Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2013: Results

7. Colin Farrell in Saving Mr. Banks- Farrell hits the right notes but his film weakens his impact.

Best Scene: Death bed scene.

6. James Gandolfini in Enough Said- Gandolfini gives a sweet natural performance that finding the depth of an average man.

Best Scene: Albert drives Eva home after their awkward dinner.

5. Sharlto Copley in Elysium- An absurd villainous performance by Copley to be sure but a most enjoyable one to watch.

Best Scene: Kruger comes to stop the hijack. 

4. Matthew McConaughey in Mud- McConaughey in his larger supporting role gives a naturally charming and moving portrayal of a desperate but good man.

Best Scene: Mud explains his murder. 

3. Matthew McConaughey in The Wolf of Wall Street- A great one scene wonder by McConaughey that you remember even after the almost three hour film is over. 

Best Scene: Mark Hanna has lunch with Jordan Belfort.

2. Ben Foster in Ain't Them Bodies Saints- Foster gives an extremely moving performance by being absolutely genuine in his character's goodness.

Best Scene: Ruth talks to Patrick about the day he was shot.

1. Ben Foster in Lone Survivor- The year actually came down to the two  performances by the same man. At least at the moment I think I'll give the win to the supporting performance that I feel benefited his film the most during the year. Foster in Lone Survivor gives the intensity and visceral punch needed for the story of soldier's trying to survive that would have otherwise been lacking. It is a moving work that shows the gambit of emotions of the soldier who must fight for his life.

Best Scene: Axe tells Luttrell to send a message for him. 

Overall Rank:

