Stránky

Thursday 6 December 2012

Performances of 2012: Part I.

You to not have a feeling that I do absolutely nothing, I decided to put down my nominees of the performances from films of 2012 I have seen yet. I haven't seen many of them, but here are my nominees so far:

best leading actor:
Matthias Schoenaerts - Rust and Bone
Richard Gere - Arbitrage
Shia LaBeouf - Lawless
Tommy Lee Jones - Hope Springs
Woody Allen - To Rome with Love

best leading actress:
Anne Hathaway - The Dark Knight Rises
Judi Dench - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone
Meryl Streep - Hope Springs
Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild

best supporting actor:
Dwight Henry - Beasts of the Southern Wild
Gary Oldman - The Dark Knight Rises
John Goodman - Argo
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - The Dark Knight Rises
Matthew McConaughey - Magic Mike

best supporting actress:
Alessandra Mastronardi - To Rome with Love
Brit Marling - Arbitrage
Doona Bae - Cloud Atlas
Judy Davis - To Rome with Love
Maggie Smith - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This really is a strong awards season. The proof of this fact is that even though I haven't seen most of this year's awards contenders, I've been able to put together the nominees I don't have to be ashamed for.

Saturday 8 September 2012

Hi there!

I'm here to inform you about my new blog, that you can find here: http://moviefilm-awards.blogspot.sk/
You'll find every info there.
By the way, there's no need to worry, I'm gonna finish best supporting actress 1945, but I got stuck with National Velvet. I've tried to watch it thousands of times, but it's so boring, that I am not able to finish it. I just can't help myself. But I'll finish it someday, but in the near future I'll work on my new blog. See ya... :)

Friday 11 May 2012

Best Supporting Actress 1945: Joan Lorring - The Corn Is Green

'The Corn Is Green is the worst film of Bette Davis', say many people. I can't actually say that, because I have not seen many Bette Davis's films, but the fact is, that The Corn Is Green is really a boring and not very well done film. It's trying to be funny and touching, but it's not. I didn't care about the characters and I was bored throughout the whole film. but there is one performance that is trying to save the film and that is really great.
Unfortunately, it's not Joan Lorring's performance, but Davis's. Lorring is playing a girl that falls in love with the boy that Bette Davis is teaching. But her performance is really annoying. You will remember her performance a very long time after watching the film, but just because it's terribly overacted. There is not a single believable, convincing, or realistic moment in her performance. She was trying to create a funny and an interesting character, but she was just embarrassing, instead. There is only one good thing about this performance and it's the fact that Lorring was playing the same character throughout the film (unlike for example John Wayne in True Girt, etc.). But that's all. I can't even choose a best scene, so bad she was.
I have to admit that I thought I will like this performance before watching the film, because I used to like some hated performances before. But she really was bad.
What to say at the end? If there existed Razzie Awards in 1945, Joan Lorring would be the third person to be nominated for Oscar and Golden Raspberry for the same performance...

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Best Supporting Actress 1945: Angela Lansbury - The Picture of Dorian Gray

Some time ago I had to read a shortened version of The Picture of Dorian Gray to school, so I didn't enjoy the film very much, because it couldn't surprise me, but it was fine.
Angela Lansbury's character of Sibyl doesn't have a huge presence in the film. She spends on the screen very short time and if I said Eve Arden didn't have very much to do in Mildred Pierce, Lansbury has nothing to do. She's only there to be charmed, then happy and then sad. But almost the whole time of her performance she keeps the same innocent face. She showed us her character half-sidely. Everyone has its good side and the bad side, but Lansbury's portrayal made Sibyl to be only good.
But a little bit I understand this way or portraying. Sibyl was supposed to be the first good thing Dorian meets in his life. The film didn't give you many possibilities to show us Sibyl as a person, but she didn't even try.
Her best moment would probably be her first scene, where she is singing and she sees Dorian the first time.
In the end I must say that Angela Lansbury wasn't actually bad in The Picture of Dorian Gray. She was good. But I don't think her performance was something that needed to be awarded...

