Alternate Best Actor 2005: Results

5. Guy Pearce in The Proposition- Pearce gives a strong understated performance that is particularly effective in portraying the complex relationship that motivates his character.

4. Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang- Downey could not be better in his role finding just the perfect tone for the film.

3. Tommy Lee Jones in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada- Jones perfectly cast himself portraying the complex motivations of his character brilliantly.

2. Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence- Mortensen is terrific in his depiction of the slow dissolution of his character.

1. Ray Winstone in The Proposition- The underrated Ray Winstone wins this year with his powerful performance as a man trying to bring the law to the lawless. Winstone succeeds far more than anyone would expect creating a poignant depiction of a character that could perhaps have been a throwaway in lesser hands.

1. Ray Winstone in The Proposition
2. Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote
4. Tommy Lee Jones in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
5. Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain
6. Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
7. Guy Pearce in The Proposition
8. Russell Crowe in Cinderella Man
9. Ralph Fiennes in The Constant Gardener 
10. Pierce Brosnan in The Matador
11. Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain
12. Eric Bana in Munich
13. David Strathairn in Good Night and Good Luck
14. Christian Bale in Batman Begins
15. Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line
16. Greg Kinnear in The Matador
17. Jesse Eisenberg in The Squid and the Whale
18. Tom Cruise in The War of the Worlds
19. William Moseley in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe  
20. Adrien Brody in King Kong
21. Matt Damon in Syriana
22. Daniel Radcliffe in The Goblet of Fire 
23. Terrence Howard in Hustle and Flow
24. Johnny Depp in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
25. Hayden Christensen in Revenge of the Sith

Next Year: 2005 Supporting

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Alternate Best Actor 2005: Tommy Lee Jones in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Tommy Lee Jones did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Pete Perkins in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is a very effective film about the shooting of a Mexican Melquiades Estrada by a border patrol officer Mike Norton (Barry Pepper), and the Mexican's friend's attempt to find justice.

Tommy Lee Jones portrays Pete Perkins a rancher near the Mexican rancer who is friends with Melquiades. Robert Downey Jr. was a perfect choice for his role in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang as the quick talking manic man, well Tommy Lee Jones is also perfectly cast here as a world weary crusty rancher type. Jones simply fits this role like a glove. There is never a question to Jones as the man, he just fits the part so well, that he already has already a leg up on the part. He does not even need to convince us that he is this man, he simply is the man from the first second to the last second.

The film jumps around in time early on the film so it really is best to focus on this performance in chronological order. Tommy Lee Jones in his scenes that show his friendship with Melquiades handles the part perfectly. He portrays Pete's friendship with Melquiades as something quite natural. He has the right sort of warmth and camaraderie in these scenes, but he does not draw too much attention. He portrays Pete as a bit playful with his friend, and they just portray the proper happiness in their scenes together. He does not overdo it ever, creating just a believable friendship between the two.

After Melquiades is killed though Jones changes Pete's manner severely as he seems as a far more of a haunted individual, who seems to have lost his best friend. Jones is effective as he conveys the fact that the happiness has really been sucked right out of Pete as he stays troubled by the death of his friend. Jones is quite moving in how quietly he portrays the grief in Pete over his death. He is particularly powerful in the scene where he asks the local authorities why they buried his friend without even telling him. Jones in this moment shows just how much the friendship meant to Pete, and how heartbroken he has become after his friend's sudden death.

Pete suddenly learns the truth of who killed his friend though and goes on a strange quest to properly bury his friend on horse all the while keeping the officer as a hostage. Jones is brilliant in realizing the incredible drive that pushes Pete forward on his peculiar journey. Jones has a such a conviction in the part that as he moves on the journey we entirely believe character's actions, even when we do not entirely understand where he will go with the man. Jones combines the passionate devotion of his character, with a very real threatening element as well. He keeps Pete;s actions a mystery well, but he never limits out abilities to empathize with his plight either.

Tommy Lee Jones here does so much with the smallest of expressions. Pete really is a man of very few words throughout the film, but Jones always is able to bring to life just how important this expedition is as well as how meaningful it is to Pete. In very subtle moments Jones portrays a deep seeded loneliness that seems to prevail within Pete over the death of his friend. Although in the big emotional scenes Jones really does stay reserved he never fails to deliver on the power and the poignancy of them. 

