Alternate Best Actor 1986: Results

5. Gene Hackman in Hoosiers- Hackman avoids the cliched route instead giving a realistic yet still inspiring depiction of the coach of the underdogs.  

Best Scene: Norman Dale convinces Shooter to help out on the team.

4. Jeremy Irons in The Mission- Irons gives a very moving portrayal by making his character's goodness only ever come across as genuine and very poignant.

Best Scene: Gabriel argues for non-violence to Rodrigo.

3. Gary Oldman in Sid and Nancy- Oldman rather surprisingly gives a mostly quit and always believably portrayal of his drug addled character. The louder moments though are well earned and effective in bringing to life the unique stage presence of Sid Vicious.

Best Scene: "My Way"

2. Harrison Ford in The Mosquito Coast- Ford goes wildly against type and completely succeeds. He not only disappears into the role, but he well gives a very compelling depiction of the growing insanity of a man who can see nothing other his own personal vision.

Best Scene: Allie insists a Nuclear holocaust has occurred.

1. Jeff Golblum in The Fly- Jeff Goldblum gives a great performance. He certainly fulfills the requirements of becoming the monster, but most importantly he always brings the humanity in the process. He brings you into this man's story every step of the way and creating a truly tragic depiction of a man who went too far. My whole top five is especially strong with Ford, Oldman and Goldblum as well as the two Oscar nominated guys Woods and Hoskins all being deserving of the win. Really it's one of those cases though where I think a re-watch could sway it one way or another but right now I will have to go with the following ranking:

Best Scene: Seth after his "successful" use of the machine.

Overall Rank

1. Bob Hoskins in Mona Lisa
2. Jeff Goldblum in The Fly
3. Harrison Ford in The Mosquito Coast
4. James Woods in Salvador
5. Gary Oldman in Sid and Nancy
6. Jeremy Irons in The Mission
7. Sean Connery in The Name of the Rose
8. Gene Hackman in Hoosiers
9. William Hurt in Children of a Lesser God
10. Kyle MacLachlan in Blue Velvet
11. Robert De Niro in The Mission
12. Rick Moranis in Little Shop Horrors
13. River Phoenix in Stand By Me
14. Jeff Daniels in Something Wild
15. Charlie Sheen in Platoon 
16. William Peterson in Manhunter
17. River Phoenix in The Mosquito Coast
18. Paul Newman in The Color of Money
19. Kurt Russell in Big Trouble in Little China
20. Pat Morita in The Karate Kid Part 2
21. Will Wheaton in Stand By Me
22. Barrie Ingham in The Great Mouse Detective
23. Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller's Day Off
24. Tom Cruise in Top Gun
25. Christopher Lambert in Highlander
26. Steve Martin in Three Amigos
27. Ralph Maccio in The Karate Kid Part 2
28. William Shatner in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
29. Martin Short in Three Amigos
30. Jeff Bridges in The Morning After
31. Dexter Gordon in 'Round Midnight
32. Tom Cruise in The Color of Money 
33. Sylvester Stallone in Cobra
34. Chevy Chase in Three Amigos
35. Julian Sands in A Room With A View
36. Eddie Murphy in The Golden Child
37. Christian Slater in The Name of The Rose
38. Steve Guttenberg in Short Circuit
39. François Cluzet in 'Round Midnight
40. Thom Mathews in Friday the 13th Part VI

Next Year: 1986 Supporting

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Alternate Best Actor 1986: Gary Oldman in Sid and Nancy

Gary Oldman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy.

Sid and Nancy is not a particularly easy to watch but it is an effective depiction of the relationship between punk rocker Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy. 

Gary Oldman made his breakout with his film here as the Bass guitarist for the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. If you haven't seen the film but are aware of Oldman's later work, Oldman could easily surprise you with his portrayal of Sid in the early scenes of the film. Oldman actually is pretty quiet in the early scenes as the film establishes the relationship between Sid and the drug addict Nancy (Chloe Webb). When we are first introduced to Sid it is in a very low key way and it is quiet a while before we even meet his on stage personality. At first Oldman plays Sid as a bit of drifter who happens to be to have a place within a punk rock band. Oldman's whole method with Sid in these scenes is fairly unusual in tone, but very interesting in the way he creates the character.