Monday 7 May 2012

Best Supporting Actress 1945: Ann Blyth - Mildred Pierce

 
Ann Blyth has got really more screen time than previously reviewed Eve Arden. She was playing Veda, Mildred's aloof daughter.
I have to admit that I really loved her after her first scene. It's at the beginning, when Mildred comes home and Veda runs to her frightened. Many (especially young) actresses would easily get into overacting in this moment, but Ann did that not. It was the first scene. The other scenes were really good, but they weren't any special for me. And it was happening almost throughout the whole film. Then came some scene, which was really great, but then again much scenes were just normal.
I just think that she was playing Veda as an innocent young girl, but she really was hurting her mother. In this way I liked more the portrayal(s) of Veda in the new TV series. She somehow failed to give us a complex performance. The way she was behaving depended on the lines she had written in the script, but it should depend on the character she was playing. Sometimes she was an innocent angel and sometimes a bloody devil.
I must say at the end that I wasn't disappointed by with performance, at all. It was fine and some of her moment were really very good, but some things she didn't succeed. And that's a pity...

Best Supporting Actress 1945: Eve Arden - Mildred Pierce

It's a little bit ridiculous that I have seen the new version of Mildred Pierce with Kate Winslet before this old and original version and so I won't avoid comparing, but it probably doesn't matter. Both versions are really great and I enjoyed them very much.
Eve Arden doesn't have very much to do in Mildred Pierce, actually. She doesn't interfere with the main plot of the film. She is only the best friend of Mildred. Sometimes she comes, says something about job, then about Mildred's life and goes away. She doesn't have many time on the screen to spend, but she really uses every minute (out of eight).
Though short screen time, Eve Arden never failed to create a complex and interesting character. In the hands of any other actress Ida would be a completely forgettable character. But here it's different. She was really enjoying every moment of the screen.
It's even hard to choose one best moment of her performance, because every moment is very similar to the other. But it would perhaps be her second scene, when Mildred comes to the restaurant and asks for the job.
So, what to say at the end? You have probably noticed that I liked her, but will I pick her? God only knows...

Next Year: Best Supporting Actress 1945

The Nominees:
Angela Lansbury - The Picture of Dorian Gray
Ann Blyth - Mildred Pierce
Anne Revere - National Velvet
Eve Arden - Mildred Pierce
Joan Lorring - The Corn Is Green

So, who do you think will I pick? Will it be one of the Mildred Pierce ladies? Or will I pick the great Angela Lansbury? Or will I agrre with the Academy? Or will I shock by picking Joan Lorring? Write your prediction for my pick and ranking in comments... :) 

Sunday 6 May 2012

The Future of the blog

The first of all I would like to say sorry for the long time it took to do best supporting actor 1981. I had (and unfortunately still have) a lot to do at school, so I did not have so much time to watch films and write here. The other reason, why I did not even have the spirits to write, I will write about later.
As the title of this article says, I have been thinking about the future of this blog. I really love writing about the Oscar-nominated performances, just like I love to watch them. But you will probably understand me, if I say that I do not have a motivation. There are only two people (Hello, Fritz and Cole and thank you :) who have written something in comments ever! There are very probably not people which are really interested in my blog. But if there are some that like it and visit it regularly, please, let me know about yourself in comments.
My blog will very probably go on, because I really like doing this and I cannot stop very easily, but my motivation to write will be very small and it can end up just like best supporting actor 1981.
I know that there are lots of mistakes on this blog, but I'm working on them (for example I deleted my old years (best actor 1967, best leading actress 2005, best supporting actor 2007, best supporting actress 2008 and best supporting actress 1997), because they were my first years and I didn't know how to do my blogging).
I also know that my English is not any great, but I'm trying. :)
So, what is the conclusion of this depression of mine? I'm planning some reconstruction of the blog (deleting old years, rating performances with Mo'Niques etc.) and so I would be really happy if you wrote in comments, what do you suggest me to do to make my blog better. What should I change, what do you like, what you don't like? I would really like to know that.
And you can also write, which year would you like me to do next.

Thank you very much for everything.