1. Ben Foster in Lone Survivor
2. Ben Foster in Ain't Them Bodies Saints
3. Barkhad Abdi in Captain Phillips
4. Michael Fassbender in 12 Years a Slave
5. Matthew McConaughey in The Wolf of Wall Street
6. Ed Harris in Snowpiercer
7. Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club
8. Matthew McConaughey in Mud
9. Ben Foster in Kill Your Darlings
10. Sharlto Copley in Elysium
11. James Gandolfini in Enough Said
12. Woody Harrelson in Out of the Furnace
13. Eddie Marsan in Filth
14. Jeremy Renner in American Hustle
15. Javier Bardem in The Counselor
16. Colin Farrell in Saving Mr. Banks
17. Eddie Marsan in The World's End
18. Casey Affleck in Out of the Furnace
19. Richard Armitage in The Hobbit
20. Donald Sutherland in Catching Fire
21. Choi Min-sik in New World
22. Kyle Chandler in The Wolf of Wall Street  
23. Paul Dano in Prisoners
24. Hwang Jung-min in New World
25. Jean Dujardin in The Wolf of Wall Street 
26. Luke Evans in The Hobbit
27. Tom Hanks in Saving Mr. Banks
28. Robert De Niro in American Hustle
29. Paul Dano in 12 Years a Slave
30. Tom Hiddleston in Thor 2
31. Sharlto Copley in Oldboy
32. Chris Cooper in August Osage County
33. John Hurt in Snowpiercer
34. Ben Mendelsohn in The Place Beyond the Pines
35. Ben Kingsley in Iron Man 3
36. Stacy Keach in Nebraska
37. John Goodman in Inside Llewyn Davis
38. Song Kang-ho in Snowpiercer
39. Jacob Lofland in Mud
40. Paddy Considine in The World's End
41. Park Sung-woong in New World
42. Chris Evans in The Iceman
43. Rob Reiner in The Wolf of Wall Street
44. Benedict Cumberbatch in The Hobbit 
45. F. Murray Abraham in Inside Llewyn Davis
46. Nick Frost in The World's End
47. Willem Dafoe in Out of the Furnace
48. Jamie Bell in Filth
49. Keith Carradine in Ain't Them Bodies Saints
50. Ian McKellen in The Hobbit
51. Woody Harrelson in Catching Fire
52. Jim Broadbent in Filth
53. Ray Liotta in The Iceman 
54. James Badge Dale in Parkland
55. Jamie Bell in Snowpiercer
56. Andrew Dice Clay in Blue Jasmine
57. Benedict Cumberbatch in Star Trek Into Darkness
58. Sam Shepard in Mud
59. Stanley Tucci in Catching Fire
60. Bobby Cannavale in Blue Jasmine
61. Gary Lewis in Filth
62. Bob Odenkirk in Nebraska
63. Chris Chalk in 12 Years a Slave
64. Faysal Ahmed in Captain Phillips
65. Ruben Blades in The Counselor 
66. Jon Bernthal in The Wolf of Wall Street
67. Benedict Cumberbatch in 12 Years a Slave
68. Ray McKinnon in Mud
69. Terrence Howard in Prisoners
70. Ken Stott in The Hobbit
71. Jack Huston in Kill Your Darlins
72. Kevin Costner in Man of Steel
73. Harrison Ford in 42
74. David  Oyelowo in The Butler
75. Paul Giamatti in 12 Years a Slave
76. Jonah Hill in The Wolf of Wall Street
77. Samuel L. Jackson in Oldboy
78. Jeffrey Wright in Catching Fire
79. Dwayne Johnson in Pain & Gain
80. Jonathan Pryce in G.I. Joe
81. Michael Shannon in Man of Steel
82. Garret Dillahunt in 12 Years a Slave  
83. Louis C.K. in American Hustle
84. Russell Crowe in Man of Steel
85. Aidan Turner in The Hobbit 
86. Ron Perlman in Pacific Rim
87. Tony Shalhoub in Pain & Gain
88. Michael C. Hall in Kill Your Darlings
89. Ray Liotta in The Place Beyond the Pines 
90. Simon Pegg in Star Trek Into Darkness
91. Zhang Jin in The Grandmaster
92. Liev Schreiber in The Butler
93. Geoffrey Rush in The Book Thief 
94. Dwayne Johnson in Fast & Furious 6
95. Ed Harris in Pain & Gain
96. Karl Urban in Star Trek Into Darkness
97. Josh Gad in Frozen
98. Ron Donachie in Filth
99. Paul Giamatti in Saving Mr. Banks
100. Edward James Olmos in 2 Guns
101. Peter Weller in Star Trek Into Darkness
102. Michael K. Williams in 12 Years a Slave
103. B.J. Novak in Saving Mr. Banks
104. Paul Giamatti in Parkland
105. Idris Elba in Pacific Rim
106. Jim Caviezel in Escape Plan
107. Anthony Mackie in Pain & Gain
