Alternate Best Actor 2013: Results

5. Jake Gyllenhaal in Prisoners- Gyllenhaal gives probably his best performance in his full depiction of a detective investigating a terrible crime in both the official process but also the emotional impact.

Best Scene: Loki rushes to the hospital.

4. Joaquin Phoenix in Her- Phoenix gives a nice counterpoint to his great performance in the Master with his warm and endearing portrayal of a lonely man.

Best Scene:  Theodore begins his romantic relationship with Samantha.

3. Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips- Hanks gives an excellent turn underplaying nicely while keeping the intensity of the film, then absolutely bringing the emotional power to his final scene.

Best Scene: Phillips goes into shock.

2. Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis- Isaac gives a fantastic performance as a jerk by realizing him fully as a person from the great amount of heart he puts into his music, to his less savory qualities off the stage. 

Best Scene: Fare Thee Well

1. James McAvoy in Filth- This year was amazing for lead actor and that's all there is to it. It really explains the strength of the Academy lineup because honestly it was just too difficult to really mess up, although they still managed to ever so slightly, as it seemed everyone was on top their game. Even Christian Bale the weakest of the nominees gave a great performance in Out of the Furnace to make up for it seems. My favorite of all theses great and often career best performances is James McAvoy's performance in Filth. I love every moment of this insane work that is a great achievement in dark comedy, but also an equally tragic turn at the same time.

Best Scene: The ending.

Overall Rank:

1. James McAvoy in Filth
2. Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
3. Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis
4. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street
5. Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips
6. Bruce Dern in Nebraska
7. Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
8. Joaquin Phoenix in Her
9. Jake Gyllenhaal in Prisoners
10. Christian Bale in Out of the Furnace 
11. Michael Shannon in The Iceman
12. Tye Sheridan in Mud
13. Robert Redford in All is Lost
14. Vithaya Pansringarm in Only God Forgives
15. Sam Rockwell in A Single Shot
16. Simon Pegg in The World's End 
17. Ryan Gosling in The Place Beyond the Pines
18. Lee Jung-jae in New World
19. Jude Law in Side Effects
20. Tony Leung Chiu Wai in The Grandmaster
21. Steve Coogan in Philomena
22. Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station
23. Bradley Cooper in The Place Beyond the Pines
24. Martin Freeman in The Hobbit
25. Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 3
26. Chris Evans in Snowpiercer
27. Daniel Bruhl in Rush
28. Josh Brolin in Oldboy 
29. Matt Damon in Elysium
30. Benedict Cumberbatch in The Fifth Estate
31. Dane Dehaan in The Place Beyond the Pines
32. Michael Fassbender in The Counselor
33. Casey Affleck in Ain't Them Bodies Saints
34. Will Forte in Nebraska
35. Christian Bale in American Hustle
36. Chris Hemsworth in Rush
37. Dane Dehaan in Kill Your Darlings
38. Chadwick Boseman in 42
39. Henry Cavill in Man of Steel
40. Chris Hemsworth in Thor 2
41. Chris Pine in Star Trek Into Darkness
42. Hugh Jackman in Prisoners
43. Charlie Hunnam in Pacific Rim
44. Denzel Washington in 2 Guns 
45. Vin Diesel in Fast & Furious 6
46. Zachary Quinto in Star Trek Into Darkness 
47. Idris Elba in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
48. Mark Wahlberg in Pain & Gain
49. Daniel Bruhl in The Fifth Estate
50. Forest Whitaker in The Butler
51. Dwayne Johnson in G.I. Joe
52. Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives
53. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Don Jon
54. Mark Wahlberg in 2 Guns 
55. Daniel Radcliffe in Kill Your Darlings
56. Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Escape Plan
57. Hugh Jackman in The Wolverine
58. Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Last Stand
59. Sylvester Stallone in The Escape Plan
60. Mark Wahlberg in Lone Survivor

Next Year: 1992 supporting

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Alternate Best Actor 2013: Joaquin Phoenix in Her

Joaquin Phoenix did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for a Golden Globe, for portraying Theodore Twombly in Her.

