Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2000: Results

5. Billy Crudup in Almost Famous- Crudup gives a good performance by showing both the good and the bad qualities which make a rock star.

Best Scene: Russell takes William to a party.

4. Joe Pantoliano in Memento- Pantoliano unfortunately overacts a bit, but he makes up for much of it by giving a complex portrayal of a man who knows much more than what he says he knows.

Best Scene: Teddy tells Leonard the truth.

3. Oliver Reed in Gladiator- Reed gives a compelling performance as a former gladiator champion although his performance is weakened by the fact that it remains an unfinished work.

Best Scene: Proximo tells Maximus how he achieved his freedom.

2. Takeshi Kitano in Battle Royale- Takeshi Kitano gives an effective turn by being the evil teacher he should be, but as well by showing why this man has come to be this way.

Best Scene: Kitano reveals his dream.

1. Jason Isaacs in The Patriot- This part asks one thing of Isaacs which is to be evil, and boy is he. Isaacs gives a striking performance by being unrelenting in his portrayal of the sadism of his character, while never once using the nature of his character as an excuse to overact.

Best Scene: Gabriel's attack on the dragoons.

Overall Rank:

1. Malcolm McDowell in Gangster No. 1
2. Jason Isaacs in The Patriot
3. Takeshi Kitano in Battle Royale
4. Oliver Reed in Gladiator
5. Stephen Tobolowsky in Memento 
6. Benicio Del Toro in Traffic
7. Tim Blake Nelson in O Brother Where Art Thou?
8. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Almost Famous
   
9. Michael Douglas in Traffic 
10. Joe Pantoliano in Memento
11. Billy Crudup in Almost Famous
12. Taro Yamamoto in Battle Royale
13. Eddie Marsan in Gangster No. 1
14. Don Cheadle in Traffic
15. David Thewlis in Gangster No. 1
16. Sousuke Takaoka in Battle Royale 
17. Larry Holden in Memento
18. John Turturro in O Brother Where Art Thou?
19. Jeffrey Wright in Shaft
20. Heath Ledger in The Patriot
21. Gary Oldman in The Contender 
22. John Goodman in O Brother Where Art Thou?
23. Chris Cooper in The Patriot
24. Takashi Tsukamoto in Battle Royale
25. Richard Harris in Gladiator
26. Michael Badalucco in O Brother Where Art Thou?
27. Christian Bale in Shaft
28. Charles Durning in O Brother Where Art Thou?
29. Michael Caine in Quills
30. Robert Downey Jr. in Wonder Boys
31. Steven Culp in Thirteen Days
32. Daniel Van Bargen in O Brother Where Art Thou?
33. Masnobu Ando in Battle Royale 
34. Tom Wilkinson in The Patriot 
35. Gary Lewis in Billy Elliot
36. Kevin Conway in Thirteen Days
37. Miguel Ferrer in Traffic
38. Frank Wood in Thirteen Days
39. Gene Hackman in The Replacements
40. Robert Duvall in The 6th Day
41. René Auberjonois in The Patriot
42. Dylan Baker in Thirteen Days 
43. Don Cheadle in Mission to Mars 
44. Bruce Davison in X-Men
45. Willem Dafoe in American Psycho
46. David Hemmings in Gladiator
47. Ian McKellen in X-Men
48. Tchéky Karyo in The Patriot
49. Ray Park in X-Men 
50. Dennis Quaid in Traffic 
51. Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator
52. Udo Kier in Shadow of the Vampire
53. Patrick Stewart in X-Men
54. Terence Stamp in Red Planet
55. Will Patton in Remember the Titans
56. Albert Finney in Erin Brockovich
57. Luis Guzman in Traffic
58. Djimon Honsou in Gladiator 
59. Leon Rippy in The Patriot
60. Jeff Bridges in The Contender
61. Noah Taylor in Almost Famous 
62. Giovanni Ribsi in Gone in 60 Seconds
63. Derek Jacobi in Gladiator 
64. James Brolin in Traffic
65. Jack Lemmon in The Legend of Beggar Vance 
66. David Paymer in Bait
67. Mark Boone Junior in Memento
68. Paul Giamatti in Big Momma's House
69. Peter Woodward in The Patriot
70. Xander Berkeley in Shanghai Noon
71. Albert Finney in Traffic
72. David Morse in Bait 
73. Owen Wilson in Meet the Parents
74. Eddie Izzard in Shadow of the Vampire
75. Donnie Yen in Highlander Endgame 
76. James Mardsen in X-Men
77. Sam Elliot in The Contender
78. Michael Clarke Duncan in The Whole Nine Yards
79. Roger Yuan in Shanghai Noon
80. Change Chen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
81. James Rebhorn in Meet the Parents 
82. Adam Baldwin in The Patriot 
83. Kevin Pollak in The Whole Nine Yards
84. Carey Elwes in Shadow of the Vampire
85. Topher Grace in Traffic
86. Joey D. Vieira in The Patriot 
87. Christian Slater in The Contender
88. Jay Arlen Jones in The Patriot
89. Tom Sizemore in Red Planet 
90. Tobey Maguire in Wonder Boys
91. Johnny Depp in Before Night Falls 
92. Donal Logue in The Patriot 
93. Johnny Depp in Chocolat
94. Aaron Eckhart in Erin Brockovich
95. Jason Lee in Almost Famous
96. Doug Hutchison in Bait
97. Gregory Smith in The Patriot
98. Orland Jones in Bedazzled
99. Christopher Eccleston in Gone in 60 Seconds
100. Jerry O'Connell in Mission to Mars
101. Rainn Wilson in Almost Famous
102. Toby Huss in Bedazzled
103. Will Smith in The Legend of Beggar Vance
104. Shawn Ashmore in X-Men
105. The Cast of The Grinch
106. Larry Miller in The Nutty Professor II
107. John Ales in The Nutty Professor II
108. Cast of Little Nicky
109. Cast of Road Trip
110. Tyler Mane in X-Men
111. Bruce Payne in Highlander Endgame