Best Supporting Actor 1981

5. Howard E. Rollins Jr. - Ragtime
I didn't find any performance from Ragtime except from Brad Dourif's to be worthy of a nomination. Rollins gives a very fine performance in Ragtime. His character is very likable and he knows it very well. His creation of Coalhouse Walker Jr. is very subtle. That wouldn't be bad, but there are some scenes, he should show us more in. For example the short scene of the funeral. We can't read his emotions from his look, as if he didn't care about what's going on. And there are more scenes like this in the film. His performance is good, but I think he got his nomination more because of the likability of the character.
4. Jack Nicholson - Reds
Reds is an extremely long film, which is saved only by the directing and the performances. Nicholson's portrayal of Eugene O'Neill is effective enough and he did exactly what the film wanted him to do. He makes his character very complex. Nicholson is a great actor and that is reflected in this performance. Some of his reactions I found too overacted, though, but it's still very fine performance...
3. Ian Holm - Chariots of Fire
The old trainer that takes only good guys, so they can win "him" a medal. That is a short characterization of Mr. Mussabini played by Ian Holm. And he played it really greatly. He completely understands his character and plays it with a real enthusiasm. Everything needed is in this performance. And his scene of training is just wonderful. On the other hand, his final scene in the bar in which he was supposed to be drunk, wasn't very good...
2. Sir John Gielgud - Arthur
Adorable creation. This is the best subtle performance I have ever seen. The subtlety is the best and the most important thing about it. He is funny and charming in every moment and I really have nothing against this performance. It really is wonderful in every aspect. Just watch the film and you will love this performance too...
1. James Coco - Only When I Laugh
It is very hard to choose one from Coco and Gielgud, but in this moment I am going with Coco, though he is the first person (out of two - the other is Amy Irving for her role in Yentl) to be nominated for Academy Awards and Razzie Awards for the same performance. But it seems to be a bad joke. He created a funny likable and entertaining character which you will almost certainly love. He is just simply adorable. I'm not saying he wasn't overacting sometimes, but it surely is very enjoying...

Saturday 14 April 2012

Next Year: Best Supporting Actor 1981

The Nominees:
Howard Rollins - Ragtime
Ian Holm - Chariots of Fire
Jack Nicholson - Reds
James Coco - Only When I Laugh
John Gielgud - Arthur

So, who will I give my win to? Will I agree with the Academy? Will I give a win to a performance that was also nominated for Razzie Awards? Will it be the only Ian Holm nomination? Or will I give it to Nicholson or Rollins? Write your predictions in comment... ;)

Friday 13 April 2012

Best Leading Actor 1969

5. John Wayne - True Grit
I have problem with this performance, but I can't name it. It's probably the fact that it isn't very good. Wayne just fails to create a complex and a believable performance. I'm not saying that it's a complete fail. He has got some nice scenes, but throughout the majority of the film he's overacting and that destroys the believableness of the character. Oscar win? For this? You must be joking...

4. Richard Burton - Anne of the Thousand Days
Almost everyone says that Richard Burton was very overacting in Anne of the Thousand Days. And it's a true, actually. Burton's overacting almost in every scene. He just failed to play the king as a man, but he played it as the king, instead. As if the king was something unreachable and unreal. But nobody can deny that everything he had to do was done. He had to seem like a characterless, unlikable and authoritative person which he actually was...

3. Peter O'Toole - Goodbye Mr. Chips
Though I haven't seen Robert Donat's creation of Mr. Chips yet, I think I could objectively rate O'Toole's performance. His portrayal of this teacher reminds me of a sinusoid. Some moments of his performance are really perfect and the other are almost terrible. Some scenes he's really overacting, it's almost a cartoon. No doubts that his performance could've even been worse and his performance make the spirit of the film, but it's still could've been also better...

2. Jon Voight - Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy is a cult these times. It's also the first X(or NC-17)-rated film to ever win an Academy Awards for best picture. I believe it's so wonderful mostly because of the performances. If Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman played it badly, the film would be the complete disaster. Voight completely succeeds to create a convincing performance that only proves how great actor Jon Voight is.

1. Dustin Hoffman - Midnight Cowboy
Memorable. That's the word that mostly fits to this performance. Hoffman gives us a great believable performance that you just have to see (shame on you, if you haven't). I think he was rather supporting, but it doesn't change the fact his performance is fantastic. He was not very much better than Voight, but he was more showy. And I'll always prefer showy performance to the subtle ones...

Thursday 5 April 2012

Next Year: Best Leading Actor 1969

The Nominees:
Dustin Hoffman - Midnight Cowboy
John Wayne - True Grit
Jon Voight - Midnight Cowboy
Peter O'Toole - Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Richard Burton - Anne of the Thousand Days

So, who do you think will I pick? Will it be someone from Midnight Cowboy? Or will I agree with life achievement award for John Wayne? Or will that be Henry VII.? Or will I give my win to O'Toole? Write your predictions for my pick and ranking in comments. ;)

Best Supporting Actress 1939

5. Hattie McDaniel - Gone with the Wind
The first Afroamerican to ever win an Oscar. That's the fact many people remember more, than her performance itself. McDaniel is really effective in the film, her performance is funny and entertaining, just as it should be. But I still wasn't fascinated by her so much. Though she tries and does everything needed, she still doesn't have very much to play. It's not her mistake, because she really is very good, but I was expecting something more...