Her tells the love story between a man and the artificial intelligence that runs his computer. I quite liked the film although I suppose I was not quite as enraptured as some.

Joaquin Phoenix after his Oscar nominated performance in the Master as Freddie Quell and once again he plays a wounded man. Theodore Twombly's wounds though amount to very little compared to whatever it was that haunted Quell so deeply, but Theodore definitely is somewhat off after breaking up with his wife. Phoenix sets up making Theodore a much more approachable sort of a man, but perhaps just a particular and peculiar of one at the same time. Phoenix does proceed to go out on another limb as Theodore although this time it is a much unassuming way than with Quell, and with a far different goal. Technically both film at least in part about the soul searching of one man, but in this case the soul searching seems much more pleasant for all involved, and really much less pressing of a matter to be sure.

Anyway Phoenix once again is terrific in his creation of Twombly as a man that goes far more than just wearing the rather strange futuristic version of pants. Phoenix sets out in making Theodore, who spends his days writing romantic cards for other people's loved ones, as a particularly nebbish and sensitive sort. With the way he pushes his glass, and the way he always retires away from people Phoenix rather naturally sets up the shy nature of the man. He continues with the choice of accent and manner of speaking he uses. In The Master Phoenix made it so Quell was a man who hesitated since he seemed to suffer from every word he spoke, again Phoenix makes every word an effort but in a different way. It is not it pains him to say the word, but rather paints Theodore's manner of speaking as if he is quickly writing what he will say in his head before he says it.

The creation of Theodore is used quite differently than Quell though and this is a much warmer performance by Phoenix. Although technically speaking there are many things going on with Phoenix's turn here as he does many things to make Theodore who he is, they never become noticeable outside of Theodore. Phoenix makes them a natural part of the man, and merely Phoenix uses his various physical tics to amplify the nature of Theodore which is that of a shy and somewhat depressed man. These qualities in Theodore are essential for the character particularly as the film continues into stranger territory. It is easy to completely believe Phoenix as this retiring sort of man, and that is exactly what is needed once Theodore starts to use his own artificial intelligence Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) who definitely seems to have a mind of her own. 

The whole relationship that quickly grows into a romance between the man and the computer which is rather absurd to say the least to begin with, and only seems fitting for a certain episode of the Twilight Zone starring Wally Cox. In that episode the relationship was more that of a femmefatale who slowly broke the man down to his wits end with all of her manipulations, this time the relationship is much more gentle in nature to say the least. The whole concept could pretty much break down instantly if it were not for Phoenix's way of setting up Theodore before he starts the relationship. The neediness and vulnerability that Phoenix conveys so well in his early scenes and that wounded quality he has about, Phoenix makes Theodore a man who you could honestly see date his operating system.

When the relationship first starts they do seem to be perfect together as they seem to love just talking together and doing everything together. They seem in perfect synergy with one another and to be sure Phoenix has great chemistry with the voice simply by portraying the happiness in Theodore in such an unabashed fashion. Phoenix, who definitely had none to give in his previous performance in The Master, offers a fair about a tenderness with his work particularly expressed through his face. Phoenix's portrayal of Theodore's happiness is especially endearing and because Phoenix is able to show Theodore to be so honestly happy it is far easier to accept the relationship between the two as something that at the very least is therapeutic for him as he no longer seems wounded. 

As the relationship proceeds there are some problems that certainly develop because obviously she has no actual physical body, but as well after he meets with his estranged wife who basically confronts him with the fact that its only the perfect relationship for him because he does not have to deal with a real woman. Phoenix is very effective in basically losing the intensity of the love and happiness in the early scenes as he begins to sew in the seeds of doubt into himself, and the problems begin to arise. Phoenix brings down Theodore's high very naturally and rather moving as we see him lose that magical quality the two seemed to have together in the beginning. Phoenix does not fall in one instance but after the first point of doubt Phoenix is exceptionally in showing it to be a downhill slide although still with some ups and downs.