108. Chang Chen in The Grandmaster
109. Josh Hutcherson in Catching Fire
110. Bradley Whitford in Saving Mr. Banks
111. Luke Evans in Fast & Furious 6
112. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Catching Fire
113. Jason Schwartzman in Saving Mr. Banks
114. Fred Ward in 2 Guns
115. Michael Imperioli in Oldboy
116. Dean Norris in The Counselor
117. Sam Shepard in August Osage County
118. Don Cheadle in Iron Man 3
119. Robert Patrick in Lovelace
120. Garrett Hedlund in Inside Llewyn Davis
121. John Leguizamo in The Counselor
122. Nico Liersch in The Book Thief
123. Benedict Cumberbatch in August Osage County
124. Robert Davi in The Iceman
125. Bill Paxton in 2 Guns
126. Tony Danza in Don Jon
127. Justin Timberlake in Inside Llewyn Davis
128. Peter Sarsgaard in Lovelace
129. David Soul in Filth
130. Jonathan Groff in Frozen
131. Ewan McGregor in August Osage County
132. Billy Bob Thornton in Parkland
133. Bruce Greenwood in The Place Beyond the Pines
134. Ben Schnetzer in The Book Thief
135. Sam Claflin in Catching Fire 
136. John Cusack in The Butler
137. Charlie Day in Pacific Rim
138. Taylor Kitsch in Lone Survivor
139. Michael Shannon in Mud
140. Sam Neill in Escape Plan
141. Walton Goggins in G.I. Joe
142. Eric Bana in Lone Survivor
143. Brad Pitt in The Counselor
144. George Clooney in Gravity 
145. Ty Simpkins in Iron Man 3
146. Paul Walker in Fast & Furious 6 
147. Yuen Woo-ping in The Grandmaster
148. Peter Stormare in The Last Stand
149. James Franco in Spring Breakers
150. Martin Freeman in The World's End 
151. Anthony Hopkins in Thor 2
152. Diego Luna in Elysium 
153. Andre Holland in 42
154. Len Cariou in Prisoners 
155. Emile Hirsch in Lone Survivor
156. Christian McKay in Rush 
157. Peter Sarsgaard in Blue Jasmine
158. Jack Huston in American Hustle 
159. Alec Baldwin in Blue Jasmine
160. Bradley Cooper in American Hustle
161. Stephen Fry in The Hobbit
162. Max Casella in Inside Llewyn Davis
163. James Marsden in 2 Guns
164. David Thewlis in The Fifth Estate
165. Forest Whitaker in The Last Stand
166. Chad Michael Murray in Fruitvale Station
167. Guy Pearce in Iron Man 3
168. Mahershala Ali in The Place Beyond the Pines
169. Griffin Dunne in Dallas Buyers Club
170. David Cross in Kill Your Darlings
171. Vincent D'Onofrio in Escape Plan
172. Kevin Durand in Fruitvale Station
173. Channing Tatum in Side Effects
174. John Cho in Star Trek Into Darkness
175. Alan Tudyk in 42 
176. Scoot McNairy in 12 Years a Slave
177. Lee Pace in The Hobbit
178. James Marsdan in The Butler
179. Will Yun Lee in The Wolverine
180. Taran Killam in 12 Years a Slave
181. Pierce Brosnan in The World's End
182. Robin Williams in The Butler
183. Toby Huss in Enough Said 
184. Robert Kazinsky in Pacific Rim
185. Hiroyuki Sanada in The Wolverine
186. Liam Hemsworth in Catching Fire
187. William Fichtner in Elysium
188. Rob Brown in Jon Don
189. Cuba Gooding Jr. in The Butler
190. Shea Whigham in American Hustle
191. Lenny Kravitz in The Butler
192. James Ransone in Oldboy
193. Peter Hermann in Philomena
194. Ben Falcone in Enough Said 
195. Alan Rickman in The Butler
196. Clifton Collins Jr. in Pacific Rim
197. Forest Whitaker in Out of the Furnace
198. Christopher Eccleston in Thor 2
199. Zac Efron in Parkland
200. Rafael Gareisen in The Book Thief
201. Brad Pitt in 12 Years a Slave
202. Burn Gorman in Pacific Rim
203. James Franco in Lovelace
204. D.J. Cotrona in G.I. Joe
205. Eduardo Noriega in The Last Stand
206. Curtis Jackson in Escape Plan
207. Bruce Willis in G.I. Joe
208. Jeremy Luke in Don Jon
209. Anton Yelchin in Stark Trek Into Darkness
210. Orlando Bloom in The Hobbit
211. Emory Cohen in The Place Beyond the Pines
212. Terrence Howard in The Butler
213. Wagner Moura in Elysium
214. Alex Pettyfer in The Butler