Sid Vicious is not a particularly well put together person from the start of the film, but he also is a very young person. What Oldman does well is create the youthful elements in the character which are a tricky prospect considering that he already is rather troubled to begin with. The way Oldman expresses it is effective in that he portrays Sid as someone who does not know particularly what he is doing, and Oldman is very good in showing that basically in any particular scene that Sid is a bit lost in this world. Oldman's performance is never lost though in he is creates this particularly man quite vividly as his Sid does seemed primed for the destruction set for him as he does not know what he is doing.

Oldman is particularly excellent in the scenes where Sid and Nancy begin their relationship which is not a normal romance to be sure. Oldman plays the scenes where Sid tries to begin the relationship very oddly yet always naturally to Sid's character. Oldman though makes the urge to connect with her quite palatable even though the method is always unassuming as Sid is not very far from being in a world of his own. This only continues once they do begin their relationship which does not consistent of the normal things. Instead of talking all that much and getting to know each other it is mainly them spending time together as they use a lot of drugs. Oldman and Webb create a honest chemistry in that there is this strange comfort the two have with one another.

Interestingly once again Oldman plays the part pretty quietly with his early scenes with Webb. This is particularly noticeable since Webb's performance is particularly loud and extreme at times, but Oldman plays off that incredibly well by showing Sid as more of internalizing his sorrows whereas Webb shows Nancy as exploding from them. The dynamic two creates absolutely works in showing these particularly damaged individuals who interact with each other in a most peculiar way. They almost don't interact with the way Oldman whispers and Webb yells like they speak over each other at times that might seem like it does not make sense, but it seems completely believable as both actors realize that there is this connection the two have beneath that.

The two go on in this way though until The Sex Pistols go on tour in America we do see the change in Oldman's portrayal of Sid. Although there was a stage scene beforehand, but Oldman kept it fairly simple, the stage persona of Sid comes to the forefront much more in these scenes. Oldman here does pull a larger presence now, and he does so brilliantly in showing the energetic yet always slightly off creation that Sid is on stage. The best moment for this part of his performance is when, in a dream sequence, Sid performs "My Way" to an adoring crowd who he promptly murders. It is a most unusual set up and scene but Oldman completely makes it through his fantastic portrayal of the scene. He is magnetic yet does not at all pull back on the crudeness of the character, and turns the performance into a moment of sheer brilliance.

For awhile well away from Nancy Oldman is very adept at transitioning Sid into the more indulgent personality fitting for a rocker. Oldman does this particularly well because it is almost in a reactive way, that the fame reduces him to these indulgences. This remains his course until Nancy once again comes back and they resume their relationship. And again the beginning of the renewed relationship there is a genuine happiness and joy the two seem to convey together in such a subtle yet such an honest feeling fashion. They explain why they stay together even as their relationship goes toward right back how it started. Even in the worst scenes later on there is this contentment at times between the two that always is so easy to believe that it actually is rather disconcerting.

Oldman comes off as painfully authentic in his portrayal of the slow degradation of Sid as he is with Nancy as they both basically stay in a room together taking drugs. They have that contentment at times, but then there is vile hatred at others when either have some sort of need and desire. The final scene of them in the room which is either murder or accidental death is not a monumental event. In fact it comes off as particularly chilling because of the way Oldman and Webb show it to be almost a routine event that seems like it just had to happen because of the aimless slightly hostile condition between them. From the death Sid does not learn anything and this technically is a mostly aimless character. The lack of a traditional arc is hardly a problem because Oldman's great performance just simply brings Sid Vicious to life for the film, and it would hard to ask for anything more than that.

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Alternate Best Actor 1986

And the Nominees Were Not:

Gary Oldman in Sid and Nancy

Gene Hackman in Hoosiers

Jeff Goldblum in The Fly

Jeremy Irons in The Mission

Harrison Ford in The Mosquito Coast

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Alternate Best Actor 1987: Results

5. Mickey Rourke in Barfly- Rourke is all about his unique creation of his character of the Barfly and although unorthodox it does work quite effectively for his film.

Best Scene: Henry first goes home with Wanda

4. Bruno Ganz in Wings of Desire- Ganz is again mostly about conception and like Rourke it works wonderfully well for his film.