Phoenix's performance is absolutely captivating here as he so authentically goes through this unusual relationship with the mix of both the bizarre and the real. The direction of the film often relies on Phoenix to carry a scene through just the image of his face as he reacts to Samantha. Phoenix is able to meet this challenge as he simply is Theodore in the film and any every change in him always feel the natural progression of both the man and his relationship with Her. Phoenix brings such a poignancy in every moment of the upside of whenever it seems like it is making Theodore a more complete person. Phoenix though is equally heartbreaking and quite believable in his depiction of Theodore's more pained reactions when it appears that his relationship with Samantha is far from unique as well is something that will not be lasting forever.

This year I seem to be handy out fives like candy corn to the actors, but really I don't have much of a choice. I see no reason to deny any of the performances that I have reviewed as they completely meet my qualifications for a five which is to meet or surpass the requirements of the role, depending on the complexity of the role as written, but as well just the extra something that makes an impact that makes me absolutely feel the greatness of the performance. That has been true of everyone I have reviewed so far, and this is also true for Joaquin Phoenix's performance in this film. His creation of Theodore is remarkable and creates a rather beautiful portrait of depressed man finding some sort of peace of mind. Phoenix fulfills his role and his greatness is evident in almost every frame thorough his technically very intensely acted performance, yet so wonderfully fitting for this film.

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Alternate Best Actor 2013: Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips

Tom Hanks did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite basically being nominated for every single other acting award, for portraying Richard Phillips in Captain Phillips.

Tom Hanks, the old academy favorite, found himself  not nominated for his work in this film despite the film being nominated for best picture and his co-star Barkhad Abdi being nominated for best supporting actor. I would say it is likely Hanks suffered probably the same Ben Affleck suffered in the previous year with his best director snub which is that he probably seemed such a lock that many voters did not even bother to vote him which unfortunately allowed Christian Bale to get in over him. That is a really shame though that the Academy decided to finally snub Hanks for what would have been his best nominated work, and the greatness of their lineup would have been even more unquestionable.

Anyway Hanks plays an actual man Richard Phillips who was the commander of a unarmed transport freighter going through dangerous pirate territory. The early scene of the film rely very much on Hanks just being the average sort of man who is just doing his job. Hanks is definitely good in setting up Phillips as a likable enough guy and gives his personal moments the investment they need just so we know where he coming from. When he gets on the ship Hanks is again very good in simply fulfilling what the role should be. He runs his ship not as some great hero or even great captain, but Hanks shows the casual atmosphere of it all by playing the scenes like any average boss with a fairly unassuming but somewhat scolding personality toward his crew to keep them on task.

Captain Phillips suffered some controversy for its portrayal of the Richard Phillips as many of his crew members actually stated he made several foolish actions and was not the hero the film portrays him as. Well I would say that neither the film, nor Hanks really try to make him out to be to be an overly heroic figure either. In fact throughout the showdown with the pirates it can easily be said that the film shows the crew doing most of the work to stop the pirates, and the film does show Phillips making some dumb decisions during the course. Also even though Tom Hanks, who has played several hero types in his time, does not really try to to play Phillips as a hero here, giving a more interesting approach by just reflecting the actions of a fairly average man in such a situation.

Once the pirates board Hanks is very effective in showing a man whose is trying to do his best to what he can to halt the pirates, while trying to keep the situation as calm as possible. Before the pirates come on Hanks is very good at simply showing the emotions as they come and bringing the intensity of the scene alive as he should. When the pirates do board Hanks is strong in the scene as he tries to keep his men together in his final announcement to them. Hanks doesn't play the scene as if he is the greatest commander of men, but honestly as a man trying to do his best to urge his crew and keep them together. The strongest moments of Hanks's performance though begin once he gets to start sharing scenes with Barkhad Abdi as the pirate leader Muse.

He and Abdi are both great together as they play off each other with a perfect precision as they basically have showdown through words as Muse tries to takeover the ship but finds it is harder than it appears. Hanks is very good in firstly always giving the reaction of a man who thinks he could die at any minute as we see the desperation and nervousness within him even if never completely overwhelms him. Hanks combines this well though with Phillips's trying to pull his best Lance Henriksen in Dog Day Afternoon by trying to plant the seeds of doubts in the Pirates while trying to send information to the crew to make it so they can botch the pirates plans. Hanks is good in playing the act that Phillips actually plays which is that of the hapless dope who just seems to be accidentally messing the pirates up.