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2013: Ben Foster in Ain't Them Bodies Saints and Lone Survivor

Ben Foster did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Patrick Wheeler in Ain't Them Bodies Saints or Matthew "Axe" Axelson in Lone Survivor.

Ain't Them Bodies Saints is a fairly remarkable film about two lovers and outlaws Ruth (Rooney Mara) and Bob (Casey Affleck) who become separated after Bob takes is arrested and takes all the blame for Ruth, even though she was the one who shot one of the police officers in a standoff.

The egregiously underrated Ben Foster plays the unfortunate man shot by Ruth, but he survives his wounds and continues to be involved with the life of Ruth who is a single mother due to Bob's incarceration. The character of Patrick Wheeler is probably the nicest character found in any film released in 2013. Wheeler does not become a bitter man from being shot, rather he is as decent as a man probably could be in his circumstances. The playing of such a man is a challenge for any actor, because there are many pitfalls for such a character. An actor could easily be too much in his portrayal, he could easily be overshadowed by the less humble characters, or worst of all the actor could seem disingenuous in their portrayal. Ben Foster does not fall into anyone of these pitfalls.

This is a bit of a departure for Foster actually because even in his quieter roles there usually is an underlying intensity somewhere to be found there is not any intensity, and nor should there be as Patrick is not an intense man. It is also a part where Foster does not sound or have the presence he usually has in anyway. Ben Foster undergoes a transformation with this role, even though he does it in such an unassuming way that you don't even notice it. Foster disappears completely into his characterization of Patrick Wheeler as the soft spoken Texan, and has such a true maturity with his performance. Foster flawlessly creates his character here, as he makes Patrick Wheeler such a real part of the setting of the film, and what he does in his creation of Patrick makes it all the easier to accept how kind his character is.

Foster is amazing in every scene that he shares with Rooney Mara as Patrick tries to so gently romance Ruth while informing her about Bob's most recent prison escape. What is so fantastic about Foster's performance is that Patrick says only very little about his feelings toward Ruth, it all really mostly conveyed through Foster's portrayal. Foster is so wonderfully sweet in his work here though because there is nothing forceful about Wheeler attraction to Ruth. Foster perfectly conveys the attempt of a timid man to reveal his love, which is not helped because Foster suggests well that Patrick knows it is a troublesome situation altogether. Foster only ever makes Patrick's concern and cares for Ruth so genuine in just every little glance, and every one of his gentle words he almost seems to struggle to say at times.

I found myself fascinated by Foster's performance, because there is never a single false moment throughout his portrayal of the goodness of his character. The way he excels in this part actually got me thinking that he would have been the perfect choice for portraying Samuel Bass in 12 Years a Slave. Even in a scene like when Ruth basically questions why Patrick keeps coming around to to the house, and Patrick states simply that he won't come back if he's not wanted. The scene could have easily seemed overly pathetic or like Patrick was trying to make her feel guilty, but Foster does not allow for anything like that because he makes it only true to the man that he has developed. Foster makes him believably this humble, and in turn makes Patrick's attempted romance particularly poignant.

Foster's best scene though comes when Ruth steps around admitting to Patrick that she was the one who actually shot him. The scene is an incredible scene as Patrick comes closest to outright stating his love for her while basically saying he completely forgives her for shooting him. It's an extremely moving scene because Foster's performance is filled with such warmth, and as well how he brings the effort in Patrick's words. His portrayal of Patrick's shyness is completely authentic, and when Patrick goes as far as he does in the moment Foster shows that it really was very difficult for Patrick to make his leap. The whole scene considering the completely forgiving nature of Patrick could have been absurd, but Foster's realization of Patrick's nature is something vivid and only for a lack of a better word beautiful.

Ben Foster also was in Lone Survivor about a hazardous mission to take out a terrorist leader in Afghanistan by a group of Navy SEALs. I suppose I would describe the film as good, but it's third act is seems very tonally inconsistent with the rest of the film, and boy can you tell that it was not filmed in the Middle East.

There is another problem with the film and that is with the performances of 3 of the four main men. Emile Hirsch always seems like Emile Hirsch in the film and does not make much of an impact. I think Taylor Kitsch is probably second best of the main four because his character is suppose to be a straight arrow and his mostly bland performance does at least get that quality of the character across. The lead of the film and the one who plays the titular character Mark Wahlberg seems like he is a different kind of movie. Wahlberg is acting though he is giving the same type of performance he gave in Two Guns, but the problem is Two Guns was suppose to be a fairly light romp this was not. His performance makes that last third in particular feel more like a standard Hollywood action film rather than a realistic depiction of war.