Best Scene: Damiel, now fallen, meets with Peter Falk.

3. Gary Oldman in Prick Up Ears- Oldman uses his chameleon abilities in a terrific fashion to giving a complex portrait of a writer whose talent, ego and appetites grow faster then his partner can take.

Best Scene: Orton becomes the dominate one in his relationship with Halliwell.

2. John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles- John Candy gives a great performance that is very entertaining on the surface but also quite a heartbreaking portrait underneath.

Best Scene: "You wanna hurt me?"

1. John Lone in The Last Emperor- My favorite performance of the year belongs to John Lone's portrayal of the Last Emperor of China. Lone gives a fascinating and very moving portrayal of the journey of a ruler who did not even have power over himself.

Best Scene: The elderly Puyi visits his old home.

Overall Rank:

1. John Lone in The Last Emperor
2. Jack Nicholson in Ironweed
3. John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles
4. Albert Brooks in Broadcast News
5. William Hurt in Broadcast News 
6. Gary Oldman in Prick Up Your Ears
7. Bruno Ganz in Wings of Desire
8. Mickey Rourke in Barfly
9. Mickey Rourke in Angel Heart
10. Steve Martin in Planes, Trains and Automobiles
11. Michael Douglas in Wall Street
12. Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun 
13. Rick Moranis in Spaceballs
14. Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights
15. Matthew Modine in Full Metal Jacket
16. Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon
17. Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction
18. Chris Cooper in Matewan
19. Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride
20. Nicolas Cage in Raising Arizona
21. Alfred Molina in Prick Up Your Ears
22. Dan Aykroyd in Dragnet
23. Marcello Mastroianni in Dark Eyes
24. Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon
25. Max von Sydow in Pelle the Conqueror
26. Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam
27. Peter Weller in RoboCop 
28. Sebastian Rice-Edwards in Hope And Glory
29. Keanu Reeves in River's Edge
30. Jason Patric in The Lost Boys
31. Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck
32. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator
33. Bill Pullman in Spaceballs
34. Tom Hanks in Dragnet
35. Corey Haim in The Lost Boys 
36. Pelle Hvenegaard in Pelle the Conqueror
37. John Lithgow in Harry and the Hendersons
38. Kurt Russell in Overboard
39. Christopher Reeve in Superman IV 
40. Charlie Sheen in Wall Street
41. Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop 2 
42. Charlie Sheen in No Man's Land
43. Kevin Costner in No Way Out
44. Craig Wasson in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3
45. D.B. Sweeney in No Man's Land
46. Kevin Kline in Cry Freedom
47. Christopher Reeve in Street Smart
48. Crispin Glover in River's Edge
49. Reb Brown in Strike Commando
50. Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Running Man
51. Kevin Costner in The Untouchables

Next Year: 1987 Supporting

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Alternate Best Actor 1987: Gary Oldman in Prick Up Your Ears

Gary Oldman did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite being nominated for BAFTA, for portraying Joe Orton in Prick Up Your Ears.

Prick Up Your Ears is a decent enough character study about the tumultuous relationship between two gay men in the 60's.

Gary Oldman plays one of the two men an eventually very successful playwright Joe Orton. Oldman takes on the role in his usual chameleon style of performance in his recreation of Joe Orton. The film is told in flashbacks and although we first see the later Joe it is important to note the scenes which take place earlier chronologically as we meet Orton as he is first just trying to make it as an inspiring actor. Oldman voice and manner is appropriately off beat without overplaying the style of the man. He brings this style to the part in an entirely natural fashion as Oldman conveys the curious nature of the man just through his oddly meek manner even though Orton is not really meek in nature.

The crux of the film is Orton's relationship with a fellow actor and wannabe writer Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina). It is an interesting dynamic they create as when they both first meet Oldman's plays Orton as the submissive in the relationship at first as Kenneth urges Joe on to work as a writer and starts the homosexual relationship with him. There is a relatively quick turnaround in this relationship though when Orton pushes them to seek random sexual partners constantly and ends up starting to dominate Halliwell. Oldman is very effective in this turnaround showing his earlier submissive quality mainly coming from him just have a time of learning but once he knows he takes over in a rather sly fashion.