Hanks handles these scenes well by playing them shrewdly but not too shrewdly frankly. Hanks does not go about making Phillips a genius or an impeccable leader though but rather a guy who has thought of a few tricks to throw the pirates off. Hanks always keeps the pressure on his exchanges of looks between him are Abdi is great as Abdi shows that Muse does know that Phillips is up to something, but Hanks keeps Phillips looking at least slightly hapless, as just a guy who wants the pirates to leave with even the money from the ship's safe for their benefit. This continues once Phillips is captured by Muse and the other three pirates on the life boat as they go along toward Somalia but are quickly hounded by the navy which spells doom for the plans of the pirates.

Hanks adjusts his performance appropriately here as he does slowly build the fear in Phillips himself, even he does keep up his antics to mess with pirates, although Hanks brings just the right sympathy with his tone. Hanks carefully never goes too far with this as he properly still shows that Phillips is definitely exhibiting caution and rather effectively plays it as that Phillips is just thinking about his own safety as anyone would at that point. Inside the life boat I will say it is Abdi who really does steal the show as his becomes such an unforgettably portrait of a desperate man who just won't give up, but Hanks is never far behind keeping with him along the way. Hanks actually makes the right move here to not try to overwhelm Abdi's performance, but rather kinda like Rod Steiger in On the Waterfront, he amplifies the more emotionally volatile performance through his quieter work.

Of course at the end of the film there is the scene which most everyone talks about when praising Hanks's performance which what happens to Phillips after he is saved in a bloody rescue. It is a very performance heavy scene so to speak as Hanks shows Phillips completely in shock after the events on the lifeboat. It's technically ACTING at its most but all I can say is Hanks absolutely nails it without question. You do feel that Phillips is a man in shock in the scene and Hanks is quite powerful by simply giving fully into the scene. He drops anything else about Phillips and completely is in the portrayal of the shock and certainly creates an amazing and most memorable end to his great depiction of Captain Richard Phillips. 

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Alternate Best Actor 2013: James McAvoy in Filth

James McAvoy did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson in Filth.

Filth is a rather insane  and extremely entertaining film about a Scottish detective who is intent on getting the single promotion most of his fellow Detectives are vying for.

You can forget about any ideas about the types of characters James McAvoy usually plays because they have no relevance with his portrayal of Detective Bruce Robertson in this film. This is one performance that is best to go beat by beat the first beat McAvoy shedding any ideas you might have about him being one of those pretty boy actors who wants to play the youthful go getter sort of guy. That's not Bruce that's not Bruce one bit. One of his earliest scenes is when he and the other detectives get the lowdown on a crime from their chief, and the first thing he does is fart just to start things off I suppose. Anyway though McAvoy whole portrayal is what makes it hilarious as he gives the not me face, and then the accusatory glance at the man sitting closest to him. I guess that kind of sets the tone but don't be fooled by just that.

McAvoy's work here is highly entertaining from this early scene where he gives the low down on each of his opponents for the promotion. McAvoy's narration is this is very much like Leonado DiCaprio's in The Wolf of Wall Street, which is to say it is not your typical Morgan Freeman type of delivery. McAvoy's like DiCaprio's has that same amorality suggested just in the way he speaks about seemingly important things with such irreverence in his attitude. Like DiCaprio this makes his narration very comedic to behold, but McAvoy perhaps has a little extra added to it through a sense of mischief in his delivery. In his narration McAvoy does not just show that he wants to get the promotion over his co-workers by humiliating them, he also suggests in his slightly joyful delivery that he is going to personally enjoy every minute of it.