Next Year: 1981 Lead

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2000: Billy Crudup in Almost Famous

Billy Crudup did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Russell Hammond in Almost Famous.

Almost Famous is an enjoyable, if a bit overlong, film about a very young rock journalist William (Patrick Fugit) who follows an up and coming band on tour.

Billy Crudup plays one of the band members Russell, the member of the band William most gets to know somewhat due to Russell's involvement with a groupie who calls herself Penny Lane (Kate Hudson). Crudup technically plays Russell as the most down to earth member of the band, although that really is not saying a lot as one never speaks, another seems completely out of it, and the lead singer has an ego that outweighs his talent. Crudup deserves credit though as he is the only one of the actors playing members of the band who really gets much of anything out of his role, Jason Lee plays his role a little too broadly throughout the film and is not able to make much of an impression.

The whole character of Russell Hammond is a mix of things as he often is changing attitudes, and personal style often. This is rather fitting though because of the nature of the rock star life where there seems to be a non-stop energy and mind altering substances are plentiful. Through most of the scenes where he is interacting with William the journalist, or his fans whether it be a somewhat somber affair, or a very non sober affair Crudup brings an effective low key charisma with his performance. He brings that rock star quality into the role of Russell and makes it very believable why so many would be enamored with him, and why the lead singer of the band would find him to be such a threat.

One of the aspects of the film is basically revealing the problematic nature of the rockers life styles. Crudup is equally good in the bring down scenes because he loses the charm in the right sort of way. Crudup does not portray it as Russell stops putting on a show or anything like that, instead he just very realistically reveals the negative qualities as something always there as well that can come out almost as easily as the charm. In this moments Crudup is quite good by just being an average jerk frankly. When the nature of Russell really does come out, Crudup does not make it anything notable but rather the average off putting tendencies of a human being who gets more than he really deserves.