Oldman is terrific in this change as Orton becomes completely dominate over Halliwell but as well seemingly to stay the same time of man as he does everything exactly his own way. Oldman develops a certain style of pompousness in which is quite indulgent yet in a very internalized way. Oldman has almost a snake like way in which he charms not by forcing his will upon others but instead sneakily undercuts them into being subservient to his desires. The dominance is quite brutal in ways as he quietly ridicules Halliwell in his own way and Oldman has an extra brutality because of the manner he is actually doing it quite forcefully even though Orton's manner of ridiculing him in an indirect although purposeful way.

As Orton's control over Halliwell grows so does his pretensiousness grow as an artist. Oldman has the perfect portrait of the artist who belives far too much in his own importance and own greatness. Oldman whenever Orton is talking about his material has that aloofness of the off beat artist who almost doesn't seem like he wants to talk about his work as he is too above such things yet within this stance there is the pure indulgence of the artist as well. Oldman makes for the perfect self proclaimed genuis who medaites himself just right to be that off beat man while still always pumping his own brillaince up even though he again never makes it something that Orton will directly say.

There are two important scenes where Orton changes almost entirely though and is quite a perfect moment for Oldman. The first he shows Orton at his most mainstream. It is when Orton is accepting an award for his play and is even away from Halliwell who knows him best. Oldman portrays Orton toning down his off beat attitudes as Orton. He keeps them slightly to be a man who would write the play he wrote but does not have that more purposefully atagonistic quality that he displays at other times. In this scene Oldman shows us Joe Orton the lauded playwritght who knows exactly how to play the crowd and further his place in the theatrical society, and suggests an Orton who only could have gone further with his career.

The other scene takes place when Orton returns home to attend his mother's funeral and is around a few people who know. It is a relatively brief set of scenes but Oldman is rather interesting as he has Orton lose all of the pretentiousness he carries and purposeful sexual intensity. The meekness at the beginning of Orton's journey returns and Oldman suggests that Orton's behavior is very much whatever his situation may be. Oldman makes Orton a man of circumstance. It is not that he is putting on any behavior exactly but he is a man who adjusts himself for others in more general circumstances but when it comes to his life with Halliwell and his wishes for constant homosexual encounters he insists on doing things only his way.

This is a very strong performance by Gary Oldman as his creation of Joe Orton is remarkable. Every facet of his life is well drawn in Oldman's performance and gives insight into the man as well as how he managed to drive his best friend and lover to murder him. As Oldman's work though this is not my favorite. Compared to his work in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Immortal Beloved he does excel in bringing his character vividly to life in an entirely natural fashion, but unlike those late performance there is never quite the moment where his performance goes the extra mile to be a truly powerful and compelling performance. It nevertheless is excellent work from Gary Oldman and another example of his chameleon like ability as an actor. 

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Alternate Best Actor 1987

And The Nominees Were Not:

Bruno Ganz in Wings of Desire

John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles

John Lone in The Last Emperor

Gary Oldman in Prick Up Your Ears

Mickey Rourke in Barfly

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1994: Results

5. Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction- Willis utilizes his usual on screen persona effectively in a role that suits it.

Best Scene: Butch saves Marcellus.

4. Bob Gunton in The Shawshank Redemption- Gunton gives a terrific performance portraying the evil Warden viciously yet never comprising the "proper" manner of his character.

Best Scene: Warden Norton threatens Andy in the hole.  

3. Gary Oldman in Leon: The Professional- Oldman is one fine ham here delivering a delicious performance as a corrupt DEA agent with almost no scruples.

Best Scene: Stansfield murders Mathilda's family. 

2. Raul Julia in Street Fighter- I give Julia the edge over Oldman as Julia seemed to give his performance all on his own accord since his film otherwise is pretty bad. Julia though is insanely entertaining in his brilliantly over the top turn as General M. Bison.

Best Scene: (This was a hard choice to make) The Bisonopolis Speech.

1. James Whitmore in The Shawshank Redemption- James Whitmore gives a very powerful and heartbreaking performance as a man whose been so institutionalized by prison that he fears the outside world.