Then there is Ben Foster who is in a different league from the rest of the actors in basically every way. Foster's performance has none of the bad qualities found in the other actors even though they are given very similar material to play off from. In the early scenes where the other actors might be trying a bit hard to set  up the camaraderie of the men with their antics, Foster always seems much more with his character then they, and hides the effort unlike Wahlberg and Hirsch. Those scenes in the scheme of things don't really matter so much though as the meat of the film is really once the men go on their mission. The men goes south quickly when they come across a group of three goat herders whom they temporary imprison and have decide what exactly to do with them, as letting them go will end the mission and put them in danger.

In the scene where the four men debate what to do with the three herders Foster absolutely owns the scene without question. This performance is more in line what he is best known for, which is his intensity, and he is best known for this for a reason. Foster uses his intense presence so brilliantly, and it is rather interesting that he has more of an impact in the scene than Wahlberg or Hirsch despite them actually giving somewhat louder performances in the scene. Foster frankly cuts right through the scene right to the very point of what's going on and what it means. When Axe says that they should kill the old men and two boys Foster does not show him to be some sort of psychopath monster, but rather he honestly shows the fierce determination of Axe's belief that the terrorist leader needs to be stopped and killed no matter what.

Even when it is decided to let the men leave, and Axe goes along with this decision you can see in Foster's eyes the sense that Axe knows this very well might mean all their deaths. Foster brings the emotional weight to the scene with such power, and this only continues once the men start to get surrounded by enemy combatants forcing them to fight for their lives. Where sometimes Peter Berg's direction and the other actors's performances don't quite bring the conflict alive as they should, Foster's performance definitely does. The strain of battle is seen in every bit of frame, and even though the firefight jumps from one man to another, Foster kept my attention throughout. The very idea of the battle becomes realized through his work particularly as the battle continues to wage on.

Every second counts with Foster's work here as he reflects every part of the battle in his performance. You can see his properly restrained viciousness as a soldier when he kills every enemy he spots, and always that desperate will to survive the mission. He is particularly effective in every scene where Axe receives a wound because he actually brings the pain out through his performance. We see him getting beaten and it is particularly brutal to watch because of how well he shows the blunt physical affects of his wounds. Foster gives an actual depiction of a man dying slowly here. There is not dramatic sudden death, but rather a slow demise. He is absolutely heartbreaking in the scene where Axe asks Wahlberg's character to send a message to his wife and in the scene he brings the sacrifice of the man powerfully to life.

I love both of these performances and I have to say these are two supporting performances that are exactly what a supporting performance should be. In both cases he completely fulfills everything in regards to his roles. He absolutely is the kind police officer who only has the best intentions, and he is absolutely the soldier who believes in his cause. Foster in his performances improves both films just with from presence as Saints could have easily been uninteresting in its non crime ridden scenes, but Foster never allows that, and if Foster had not been in Lone Survivor the film would have been sorely lacking in the intensity needed for such a film. In fact if it were not for him I might be far more negative toward Lone Survivor as a whole. He goes above and beyond in both roles and does what one would want from all supporting performances. These are two great performances from a great actor.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2013

And the Nominees Were Not:

Ben Foster in Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Ben Foster in Lone Survivor

James Gandolfini in Enough Said

Colin Farrell in Saving Mr. Banks

Sharlto Copley in Elysium

Matthew McConaughey in Mud

Matthew McConaughey in The Wolf of Wall Street

For the prediction contest the honors go to:

Foster in Lone Survivor

McCounaughey in Wolf

(And just for Koook and RatedRStar, I picked the best troll face Sharlto Copley has to offer. Advanced apologies to both of you.)

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