McAvoy's brilliance in this role though does not stop with his narration or his comedic timing, not by a small margin. We also soon get a glimpse with Bruce on the job which he takes as the king of the city style approach. He and another one of the detectives bust two young people one who is underage. McAvoy has the right cynical dominance in the scene and we see Bruce in top form as he controls the situation without question. His two interrogations of the subjects are particularly notable as Bruce humiliates and tortures each of them in most unusual ways to derive what he wants from them again rather unusual things that he desires. McAvoy carries himself with a palatable menace in the scene and you can see why they would give it up. That would be enough but McAvoy twists it by having such a sinister face of glee the whole time.

It is really saying something, I must say, that Detective Bruce Robertson actually makes the Bad Lieutenant seem like a lightweight by comparison when it comes to being the dirtiest cop imaginable. Aside of pushing subjects around to get whatever he wants Bruce indulges in somethings so many things that perhaps even Jordan Belfort might take a moment to consider doing them. We get the usual thing like having sex with a co-workers wife, but uh not usually in this way no not this way at all. Old Bruce not only has sex with her but they also both participate in autoerotic asphyxiation with one another as they take turns choking it other with ropes while having sex of course. By the way James McAvoy's face is something to behold in these scenes not only is he hilarious in his expression somehow, but he does not cut back on the depravity.

In his indulgences McAvoy makes Bruce Robertson almost a force of nature of sorts as he goes constantly for any enjoyment that can be found for himself whether it be sex, drink, drugs, or just some sort of humiliation for someone else. McAvoy sells every scene to the fullest extent and he goes about showing Bruce extreme exuberance of the moment. When Bruce is indulging McAvoy does not show him to be a man who is just trying to have a good time, not not even the slightest. McAvoy makes it far more primal and far more intense with Bruce. When Bruce does any of it McAvoy suggests an unsatisfiable need within Bruce to do these things. It is not just because he likes it not even  even close really, no what Bruce does is something it appears that Bruce must have, which is essential in the later revelations of his character.

Well as it turns out Bruce is more of a mess than he even appears to be, and well he definitely seems like a mess to begin with so how much more a mess can he be. Well he is not just a man who would want to attend a party by Bacchus like Jordan Belfort, nah because Bruce actually does have a soul even though that may be rather hard to believe. We first view Bruce's heart when he attempts to help a dying man and it flashes quickly to show that Bruce himself is thinking of this dying boy. McAvoy's performance is surprisingly heart wrenching at times because he does portray Bruce as genuinely being haunted by this death in his past. McAboy does not separate from the rest of the man though by any measure but rather suggest quite effectively that his outrageous behavior is in fact has been caused by this trauma.

McAvoy is a marvel to behold at times the way he intertwines these facets of Bruce so flawlessly together. There is not the disconnect as you would think there would be as McAvoy brings both sides of Bruce together as one man. One particularly amazing scene is when Bruce goes from harassing one of the suspects of the crime he must solve first in his typical way of badgering while having his combination of a sneer and smile. On his way out though he bumps into the grieving woman whose husband he had attempted to save earlier. The few seconds where he changes demeanor McAvoy is masterful as we see a tender side of Bruce revealed as he attempts to try to deal with her in an honest way. McAvoy's moment creates a decided kink in Bruce's armor of amorality and remarkably shows that Bruce is not really what he makes himself out to be.

As the film progresses slowly things begin to fall more and more apart for Bruce as less and less does it seem like he really has a grasp on the case he's suppose to be solving, or the promotion he wants, or even reality. McAvoy's falling apart is truly something to behold here because firstly it comes naturally because of the seeds of doubt he planted in the played of the earlier scenes of the more controlled Bruce, but as well because McAvoy still does not hold back for a moment whether it be the debauchery he still continues to participate in and his ever growing fragile state of mind. McAvoy is amazing because he still stays hilarious while creating substantial sympathy for the broken man that Bruce slowly reveals himself to be. McAvoy's absurdly fascinating to watch in this depraved decay as even a moment of phone sex becomes a mental breakdown for Bruce.

