Alternate Best Actor 1971: Results

5. Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs- Hoffman performance is not overly interesting early on but he more than makes up for it in his brutal last act change.

4. Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry- Eastwood gives a incredibly strong performance as both a commanding and humorous leading man, as well as in his portrayal of a driven police officer.

3.  Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory- Wilder gives a entertaining performance that is both darkly funny as well as genuinely heart warming.

2. Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange- McDowell gives a terrific unforgettable performance that creates a truly disturbing portrait of a youthful man who gets his joys through violent depravity.

1. Michael Caine in Get Carter- I must say this is exceedingly close, and that really does include Eastwood and Wilder as well. All four are amazing performance and each are arguably the best performances from each actor. Nevertheless for the moment I give it to Caine for his incredible performance as a cold professional killer, whose want is revenge is unstoppable.

Overall Rank of the year I also included a few performances I do not intend to review in the future.

1. Michael Caine in Get Carter
2. Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange
3. Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
4. Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry
5. Gene Hackman in The French Connection
6. Peter Finch in Sunday Bloody Sunday
7. Topol in Fiddler on the Roof
8. James Coburn in Duck, You Sucker!
9. Timothy Bottoms in The Last Picture Show 
10. Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs
11. George C. Scott in The Hospital
12. Peter Ostrum in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
13. Rod Steiger in Duck, You Sucker!
14. Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever
15. Donald Sutherland in Klute
16. Walter Matthau in Kotch

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Alternate Best Actor 1971: Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Gene Wilder did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a very enjoyable, and darkly funny film about a poor kid Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) who gets a rare chance along with a few other children to visit the never open to the public Chocolate Factory as well as its eccentric owner.

Gene Wilder portrays this eccentric owner who actually does not show up in the film until about forty minutes into a film that is an hour and forty minutes long. I consider him lead though since his character influences almost all of the actions before he appears, and he as well completely takes over the film the very moment he appears on screen until the end of the film. This is one unique performance from Wilder and from the very first moment Wonka appears on screen seemingly decrepit and weak than suddenly while seeming to fall instead doing an energetic somersault shows the unpredictable nature of both the character, and Wilder's performance as well in a single gesture.

Wilder's turn here is interesting because really in this version we know almost nothing about Wonka before we enter the factor other than he is holding a contest and doesn't like to have his ideas stolen, nothing more. When we do finally meet him Wilder still keeps his character quite the enigma, but never in a unsatisfactory fashion. Wilder though most certainly is never underwhelming in his characterization and his Wonka is a full fledged character, but only Wilder seems to know exactly everything about him. He always stays a mystery even at the end of the film. Wilder always manages to tell enough without ever giving away the inner workings of a man who frankly is the sort of character who does not need to tell you all of his secrets.

Wilder is simply entertaining in the part as he shows that Wonka never wishes to give any extra time to people who do not deserve it. He makes sure everything goes his way, and when questioned on it he outsmarts them with some double talk, nonsense or a foreign language. What works so well about Wilder's performance is that he shows that Wonka never leaves any openings for anyone to ever get the better of him he always is in charge of the tour and his factory. Wilder as usual has his manic energy in his performance, in his eyes you never know just how sane Wonka really is, but nevertheless Wilder controls every scene. Even with all of what is going on the background of scenes Wilder always makes himself that most magnetic part of the film.

This is an exceedingly entertaining performance by Wilder and never fails to make every single moment of his performance enjoyable. Every inane gesture or quick comment at the expense of his guests Wilder brings the most out of every one. He mixes it up interestingly from when he more directly and manically scares the people such as in his completely insane moment in the tunnel of horror that is unforgettably portrayed by Wilder. Wilder though some how brings it in the role when he has the much simpler smaller moments in simple dead pan cynical moments. He handles those moments with just as much precision though, as he brilliantly goes off the deep end in the tunnel scene, and it is all part of the same character.

This is just a hilarious performance by Wilder and he constantly earning his jokes without every once trying to force them, it is a completely natural performance oddly enough even though he is portraying Wonka who seems to be quite off his rocker. He still though manages to convey the more magical qualities of his character such as his performance of pure imagination. Wilder effectively shows that even though Wonka takes no prisoners when dealing with individuals he has absolutely no respect there, Wilder does show an underlying passion in his portrayal that does emphasize the more wondrous qualities of Wonka. This more childlike side of Wonka is somehow still blends perfectly with Wonka's more devious side due to Wilder's portrayal of both which always still feel interconnected.

My favorite part of his performance though is the very end of his performance where he tests Charlie to see if he really could inherit his factory. His first moment where he first attacks saying that do not even get what was promised with the tour is effectively and intensely portrayed by Wilder showing bluntly the attack that is the final test against Charlie. This works perfectly though in turn when he comes out in joy to say that Charlie finally won, telling him he plans to give him the factory when he retires. Even with all of the darker cynicism before Wilder still manages to bring a genuinely heart warming quality to the final who that wonderfully shows that even behind all the insanity beforehand there still was a good man behind it all.

