Alternate Best Actor 2009: Results

5. Nicolas Cage in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - Nicolas Cage is at his mad best here giving a wildly entertaining depiction of the corrupt and drug addicted bad Lieutenant.

Best Scene: The Lieutenant watches the soul dance.

4. Sam Rockwell in Moon - Rockwell gives two great performances here and creates a genuine moving depiction of two men who have more in common than they would like.

Best Scene: Old Sam tells New Sam to go instead.

3. Tom Hardy in Bronson - Hardy gives an amazing and incredibly magnetic performance that brings to life his very strange and violent character in a compelling fashion.

Best Scene: Bronson's "performance" in regards to the sanitarium.

2. Sharlto Copley in District 9- Sharlto Copley gives one of the greatest feature debut performances of all time in his complex, poignant and surprisingly believable depiction of the transformation from a bureaucrat to a half alien freedom fighter.

Best Scene: Wickus is used as a guinea pig by his own company.

1. Viggo Mortensen in The Road- This was a great year for leading performances and it is real shame that the academy could not be bothered to drift out of traditional baity fair to recognize any of these performances. Although I loved all five of these performances the one that left the most lasting impact on me was Mortensen's performance. He gives his best performance with his heartbreaking and almost painfully realistic portrayal of a single man trying to save his son in the horrible conditions of a post-apocalyptic world.

Best Scene: The man says goodbye to the boy.

Overall Rank:

1. Viggo Mortensen in The Road
2. Sharlto Copley in District 9
3. Tom Hardy in Bronson
4. Sam Rockwell in Moon
5. Nicolas Cage in Bad Lieutenant
6. Ben Foster in The Messenger
7. Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man
8. Michael Sheen in The Damned United
9. Colin Firth in A Single Man
10. Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
11. Matt Damon in The Informant!
12. Michael Caine in Harry Brown
13. Jake Gyllenhaal in Brothers
14. Kodi Smit-McPhee in The Road
15. Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes
16. Tony Leung Ka-fai in Bodyguards and Assassins
17. Johnny Depp in Public Enemies
18. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 500 Days of Summer
19. Russell Crowe in State of Play
20. Ed Asner in UP
21. Zachary Quinto in Star Trek
22. Jesse Eisenberg in Zombieland
23. Chris Pine in Star Trek
24. Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2012
25. Adam Sandler in Funny People
26. Daniel Radcliffe in The Half-Blood Prince
27. Hugh Jackman in X-Men Origins Wolverine
28. Morgan Freeman in Invictus
29. James McAvoy in The Last Station
30. Tobey Maguire in Brothers
31. Colin Hanks in The Great Buck Howard
32. Jim Carrey in A Christmas Carol
33. Mark Wahlberg in The Lovely Bones
34. Seth Rogen in Funny People
35. George Clooney in Up in The Air 
36. John Cusack in 2012 
37. Zac Efron in Me and Orson Welles
38. Sam Worthington in Avatar

Next Year: 2009 Supporting

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Alternate Best Actor 2009: Viggo Mortensen in The Road

Viggo Mortensen did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite getting a few critical mentions, for portraying the man in The Road.

The Road is an effective film about a man and his son trying to survive after the apocalypse.

Viggo Mortensen is no stranger to playing heroic characters but in The Road his character is a far cry from the wandering King Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. Mortensen here only plays a man known as simply the man as formal names are never given. Mortensen seems like the perfect fit for such moniker considering he has a definite everyman quality to him, and this is further helped by his naturalistic style of acting. This average man though is not in any average situation though as some cataclysmic event occurs suddenly throwing the world into a post-apocalyptic landscape where few people survive, the plant life and most of the animals seem dead, and many of the human who still survive are cannibals who hunt down other survivors and sometimes even use them as if they were cattle.

There are a few scenes set before the man must wander the world with his son, the boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee). These are shown a few times early on in the film as we the Man and his wife, the woman (Charlize Theron), are first dealing with the event while the woman has to give birth to the boy. Mortensen is excellent in these few scenes by showing a different man than we see in the scenes set in the present. Mortensen portrays the Man much gentler and is exceptional in the way he suggests the lack of the current experience in the man. Mortensen properly gives us the man before the end where we see perhaps the man who had been living a good life. The scenes could have easily seemed unnecessary to the film as a whole but Mortensen uses them brilliantly as establishes so well the man who was of the old world and not the horrible one we see him existing in for the majority of the film.