One thing that seems like a silver lining for Bruce are those dreamlike images of his smoking hot wife. Of course they are dreamlike for a reason. The spoiler truth behind Bruce is that he actually spends his nights dressing up in women's clothing walking the streets and believing himself to be his wife who has left him. This scene could have fallen into an instantly bad sort of parody of absurdity but McAvoy never let's that him. He plays it so flawlessly by making the moment darkly comic in its very own way, but also deeply tragic. The most interesting part of it McAvoy weaves his performance so its both tragic and funny for the same reason which is how he ends up at this point. Its oddly comical because we see the "tough" Bruce who humiliates others devolve to this point, but it's terribly tragic because McAvoy believably makes this the actual broken psyche of this man.

This performance is all about the ups and downs of the bipolar Bruce as the slow reveal of just how extreme his sides are. My favorite moment perhaps is the very end of his performance which one again so brilliantly connects the man even while his actions seems so random. McAvoy begins the scene where Bruce trying to inspire his one friend (Eddie Marsan), and McAvoy is genuinely warm and tender in the moment. He then proceeds to utter defeat and is extremely heartbreaking in showing the last of the man and just the slight hesitation as he sees one of the bright spots in his life, and then it all ends so perfectly with one last smile and wink that ends it all with one more laugh. This is an outstanding performance by James McAvoy as he turns the broken man into a cohesive whole, and I loved watching every minute of it.

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Alternate Best Actor 2013: Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis

Oscar Isaac did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite nominated for a Golden Globe, for portraying Llewyn Davis in Inside Llewyn Davis.

Inside Llewyn Davis is an excellent film that depicts a week in the life of a folk singer in the early 60's.

The last film by the Joel and Ethan Coen to deal with the life of an artist was Barton Fink about a playwright struggling with writer's block while working on a screenplay in Hollywood. In both films they really do not allow the artist to have any pretension. Barton Fink was portrayed as a writer who despite having success decries it for not finding the theater of the people, a place where the common man will tell their story yet he consistently interrupts a seemingly common man when he tries to tell the story. The less successful Llewyn Davis is the artist this time and again there is no pedestal that he is being place on by the film, although in this case it is not for slight delusions of grandeur but rather that Llewyn Davis is not a good man.

This is not a case of a villainous protagonist like Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood or Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom, but it is perhaps is just as much of a challenge for Oscar Isaac as he must play essentially a jerk. The film stays with Llewyn throughout its course as well, and although there are definitely comic moments in the film that is not the only intent unlike say Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street who also played a jerk. Llewyn is a different breed of lout than Jordan Belfort, and Isaac has to meet the requirements of the role which is to make us not only follow Llewyn Davis but as well actually care about him throughout his week long journey depicted in the film which involves Llewyn suffering but as well making plenty of setbacks for himself.

Llewyn is a folk singer who seems to be perhaps on the fringe of some sort of success although part of his potential has been taken away because his old musical partner committed suicide leaving him to have to try and launch a solo career. There are some who recognize he has talents but no one in particularly really wants to pay him for said talents, although there are a few people willing to lend him their couch for him to stay on as he really does not live anywhere himself. Oscar Isaac is actually absolutely perfect in finding just the right way to play Llewyn in the film. He does not try to avoid portraying Llewyn as the questionable sort he is, but rather goes about embracing this factor as honestly as he can. Isaac does not try to make Llewyn sympathetic but rather he tries to make Llewyn just a man that you could actually meet in life.

Isaac simply is the part of a folk singer of the period there is not even a question of that in any regard. Firstly in the various musical scenes of the film Isaac is terrific in being the type of performer that Llewyn should be. As a folk singer this is not about a larger than life stage personality but rather the opposite in sort of purposefully presenting one self as kind of a man on the fringe of things. Isaac is very effective in portraying this style of performance and carries himself in a very authentic feeling fashion. When Llewyn performs Isaac throws himself into the moment in the right fashion. You can see the effort of the musical performance in Isaac's work, and most importantly in these scenes you can see a strong albeit low key passion that Isaac gives Llewyn in these scenes that properly reinforces the idea that Llewyn does care about his music.

