Alternate Best Actor 1994: Results

5. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in Chungking Express- Tony Leung gives a nice charming performance even if it is fairly simplistic.

Best Scene The Cop reveals he has bought the snack shop.

4. Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show- Fiennes gives a strong performance showing both the man performing to become a media sensation, but as well the very well real man whose fairly reasonable desires suck him into creating the false image of himself.

Best Scene: Charles Van Doren confesses to his father.

3. Johnny Depp in Ed Wood-Depp gives a very good performance by creating a genuine character who always stays optimistic no matter how bad he is at his true passion.

Best Scene: Ed talks Bela out of suicide. 

2. Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption- Robbins gives a great performance where he works with the film to create some truly beautiful scenes throughout.

Best Scene: Andy tells Red how he "killed" his wife.

1. Gary Oldman in Immortal Beloved- This one was difficult for me to choose this is one where I won't say this is necessarily final Robbins who is great in a great film, Oldman is a my winner who is great in a sometimes problematic film. Oldman overcomes his film's problems creating a fascinating portrait of Ludvig Van Beethoven, and he manages to be compelling even when the film itself falters.

Best Scene: Beethoven on his death bed. 

Overall Rank:

1. Gary Oldman in Immortal Beloved
2. Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption
3. Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption
4. Nigel Hawthorne in The Madness of King George
5. Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction
6. Johnny Depp in Ed Wood
7. Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show
8. Ben Kingsley in Death and the Maiden
9. Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber 
10. John Travolta in Pulp Fiction
11. Takeshi Kaneshiro in Chungking Express
12. Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool
13. Terence Stamp in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
14. Jean Reno in Leon: The Professional
15. Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Chungking Express
16. Guy Pearce in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
17. Jeff Daniels in Dumb and Dumber
18. Hugo Weaving in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
19. Mel Gibson in Maverick
20. John Turturro in Quiz Show
21. Jim Carrey in The Mask
22. Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump
23. Harrison Ford in Clear and Present Danger 
24. Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and A Funeral
25. Patrick Stewart in Star Trek Generations
26. Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun 3 1/3
27. Stuart Wilson in Death and the Maiden
28. Kurt Russell in Stargate
29. Arnold Schwarzenegger in True Lies
30. Tim Robbins in The Hudsucker Proxy
31. Rob Morrow in Quiz Show
32. John Cusack in Bullets Over Broadway
33. Tim Allen in The Santa Clause 
34. Tim Robbins in IQ 
35. Kenneth Branagh in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
36. Keanu Reeves in Speed 
37. Jason Scott Lee in The Jungle Book
38. Jeff Bridges in Blown Away
39. James Spader in Stargate 
40. Mackenzie Astin in Iron Will
41. Billy Crystal in City Slickers II
42. Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura Pet Detective
43. Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop III
44. Alec Baldwin in The Shadow
45. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Angels in The Outfield 
46. Rick Moranis in Little Giants
47. John Goodman in The Flintstones
48. Macaulay Culkin in Richie Rich
49. Jean Claude Van Damme in Street Fighter
50. Macaulay Culkin in The Pagemaster
51. Luke Edwards in Little Big League
52. Michael Patrick Carter in Milk Money

Next Year: 1994 Supporting

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Alternate Best Actor 1994: Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption

Tim Robbins did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for Sag, for portraying Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption.

Despite the Shawshank Redemption having been nominated for best picture and the secondary lead/narrator Morgan Freeman being nominated for best actor, Tim Robbins who plays the primary lead was not Oscar nominated. This in part may have been due to the nature of the character of Andy Dufresne and the way that Robbins plays him. Robbins plays a man who is convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover and is sentenced to life in prison even though he is in fact innocent. Even though that is the case Robbins does not actually go out of his way to make Dufresne likable and in fact shows why he would be unable to gain sympathy from the judge and jury as well why some prisoners would see him as stuck up. 

Tim Robbins does not make Andy the traditional hero of the institution in same way Paul Newman did Cool Hand Luke or Jack Nicholson in One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest, instead Robbins makes Andy a much colder hero who tries to find life in the prison not so much through a intense radical energy, but instead through far more deliberate and precise action. Robbins colder take is the right approach as it allows there to be a mystery in Andy as a character, and not just in regards to whether or not he committed the murder. Robbins as well allows a certain mystery in terms of the motivation of his action within the prison that only adds to his character without making him seem underdeveloped.