This is an absolutely terrific performance by Wilder as he makes the entire last hour of the film as entertaining as it possibly could be. He stands as a memorable guide for us to follow through, well as being appropriately impossible to calculate what's next at any time. This really could be a role that could go wrong in so many ways. The idea of a man luring kids into his chocolate factory is ripe for creepiness. Just look at Johnny Depp's terrible performance as Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In all ways that Depp failed Wilder succeeds with his incredible performance that never once falls into any problems the role easily could have, even though there is not a moment in which Wilder plays the role as safe.

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Alternate Best Actor 1971: Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry

Clint Eastwood did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Homicide Inspector Dirty Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry.

Dirty Harry is a very effective police thriller about a San Francisco Police Officer attempting to catch a serial killer known as Scorpio (Andrew Robinson).

Clint Eastwood did not receive a single Oscar nomination for portraying his arguably signature role of Dirty Harry. Although to be perfectly honest the only time where he really should have been considered is for his initial performance. Although I should note that Eastwood gives solid leading performances in Magnum Force, The Enforcer, and Sudden Impact still having strong presence and conviction in the role. Only in The Dead Pool does Eastwood give a lackluster performance never seeming particularly invested in the role in that film looking tired practically during the entire film. His first performance as the character stands as the best which is probably helped by the fact that it is the best film, as well as the most character driven.

I would say this is one of if not the most memorable role of Eastwood's because of how well his style for the role. Eastwood is a unique actor in his ability to dominate a scene without saying word, he can express more in a single glance than some actors do in a whole scene. This style is perfect for Dirty Harry who is the best officer on the force seemingly, and he says a lot in every scene he is in even when he does not have that many lines total. This is perfect for the role in the many scenes where Harry has to deal with his far less able superiors who question his methods, and go on in foolish ways to attempt to deal with the psychotic killer who is constantly making demands. Eastwood's quick piercing stares of complete discontent show strongly Harry complete lack of respect for their inefficient methods.

This is a terrific leading performance though by Eastwood and he brings through the film the whole way without question. Eastwood always controls every one of his scenes with seemingly no effort at times with his remarkable unique presence. Eastwood is absolutely on throughout the entire film, and gives a wonderful performance that surprisingly does a lot more than he even needed to do with the role. Frankly his part could have been settled as just a police officer with tremendous drive, something Eastwood most certainly shows but I will get to that later, what is amazing though is the amount of natural humor Eastwood brings to the part.   Eastwood says everyone of his Harry's without the utmost efficiency that brings humor to his role, while never making it seem out of the place in the film.

Eastwood interestingly never makes the part as lightweight though as many other actors might have considering this is not about the folly of the officer's conviction as Gene Hackman's performance in the French Connection was partially about. Interestingly Eastwood is able to connect both a star leading sort of performance along with a performance genuinely as part of an actual character, and not just a star's persona sort of performance. Eastwood always is Dirty Harry in this film, and certainly brings to life the hard boiled inspector. Eastwood as Hackman also did this year shows tremendous drive to the character. Eastwood actually carefully doesn't shows that Harry is like Popeye Doyle that his conviction is to the point of fault, Harry after all is always right, but nevertheless Eastwood shows the same power in his performance.

As an actor Eastwood usually has a great deal of intensity in his performances, and with only the possible exception of Unforgiven there has never been a better use of it than here. Eastwood here brings to life the unstoppable force that Harry can become when he is set off, and Scorpio certainly sets him off, perfectly. Again with only possibly the exception of the final tavern scene in Unforgiven, and maybe not even that, there is no more intense of a scene than when he interrogates (tortures) Scorpio to find the location of a girl that he kidnapped. In that scene Eastwood's stare, and delivery is absolutely chilling. It is an unforgettable scene because of Eastwood unyielding brutality that he brings to the scene, showing the complete devotion Harry has to finding the girl as well as the rage he has toward the low life killer.

I suppose I should mention since I did in the last three reviews how Eastwood portrays Callahan's attitude to the violence he commits. Eastwood is actually quite careful in his portrayal of this as there is certainly no hesitation in his actions, or when he kills someone. Eastwood though never portrays this lack of hesitation as any sort of indication that he genuinely likes violence, or doesn't like violence necessarily, Eastwood rather is able to convey the fact that Harry is simply doing his job. Like Caine in Get Carter though there is the moment in which it does become personal and the wraith of Callahan is well portrayed. This is of course only in one killing at the end of the film, and Eastwood shows that Harry indeed needed to reach this point, and the man had to be a horrible enough person to earn his hatred.