Directing one's self to a performance certainly can be a tricky thing to do, it works if an actor knows their limits and boundaries, but not so much if they don't.  Jones most certainly knows everything about his screen presence as he utilizes it so well. He never turns Pete into some sort of one dimensional angle of vengeance of anyway. Jones is always very effective as he creates the internal struggle within Pete over his decisions, but as well his heartbreak involving his friend. Jones succeeds in bringing this unique character to life with likable, sometimes even humorous naturally intertwined with the powerful core of what pushes his character forward.

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Alternate Best Actor 2005: Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Robert Downey Jr. did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Harry Lockhart in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is an extremely entertaining film about a Hollywood mystery a small time thief accidentally gets involved with.

Robert Downey Jr. plays the small time thief who also narrates the film, although he does narrate in a Morgan Freeman fashion, but instead in an entirely self aware fashion. Robert Downey Jr. really makes this movie work through his performance, because he knows exactly how to play the material, particularly the narration. Downey knows how to do self aware well in a way that it only adds humor and an appreciation to the film rather than seeming smug and self indulgent as it easily could have. Downey gets just the right tone for the film with his narration, and makes every line work extremely well.

Outside of the narration Downey again fits the part like a glove. He just knows how to be playful with an incredible charm. He is never cloying in the role instead he is always just very likable. It is so easy to follow Downey through the film as he carries us with him. He has just the right amount of fun in the role to the point that it succeeds in bringing out the comedy, but he never does overdo it either. Downey strikes the perfect chord sin the part, and part of that is his ease with every aspect of the role. Downey not only commands the quick dialogue with the utmost finesse but he just as easily handles the more dramatic moments found in the film as well.

Robert Downey Jr. is probably one of the very best actors when it comes to blending comedy with drama, as he does so brilliantly here. There are sudden moments throughout the film that require some quick heavy lifting from Downey such as when Harry sees a woman murdered and takes revenge in anger. He absolutely sells these scenes completely, bringing in the necessary power to the moments, while never compromising the tone the film has. He keeps it all together marvelously really bringing all of the elements in the film in a terrific fashion as he never loses the humor of the situation or the seriousness of it.

His chemistry with his co-stars is great with both Michelle Monaghan as Harry's childhood friend Harmony, and Val Kilmer as the private detective known as Gay Perry.With Monaghan Downey achieves a nice warmth that works quite well as the two dance around the romance nicely without it every becoming problematic. The two find the sort of style of an old screwball comedy romance that is certainly quite effective. With Kilmer they are just a great comic duo as the two play off each other perfectly from scene to scene. They never overwhelm each other but properly share the spotlight to the point of great entertainment.

This is just a fabulous performance in all regards by Downey who moves the film along as well as an actor possibly could. Everything works about his performance, and he completely succeeds in bringing the very best out of the film's most unusual script. In all truth this is just a perfect infusion of character and actor as I really could not imagine anyone else fitting in this role as well as Downey does. He knows exactly how to see the film through from beginning to end, as well as making the film just an entertaining and enjoyable ride throughout.

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Alternate Best Actor 2005: Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence

Viggo Mortensen did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Tom Stall or is he Joey Cusack in A History of Violence.

Viggo Mortensen portrays at the beginning of the film Tom Stall a man who lives in a small town is happily married with two children, and runs a diner. Mortensen portrays Tom Stall as pretty much an every man. Mortensen plays him straight as just an average man living his life, there seems to be no play, and there is no suggestion that one should suspect anything from him. He just seems to be a man enjoying his rather simple life, and there is not a reason that there is any man other than the one we are seeing in this man. One might think he should show shades here, but really Mortensen does well by not doing because there are no suspicious of Tom Stall who likes his life.

His good life he is living is shattered though when late at night two violent men come into the diner to rob the place. Tom springs into action saving the people in the diner by killing the two men. Mortensen here shows the prominent physical aspect of his performance, as he shows Tom here act with precision. There is no hesitation just an instant and immediate kill. Importantly here Mortensen does not show this to be an act of violence though, but rather a gut level act of desperation. A hidden ability comes out in Stall with Mortensen portrayal more than anything else. He displays part of the history of violence not the whole of it.

Mortensen is very good as soon as this scenes ends showing a change in Stall, and an underlying sense of doubt on the man comes over. Now there does seem to be flaws that appear in the happy average man, as Mortensen conveys a growing sense of paranoia as well as starts to show that the happy man starts to seem at least partially a facade. The happiness seems quite drained, and all of sudden he seems far less assured. Mortensen is particularly effective when Tom is confronted by mobsters from Philadelphia who claim that he is one Joey Cusack. Mortensen shows well the way Tom denials although believable enough to everyone else, there is a clear weakness that would never convince the mobsters.