Best Scene: Brooks's Letter

Overall Rank:

1. Martin Landau in Ed Wood
2. James Whitmore in The Shawshank Redemption
3. Raul Julia in Street Fighter
4. Gary Oldman in Leon: The Professional
5. Bob Gunton in The Shawshank Redemption
6. Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction
7. Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction
8. Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction
9. Clancy Brown in The Shawshank Redemption 
10. Jeremy Irons in The Lion King 
11. Ian Holm in The Madness of King George
12. Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump
13. Paul Scofield in Quiz Show
14. Dennis Hopper in Speed
15. Ving Rhames in Pulp Fiction
16. Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway
17. David Paymer in Quiz Show
18. Willem Dafoe in Clear and Present Danger
19. Jim Broadbent in Bullets Over Broadway
20. Bill Hunter in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
21. James Garner in Maverick
22. Tim Roth in Pulp Fiction
23. Bill Murray in Ed Wood
24. William Sadler in The Shawshank Redemption
25. Jeffrey Jones in Ed Wood
26. Kevin Spacey in Iron Will
27. Paul Newman in The Hudsucker Proxy
28. George Steele in Ed Wood
29. James Earl Jones in The Lion King
30. Danny Aiello in Leon: The Professional
31. Mark Rolston in The Shawshank Redemption 
32. Jack Palance in City Slickers II
33. Jeff Daniels in Speed
34. Jeffrey DeMunn in The Shawshank Redemption
35. Charles Durning in The Hudsucker Proxy
36. James Coburn in Maverick
37. Eric Stoltz in Pulp Fiction
38. Martin Scorsese in Quiz Show
39. Rupert Graves in The Madness of King George
40. Peter Greene in Pulp Fiction
41. Mike Starr in Dumb and Dumber
42. Joe Viterelli in Bullets Over Broadway
43. Robert Englund in Wes Craven's New Nightmare
44. Peter Riegert in The Mask
45. Frank Whaley in Pulp Fiction
46. Gill Bellows in The Shawshank Redemption
47. Mike Starr in Ed Wood
48. Bill Cobbs in The Hudsucker Proxy
49. Duane Whitaker in Pulp Fiction
50. Malcolm McDowell in Star Trek Generations
51. Judge Reinhold in The Santa Clause
52. Peter Green in The Mask
53. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Nobody's Fool
54. Jeroen Krabbé in Immortal Beloved
55. Christopher McDonald in Quiz Show 
56. Max Casella in Ed Wood
57. Roshan Seth in Street Fighter
58. Alfred Molina in Maverick 
59. David Krumholtz in The Santa Clause 
60. Brent Spiner in Star Trek Generations
61. Bruce Willis in Nobody's Fool
62. Bill Paxton in True Lies
63. Joaquim de Almeida in Clear and Present Danger
64. Tom Arnold in True Lies
65. Wes Studi in Street Fighter
66. Art Malik in True Lies
67. Hank Azaria in Quiz Show
68. Mykelti Williamson in Forrest Gump 
69. John Mahoney in The Hudsucker Proxy
70. Michael Ironside in The Next Karate Kid
71. Tone Loc in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
72. Pat Morita in The Next Karate Kid
73. Charles Rocket in Dumb and Dumber
74. Donald Moffat in Clear and Present Danger
75. Jim True-Frost in The Hudsucker Proxy
76. Dylan Walsh in Nobody's Fool
77. Jaye Davidson in Stargate
78. Eric Lloyd in The Santa Clause
79. The Rest of the Cast of Street Fighter
80. Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction
81. Michael Cavalieri in The Next Karate Kid

Next Year: 1943 lead

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1994: Gary Oldman in Leon: The Professional

Gary Oldman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Norman Stansfield in Leon: The Professional.

Leon: The Professional is an entertaining thriller about an assassin Leon (Jean Reno) who saves a young girl Mathilda (Natalie Portman) after her family is massacred by a corrupt DEA agent. 

Having just reviewed Raul Julia in Street Fighter we are staying on actually a similar wavelength with Gary Oldman in this film. Although there is a major difference in that Leon is actually a good movie, but this is a case of strategic overacting just like Julia's performance. Oldman fits the qualifications to be allowed to overact as he has given his fair share of downplayed performances like in JFK, The Dark Knight, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Also just like Raul Julia had a good reason to overact when playing a dictator who flaunted around in a gaudy get up, Oldman as well has a reason to overplay with the nature of his character, the extreme nature of the film, and act as the right sort of counter point to Jean Reno's very restrained performance.