Mortensen also powerfully creates though the beginning of the deterioration through his personal loss in one scene where the woman basically resigns herself from life and decides to leave the man and the boy just to go out into the darkness and just die somewhere. Mortensen is absolutely heartbreaking in the scene as the man tearfully asks her not to go. What makes the most so particularly moving is because Mortensen gives us the futile nature of the man's pleading. Mortensen plays it as the man knowing she is going to leave and that there isn't anything he will be able to do about. In the moment Mortensen makes the loss completely palatable despite the brevity of these scenes. We get very little of the relationship between the woman and the man and the scene comes relatively quickly. Mortensen is able to put forward that love the man shares with the woman and realize the better times while barely seeing making the loss something truly felt.

The rest of the film takes place in the bleak present where the man moves from place to place with his son in attempt to try to find food and some sort of refuge. Mortensen is excellent in these scenes as we see the years in this environment in his face and every physical mannerism of the man. Mortensen's eyes are absolutely haunting in every scene as we basically see what the man has seen within them. There is the history of loss in his expression as we see happiness is something far from what has every been found within his face. The man is slowly dying throughout the film from an unknown lung related ailment that only worsens as the film proceeds. Mortensen's portrayal of this as well as simply the ravages of starvation is harrowing to witness. There never seems to be any acting seen here, Mortensen manages to bring us this man in this situation.

Mortensen very importantly creates a very effective dynamic with Smit-McPhee as the son as he makes the man have a very particular relationship with his son, particular because of the world they must live in. On one hand Mortensen brings the needed warmth in the role and it always makes it obvious that the man loves his son deeply, even though Mortensen does well in often subtly suggesting than always coming out with it in a needlessly overt fashion. The reason that is so important is because the man is suppose to betraying to make it so the son will be ready to face what's left of the world even after the man's death. Mortensen does not make it a distance but rather very honestly portrays the attempts to make the son ready like any good father making his son ready but with far different circumstances. There is no coldness in it, but Mortensen gives the right bluntness in the father's attempts at teaching his son.

Mortensen never wastes a moments in their interactions as he brings such complexity to the relationship. Two of the most heart wrenching scenes are one slightly calmer and one more intense due to the predicament they find themselves in are when the father is trying to show the son how to commit suicide with a gun. The first time Mortensen shows it to be an unfortunate somber remainder to his son, and there is always that extra effort that Mortensen suggests in his performance, which exemplifies that the father does not want to do this, but he simply must. The other is when they believe themselves to be possibly caught by cannibals, and the man for a moments believes he must mercy kill the boy. It is an unforgettable scene because Mortensen makes the horrible nature of the moment only ever ring truthfully as his performance only reflects what any good man would be going through in such a moment.

Mortensen is incredible in realizing a man who tries to hold onto a decency even though it is extremely difficult to do so. Mortensen is fantastic in any moment where the man must set aside his morals for the moment due to the fact he must protect his son. This includes an early encounter with an encounter with an obvious cannibal. Mortensen gives a very moving portrayal by so authentically creating the desperation in the man as he must basically force himself to kill the man as there is no other way. When trying to avoid this Mortensen is so great at showing that the man tries every ounce to handle the man in a peaceful way, and once again shows that extra effort he must put forward to deal with the situation. Mortensen never makes the man an otherworldly hero, but rather very powerfully making him a man who is giving every ounce himself to protect his son and be one of the good guys. 

The film thankfully has a reprieve of sorts where the man and the boy happen upon a survival bunker that is stocked with supplies. The scene allows them to leave their current situation and sort of return what would likely be their normal relationship. Mortensen is terrific in this scene because we briefly see many of the fears and paranoia that had been slowly growing rest. It is a wonderful moment as Mortensen let's even more of the warmth and love the father has to give come out. Mortensen in this scene shows even more that has been lost by showing what has been gained by this comfort. Mortensen again carefully does not overplay the optimism instead beautifully suggesting but never going too far as the man's unfortunate suspicions come to play once again when they hear people who seem to be following them.

This is a complete triumph by Viggo Mortensen as he carries the film upon his shoulders. Although John Hillcoat's direction realizes the apocalypse in all its cryptic detail it is Mortensen that makes the story resonate through his depiction of the man. Even though the story may take place in a fictional time and place this will never be found in Mortensen almost unbearably honest performance. Even though he is only a man and is named so simply as man there is nothing simple about Mortensen's man. He completely realizes every facet of this man's struggle with his son and the final moments of the man's life are devastating to witness because there is not a false breath in Mortensen's work. This is monumental performance by the great Viggo Mortensen and I have no hesitations with calling it his very best performance.   