Mortensen does well in portraying though the frustrations that Tom faces as he deals with the trauma caused by the mobsters harassing his family, as he knows shows a bit of desperation as he tries to deal with his family even though they are no longer convinced that he does not have a past with the men. Mortensen is terrific as he portrays Tom's resolve to deny the men starts to wain until the point the mobsters directly threaten him and his family if he does not go with them to Philadelphia. Mortensen in this scene as he brutally kills the gangsters now shows his violence as not only assured but something entirely of his own. There is not even a desperation shown in his brutal attacks now, but instead he shows himself to be the violent man that the mobsters had claimed him to be.

After killing the gangsters though the average man seems to become wholly a facade, and Mortensen basically eases into Joey as he lets go when he tells the truth to his wife (Maria Bello). Mortensen brilliantly portrays the scene as almost a relief to be able to tell someone who he is. Mortensen though properly still shows that this is to say Tom was not a real person, he most certainly assures that the new him is something he very much earned founded in when he says he killed Joey, but Mortensen makes it clear that at this point the man is both Tom and Joey at once. Mortensen handles this all incredibly well because he perfectly conveys the internal struggle between the two forces as he tries to remain calm and understanding toward his family as Tom would, but also has the moments of brutality like Joey would.

The real meeting of the two men comes down to when he goes to meet his mob boss brother Richie (William Hurt) to sort things out. Mortensen and Hurt are excellent in the scene as the two instantly create the love hate relationship history the two have with one another. Mortensen though also importantly here shows Tom/Joey almost settling into a single man. In the scene Mortensen portrays properly an acceptance Tom has of Joey's history as there are no denials, and he fully embraces his brother. At the same time Mortensen shows that his Tom side is always very much there in his eyes as he tries to make peace with his brother, as well as when he quietly says he sees the good in a marriage. After this scene the film really leaves us on a ambiguous note for both the film, and with Mortensen's performance, which is really the right way to end the film as after the events neither Tom or Joey could be completely forgotten.

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Alternate Best Actor 2005: Ray Winstone in The Proposition

Ray Winstone did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Captain Morris Stanley in The Proposition.

Ray Winstone portrays the other lead of the film the lawman who makes the most unusual proposition to Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) to kill his brother. Winstone like Pearce gives a very understated performance as the Captain who gives this proposition in his attempt to civilize the Australian Outback. Winstone really has a rather interesting role as the Captain, as this role really very easily could have been an unsympathetic character. After all Winstone certainly is not opposed to playing unsympathetic roles, but in this case Winstone actually gives the most sympathetic performance he probably has ever given.

In his very first scene when the Captain makes the Proposition Ray Winstone portrays it with a calm but clear authority. He shows the Captain who very much intends to get what he wants, but more importantly Winstone here does not portray the Captain as a small minded man. The Captain in telling Charlie about the proposition also tells him how he plans to civilize the land. Winstone in does particularly well in portraying the Captain's sentiments here as partially dream perhaps, but he makes the Captain's statement as one of earnestness and entirely genuine. He makes the Captain an honest man, who is very easy to empathize with his plight.

Winstone is brilliant in internalizing so well the pain the Captain feels over his difficult struggle to try to fulfill his duties. Winstone is perfect in honestly showing how the responsibilities weigh very heavily on the Captain. Winstone importantly shows that the Captain still is very able, intelligent, knowledgeable of what it is that he is doing. Winstone though always conveys that underneath the Captain never is able to alleviate all that is on his mind due to all that is required of him of his job. Winstone carefully never makes this as something too overbearing in his performance, but rather something that is simply part of the Captain he can't get over.

One of the most important parts of the story with the Captain is his relationship with his wife Martha (Emily Watson). The relationship between the two is extremely understated, and at times quite unspoken. Winstone, and Watson are terrific together because despite the quietness in their relationship the two are able to bring to life the two unrequited love together clearly, even though their is a distance as well. Winstone is excellent because through his tenderness in the moments with Watson he shows that the Captain does very much love his wife very deeply, but at the same Winstone always portrays a certain distance as well. Winstone though is careful to show it comes from not wanting to share his pain, and horrible experiences though.