This is a great performance by Eastwood because of his ability to blend this well realizes portrait of a career officer who probably has seen a little too much in the line of duty, but as well gives a very enjoyable and entertaining performance at the same exact time. Eastwood is able to bring the same humor to a certain scene as well as also bringing the weight of other scenes just as effectively. There is never a disconnect to the Dirty Harry who says that he knows a beaten person wasn't beaten by him simply because he looks "Too Damn Good", to the Harry who somberly sees that after all his efforts the victim of the killer he puts his all into stopping still ended up dead. This really a magnificent achievement by Eastwood in his creation of Dirty Harry Callahan, that leaves no wonder in my mind why many consider this his signature role.

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Alternate Best Actor 1971: Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange

Malcolm McDowell did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange.

A Clockwork Orange is a strange uncompromising but certainly interesting film about a young hell raiser who after being caught is put under a revolutionary "reform" method.

Malcolm McDowall portrays the young hell raiser named Alex who although is apparently still of school attending age spends his free time with his gang of thugs beating old people, beating other gangs, committing home invasions and beating men as well as raping women. McDowall here unlike Michael Caine as Jack Carter who is the utmost professional in his violence, shows a man whose violence is where he gets most of his joy in life. Every single scene where he commits a horrible act McDowall portrays them all in the same fashion that shows Alex never stops getting a kick out of what he does.

McDowell is brutal and uncompromising in his portrayal of Alex because he never strives away once from the idea that he has absolutely no moral compass, the only thing that does not seem too deprived for him is disrespecting the work of Ludwig van Beethoven that's it, McDowell always makes it clear that anything else is absolutely fair game for him. McDowell makes his performance and Alex so disturbing because he shows that there are no second thoughts in Alex's behavior no matter how horrendous it may be, McDowell makes it for Alex just an every day completely unspectacular event something like riding a bike for a less deranged individual.

McDowell in these early scenes has a visceral, and unmistakably disturbing power in his performance. McDowell seems to almost have an unlimited amount of energy in his performance, all of his energy being used to make every scene he is as disturbing as possible being the only clear centerpiece in the middle of Stanley Kubrick's wide angle lens. He technically speaking is the only normal looking person since everyone else is a bit stretched out or disproportional in some way. McDowell though within his performance though makes Alex in more off putting that the wide angles, his unforgettable demented looks are more than enough to do this.

What is so disturbing of his performance is the youth of his character is always very much attached to McDowell's performance. Every thing he does is not the works of a criminal mastermind by anyway but that of a mad brat. In his demented smile McDowell always shows there the glee of a child's happiness. This is most certainly quite bizarre, but McDowell brings into his performance brilliantly. This is really what makes Alex's face as much of an unforgettable face as his is. Although this is the face of a violent killer, McDowell always blends it with the face of just a coming to age young man, that makes it all truly demented.

A strange thing about this performance, although I would say this is most certainly helped by Stanley Kubrick's unique direction is that he pulls you into this character not matter how off putting Alex is in everyone of his actions. There is even a strange bizarre charisma in McDowell performance as Alex to keep on watching him through all of his horrible acts. This is bizarre performance to say the least and McDowell is on one thin tightrope throughout the entire performance, but he manages to give one effectively frightening performance without overplaying it, and somehow without being unwatchable by being excessively off putting even though he certainly is very off putting.

After Alex gets caught though and is put in prison and is forced to undergo reformation. McDowell is quite excellent here as well when he is prison pretending to really change. There really is no change in Alex actually and just wants to get out and continue his own ways. Here in these scenes McDowall still shows the same exact man still contemplating whatever terrible things he can do, there still is that same evil glint in his eyes, he is not doing an evil directly but instead here he shows it just burning underneath, that he puts it under just so he can escape prison.

Alex though is really forced to change when he undergoes an experimental therapy method in which he is forced to have aversion to his sexual depravity, and his tendency toward violence. Although McDowell technically speaking is almost used as like a prop through Alex's treatment, McDowell brings the horror of his treatment to life. Although in the pivotal moments with himself strapped down and his eyes kept open with hooks constantly have eyes drops added, McDowell absolutely still delivers the pain Alex is going through as well as making us believe he would develop this aversion.

After this though Alex is changed man forced into a change, and McDowell certainly portrays this in an odd fashion, but fitting of the odd treatment of Alex. McDowell practically turns Alex into a nonentity there is nothing to him anymore and there really is just a shell of a man, here is always very small, and clutching himself, and showing none of that energy from before. This is perfect portrayal of the way the life has literally been sucked out of Alex, and McDowell brilliantly shows his aversion to violence as one big gut wrench for Alex.

His performance ends though with Alex finding himself once again as he was, and the way McDowell portrays this is a brilliant end to his great performance. Since Alex is in a quite a few casts it is all in his face, which shows the return of the same joy and youth that had disappeared from his face after his reformation, that of course is made all the more memorable that shows that when Alex is happy he is a horrible person whereas when he was miserable he at least did not hurt anyone. This is a terrific way that McDowell bring Alex full circle back to his own self, and a truly remarkable ending to this great performance.