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Alternate Best Actor 2009

And the Nominees Were Not:

Nicolas Cage in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Tom Hardy in Bronson

Viggo Mortensen in The Road

Sam Rockwell in Moon

Sharlto Copley in District 9

And since I'm a man of my word BONUS REVIEWS:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 500 Days of Summer

Tobey Maguire in Brothers

The prediction contest will just be for the first five.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001: Results

5. Steve Buscemi in Ghost World- This is an entirely solid performance by Steve Buscemi, but for me it is just that.

4. Viggo Mortensen in The Fellowship of the Ring- Mortensen gives a strong performance balancing well both the strength and underlying weakness in his character. He never becomes the highlight of any of the individual films, but his Aragorn is a highlight of the trilogy as a whole.

3. Brian Cox in L.I.E- Brian Cox plays a very risky role to say the least and Cox maybe plays it too well being a complete creep, but still a charming and very down to earth sort of creep.

2. Jude Law in A.I. Artificial Intelligence- Law is very effective here being quite artificial in his showman's manner. but still having a decent amount of humanity that brings out in his character's warmth and wisdom.

1. Sean Bean in The Fellowship of the Ring- When I watched this film for the first time over ten years ago Bean probably would not have been the first actor I would have mentioned when speaking about the strengths of the film. It was not that I did not like him, I liked him but I took what he did in the role for granted. Bean goes beyond his call of duty here in his portrayal of Boromir who could have easily just been a prideful dupe. Instead he brings a great deal of honest emotion to the role and turns Boromir's folly into the tragic portrait of a patriotic career soldier whose emotions slowly overwhelm and get the best of him.

Overall Rank:

1. Sean Bean in The Fellowship of the Ring
2. Jude Law in A.I. Artificial Intelligence
3. Ian McKellen in The Fellowship of the Ring
4. Brian Cox in L.I.E.
5. Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast
6. Justin Theroux in Mulholland Drive
7. Tsutomu Yamazaki in Go
8. Viggo Mortensen in The Fellowship of the Ring
9. Luke Wilson in The Royal Tenenbaums
10. Ben Stiller in The Royal Tenenbaums
11. Tony Shalhoub in The Man Who Wasn't There
12. Steve Buscemi in Ghost World
13. Ed Harris in A Beautiful Mind
14. Sean Astin in The Fellowship of the Ring
15. Robbie Coltrane in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
16. Paul Bettany in A Beautiful Mind
17. Clive Owen in Gosford Park
18. Ian McShane in Sexy Beast
19. Christopher Lee in The Fellowship of the Ring
20. Peter Boyle in Monster's Ball
21. James Gandolfini in The Man Who Wasn't There
22. Mickey Rourke in The Pledge
23. Heath Ledger in Monster's Ball
24. Jim Broadbent in Moulin Rouge!
25. Richard Harris in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
26. Owen Wilson in The Royal Tenenbaums
27. Basically the cast of Black Hawk Down
28. Bill Murray in The Royal Tenenbaums
29. Hugh Bonneville in Iris
30. Jon Polito in The Man Who Wasn't There
31. Andy Garcia in Ocean's Eleven
32. John Lone in Rush Hour 2
33. John Rhys-Davies in The Fellowship of the Ring
34. Nick Stahl in In The Bedroom
35. William Hurt in A.I. Artificial Intelligence
36. Hugo Weaving in The Fellowship of the Ring
37. Patrick Swayze in Donnie Darko
38. Kurt Russell in Vanilla Sky
39. Alan Bates in Gosford Park
40. Billy Boyd in The Fellowship of the Ring
41. Noah Taylor in Vanilla Sky
42. David Duchovny in Zoolander
43. Mario Van Peebles in Ali
44. Seymour Cassel in The Royal Tenenbaums
45. Ian Holm in The Fellowship of the Ring
46. Alan Rickman in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
47. John Hurt in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
48. Ed Harris in Enemy at the Gates
49. Richard Jenkins in The Man Who Wasn't There
50. Brendan Gleeson in A.I. Artificial Intelligence
51. Holmes Osborne in Donnie Darko
52. Christopher Plummer in A Beautiful Mind
53. Will Ferrell in Zoolander
54. Richard Griffiths in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
55. Tom Noonan in The Pledge
56. Owen Wilson in Zoolander
57. Cavan Kendall in Sexy Beast
58. Carl Reiner in Ocean's Eleven
59. Jason Lee in Vanilla's Sky
60. Paul Bettany in A Knight's Tale
61. Michael Gambon in Gosford Park
62. Kumar Pallana in The Royal Tenenbaums
63. Bob Balaban in Gosford Park
64. Benecio Del Toro in The Pledge
65. Don Cheadle in Swordfish
66. William Mapouther in In The Bedroom
67. Christopher Walken in Joe Dirt
68. Elliot Gould in Ocean's Eleven
69. Danny Glover in The Royal Tenenbaums
70. Jon Voight in Zoolander
71. Ron Silver in Ali
72. Michael Jeter in Jurassic Park III
73. Ian Hart in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
74. Ryan Phillipe in Gosford Park
75. Jerry Stiller in Zoolander
76. Orlando Bloom in The Fellowship of the Ring
77. Bran Renfro in Ghost World
78. Bernie Mac in Ocean's Eleven
79. Bob Balaban in Ghost World
80. Aaron Eckhart in The Pledge
81. Tom Felton in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
82. Michael Badalucco in The Man Who Wasn't There
83. William H. Macy in Jurassic Park III
84. Steve Buscemi in Domestic Disturbance
85. Eddie Murphy in Shrek
86. Rupert Grint in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
87. Matt Damon in Ocean's Eleven
88. Dominic Monaghan in The Fellowship of the Ring
89. Don Cheadle in Ocean's Eleven
90. Oded Fehr in The Mummy Returns
91. Vince Vaughn in Domestic Disturbance
92. Joseph Fiennes in Enemy At the Gates
93. Sam Robards in A.I. Artificial Intelligence
94. Rufus Sewell in A Knight's Tale
95. Jon Voight in Ali
96. Arnold Vosloo in The Mummy Returns
97. Jamie Foxx in Ali
98. Iain Glen in Tomb Raider
99. Richard Roxburgh in Moulin Rouge!
100. Alessandro Nivola in Jurassic park III
101. John Hannah in The Mummy Returns
102. Trevor Morgan in Jurassic Park III
103. Freddie Boath in The Mummy Returns
104. John Leguizamo in Moulin Rouge!