4. Geraldine Fitzgerald - Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is a legendary and a wonderful film in which everything works as it should and all the performances in it are just brilliant. And Geraldine Fitzgerald's is just lovely. Her Isabella is probably the most likable character of the film and she is aware of this fact and uses it perfectly. She doesn't have many scenes, but she uses even the little she has. A very good perfromance in a great picture...

3. Olivia de Havilland - Gone with the Wind
Havilland has much more to play than McDaniel and she uses it. She gives a depth into this character and her performance is probably the most realistic from the whole film. Her best moment is (probable spoiler) the moment Vivien Leigh kills a man in her house. But throughout the whole film she gives us very good performance...

2. Maria Ouspenskaya - Love Affair
What a lovely performance! Though she doesn't spend very much time on the screen she's perfect in every second. I really loved her portrayal of a sympathetic grandmother and she shines in the film. The scenes she plays in are the best of the film (for me). She's so charming and lovely that I just wanted more and more of her. And that's a proof of her great performance...

1. Edna May Oliver - Drums Along the Mohawks
Oliver's portrayal of an energic and funny old lady is just adorable. We can see that she is really enjoying this character and if any actor enjoys his character, the audience also enjoys it. In every scene she is in, the screen is full of her. This is a very entertaining performance that you will remember a long time after watching the film...

Sunday 1 April 2012

Next Year: Best Supporting Actress 1939

The Nominees:
Edna May Oliver - Drums Along the Mohawk
Geraldine Fitzgerald - Wuthering Heights
Hattie McDaniel - Gone with the Wind
Maria Ouspenskaya - Love Affair
Olivia de Havilland - Gone with the Wind

So, what do you think will be my ranking? Write in comments. ;)
I am sorry, but to make this year will take me some time. I haven't seen any of the nominated films and I have some school responsibilities, so please, be patient. Thank you. :) 

Best Leading Actor 2011

5. Demián Bichir - A Better Life
What a beautiful year. Filled with so many wonderful performance, just like Bichir's was. His portrayal of an exilic father is just extraordinary. It is really difficult performance to play, but he never fails to brings us a realistic and convincing performance that is not seen very often. He is the most important thing of the film. If e didn't play it so greatly, it would almost destroy the film. I really have nothing against this performance...


4. Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The most complex and one of the best subtle performances I have ever seen. Oldman never fails to give us a wonderful performance of an ordinary man. The fact that he is so ordinary makes him so interesting. This is a character any other actor would play too lackluster and we would not remember this performance a week after the film. But Oldman is too good actor to choose this way. He makes this extremely ordinary character remarkable. Great, great performance...

3. George Clooney - The Descendants
Clooney's performance is not perfect. It has got a lots of mistakes and many actors would play it technically better. But it think that it's the faultiness that makes this performance so adorable. This film is full of mistakes. From the direction to the screenplay and performances. But that's what makes this film so beloved. The naivety. And Clooney's performance wonderfully applies into this film. Everything of it. The fact that he is unconvincing sometimes and the fact that he's himself sometimes and even the fact that he's playing the same character like in Up in the air. And he's got many great scenes, too...


2. Jean DuJardin - The Artist

What a lovely performance! DuJardin completely shines in his role and does everything he should. He is charming and entertaining throughout the whole film and all of the other actors are overshadowed by him. The fact that it's a silent film means that he has to overact extremely and he does it as much, as it's needed. I'm a little bit sorry for his last scenes in which he speaks and his French accent is just terrible and it completely destroys his performance. But it's not a big deal...

1. Brad Pitt - Moneyball
I can't even describe the brilliantness of this performance. It has got the depth, it's funny where it has to be and it's just simply perfect. I'm kind of speechless, because you just have to see it. Who still didn't believe that Pitt is a spectacular actor here is another proof that will completely persuade you...