Out of the supporting actors in the film my favorite was easily Philip Seymour Hoffman in his short appearances as a rock critiic who hates egos while seeming to have a rather large one himself. Hoffman in his few short scenes left a stronger impression on me overall, but Billy Crudup does give a pretty strong performance as well and is easily the best performance in the many scenes featuring the antics of the band. His character is very important to the film as he basically sets up the many steps the plot of the film takes. Crudup fulfills his part nicely and brings to life properly the mix impressive and problematic elements found in the personality of a rock star.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2000: Oliver Reed in Gladiator

Oliver Reed did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for BAFTA, for portraying Proximo in Gladiator.

Oliver Reed plays Proximo the man who buys Maximus Decimus (Russell Crowe) after he has had his family murdered by the evil Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Proximo is a gladiator manager and owner, although he is a bit different in that he himself was a former Gladiator. Reed was an excellent choice to play the part having played many tough guy roles throughout his career and here he brings that sort of presence to this role. Although Proximo is aged, and most certainly past his prime, with Reed we can see what made him the great warrior he once was, and possibly how exactly how he once came to be the true champion of the Colosseum.

Reed plays both sides of the role very well. As the outer side, Reed shows Proximo to be a shrewd businessman. Reed brings the right sly attitude with a certain strong force of personality as Proximo showing him to be a man well versed in the nature of his trade. Proximo though does have the deeper connection with Gladiator's then just the money. Reed has one great scene where he tries to inspire his men to victory giving a hint of his own mastery of the arena. Reed is terrific as he thrusts with a knife portraying the powerful technique in Proximo, and suggesting exactly who Proximo once was when he had to save his life by ending another simply for entertainment purposes.

Oliver Reed's best scene though is when he encourages Maximus to be more than a killer, and be a showman who the crowd adores. In the scene Proximo describes when he was made free by the former emperor after becoming the champion of the arena. Reed handles the scene beautifully because it is not like he is just giving a lecture to Maximus. Reed instills the moment with a tremendous nostalgic pride and shows Proximo almost relive the moment as he gives the sense of the joy Proximo held when he finally achieved freedom so many years ago. It is a wonderfully acted scene by Reed, and it also properly alludes to why Proximo would be willing to give up his own livelihood to help Maximus late in the film.

This film was Reed's last one, and unfortunately he actually died during filming. All of Proximo's scenes were not completed and this is noticeable in the film. When everyone is captured in Proximo's compound the Roman guards for whatever reason kill Proximo even though they don't do the same to the slaves even the ones who have fought back. Of course this is a pretty obvious rewrite to compensate for Reed's untimely end. The required changes cuts Proximo short really. If Reed had lived it is pretty easy to see that Proximo probably would have had one more scene that would have given a more fitting end to his character, rather than the very quick exit his character receives in the film.

In my view Oliver Reed once again gives the best performance in a best picture winning film, even though once again his character is far from being even the most important supporting character in the film. Reed even with the fact that he really did not get to portray the actual conclusion of the character before his death makes Proximo a compelling character. I only wish there had been more of Proximo in the film as Reed makes him a fascinating part of the film even though the character could very well have made absolutely no impact on the film whatsoever. Oliver Reed brings out the complexities of the part incredibly well, and creates an interesting portrait of a gladiator after he has put away his sword.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2000: Jason Isaacs in The Patriot

Jason Isaacs did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Colonel William Tavington in The Patriot.

The Patriot is not a brilliant or accurate film about the revolutionary war, and really it's too long, but hey its fun seeing Mel Gibson once again take out his revenge on some British.

This film takes a rather extreme view of the British particularly in the character of Colonel William Tavington based loosely upon the actual Banastre Tarleton who was not a nice chap to be sure but also often was the subject of propaganda pieces that purposefully made his exploits more extreme in nature. Tavington is the villain of the piece and his whole point is being the man you want Gibson to kill. Tavington not only is a brutal officer to begin with as he burns Gibson's character house and barn but he also murders one of his sons just after condemning another one of his sons to death just before he pointed his weapon at everyone of his family members just to make a threat. Tavington is unrelentingly evil in his personal style and actions throughout the film.