Next Year: 1975 Supporting

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001: Viggo Mortensen and Sean Bean in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Viggo Mortensen did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Aragorn/Strider in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy despite being nominated for best picture each time only received one Oscar nomination for acting that went to Ian McKellen in this film despite the large ensembles of the films. Apparently if the Academy is going to nominate someone from a fantasy or a science fiction film they better be the old wise mentors of the character like McKellen as Gandalf or Alec Guinness in Star Wars. The two performances I am looking at here though don't fall in those categories though they are important to the success of the film. I'll start with Mortensen who plays Aragorn who in most stories would be the main character of the film though he is not.

Frodo played by Elijah Wood is actually the lead of the film but Frodo is not physically imposing and his main method is to avoid danger rather than face it. Aragorn comes along as their guide some time in their film and tries to help them best he can. In McKellen's review I said that he made the character exactly as I pictured him when I read the book, Mortensen's Aragorn is not exactly how I pictured the character, but nevertheless his take on the character still is successful. Mortensen plays Aragorn quite effectively as most certainly a hero in the film yet not a perfect hero which is essential for his character's path that moves across all three films.

Mortensen's quite good showing strength well at the same time concealing greater strength. One of the biggest aspects of his character is the shame he feels due to the actions of his ancestors, and Mortensen brings this into his performance by showing a certain distance in his heroics. Yes Aragorn is a completely heroic character literally throwing himself into danger to save others, but still his manner with others withdrawn and hesitant. Mortensen makes a nice balance showing exactly how he became the ranger in that he does not have the strength to fulfill his destiny yet will still will do whatever good he can in his own way.

Mortensen delivers a very important need in terms of the film is that he stands as certain support to Frodo and the others. He is strong but far from perfect. When he shows up he is able to help the hobbits but he does not really act as a comforting factor which properly keeps the intensity of those that threaten the hobbits. Mortensen is a strong presence and always believable in the action scenes honestly showing an effort in them. His work adds nicely to the tapestry of this film as well the whole trilogy where his character arc lies. He may not quite be the highlight of any of the films, but is one of the highlights of the epic trilogy.