Outside of performing Llewyn's songs is when the more obnoxious behavior of Llewyn begins to surface and it would have been very easy for the film to become rather unwatchable because of the fact that Llewyn is a jerk. Isaac does not shirk this fact but he is incredibly watchable, and it is exceedingly easy to follow him throughout the film. Isaac does have his own charisma that is effective and fitting in his folk singer sort of way, but that is not really what makes Isaac's performance work as well as it does. One thing that helps is Isaac's portrayal of the attitude of Llewyn during the film. Llewyn has a somber streak to him to be sure, but Isaac never makes him a man constantly feeling sorry for himself. Instead Isaac shows his behavior is often that he does not reflect on his behavior enough.

Isaac in part does make some of his uncouth behavior such as ignoring the fact that he is not wanted just to continually ask to be able to sleep on a couch. Isaac is funny whenever he needs to be like many of the great performances in Coen Brothers films, but this performance is not chiefly about the laughs, although it definitely is a nice bonus. What is most remarkably about his work is how authentic he is in his portrayal of Llewyn's attitude. He not especially forceful about it all the time rather he is a more realistic jerk in that he has such a relaxed attitude toward his behavior. He does not hesitate to say something, and even further than that Isaac shows Llewyn constant defense of his various actions just that of a man who just rather casually refuses to really look back on how his actions can hurt others.

One thing that really helps Isaac's performance though is that he does not make Llewyn amoral so to speak even though it would have been very easy for him to portrayed as such. Isaac is very careful though to give those very brief moments where it seems Llewyn could turn around. Llewyn never reflects enough on himself to ever say he is sorry, or change his ways, but Isaac is wonderful in showing that Llewyn could always almost do the right thing. One of the strongest moments in his performance is when Llewyn leaves his temporary companion cat behind in car even though its prospects for survival seems slim. Llewyn goes through with this despicable action, but Isaac in only his silent reaction really gives the moment the impact by suggesting that Llewyn does definitely thinks hard about doing the right thing but decides against it.

Isaac even though he plays a questionable character is actually able to make you sympathize with him because of how honest Isaac is with Llewyn Davis. The somber streak I noted earlier is one of these places where it is easy to sympathize with him, and it is the careful way that Isaac plays it. The truly morose moments in Llewyn are all carefully placed by Isaac and they are found when Llewyn has to remember his old partner who committed suicide. The film never says it directly that Llewyn misses his old friend but Isaac establishes this beautifully through his performance. Whenever Llewyn directly remembers something about him you can see in Isaac's portrayal an true reflection in Llewyn for once, and see that Llewyn's loss was more than simply his music career.

This is a great performance by Oscar Isaac, and one that I really just loved watching. Isaac is so naturally part of he atmosphere of the film yet he is never overwhelmed by it. Isaac is amazing in the role because he absolutely merely becomes Llewyn Davis for the course of it. Llewyn is far from a good man, and by the end of the film he really has not really learned any sort of a lesson rather staying as man in his circular pattern he seems to have developed. Watching the journey that Llewyn takes through film though you feel though you have spent time with an actual man in this life. He does not need to learn anything because well he should not really learn anything since it is opposed to a nature of this man, this man that Oscar Isaac vividly brings to life.

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Alternate Best Actor 2013: Jake Gyllenhaal in Prisoners

Jake Gyllenhaal did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Detective Loki in Prisoners.

Prisoners shows the investigation of the kidnapping of two young girls by both the police and one of the girls's father. It is an interesting film, beautifully shot of course, with some strong moments, but it never quite comes together as well as it potentially could have.

The film follows closely the father Keller Dover played by Hugh Jackman as he goes down a questionable path of torture in attempt to find his child. The film though gives just as much focus to the investigation lead detective of the case played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Where the investigation of the father is a constantly emotionally charged affair, which makes sense, but even more so due to Jackman's performance. Hugh Jackman often seems to be an actor who, for better or for worse, seems to try to give one hundred and ten percent with his performances. That is definitely the case here where he technically hits the right notes with his performance but he hits them a little too hard at times sometimes unfortunately make his acting more noticeable than really what the character is going through.