Oldman makes no excuses here how he is going to play this part, and I suppose that might turn some off but not me as Oldman knows how to handle a performance like this. Oldman makes Norman Stansfield a very strange combination of tics and mannerisms, although he never feels like the bad kind of mannered either as he brings this into into the whole mess that is Stansfield. If you really think about everything that there really makes Stansfield an interesting character is found in these eccentricities and without them he very well could have been just a pretty standard cop villain. Oldman definitely will not have that as shown by his very first scene, which Oldman takes a rather unorthodox approach to.

In his first scene Stansfield just has to be a bit intimidating and tell his idiotic stooge that Stansfield is gonna come and kill em if he does not come up with the 100 percent pure drugs. Simple enough I suppose, but Oldman sets out on making Stansfield's threat as memorable as he possibly can. Oldman gets right in the man's face coming uncomfortably close, and proceeds to sniff the man even. This is all very odd, but with this sets up a different sort of intimidation from Stansfield. Many times the psychotic killer is silent and detached, Oldman forgets about that entirely and bases his performance around a guy who constantly talks and doesn't mind getting into the face of a person he is about to kill. Oldman brings the menace to the film through the sheer unpredictability of Stansfield.

 When the stooge does not make good Stansfield goes on his massacre. This scene is Oldman's flamboyance at its finest. He performs it as Stansfield describes like a Beethoven Symphony, who he incidentally portrayed in Immortal Beloved also in 1994, which he begins with pill popping. Never has the reaction to a drug been so absurd yet so brilliant. Oldman's face becomes that of ecstasy, as well his whole body contorts like a snake as he absorbs the drug. After that he begins the massacre which Oldman plays as a perverse dance. As he goes about killing everyone in the apartment of the stooge Oldman has such unending glee as he does it. He is so sadistic yet so light on his feet as he maneuvers through the scene that he not only manages to bring the brutality to the scene yet allows it to be darkly comic.

After most of the family is dead Stansfield takes time out to talk about Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms. This scene is no doubt self indulgence sure, but that doesn't really matter as Stansfield definitely is a self indulgent sort a guy, and more importantly Oldman's performance is one that just is a joy to watch. Oldman is definitely having fun as he dishes out Stansfield's psychotic rant giving maybe a little insight into his demented mind set that treats his games of murder as just music to his ears. It is just fine that Oldman is having so much fun since Oldman's energy actually lets us have the fun right along with him, even it can be rather uneasy fun so to speak considering the subject matter at hand, nevertheless it works completely.

With his Symphony finished Stansfield actually disappears for quite awhile, but Oldman already made his unforgettable impression making it so we never forget his existence even when the film stays away from the character for quite awhile. Stansfield does appear again and Oldman continues to be glorious. One particularly great scene is when Stansfield catches Mathilda trying to somehow kill. It is an amazing scene because Oldman keeps Stansfield so erratic. In the scene Stansfield even sort of apologizes for his crime, and the best part about that is that Oldman actually plays it that Stansfield isn't really even lying when he says something like that but he so out of control he could express a little regret even before he plans just to kill again.

Of course the films eventually leads to the point where Stansfield tries to kill Leon and Mathilda with everything at his disposal. After one group fails we get the penultimate line reading of the film, and just like Raul Julia's "For Me It Was Tuesday" it is immortal. This line is only one word, but what a word it is. Stansfield is asked to clarify who he wants and he does it with "Everrryyyonnneeeee!!!". Oldman rips it out like a primal scream, it very well could have caused a lesser actors head to explode as Oldman's expression certainly seems like his head comes close to do doing so. That line is pretty much a summation of Oldman's entire performance which is insanely entertaining well being wholly insane. It is a genius piece of acting by Oldman, and once again for 1994 I have found that rarest of ham that is oh so delicious.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1994

And The Nominees Were Not:

Raul Julia in Street Fighter

Gary Oldman in Leon: The Professional

James Whitmore in The Shawshank Redemption

Bob Gunton in The Shawshank Redemption

Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction

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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: 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

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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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1991: Results

5. Samuel L. Jackson in Jungle Fever- Jackson gives a very good performance playing his crack addict quite effectively, and is easily the best part of his film.