Sean Bean did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Boromir in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

I have to admit this is a performance that I really took for granted for the longest time. I certainly thought he applied himself admirably, but he was not the performance I took away from the film. Really looking critically at this performance though there is a great deal to be admired by Bean's portrayal of Boromir. Boromir easily could be a throwaway role and could be seen just as part of the background then eventually an obstacle that needs to be overcome by the other characters (as he basically is in the Ralph Bakshi animated version, he's also viking for some reason but the less said about that the better). Bean though very much invests himself fully in the character and does his best to bring humanity to Boromir.

Boromir easily could be just a bully frankly whose want for power is pretty blunt, but Bean does not portray him as such. Bean has him very close to Aragorn actually, but with the key difference being that Boromir is a far more emotional man whose pride can override his better judgment. Bean importantly in any of the moments where he speaks of his homeland has a great intensity in this pride. We can even sense his feelings of both accomplishment and even sadness in what he and his people have been doing and what they have lost to protect the rest of the world from the forces of evil. Bean is great in honestly creating a history in the man, a man who has faced the evil directly for so long on the front lines, and cannot forget that.

Whenever Boromir speak of the ring and his own ideas for it, it never is of evil or greed. Bean is quite effective in the way Boromir seems drawn to in such a primal way, but is almost poetic in the manner in which he speak of the ring. Although he may be wrong about the ring Bean never shows his fallacy to come from evil. Instead Bean has such a genuine passion in what he speaks about, he shows him as a man who honestly believes that the ring will save his land and his people he cares so much for. When Boromir does finally betray his pledge to help Frodo in an attempt to steal the ring for himself Bean is excellent portraying it as an act of desperation above else, and importantly afterwards allows us to see the sadness in Boromir that comes when he realizes what he does.

Bean's absolute devotion in the part when it comes to realizing that underlying motivation of the man humanizes Boromir beautifully and even manages to show just how it was his overpowering emotions rather than evil that drives him to attempt to steal the ring. Bean finds a truth in the character that makes his final scene far more powerful than it would be otherwise. I personally love his reactions in his last stand as he fights on even it becomes quite clear he is losing the fight. Bean's has such heart in his expressions showing the last stand of a man who will try to his last breath. Bean makes Boromir's final moments quite poignant in creating this man who deep down inside only did desire good in his soul. In close examination this is great work that turns what could have been just a simple display of a prideful idiot, into a tragic portrait of a true patriot.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2001

And the Nominees Were Not:

Sean Bean in The Fellowship of the Ring

Viggo Mortensen in The Fellowship of the Ring

Jude Law in A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Brian Cox in L.I.E

Steve Buscemi in Ghost World

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Alternate Best Actor 1991: Results

5. River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho- Phoenix gives a good performance even if it is somewhat muted by the film's direction and his co-star.

Best Scene:  Mike thinks about his mother.

4. Raul Julia in The Addams Family- Julia gives an entertaining enjoyable performance which shows that an actor can overplay and underplay a role.

Best Scene: The Mamushka.

3. Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner- Mortensen gives an effective intense performance that brings to life the unpredictable nature of his character.

Best Scene: Joe tries to convince Frank to turn his life around.

2. Val Kilmer in The Doors- Kilmer gives an excellent performance by becoming the role of Jim Morrison through his brief highs and his considerable downs.

Best Scene:  Any of Morrison's performances.

1. John Turturro in Barton Fink- Although Kilmer was great my favorite of year goes to John Turturro's portrayal of Barton Fink. Turturro leads through his incredible film in a brilliant fashion in both realizing his particular character but as well stands as an honest humane portrait of a normal man in this strange world as well.

Best Scene: The Life of the Mind.

Overall Rank:

1. John Turturro in Barton Fink
2. Val Kilmer in The Doors
3. Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner
4. Albert Brooks in Defending Your Life
5. Raul Julia in The Addams Family
6. David Morse in The Indian Runner
7. Kevin Costner in JFK
8. River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho 
9. Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King
10. Peter Weller in Naked Lunch
11. Robby Benson in Beauty and the Beast
12. Christopher Lloyd in The Addams Family
13. Richard Dreyfuss in What About Bob 
14. Nick Nolte in Cape Fear
15. Steve Martin in L.A. Story
16. Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun 2 1/2
17. Steve Martin in Father of the Bride
18. Keanu Reeves in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey (His role of a lifetime)
19. Alex Winter in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey
20. Billy Crystal in City Slickers 
21. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2  
22. Robin Williams in The Fisher King
23. Robert De Niro in Cape Fear
24. Robin Williams in Hook
25. Bruce Willis in The Last Boy Scout
26. Nick Nolte in The Prince of Tides
27. Warren Beatty in Bugsy
28. Damon Wayans in The Last Boy Scout
29. Charlie Sheen in Hot Shots!
30. Bill Campbell in The Rocketeer
31. Bill Murray in What About Bob
32. Keanu Reeves in Point Break
33. William Shatner in Star Trek VI
34. Edward Furlong in Terminator 2 
35. Keanu Reeves in My Own Private Idaho
36. Wesley Snipes in Jungle Fever 
37. Loren Dean in Billy Bathgate
38. Christopher Lambert in Highlander II
39. Chevy Chase in Nothing But Trouble
40. Jim Varney in Ernest Scared Stupid 
41. Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves

Next Year: 1991 Supporting

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Alternate Best Actor 1991: Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner

Viggo Mortensen did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Frank Roberts in The Indian Runner.

The Indian Runner is a moving story, although Sean Penn perhaps tries a little to hard to make a stamp with his direction at times, about the relationship between brothers one a rebellious criminal named Frank the other an officer of the law named Joe.

Mortensen doesn't just go for one tone as Frank, there is a furry of different elements to this man and he is amazing the way he is able to reflect them. In his first scene he seems to be a reasonable sort having just gotten out of the army, and at least for the moment seems to be able to get along just fine as man. Mortensen is very effective though because he suggests what makes him a man who never really can be his brother in this early scene. There is a spontaneity in his performance that is perfect in showing that Frank can never be like his more reserved brother Joe (David Morse). In this early scene Mortensen portrays it something harmless enough, but has still has it something so instinctual that he can't help but do it.

We Frank later on now looking far more the rebel than he did before in his army uniform having no qualms about his behavior. Mortensen is excellent in conveying basically Frank in his natural state which is rather odd, but entirely fitting. Mortensen makes Frank seem to be a series of contradictions, he is charming to a certain degree, he seems to be enjoying himself as well, but at the same time he seems to be hating himself in just the same way. When his brother informs him of their mother's death Mortensen's reaction is spot in the way he shows that Frank is in some way hurt by this revelation in an understated sadness portrayed by Mortensen, but still he never loses the rebellion in him that forces him to almost shrug it off as nothing.

As the film progresses Frank goes in and out of seeming like he could get over his steak as a troublesome sometimes quite violent streak with his behavior that he moves from seeming reasonable enough but it never seems to stay that way. Even when he seems to be going about a normal life there are moments where he becomes truly reprehensible and irresponsible. Mortensen gets this dynamic across so well by making it always the same man. It is something almost primal in a way as Mortensen never shows Frank as fully one way or the other way he is able to get across the wildness of this personality. Mortensen has Frank fly in all directions at once it would be wrong for Frank to always be wild or to not be at all when trying to be controlled he can never be just one way.

Viggo Mortensen very importantly has terrific chemistry with David Morse through just how understated they are together. The two mostly suggest their relationship through glances but the two get across both the disconnection between the two thanks to their natures but as well their connection due to their history as children together. It is a testament to the strength of their performances that they are able to make the relationship of the brothers the central theme of the film despite the fact that the two actually have a very little dialogue between each other, and most of it is fairly simple except for the point where Joe finally confronts Frank. Due to their underplaying beforehand when the conflict between the two finally comes out it is particularly powerful by the way they so effectively established their relationship beforehand.

This is a strong performance by Mortensen that succeeds in creating this distinct type of personality. Mortensen is very good because he does not go about an easy route for Frank which would be just being a rebel all the time or being black and white in the way Frank can change so easily. Mortensen gets across the instability and the impossibility of such a man to just rest for a moment though by instead being as unpredictable as Frank should be as character. The final result that comes from Frank is made by Mortensen an eventuality even though it seems so sudden sense builds the nature of Frank so well throughout his story. This is not Viggo Mortensen's greatest performance, but it is a great early indication of his considerable talent as an actor. 

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Alternate Best Actor 1991

And the Nominees Were Not:

John Turturro in Barton Fink

River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho

Val Kilmer in The Doors

Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner

Raul Julia in The Addams Family

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