Winstone is terrific in creating the Captain as a man who honestly does want to do what his right, and there is nothing underhanded about his desire to civilize. Winstone is always great in reflecting the very real dangers that the Captain entirely understands, which is especially true in the scene where the Captain's bureaucrat superior Fletcher (David Wenham) orders that the captured and mentally troubled Burns's brother Mikey be whipped for the crimes of Arthur Burns. Winstone, though still staying reserved, is very moving as the Captain tries to convince Fletcher both for the fact that he knows Mikey's mental state, but as well knows what will happen if the proposition is broken. Winstone is amazing as he powerfully shows in this scene the way the Captain can barely hold back his pain due to knowledge of what the consequences will be.

This is really an outstanding performance by Ray Winstone because really the Captain in lesser hands could have been a throwaway part almost, as the complexities of the man could have easily been lost. Winstone though makes the Captain a fascinating three dimensional character whom we can easily empathize with. Importantly though he makes the Captain story just as interesting, and in fact more powerful even than the other half with the Burns brothers. Truthfully the Captain story could have seemed dull compared to the crazy and violent Burns clan. Winstone though never allows his half of the story to sink for even a moment though. He uplifts it at all times creating a full fledged and incredibly poignant portrait of a man whose dream to civilize becomes a nightmare of chaos.

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Alternate Best Actor 2005: Guy Pearce in The Proposition

Guy Pearce did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Charlie Burns in The Proposition.

The Proposition is an effective film about a British lawman making a deal with an outlaw that if the outlaw kills his older brother he will not hang the outlaw's younger brother.

Guy Pearce portrays the outlaw given the proposition that he seems to accept, and goes off to find his older brother Arthur (Danny Huston) while his younger brother Mikey is being held to be hung if Charlie does not kill his brother by Christmas. Pearce portrays one of the two leads in this film, which is a very interesting film in that although there are flamboyant performances in the film from a great number of the supporting cast particularly Danny Huston, and John Hurt as a racist Bounty Hunter, but the leads of the film both give rather understated performances.

Pearce portrays Charlie Burns as a reserved man and does well to show the life of the man is reflected in his face. In the film we only learn of rather limited information about the Burns boys and their endeavors of outlaws. We never do learn exactly how much Charlie and Mikey were really involved with the crimes ascribed to Arthur, but Pearce does well in creating his own history of Charlie through his performance. He portrays Charlie as a rather hard man, certainly with his own wealth of less than savory experiences that seems to have permanently tarnished his expression to at least some degree.

The Proposition is an interesting film in that really one can sympathize with both leads, even though they are in a way at opposite ends. Pearce though allows us to easily follow Charlie through his half of the story as well as sympathize with him by portraying that the driving force that propels him in this story is his concern for his younger brother. Pearce is very strong in creating the strong need Charlie has to protect his brother. In the film itself Charlie says very little in regards to how deeply he cares about, but Pearce very powerfully portrays the very emphatic need Charlie feels to do what is best for his brother. 

Pearce really says very little throughout the film, in fact most of the time he is looking at others studying them in some way. Pearce is especially adept at portraying the feelings within Charlie without saying very much at all during his performance. His very best scenes involving this come in all of his scenes with Danny Huston as Charlie's deranged older brother. Pearce is almost completely silent in these scenes but he is perfect in conveying the struggle within Charlie during these scenes on whether or not to kill his older brother to save his younger. Pearce is excellent because he portrays a distaste for his brother, yet at the same time the two actors properly establish a familiarity between the two.

Guy Pearce is a strong presence throughout the film, but his best scenes come at the very end of the film when Charlie finally does choose to act. Pearce is perfect in the last moments of the film portraying the part still very quietly but with tremendous impact as he shows quickly Charlie's grief for his younger brother that quickly becomes a passionate anger against Charlie's older brother. His fierce stare, and his delivery of "no more" Pearce absolutely delivers the necessary impact the final scene of the film deserves, and as well he creates the proper resolution between the relationship between the two brothers.

Guy Pearce gives a very good performance here as the co-lead of the film, and fulfills his half of the film extremely well. Pearce although underplays his role very throughout the film but he does not fail to stand out just the same. Even in scenes with far more extroverted characterizations Pearce never allows himself to be overshadowed in the film. He stays firm in the film doing well in his assured, and realistic reactions in the film. In a way Pearce through his work here even allows the performances of Hurt, and Huston the impact they should through the way he reserves himself in the film. Yet Pearce even in his minimalist approach still creates a remarkable portrait of this outlaw.

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Alternate Best Actor 2005

And the Nominees Were Not:

Guy Pearce in The Proposition

Ray Winstone in The Proposition 

Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence

Tommy Lee Jones in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

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