Andy Dufresne is not like the rest of the prisoners and Robbins is very effective in portraying this. It is not just because he is an actually innocent man, but Robbins gets across the way Defresne is never just another one of the men. This is not to say he is apart from them or anything close to being a snob as some of the men believe him to be. Instead Robbins brings about this resilience in Andy that is tremendous. It is something quite subtle in his performance, and not really something that stands right out. It is always there in his portrayal though of Andy as there is that extra element in the man that keeps his soul alive even while his body is imprisoned.

Robbins though does not make Dufrense some sort of immortal man, or some otherworldly creature who has a supernatural barrier around. Robbins makes him still a man in a horrible situation, even if he does have that resolve in him not to ever be destroyed by it. He physically captures the role though in the scenes of distress particularly when he is abused by the guards, other prisoners, and the evil warden. The strength in Andy is shown in Robbins's performance by the fact that Andy is never full defeated. There is something within him always that keeps his head above the water, something that always allows him to overcome any hardship that he faces in the prison.

The crux of his performance though is his chemistry with Morgan Freeman's Red the long time prisoner who is also the prison scrounger. Their relationship is interesting one because although the friendship is very understated yet so very poignant. There discussions about life in and outside of the prison are always quiet, but always just so absolutely genuine in the connection Robbins and Freeman portray between the two men. In these conversations Robbins also gets to reveal more to Andy as a character. There is not a lot about his past but in the parts he reveals he is very moving in showing the regrets in the man not due to the murder he was accused of, but due to the mistakes he had made in his past.

Robbins has a certain flow with the material here that brings to life the power of the story wonderfully. It is rather interesting in for the most par this is not one of those loud passionate performances that enforces the theme of the film. Robbins's performance is largely underplayed and his performance works in tandem with Frank Darabont's direction. There are so many beautiful moments in the film and most are a combination of visual, story, music, character, and the performances. Not a single one of these elements overwhelms the other making such an emotional impact. Where Robbins stands within them is in that face of satisfaction, a purely good satisfaction from the humanity Andy manages to bring back to the men within the institution.

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Alternate Best Actor 1994: Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Chungking Express

Tony Leung Chiu Wai did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Cop 663 in Chungking Express.

Chungking Express is an enjoyable stylistic film about two separate stories that are romances of sorts between cops and women they see on their beats.

Tony Leung the very popular leading man of Hong Kong plays somewhat simple part as the male lead of the second story. Leung plays a beat cop who is somewhat depressed by his recent break up with a flight attendant. He does catch the eye of the new girl at the snack bar named Faye (Faye Wong), who goes on a process to try to cheer him up in a rather odd covert fashion that involves sneaking into the officer's apartment to tidy things up. The majority of Leung's performance is on a fairly steady note of slight depression, this is fitting of the character though and Leung importantly never comes of repetitive despite his character being rather consistent.

Even as a character who is a bit under the weather in terms of his outlook Leung still has an effective charm in the role and he makes the cop quite likable even though he really never seems to be trying to make anyone like him. Leung is enjoyable within the depression of his character. He handles all of his scenes nicely including the ones where he talks to various things around his bathroom as if they were people. He makes the little eccentricity entertaining, and not in anyway over the top as the whole idea sounds. Leung's scenes where he is focused upon are limited though as much of the second story focuses on Faye trying to cheer the cop up.

Leung doesn't have a lot of changes for most of his performance, but this actually is what is best to create the proper dynamic with Faye Wong's peppy performance. They through the differing attitudes creates an effective chemistry that also is believable as well. Most of their scenes together are decidedly not romantic in the traditional fashion, but they all very charming in their own rather peculiar way. Leung is very good in showing how her constant cherry behavior does slowly penetrate the cop's rather thick gloom that keeps him from really enjoying much of anything in his life.

Tony Leung's whole performance in this film does not have many variations, but this actually works best particularly for the last scene of the film. The last scene involves the cop and Faye meeting one more time after some time as passed and she has become a flight attendant and the cop has bought the old snack stand that she use to work out. Leung is very good in this scene as he capitalizes on the rest of his performance by showing the cop finally with a far brighter outlook, and it is a nicely heartfelt scene that gives an appropriately wonderful ending to their story. Leung's work might not be an incredible performance by any means, but like the film itself it is low key but rather endearing.

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Alternate Best Actor 1994: Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show

Ralph Fiennes did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Charles Van Doren in Quiz Show.