My Nominees:
1. Brad Pitt - Moneyball
2. Jean DuJardin - The Artist
3. Geroge Clooney - The Descendants
4. Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
5. Demián Bichir - A Better Life

Monday 26 March 2012

Next Year: Best Leading Actor 2011

The Nominees:
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
Demián Bichir - A Better Life
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
George Clooney - The Descendants
Jean DuJardin - The Artist

What will be my ranking? What will be my pick? What is your ranking and pick? Write in comments. ;)

Best Supporting Actor 2008

5. Josh Brolin - Milk
Josh Brolin definitely is a talented actor and in Milk he has showed us a performance he doesn't have to be ashamed for. But I still think that this character could have been played much much better. He is so lackluster that he gets overshadowed by everyone and everything in the film. Not even by the other actors, but even by the makeup in it. And the worst thing is that I really didn't see his motivation for (is it a spoiler? I think everybody knows) killing Milk. This is not completely his fault, because the screenplay doesn't really give him a chance do to something, but he doesn't even try in my opinion. Poorly written and acted character...


4. Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Michael Shannon has actually a very limited role in Revolutionary Road, but it has its potential. And we can't say that Shannon doesn't use this potential. He does, but he does even something more. Sometimes he is very showy. On purpose I'm not saying he's overacting, because nobody can undoubtably say he is, because this character is mentally disabled and I don't think he played it this way, because he couldn't play it differently or more convincingly. I think he just chose this way to play his character. And I think he was very good. At least he gave us very interesting performance...



3. Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder

The Academy doesn't often nominate comedic performances, but when it does, it really is a worthy performance. In Tropic Thunder Robert Downey Jr. gives a wonderful, funny and entertaining performance that can either have conviction and parody inside. Playing an Australian who plays an Afroamerican Downey Jr. gives the funniest performances of the year (next to Cruise's). And the scene he has to cry in is just perfect...


2. Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

Really a strong performance. This is a terribly difficult character to play, because you have to seem convinced, but your performance must be even doubtful. And Hoffman achieved this. But he also never fails to show us the portrayal of a priest. We actually don't know whose truth do we believe in, but we don't want to find out that this kind priest is a sexual deviant. I can't even say which of his scenes was the best, because he was fantastic in all of them...


1. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

This performance doesn't need any words...


My Nominees:
1. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
2. Ralph Fiennes - In Bruges
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
4. Emile Hirsch - Milk
5. Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder

Sunday 25 March 2012

Next Year: Best Supporting Actor 2008

The Nominees:
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Josh Brolin - Milk
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder

So, who do you think will be my pick? Will it be Ledger as everywhere, or someone completely different? Write your predictions for my ranking or pick in comments. ;)

Best Leading Actress 2006

5. Kate Winslet - Little Children
This is such a strong year. All the performances are just excellent and so Kate Winslet's is. Her portrayal of a suffering middle-aged woman that finds another reason to live is just wonderful. Kate never fails to give us absolutely convincing performance and we completely understand her. We can greatly feel and almost touch her emotions through her fantastic performance. Someone just has to be the fifth...


4. Penelope Cruz - Volver

Volver though is a comedy says about very serious things, like murder, incest or rape. Penelope Cruz stands in the middle of many supporting characters and gives a great performance of a young but strong-minded woman, just like we are used from films by Pedro Almodovar. We sympathize with her character, even though it's not actually innocent. This performance just proves how fabulous actress Penelope Cruz is...


3. Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada

This is the most entertaining and even most likable performance this year. Her Miranda is so funny character that we can easily forgive Meryl her overacting throughout the whole film. But it absolutely doesn't matter. This character shouldn't even be played with character acting, because it wouldn't work. Meryl just exactly knows what she's doing. And in the end she lets us to get under Miranda's specious steeliness. Meryl just can't play badly...


2. Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal

This year though all the performances were really fantastic for me is about Helen Mirren and Judi Dench. Dame Dench's performance really is her best I've seen so far (still have to watch Mrs. Brown). The way she acts that she's a good friend of Cate Blanchett and then just soles and mentally harries her is just magnificent. Great, convincing and nipping performance...


1. Helen Mirren - The Queen

Helen Mirren didn't play the queen. She somehow became the queen. Her performance is convincing and authentic and she never fails to show us the queen as a human being not just someone more than anyone from us. She decided to play the queen as any other person that just happened to be the queen. In her specious calm she shows us as many emotions, as possible. Really deserving win...