Jake Gyllenhaal on the other hand gives a far more measured performance in his portrayal of Detective Loki who is a detective who has successfully solved all of his cases before the film begins. When we first meet him Gyllenhaal is very effective in portraying the process of the Loki. When he is talking to the family about the situation Gyllenhaal properly suggests that he definitely invested in the case and suggests the thought process as he asks the questions about the abduction. Gyllenhaal is careful to show the slight act when Dover starts to become increasingly emotional during the questioning. When Loki tells Dover that we need to relax Gyllenhaal is terrific because he shows that actual type of police training in him with the appropriate artifice as it is something Loki does in very specific situations.

Gyllenhaal finds the right balance in the role to make a fully believable portrait of a Detective in such a case. Gyllenhaal shows Loki as almost ever so slightly aloof early on and most of all very calm. Gyllenhaal brings the confidence of Loki's success in these early scenes, and does properly suggest that Loki knows what he is doing and is sticking to his procedure properly. Gyllenhaal even goes so far as to almost be even slightly humorous in his performance and keeps Loki somewhat lighthearted as he goes around investigating sexual deviants to try to narrow down the case. This is not Gyllenhaal making Loki to be some sort of lifeless jerk, but rather this instead reinforces the idea that Loki is very much a professional and taking many of the developments of the case in stride is his way of keeping on task.

Gyllenhaal also avoid any problems from this approach in the way he portrays Loki's reactions when there appear to be any dark developments in the case including things like a rotting corpse in a cellar or perhaps a boxes filled with snakes and some bloodied clothes. Gyllenhaal is excellent in any of these scenes because technically speaking he still keeps the police command of the situation as he does not show Loki to become some sort of nervous wreck or anything but he very effectively portrays the reaction of a normal man seeing what Loki must see. He makes every revelation and scene all the more intense and gives them a greater impact because of how just realistic he is in showing Loki's reaction. Gyllenhaal always feels spot on here and following him through the investigation is a compelling experience because of him.

The film follows Loki through the case but as well with dealing with the increasingly intense Dover who definitely seems to be hiding something from Loki. As the case slowly gets less understandable and more hopeless that the girls will be found Loki will of course becomes more invested. Gyllenhaal is remarkable though because he never cheats in his portrayal of this. In his scenes with Jackman Gyllenhaal still keeps the appropriate distance as he should, but as well as a strong coldness towards Dover's behavior. Gyllenhaal again conveys the professionalism of Loki as a detective that keeps him this way toward Dover. Gyllenhaal does properly suggest in convincing subtle fashion that he understands Dover, but also he very blunt in showing that Loki really believes that Dover's behavior in no way is helping the case. 

Away Dover, and appropriately so as the lead detective would not want to show any weakness to the victims, Gyllenhaal very naturally reveals and builds Loki's frustrations and struggle with the case. Gyllenhaal handles it so delicately, never rushing a moments of it, and never once going overboard either, his very genuine depiction of Loki losing his resolve resonates powerfully. Even though I feel the film and Jackman often try a little too hard to emotionally charge the film, Gyllenhaal actually handles this much better by taking his more reflective approach. When Gyllenhaal brings the big emotions out you real feel them because he always does it at the right time, and in the right way.

I suppose one thing I should quickly mention is that Gyllenhaal plays Loki as man with a tic where he will blink a lot. It really is not an essential part of his character or anything, but I'll say it reminded me of someone I know who blinks just that way, so good job Gyllenhaal although I don't know if it was particularly necessary. Anyway Gyllenhaal easily is the best thing about the film and managed to amplify every scene of the film he is in through his realistic depiction of the full weight of one detectives investigation into a horrible crime. When I think of the strength of his performance the first scene I think of is Detective Loki's rush to the hospital at the end of the film, I found that a thrilling moment, the direction and music of course was well done, but what really kept me in the scene was Gyllenhaal's fierce portrayal of what Loki is going through both physically and mentally.

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Alternate Best Actor 2013

 And the Nominees Were Not:

Jake Gyllenhaal in Prisoners

Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips

James McAvoy in Filth

Oscar Isaac in Inside Llewyn Davis

Joaquin Phoenix in Her

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