Quiz Show arguably has three leads. One found in John Turturro's Herb Stempel the original Jewish champion of the rigged game show 21. I am bit mixed on Turturro's performance in that despite having some very strong moments he makes Stempel a bit more of a caricature than he needed to be through his slightly too flamboyant mannerisms where Turturro is oddly more of the top when Stempel is not on the show. There is also Rob Morrow who plays Richard N. Goodwin the chief investigator into the quiz show scandal. Morrow at best is suitable in the role and at worst comes off as a little sanctimonious. Then there is Ralph Fiennes who portrays Charles Van Doren the man who beats Stempel on the show and is becomes a sensation of sorts.

One of the most important aspects of Charles Van Doren is is image, and Fiennes appropriately pays proper in creating the image of Van Doren for the film. Charles Van Doren comes from a wealthy prominent family who is the son of a a famous the poet (Paul Scofield). Fiennes nicely handles the upbringing of Van Doren with his refined accent, and demeanor of the very proper college professor. Importantly well Fiennes portrays the wealth in Van Doren he also allows him to be very approachable. Although Fiennes makes the background of Van Doren clear, he carefully avoids making him at all snobbish. His demeanor is his demeanor, but Fiennes properly never even slightly suggests that Van Doren thinks he is superior. 

Fiennes actually is quite likable as Van Doren and this is important for two reasons. One being Fiennes should make it believable that Van Doren would be as popular as he becomes on 21 as he manages to have a low key charm that works perfectly for Van Doren. The other reason is Fiennes by allowing Van Doren to be a relatable on at least some level allows the audience to be welcomed into Van Doren's mindset as he is tempted with being the star of the fixed game show as well as the process of becoming famous for something that is completely fake. Fiennes is very good because in the scenes of the real Van Doren he is very earnest in his portrayal and lets us see how Van Doren could so easily be caught up in the Quiz Show.

As the film progresses Fiennes shows Van Doren as a man of two sides. There is the man on the Quiz Show. Fiennes is very good in portraying the performance of the man. He does not make it obvious importantly, but there is something stagy about everything that he says and his manner. It is all very well handled by Fiennes because he shows why people would love him, but as well does indicate the falseness of it all. The other side of the man is shown when he is being himself. Fiennes is effective in mixing the emotions of the man as he tries to just enjoy his success. Fiennes brings the right unease in the man as the scandal is slowly brought up, and in a properly subtle fashion suggests that underneath his happiness from success exists the fear of being found out.

My favorite part of Fiennes performance though is his relationship with his father. Fiennes is almost rather sweet in his portrayal of Van Doren's motivation for the fame, which in part seems to be just for his father Mark Van Doren to be proud of him. Fiennes and Scofield are both genuine together as they portray an loving relationship, and Fiennes is especially strong in his depiction of just that small desire in Van Doren to get an extra pat on the back from his father. By establishing this relationship their late scenes together, when Charles has to admit the fix to his father, Fiennes is particularly moving in the way he conveys the distress in Charles as it pains him so much to have to disappoint his father in this way.

To be completely honest before I watched Quiz Show for the first time I thought Charles Van Doren might have been portrayed as a bit of a villain particularly due to Fiennes playing the role who definitely is not opposed to playing. I found something far better than that though instead as Fiennes gives a complete portrait of the man Charles Van Doren is. He does show us the star in the man, why he would be the man loved and admired by so many as he plays the game show, but in the same Fiennes with equal effectiveness shows who the real man is. He lets us see the way a man could be swept up into such dishonesty, and how this "success" would both encourage and haunt him.

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Alternate Best Actor 1994: Gary Oldman in Immortal Beloved

Gary Oldman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Ludvig van Beethoven in Immortal Beloved.  

Immortal Beloved as a film about a composer stands far better than the likes of A Song to Remember and A Song Without End, but nowhere near as good as Amadeus. This does not really say much though because the Song films are quite unremarkable, and Amadeus is one the greatest films of all time. Immortal Beloved stands as an interesting effort as it tells the story of Beethoven through his biographer's investigation of who tries to find out who Beethoven was referring to as his Immortal Beloved in his last will and testament. The film definitely has problems particularly with its very questionable ending and its final  revelation regarding the mystery, but it also has strong points through the music of the man as well as in the aspect of the film I am reviewing here.