Best Scene: Gator tries to get money from his mother one time too many. 

4. Laurence Fishburne in Boyz N The Hood- Fishburne gives a strong performance portraying both the kind wisdom and the strength of his character's authority in equal measure.

Best Scene: Furious gives his son words to live by. 

3. Ted Levine in The Silence of the Lambs- Levine goes for playing Buffalo Bill as just downright disturbing and succeeds at being so.

Best Scene: You know the line. 

2. Gary Oldman in JFK- Oldman gives a compelling performance as Lee Harvey Oswald that accomplishes making him into a fascinating character despite only appearing in brief and often silent flashbacks.

Best Scene: The flashbacks of Oswald on the day of the assassination. 

1. John Goodman in Barton Fink- My pick of the five and win overall goes to John Goodman for his portrayal here. Goodman is absolutely brilliant in his portrayal that is charming, humorous, heartbreaking and chilling all as the same character.

Best Scene: The Life of the Mind. 

Overall Rank:.

1. John Goodman in Barton Fink
2. Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs
3. Gary Oldman in JFK
4. Joe Pesci in JFK
5. Ted Levine in The Silence of the Lambs
6. Tommy Lee Jones in JFK
7. Laurence Fishburne in Boyz N The Hood
8. Donald Sutherland in JFK
9. Samuel L. Jackson in Jungle Fever
10. Robert Patrick in Terminator 2: Judgement Day
11. Ice Cube in Boyz N The Hood
12. Charles Bronson in The Indian Runner
13. Rip Torn in Defending Your Life
14. Alan Rickman in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
15. Roy Scheider in Naked Lunch 
16. Jack Lemmon in JFK
17. Harvey Keitel in Thelma and Louise 
18. Tony Shalhoub in Barton Fink
19. Kevin Bacon in JFK 
20. Dustin Hoffman in Hook 
21. Michael Lerner in Barton Fink
22. John Mahoney in Barton Fink
23. William Richert in My Own Private Idaho
24. John Turturro in Jungle Fever
25. Ian Holm in Naked Lunch
26. Cuba Gooding Jr in Boyz N The Hood
27. Michael Rooker in JFK
28. Jon Polito in Barton Fink
29. John Candy in JFK 
30. Scott Glenn in The Silence of the Lambs
31. Joe Mantegna in Bugsy 
32. Lloyd Bridges in Hot Shots!
33. Dan Hedaya in The Addams Family 
34. Dante Basco in Hook
35. Jay O Sanders in JFK
36. Robert Mitchum in Cape Fear
37. Bob Hoskins in Hook 
38. Jack Palance in City Slickers
39. Harvey Keitel in Bugsy
40. Anthony Heald in The Silence of the Lambs
41. Kyle MacLachlan in The Doors
42. Morgan Freeman in Robin Hood: Prince of Theives
43. Bruno Kirby in City Slickers
44. Cary Elwes in Hot Shots!
45. Edward Asner in JFK
46. Ossie Davis in Jungle Fever
47. Joe Don Baker in Cape Fear
48. Michael Jeter in The Fisher King
49. Elliot Gould in Bugsy
50. Rick Moranis in L.A. Story
51. Walter Matthau in JFK
52. Morris Chestnut in Boyz N The Hood 
53. Noble Willingham  in The Last Boy Scout
54. Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise
55. Ben Kingsley in Bugsy
56. Michael Madsen in Thelma and Louise
57. Brian Doyle Murray in JFK
58. Charlie Korsmo in Hook
59. Martin Short in Father of the Bride 
60. Daniel Stern in City Slickers
61. Richard E. Grant in L.A. Story
62. Taylor Negron in The Last Boy Scout
63. Christopher McDonald in Thelma And Louise
64. Anthony Quinn in Jungle Fever
65. Sean Connery in Highlander II
66. Jessie Ferguson in Boyz N The Hood
67. Michael Ironside in Highlander II
68. Spike Lee in Jungle Fever
69. John Candy in Nothing But Trouble
70. Dan Aykroyd in Nothing But Trouble
71. John C. McGinley in Highlander II
72. Jeroen Krabbe in The Prince of Tides
73. Jason Gould in The Prince of Tides

Next Year: 2010 Lead

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1991: Gary Oldman in JFK

Gary Oldman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK.