Jason Isaacs with this film set himself to play many more evil British men in his career but it all started here. As with many instances of type casting the first time is the best time. Isaacs plays up Tavington's evil not by going over the top, at least not in the traditional sense, but staying very British in his sensibilities. Isaacs has Tavington always keep his cool proper demeanor even when he is making threats or murdering innocents. He is actually quite brilliant in this respect creating a withdrawn but very visceral intensity in his performance. Isaacs carefully always keeps him in a soldier in the King's army as he should while still making him one of the most cruel and vicious soldiers imaginable.

The whole point of Isaacs is a build a great deal of hate for his character as he goes from place to place being despicable while leaving many dead in his wake. Isaacs of course meets this most general requirement but adds to by suggesting a little more to his character given the brief moments he is allowed. One of aspect Isaacs handles especially well is the sadistic tendencies in Tavington. It would have been much easier to just have these broad gestures in regards to portraying this, but Isaacs is far more effective portraying this aspect of Tavington in a subtle fashion. One great scene in particular is when Tavington kills someone with a sword and Isaacs is very chilling in just showing a slight change in his expression as you can see him indulging in the pleasure of the moment.

There is one scene that suggests that Tavington's brutality also comes from wanting to make a name for himself as he had his inheritance wasted by his father. It is a scene that it does not dwell upon, and frankly the film forgets about shortly after mentioning it. Isaacs makes the scene for all its worth and he gives a sense of the mindset of Tavington even beyond the evil. Isaacs suggests well, in the very brief moment he is given, the pain he hides for his misfortune and where his very extreme aggressiveness comes from. The film really does not follow up on this point too much preferring to keep Tavington as a pretty to the point baddie, but Isaacs makes the most of it and shows that he very well could have made even more to Tavington if the film had allowed him to.

The meat of this performance is Isaacs making Tavington the villain of the piece and he does that really well. He is imposing throughout giving a real sense of danger whenever he is onscreen. Isaacs even more importantly perhaps, due to the revenge nature of this film, makes Tavington the man you want to see Mel Gibson kill before the war is over. Isaacs performance really raises the ante for the final duel because he so effectively makes you want to see Tavington dead. The first time I watched the film back in 2000 I yelled a mighty "Yes" when Tavington finally lost his upper hand. Isaacs by realizing the evil in Tavington so vividly allows the finale of the film to be truly satisfying. Isaacs gives a very strong performance dong what he can with Tavington somewhat limited character, and absolutely thriving when it comes to serving his purpose in the plot.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2000: Takeshi Kitano in Battle Royale

Takeshi Kitano did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Kitano in Battle Royale.

Battle Royale is a gruesome and effective film about a class of Japanese students pit against each other in a game of death until only one student is left living.

Takeshi Kitano plays the only major character in the film who is not a student. He plays one of the two villains of the piece, the other is a psychotic special student sent in as a ringer of sorts to the game. Kitano plays the most dangerous villain since the guy from Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey because there is nothing worse than an evil gym teacher, yes Kitano is not technically a gym teacher but the way he dresses makes him look like one. Kitano plays well Kitano the class's former teacher who disappeared after being assaulted by one of the students, he returns though to be their new instructor, the instructor to tell them that they will be playing a most unusual game as a group.

Kitano makes a strong impression in his early scene as he welcomes the class back. Kitano, although does hide a secret with his performance which I will get to, takes a brilliant approach of playing his namesake still as a teacher even with what he does as he introduces the game. Kitano brings a disturbing ease in his performance as he seems to treat this class as any other day of schooling. He is that of the teacher casually fielding questions just like a normal teacher would, trying to call the kids attention to the educational video by acting interested in it himself, and even distributing punishment like a teacher. When someone speaks out of turn or something, Kitano does not stress the fact, but quickly raises then quiets his voice ending the problem swiftly, although he murders the kids unlike a normal teacher.

That is Kitano's major scene and he delivers exceptionally well by just delivering the scene as if Kitano was a proper instructor except one who uses a particularly twisted method to handle his class. Throughout the rest of the film Kitano comes in and out mostly to announce which students have been killed. These moments he continues his method of being the mentor of sorts in his announcements as he sometimes derides their behavior, or encourages them in some understated way. Kitano still has his secret he is holding though that slowly comes out as the film progresses as we see how he spends some of his time as the games go on around him. The secret being that his blase attitude is not from him being evil, but rather Kitano's attitude comes from being depressed.