Gary Oldman despite being the lead of the film actually does not speak for about twenty minutes, and we only receive some short glimpses of the man, that is all that is needed to see that Oldman's performance will be a memorable one. As Beethoven there is an incredibly emotional intensity in Oldman particularly through his eyes. In one of his earliest scenes we see an angry and despondent Beethoven although we are not aware of what it is, Oldman establishes the emotional state and emotional style of the composer. There is such a fierceness of his emotions it is greater than that of a usual man fitting for both what Beethoven's handicap is, but as well fitting for the expressive music he wrote.

As the film progresses we slowly get to know Beethoven through Oldman's performance. Oldman's Beethoven in some ways like Tom Hulce's Mozart in Amadeus in that both make the composer stand out just as his music does. There is a difference though as Beethoven is not seen as an eccentric youthful celebrity like Mozart in Amadeus instead Beethoven is looked as much more of a curmudgeon, a brilliant one but nevertheless a curmudgeon. Oldman gives Beethoven an imposing demeanor that is forceful not only in his feelings toward others in which he will express without hesitation, but as well there is a force in his tremendous talent that is imposing in its very own way.

Gary Oldman might not be the first name that comes to mind when one thinks what actor should play Beethoven, but Oldman is described as a Chameleon for a reason. With his baritone accent, posture, and most importantly his conviction to his role Oldman quickly allows one to only forget his very different appearance from the actual man, but as well lets one embrace whatever he does in the role. Oldman does not try to make us deeply sympathize with this man as an artist in some humble portrait, instead he fascinates with his very emotional and sometimes even abrasive performance. He does not care if we like Beethoven instead he aims to show us Beethoven.

Oldman does just that with his performance with his incredible dynamic he creates in the man's life. On one hand he shows the very worst there is of Beethoven. Oldman never sharpens the soft edge of the man and he is quite effective in the sometimes quite extreme vitriol the man is able to express. Oldman is always uses this to allow us in part in the mind of Beethoven and just with this hate in him comes from. He does not simplify it though. In part Oldman suggests there is a degree of self importance as the man as his personality is not one to be ignored even if it should be. In his behavior to his brothers Oldman shows a man whose personality that keeps himself unable to ignore his own demands over the needs of any other.

His personality is not all that keeps him at a distance and Oldman always allows us to see another explanation which comes form Beethoven's deafness. Oldman is excellent in portraying what the deafness does to him as man. On one hand Oldman has Beethoven actively the issue and often not trying to act deaf or in an angry outbursts tries to compensate when the his disability leaves him unable to deal with either his people or even properly run a concert. Oldman is very moving actually as he shows how Beethoven's disability slowly takes more from him than just his hearing and he is very powerful in showing the distance this creates between the man and almost anyone he is with even people he only wants to love.

A great deal of time of this film is spent delving into Beethoven's relationships with various women. These scenes are particularly great examples of the strength of Oldman's performance. He is able to convey both why the women would love him as they do, but as well why he and the women never would be able to connect in the way they should. On one side of the man their is such a genuine passion in Gary Oldman work where he brings the power of this man's genius as well as the love he is capable of. On the other hand Oldman is just as effective in showing the insufferable qualities of the man that makes it so that although their relationship will be fervent yet in the end far more apathetic then it should be.

The most powerful relationship though comes in Beethoven's relationship with his Nephew. Oldman creates such a beautiful portrait of a man who wants to be a loving surrogate father to his surrogate son, but never actually bothers to connect to the boy he should. It is a heartbreaking relationship that Oldman makes because on one hand he shows how much he does love the boy and how much he desires for him to have a better life then he did, on the other hand though Oldman does not compromise and shows the way that Beethoven can barely see the way he drives the boy insane either. It is amazing the way Oldman manages not only not to come off as despicable, but also rather poignant as he is entirely honest in portraying Beethoven's blindness of his own behavior.

Gary Oldman that actually manages to overpower some of the weaknesses of the film. For example a late scene depicts the performance of his ninth symphony, the scene is put together oddly that fails to bring together the elements at play all that well. Oldman still is terrific in his expression as he shows exactly what the "Ode to Joy" means to Beethoven as a man even well the film fails to do so. Another instance is his last death bed scene that again is troubled by the questionable revelation of the titular Immortal Beloved doesn't really work even in the context of the film, but Oldman again absolutely delivers the final scene selling the scene for all that its worth through his portrayal of Beethoven's final emotions that is a wonderful as well as tragic mix of heartbreak and happiness.