My Nominees:
1. Helen Mirren - The Queen
2. Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
3. Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
4. Ivana Baquero - The Pan's Labyrinth
5. Penelope Cruz - Volver

Saturday 24 March 2012

Next Year: Best Leading Actress 2006

The Nominees:
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Kate Winslet - Little Children
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Penelope Cruz - Volver

Who do you think will be my pick? Will I give a win to unbeatable Helen Mirren? Or will I give it to legendary Meryl Streep? Or will it be someone else? Write your predictions for my ranking in comments. ;)

Thursday 22 March 2012

Best Leading Actor 1974

5. Albert Finney - Murder on the Orient Express
In Murder on the Orient Express Finney has a famous and iconic character to play and he's surprisingly lackluster as Hercule Poirot. He's just overshadowed by supporting actors in the film and this only changes in the end of the film, where the other actors only sit and listen to him. I have to confess that I didn't actually enjoy the film (except from the end) and so didn't I enjoy Finney's performance. He wasn't bad and he did what was needed to do, but nothing more...


4. Dustin Hoffman - Lenny

I haven't seen Lenny's original performances so I can't compare it with them and all I know is Hoffman's exhibition. I say exhibition, because this really is not a performance, but an exhibition. I never really saw Lenny in this performance. All I saw was Dustin Hoffman playing. He has chosen to play Lenny Bruce rather than just be him. I enjoyed some scenes from the judge, but they also were a little bit overacted...


3. Al Pacino - The Godfather: Part II.

Excellent and iconic performance given by a legendary actor. He gives a great performance in which he uses the right way of subtlety that makes this performance memorable. I like the way he shows us the difference between Michael Corleone in the first film and Michael Corleone in the second film, but we still see it's the same Michael, but he changed. Performance, you will remember...


2. Art Carney - Harry and Tonto

Some people hate this performance, because it's not as iconic as Nicholson's or Pacino's, but it certainly is great. I'm satisfied with this winning, but there still was a little bit better performance this year. Carney is really charming in his character and he's done everything what was needed. I believed him almost everything, except from some scenes he's angry in. In them he uses a thing I call "old-fashioned overacting". But all the other scenes were really really wonderful...


1. Jack Nicholson - Chinatown

Performances in Chinatown are all really great. Nicholson as detective Jake Gittes gives a wonderful and memorable performance that never fails to be convincing. His chemistry with Faye Dunaway is just excellent. Another thing I really appreciate about his performance is that he is never overacting. For example the scene where he is telling to Faye how much he likes his nose. Many actors would overact this scene, but that's not Nicholson's case. It's not one of Nicholson's best performances, but it definitely is really great...

Saturday 17 March 2012

Next Year: Best Leading Actor 1974

The Nominees:
Al Pacino - The Godfather Part II
Albert Finney - Murder on the Orient Express
Art Carney - Harry and Tonto
Dustin Hoffman - Lenny
Jack Nicholson - Chinatown

So what do you think will be my pick? Write your predictions for my pick (or ranking) in comments. ;)

Best Leading Actress 2011

5. Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
This is an extremely strong year in this category. And Rooney Mara doesn't make it different. Her role of Lisbeth is a character that very easily could be overacted. Rooney Mara makes Lisbeth a human being, instead and it works perfectly in the film. I have only two blames to this performance. The first is her accent that I never found very convincing. And the second thing is the fact that this is not a performance you will remember long time after watching the film. But it still is a great performance...


4. Viola Davis - The Help

Viola Davis undoubtably gives the most convincing performance of the The Help. While the rest of the cast was overacting (I'm not saying, it's bad) she gives us a realistic portrayal of a suffering and worried woman and there's no way not to like her performance. She's really charming and after a great performance in Doubt she only proves that she's a great actress. I just think this is the same case like Mara. You'll not remember her performance for a long time...

3. Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
I love Meryl Streep. I have not seen her playing badly so far and her performance in The Iron Lady is not an exception. The Iron Lady is not the best biographic movie and it's not even one of the best. But Lloyd still did an advance after Mamma Mia!. But Meryl really helps the film to be not just average. Her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher is really excellent, especially in her old scenes, but she's very good even in the rest of the film, but sometimes it's a little bit overacted. Just like in Julie & Julia she wonderfully copies the accent and the gesture of the real person she's playing, but she doesn't forget to show us the character of her character. Really perfect performance...


2. Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs

Many people dislike this performance, she was even nominated for The First Annual Soilies (which should be more candid variation of Razzie Awards) for it, but I really enjoyed it. I think that he hate of her performance rather comes from the awfulness of the screenplay, which really is terrible (talking to her/him self? WTF?) and from the fact that Albert Nobbs is not very likable character. But does it matter? She plays this character really realistic way and I loved it. I just would like to know what was so bad about this performance...?


1. Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn

I didn't even want to write Michelle Williams, because it's not Michelle who's in the film. It's only Marilyn. I really loved every second of her performance from the beginning to her last scene. She is just excellent playing Marilyn and I can't imagine anyone better for this role. She's just like she should be and just like Marilyn was: naive, adorable and irresistible. Michelle will be a great and worshiped actress, trust me... 


My Nominees:
1. Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn
2. Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
3. Kirsten Dunst - Melancholia
4. Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
5. Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk about Kevin

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Best Supporting Actor 2011

5. Nick Nolte - Warrior
Many people think that Warrior is an excellent film. I don't think it's somehow extraordinary, but it certainly is very good and likable. Nick Nolte's performance in Warrior is really very good. His scenes are probably the best of the film and it's Nolte who makes them so good. But some scenes was overacting and they seemed to me unrealistic. That's the reason he's the last...

4. Jonah Hill - Moneyball
I really liked Moneyball and I loved everything about it. And so I loved Hill's performance. I really liked the way he played this role. He knew exactly, what he is supposed to do. He was never overacting and he didn't try to steal the movie for himself. And maybe that was the reason I really loved every moment of his performance. He was completely realistic and mad Peter Brand a real person, not a movie character. And we can not see it every often these times...

3. Christopher Plummer - Beginners
I didn't enjoy Beginners very much. It's not a bad film, but it's a little bit boring. Some ideas are really original and funny, but the thing I liked the most on it is the performances of Melanie Laurent and Christopher Plummer. His character could have been very simply overacted, but Plummer never fails to give a realistic and very convincing performance. I really think that without him the film would be worse...


2. 
Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Though many people say, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is Stephen Daldry's worst film, I think it's as good, as his previous films. And I really liked all the performances in the film (yes, even Thomas Horn) and Max von Sydow wasn't an exception. His mute character is very likable and charming performance and his scenes are the best of the film. I really am sorry for not giving him the win...



1. Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn

I have never seen Sir Laurence Olivier in any film so far (I know, shame on me), so I can't say, if he was good in imitation of Olivier, but his performance is perfect alone, not just in comparing with Sir Olivier. Branagh's scenes are just brilliant. His character's passion for the directing is wonderfully acted and never fails to be convincing enough. Really excellent performance by a great actor playing another great actor...


My Nominees:
1. Albert Brooks - Drive
2. Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn
3. Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
4. Christopher Plummer - Beginners
5. Jonah Hill - Moneyball

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Best Supporting Actress 2011

5. Octavia Spencer - The Help
She is very talented and I would like to see her in a dramatic role. But here she does something, I call "comedy overacting". That´s exactly what Adam Sandler (or Eddie Murphy) does in his comedies and that´s the reason, nobody finds these comedies funny. And so Octavia Spencer does this and destroys her character with this...


4. Berenice Bejo - The Artist
Berenice Bejo is really charming playing the likable character of Peppy Miller, but I found her performance a little bit lackluster, especially next to the entertaining Jean DuJardin´s performance. She should be much more overacting in a silent performance like this...


3. Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Very good performance by Janet McTeer. She certainly knows, what she´s doing, but it´s clear to everyone, that she is not a man. How can the other characters in Albert Nobbs be so blind and not to see in. McTeer´s behavior is too womanfully to be really convincing...

2. Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
McCarthy completely understood what is funny. It´s not about overacting. It´s all about being "real" and the audience is going to roll on the floor laughing. I think all of the comedians (or many of them - Sandler, Murphy and so on) should learn from McCarthy´s performance...

1. Jessica Chastain - The Help
Chastain gave a depth into this (not very well written) character and I simply loved every moment, she was on the screen. While I was watching her scenes, I was screaming (just like she was in one of her scenes): "This is so much fun!"

My Nominees:
1. Jessica Chastain - The Help
2. Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
3. Mia Wasikowska - Albert Nobbs
4. Sandra Bullock - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
5. Demi Moore - Margin Call