reviewed him he played Henry VIII in a properly flamboyant larger than life fashion, Lonnegan in The Sting where he portrayed an Irish gangster with substantial menace through the sense of the anger within the man, and Mr. Blue in The Taking of Pelham where he again played a villain but found new ground while bringing the menace still by emphasizing the proper English soldier background of his character. This time as Quint he plays a rather different character an old American sailor who has his own checkered past with the Sharks.

Shaw does not appear too much early on in the film but when we do see him he makes quite an impact. His accent is downright brilliant putting on the voice of an Old Sea Salt. Shaw doesn't overdo it never making it a parody instead it perfectly amplifies the characteristics of this man. We don't even need to hear about his past just from Shaw's manner and style we know this man has been out to sea most of his life, and as well certainly has had his experience with sharks and knows what he talking about. All that he does adds to his character from his particular scowl with the turn in his mouth, the way he hunches over, or even that particular way that he smiles.

I have to say once again that I just love watching Shaw perform here again. What is amazing about Shaw as an actor is that despite how magnetic he is in his performances he can still be entirely natural as well. Shaw simply becomes Quint as easily as became Mr. Blue or Lonnegan, there never feels like a performance here. He just becomes the part in the most wonderful fashion that he just makes every scene more than it would be otherwise. He is such an energetic performer while even playing a cold or in this case a curmudgeon type of character. Shaw is on here as he usually is, but possible even more so than usual. Even in his two brief scenes early on he livens the film with his presence and makes sure we will remember him.

One thing that is so great about Jaws as a film is how in the middle it transitions from a brilliant monster on the loose film to an adventure film flawlessly. This occurs when the town finally hires Quint to kill the Shark who goes along with Chief of police Brody (Roy Scheider) and Shark expert Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss). Shaw absolutely dominates the film once the transition occurs as Quint does not only take over the shark expedition but he also takes over the film. This is not to say even the slightest thing against Dreyfuss or Scheider, they both commit themselves splendidly, but it is Shaw's show. Quint technically might get a slow start in terms of his appearances early in the film, but once's he's in charge Shaw sinks his teeth right in (no pun intended). 

Shaw is so brilliant abrasive here that he turns the jabs Quint gives Hooper into an art form. Shaw is such a delight as he ridicules Hooper in every way he can. Shaw mischievous smile and always firm delivery make every little thing he says not only very incisive but honestly quite enjoyable as well. The joy of performance is quite apparent here and boy does Shaw make it so we have just about as much fun as it appears he had making the film. He not only succeeds in doing that but also because of that he makes Quint even with all his crustiness endearing. He brings a great deal of humor even right along with it just through the enjoyment Quint clearly is having while giving everyone he can a hard time.

One of the reasons this performance is so good is due to Shaw's refusal to ever allow Quint to be just one type of man. Even while he gives Hooper all hell, he still adds some nice camaraderie between all three, and suggests that there is no true malice to Quint's mischief. Shaw is particularly effective in just the quick moments when Quint instructs Brody how to handle himself on the ship. Shaw is so nice in showing a bit of a gentler side to Quint as he deals with someone that he clearly has far greater respect for. Shaw puts in a little bit of warmth when Quint tells the chief just to ask him first when handling something on the ship. Shaw is fantastic how he inserts these moments adding greater complexity to the character while never compromising the rest of Quint.

Shaw just never fails to realize any part of the man and makes into all one wholly believable individual. He creates so many shades and never makes one overwhelm the other nor does he allow one facet to compromise another. For example the elements that make Quint into an Ahab figure are certainly well established through silent moments as he conveys the drive and conviction in Quint that will not allow him to give up on the mission or even allow him to ask for the further help. This is only part of him though and it only comes out in times of great stress. This something Shaw brings out so naturally and completely within all the rest. It will come in right after he is making a joke and Shaw still has it be something Quint would do. The Ahab element is in twined with the whole of Quint.

Now I have done plenty of praising I think of this performance as a whole. It is a outstanding performance that creates complexities in a character who could have easily been one note, but there is one scene that does stand out above the rest of his performance simply because I personally feel it is the best acted scene in all of cinema (yeah I just said that) that of course is the Indianapolis monologue. The speech details Quint's experience when he managed to survive after the ship he was on sunk during World War II even though he and his fellow crew mates had to survive in shark infested waters. Shaw delivery here is something to behold, truly behold there is nothing quite like how he tells the tale of Quint's horrific experience.

Shaw has almost a nostalgia at first as he describes the past of Quint's life, he keeps it that this was something in the past although not something he could ever forget. Despite this film being filled with many frightful moments, the most gut wrenching of them all is the morbid tale Shaw spins all through his words. He conveys the fear not as you might think, but there is so much power in the way Quint seems to be holding so much back not to be fazed by this. He is not emotional in the sense you usually think of the word in but there is an enormity of the emotions in the story even though he manages to keep his composure throughout the tale. Shaw brings the sadness, the anger, the pain, all of it with an unrelenting power.