Kitano is very interesting the whole way he plays this depression, because he honestly plays it a down to earth fashion and it somehow fits in with his absurdest nature of his character. Kitano shows it very bluntly that he has had his spirit destroyed not only by the way the class treated him, but as well because his own daughter hates him as well. Kitano is even strangely moving because he is very genuine in these moments and goes about playing this part of Kitano in a realistic fashion. Kitano though tries to deal with his depression though by clinging onto one idea that remains hidden for most of the film, until it is finally revealed near the end of the film when Takeshi Kitano once more becomes the star of the movie.

Takeshi Kitano is excellent in this scene in combining the conflicting nature of his role into one brilliant finale for his character. On one side we see that Kitano has been wanting one of the girls to win the game. Kitano carefully portrays this not as a creepy lust, although it is creepy, but rather a much more pure love as she is the only young person who has shown him any love including his own daughter. In the same scene we get his twisted sensibility too especially in his great exit to the film. He makes the absurd exit have a great impact because he plays so perfectly straight. He manages to make Kitano more than just an evil teacher, although he does do that too, giving a oddly complex and powerful portrayal of a man who has lost his connection to the next generation.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2000: Joe Pantoliano in Memento

Joe Pantoliano did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Teddy in Memento.

The character of Teddy is a bit like the Samurai played by Masayuki Mori in Rashomon, in that the one thing definite about the man is that he is dead. This is not a spoiler as the very first image of the film features Teddy's corpse shortly followed by Teddy being shot in the head by Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) a man with anterograde amnesia. What lead to Teddy's demise is the basis for the reverse progression of the story. It was a rather brilliant piece of casting to choose Pantoliano in this role. Pantoliano is best known for playing slimy unlikable, not especially complex, characters which actually sets up Teddy in a certain way which makes the developments of the film all the more effective.

With Teddy dead at the very beginning of this mystery, apparently as the villain, being played by Pantoliano only reinforces this concept suggesting that at the beginning that Leonard was absolutely right, and there is not anything complex about Teddy at all. The truth though is Teddy is a far more complex character and it is surprising to see Pantoliano's portrayal which slowly reveals more to Teddy with every scene we see in reverse. In the first, last, scene of Teddy though Pantoliano is fitting his usual role of the somewhat obnoxious, somewhat overbearing personality. It is interesting though as the film reveals that this is not just a standard Pantoliano character.

Teddy keeps showing up for some reason, either at Leonard's beckon call or just showing up to see him for some reason. Pontaliano is good in suggesting that Teddy seems to know more then he claims toward Leonard. Pantoliano plays Teddy in an interesting way as he sort of plays Leonard while protecting him as well. Pantoliano isn't warm but there is a certain concern he conveys in Teddy as he constantly seems to keep helping him and offering him advice. At the same time Pantoliano gives the sense of a trick he is playing as Teddy so often changes his greeting method to Leonard, sometime acting like an old friend, and at other times a bit of a stranger.

Pantoliano's performance is a good one because his way of being the the untrustworthy friend properly indicates the truth behind Teddy that is revealed in the end. The truth being that he has manipulated Leonard in a despicable way, but that was after and still being the one person who seems to care for him. Pantoliano is very strong in the last scene frankly opening up completely with Teddy revealing the strange mix of mostly despicable but just slightly honorable nature of Teddy. He is not a villain exactly, and certainly not the villain one would assume he was at the beginning, as Pantoliano brings the complexity of Teddy to life. Pantoliano does falter a bit with a bit too much of his usual overacting, nevertheless he does make Teddy a compelling facet of this great film.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2000

And the Nominees Were Not:

Billy Crudup in Almost Famous

Takeshi Kitano in Battle Royale

Oliver Reed in Gladiator

Jason Isaacs in The Patriot

Joe Pantoliano in Memento

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