This film has some rather troublesome elements in it, but Oldman's performance makes it easy to ignore many of these flaws. Oldman gives such a tremendous work as Beethoven and manages to bring to life this man with all of his problems but as well all of his genius. As Beethoven in the film says music allows one into the mind of the composer Oldman's great performance does the same. Oldman composes an astonishing piece that opens with a mystery and unveils itself into distressing yet joyous opus into the mind of this man.

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Alternate Best Actor 1994: Johnny Depp in Ed Wood

Johnny Depp did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a Golden Globe, for portraying Edward D. Wood Jr. in Ed Wood.

Johnny Depp is an actor I am not the biggest fan of and this is not helped by the way he has recently devolved into lazy self indulgent performances in a fashion like Jack Nicholson although without Nicholson's level of talent, or his legacy of great performances. This is not to say Depp is incapable of a good performance though. Depp here plays the part of Ed Wood in a flamboyant fashion, but then again he is playing the man proclaimed as the worst director of all time as well as a man who often dressed in women's clothing because they made him feel comfortable.

Depp sets this performance up with the proposition of a character of almost constant optimism. This is not to say that the character does not suffer highs and lows, but the basis of Depp's performance is that Wood will always look on the up side of life. Honestly this was the right approach for the role of Ed Wood as if he was a guy who really took every failure to heart this would become one depressing picture very quickly. Depp's approach though prevents this from happening with the constant enthusiasm he brings to the part, even when Wood has nothing to be happy about.

This is not nearly as simple as it might sound though as even though Depp keeps this act up throughout he also avoids the problems that could have easily have come from such a style. Depp most importantly is always genuine in this style. He never tries to make Wood a parody in this behavior, rather he is always earnest in Wood's refusal to be pessimistic. Doing this actually makes it funnier, and allows Wood to be an endearing character through his always bright and always hopeful expression that follows just about any let down including when he is told one of his films was the worst a film executive ever saw.

The overarching feelings of Depp's characterization is this hope and he importantly shows where at least part of this comes from. It is a strange idea for Wood to keep making these movies even though few want to watch them, and even fewer have anything nice to say about them. Depp makes it quite clear that the reason above else for Wood's movie making is his love of doing it. Depp never is down in the filming scenes, and he honestly really sells Wood as a man who just adores what he is doing, and really can barely notice that he is bad at it. Depp manages to explain why he doesn't stop, or even notice that he is terrible at it because Depp's portrayal of Wood's dedication to his "art" is that of pure passion.

What Depp does importantly though is he actually isn't one note as Wood, despite Wood always being upbeat. Yes Wood is always up beat in at least some way, but that does not mean that Depp portrays him as always exactly the same. Depp manages to show that Wood does suffer from set back and problems, and he will be brought down by them even though he will never become completely depressed. Depp is able to show that the optimism in Wood is the overarching factor of Ed Wood as man, but still properly portrays that he can still feel down at times. The key though is Depp never shows the optimism ever going away and that the element in the man is a constant that even when he is down it will not take much to make him happy again.

Now Depp's performance is not the best performance in this film that obviously belongs to Martin Landau's masterful work as Bela Lugosi. Depp though knows how to play off of Landau's incredible performance by taking the right place in their scenes together. Depp handles these scenes very nicely by once again being genuine this time the genuine feelings are that of adoration Wood feels to his idol. Their scenes really are quite poignant together as Landau in such a heartbreaking fashion portrays the last end of a one great star, but Depp properly counterpoints this by showing an undying dedication of a fan who could never give up on this man no matter how far he has fallen. The relationship is made surprisingly heartfelt and entirely authentic by Landau and Depp.

Depp's way of usually going out on a limb with his performances does not work when it seems just purely self indulgence or it is rather misplaced such as his performance as Willy Wonka which poorly uses some of the mannerisms that he utilizes here. Depp's performance this time absolutely works for Ed Wood as a character that. Not only does it make his character work, but his performance also makes the film work as well as it does. The film would have been quite problematic if Wood as character ever seemed aware of his abilities as a filmmaker, or even as well if he just simply was just a simple one note comedic device. Depp though finds the right tone for his performance to allow him to be amusing as Ed Wood, but as well actually makes him into someone that we can relate to and sympathize with even in his sometimes rather peculiar plights.

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Alternate Best Actor 1994

And the Nominees Were Not:

Gary Oldman in Immortal Beloved

Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in Chungking Express

Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption

Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show

Johnny Depp in Ed Wood

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