The power of the speech is astonishing as Shaw takes you deep into Quint's mind and that traumatic event that Quint could never forget. Although you never see a shark in the scene Shaw never lets your mind escape the images he so vividly describes. Shaw never allows the attention to be wavered as the horror of it all unfolds and he allows the glimpses in the mind of Quint and what exactly drives the man. I really cannot do the scene or Shaw's performance justice in my review here. It is almost indescribable in its power, and Shaw's performance seems otherworldly at times in the way he seems to be everything stand still as he reflects on the terrible past of Quint the terrible past that has never stopped haunting him.

Shaw gives an incredible performance as Quint, it truly unforgettable work and the greatest from the great Shaw. This is a supporting performance that is captivating all on its own accord completely away from the film, even well it seamlessly mends with it. His portrayal of Quint is heartbreaking, humorous, entertaining, enjoyable, and all together excellent. There is never a wasted scene or even a wasted moment with Shaw. I honestly cannot praise this performance enough. Shaw gives my favorite supporting performance of all time, and this particularly amazing considering that Quint could have easily been an overacted one dimensional nothing. Shaw though turns him into once of the most compelling character ever to grace the screen. 

Read More

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1975: Max von Sydow in Three Days of the Condor

Max von Sydow did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite winning KCFCC, for portraying Joubert in Three Days of the Condor.

Three Days of the Condor is an effective thriller about a low level CIA operative Joseph Turner with the codename the Condor (Robert Redford) who becomes entangled in a complex plot after all of his co-workers are murdered.

Max von Sydow plays a freelance assassin known only as Joubert who we first see leading the murders of Condor's co-workers. Sydow plays the assassin of a similar sort to say Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men, who goes about his task quickly and efficiently. Sydow thought doesn't exactly take the approach one might expect from the assassin who is too good at his job. Usually they are played in some sort of detached psychopathic manner, Sydow does not take this approach instead gives a most unique portrayal of the strange man Joubert, that succeeds in being the killer he should be but does something else quite remarkably.

In being the killer Sydow is excellent in portraying the incisive manner that the man takes about his task. He is very quiet there such an eerie quality to Sydow's manner here. He is believable as being a man you might not notice at all in his modest style, yet Sydow is brilliant as when you do notice him there is that element to him that creates such menace. Sydow isn't cold exactly but nevertheless is quite chilling as he conveys the ruthlessness that is in Joulbert. Joubert doesn't yell, or even get angry he calmly moves and talks as he goes about killing. Sydow portrays it as simply as his nature and he doesn't require a second thought.

What especially stands out about Sydow though is the emotional quality he does have in the role. For example in the scene where he has leads the murders the last person says she won't scream Joubert responds with a simple "I know". There is a feeling in Sydow's performance that he almost can empathize not that it stops him from completing the murder in anyway. It makes these moments particularly striking though because Sydow shows Joubert who understands human emotions just fine, he does not portray him as a soulless monster, but a man with all the feelings within a man yet still fully capable of killing without hesitation.

Sydow through portrayal of Joubert in this fashion actually makes him all the more memorable of figure. Instead of being just a killer who does not know anything else or anything better Sydow's makes him a man who certainly knows of many things and can enjoy the little things of life yet he has chosen that his profession simply is what suits him the best. Sydow's final scene where he talks to the Condor in just a casual manner is an incredible scene for Sydow. Sydow in the scene presents both Joubert's considerable intelligence as well as his philosophy behind what exactly it is that he does.

The intelligence is best summed up by the vivid description of the Condor's possible future which is perfectly delivered by Sydow which emphasizes past knowledge of this man, as it is clear Condor's possible fate is something Joubert has seen before. In terms of philosophy Sydow has such an ease and grace in his delivery that he allows one to understand exactly why Joubert does what he does, and even why he is able to do it without blinking an eye. Joubert describes it as refreshing, and even though what he is speaking about is killing for money Sydow plays it so well showing the complete contentment within the killer.

 Sydow establishes Joubert as the man who seems the most comfortable not only with himself, but as well the whole world. It is quite strange as well as considering he is the cold blooded killer of the film, but it succeeds because it fits the nature of the film as well as due to Sydow's completely selling this character. He creates just a fascinating man in Joubert who can be a peace not needing to know why but rather simply needing to know how much. This is simply the best type of supporting performance in the film one that is wholly intriguing when he is on screen and always remembered when he is off. This is a great performance by Max von Sydow's as he left me only wanting to know more about this man.

Read More

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1975

And the Nominees Were Not:

John Cazale in Dog Day Afternoon

Charles Durning in Dog Day Afternoon

Robert Shaw in Jaws

Max von Sydow in Three Days of the Condor

Leon Vitali in Barry Lyndon

Read More