JFK is a film that is in all honesty quite problematic in terms of its use of unreliable witnesses as factual basis and its treatment of Jim Garrison as portrayed by Kevin Costner as a true American hero when he probably should have been portrayed instead by J.T. Walsh as a somewhat paranoid type who would use questionable methods to meet his demands. Now the accuracy technically does not matter so much as I will say it is a brilliantly made film in terms of just being a film. It moves so well despite its length it is extremely watchable even when the scenes get quite ludicrous.

This film has a terrific ensemble and frankly the academy could have just nominated Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pesci, Donald Sutherland, Jack Lemmon, and Gary Oldman as their five nominees and it would have been a much better line up than the one they decided on. The academy only nominated Tommy Lee Jones as the enigma of a man Clay Shaw, Gary Oldman I would argue plays even more of enigma than Shaw in Lee Harvey Oswald the actual assassin of Kennedy or in this film's view the man the public was given to be the actual assassin. Oldman's performance is almost entirely in flashback and many of his scenes are mostly done in heavy film filters done within many cuts usually.

Oldman does something quite extraordinary with his performance which is simply fades into the role. In all honesty the first time I watched the film I never saw Oldman and it seemed like they were using stock footage of Oswald sometimes because of how good Oldman is in the role. Physically and vocally he just becomes Oswald in what must have been some big lifting by Oldman but he is the definition of natural here. Honestly the idea of someone playing Oswald is quite troublesome as someone playing it poorly could have stuck out quite unnaturally, as I would say Brian Doyle Murphy does in the role of Jack Ruby does. Oldman though absolutely just fufills the role in such a brilliant fashion that he is able to create Oswald even in the briefest of glimpses.

Oswald is actually the biggest riddle in the whole film filled with such character. There are other mysterious characters like Dave Ferrie and Clay Shaw, but you learn far more about them since you actually get a chance to see them in the present. Oswald is only ever in the past. The film delves into Oswald as many many things. The presents him as the possible assassin, a full on patsy working directly with the conspiracy, or maybe the man determined to be the patsy after he no longer wished to be one. He also may be a communist, a government agent, or just a deeply disturbed fellow. Oldman has such a tricky role to be all of these and none of these sometimes in the same scene. Oldman somehow manages it all while being one Oswald at the same time.

Oldman is amazing the way he does just about everything he can with the role despite the extreme limitations of it. A one point he can be the devoted communist who is ready to defend his belief, the next he can seem like a devoted husband and Kennedy supporter even. Oldman shows Oswald believable as both a family man, but as well an abusive cold one in quick succession. Oldman does it all with the utmost efficiency. His best scenes have to be when he reacts Oswald's journey during the Kennedy assassination. Oldman runs the gambit brilliantly as both the assassin trying to get his kill, but as well the other scenario where he is the man who has just learned that he has been set up. Despite being just about silent Oldman conveys the sudden paranoia and nervousness as Oswald tries to avoid being caught.

Oldman is perfect in this role and gives what I think is the best performance in a film that is filled with strong performances. Oldman maybe goes even further than Oliver Stone wanted with his portrayal as he actually never leaves it as just one way as Oswald. He allows us to find Oswald an very intriguing character that we can almost even sorry for at times, while never saying exactly one way or another who he really is. Although by the end of the film we never do learn exactly who he is, and even though Oldman never has a full scene to himself he some how makes his portrayal of the man completely satisfying. He finds just the perfect way to take on the strange man to never completely compromise the assassin, but nor does he exonerate him. This simply is just amazing minimalist performance by Gary Oldman that made me wish he had portrayed Oswald in a dedicated character study.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1991

And the Nominees Were Not:

Gary Oldman in JFK

John Goodman in Barton Fink

Laurence Fishburne in Boyz N' The Hood

Samuel L. Jackson in Jungle Fever

Ted Levine in The Silence of the Lambs

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