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Alternate Best Actor 1971: Michael Caine in Get Carter

Michael Caine did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Jack Carter in Get Carter.

Get Carter is a bleak but effective thriller about an English gangster seeking revenge for the death of his brother.

Michael Caine is an actor I will not say is the first who comes to mind when would say tough guy. In fact Caine does not seem to usually come off as a psychically imposing individual in films, even if he is a taller man. This is not the case though in his performance as gangster Jack Carter. In this film even when he is not, he seems to be the tallest man in the room. The way he carries himself in this film as Carter makes Caine absolutely dominate every scene he is in. He has an incredible strength that permeates through that makes him always the man in charge. Caine has always been able to carry a film but here he literally controls it.

Caine is great in the role because he never tries to make Carter anything but what Carter is. He does not try to add some sort of faking the character or doing a wink at the audience to say look this is good old Michael Caine still. Caine never for once breaks his mold for his character here which does not once ask for sympathy or understanding. Nevertheless Caine is so good in this film he brings us right into this character for the entire film. Even though it is hard to say that this character is really likable Caine still has a charisma in his performance that is unmistakable for sure. He simply owns the screen in this film and you really can't help but watch him here.

Caine creates a facinating portrait of the gangster Carter, as he has a incredible dynamic between the outside of Carter and the inside feelings of him. Caine on the outside shows Carter to be the perfect sort of gangster when it comes to doing dirty work that is commonly required such as killing. There is an incredible coldness and well professionalism to his performance that shows that Carter knows exactly what he is doing and has been doing this sort of work for a long time making him absolutely comfortable with all of it. He is so cold at times it seems like maybe he does not have heart period, but Carter does deep inside after all his whole journey in the film is completely personal.

For much of the film Caine does show Carter as pretty much a business man doing his job that is probably just done a little too efficiently. Caine though makes us completely believe in Carter's abilities throughout the film as Carter wades through all the muck and the double crosses to find out what exactly did happen to his brother. Caine always makes it clear that Carter is absolutely sure of himself, and confidant in his abilities always. There is never even a hint of weakness in Caine's  portrayal he always portrays the part with a mastery of efficiency, and effectiveness that brings to life Carter's skill and abilities marvelously.

The greatest and most powerful moments of Caine's performance and the film itself are when we see the more emotional side of Carter that Caine brilliantly portrays because he only shows them in the most pivotal of moments. His single greatest scene might be when Carter finally really gets set off by finding out exactly why his brother died. It is a single silent scene where Carter watches a pornographic film featuring the woman he just had sexual intercourse with. At first Caine shows Carter reacting with a bit of a disinterest as well as bemusement as something just to pass the time. When Carter sees his niece is as well featured in the film. Caine is incredible as Carter's soul is crushed, and Caine shows how much this truly does weigh on Carter.

After this scene Caine is just one brutal uncompromising force of revenge for both his borther's death and the use of his own niece and perhaps daughter. Caine is outstanding in these scenes are Carter brutally kills many of the people involved with his brother's death, or even partially involved with it. Caine is especially terrific in the role because of the degree of emotions Carter puts in the killings he commits himself or the one's that occur around him. His coldest scenes come in when for example two women are killed that were partially involved with the death of his brother, his reactions to these scenes are ice cold and truly memorable.

Caine shows Carter cares nothing for their deaths, he finds they deserve to die, but their offenses in his view do not earn them emotions from him. These moments are in stark contrast to when Carter's violent anger appears that especially piercing. Caine makes Carter's rage truly fierce and absolutely uncompromising. The combination of these outstanding scene creates one unforgettable picture of revenge that has never been matched since. This is a powerful performance by Caine that never pulls a single punch in his performance. Caine with his performance as Jack Carter creates a brilliant portrait of this cold calculating killer, who becomes even more vicious when he makes it personal.

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Alternate Best Actor 1971

And the Nominees Were Not:

Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry

Michael Caine in Get Carter

Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange

Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory

Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs
I will be reviewing five performance from a year that are either considered to be among the five best of the year, as well as one's considered iconic or very memorable in regards to an actor's filmography. These will not necessarily all be good or great performances just notable one's for the year in question. I will perhaps even throw in a terrible performance on occasion as long as it is extremely risky, the only type of performance I want  to avoid is a phoned in boring one.

So for the first year I will take a look at performances of five men portraying not exactly the most hinged of characters. Feel free to predict the ranking as well as if any of them will unseat Gene Hackman for the French Connection, if you accurately predict my ranking of just the five you can request the next year i do, just make sure it is in a different decade, as well one performance you would like to review for that year.

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