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

 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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