Friday (the 13th) Questions

It’s not just Friday Question Day. It’s Friday the 13th Question Day. Don’t read while operating heavy equipment.
Andy Ihnatko starts us off:

Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant's book about screenwriting mentions an dirty trick: an unscrupulous screenwriter hired to polish the seventh draft might change the name of a central character, just so that later on, he can claim co-screenwriter

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Best Supporting Actor 2004: Alan Alda in The Aviator

Alan Alda received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Senator Owen Brewster in The Aviator.

Senator Owen Brewster acts a basically a tool against Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) to be used by his International airwaves rival Juan Trippe (Alex Baldwin). This is a little bit of a head scratcher of a nomination simply because Brewster does very little, and only has a few scenes in total. He first tries to prod Hughes to see things his way through a blackmail of sorts, but than after Hughes refuses he attacks Hughes by publicly calling him a war profiteer and holding a Senate hearing to investigate and attack Hughes.

Although his part is very limited Alda actually is pretty much exactly as he should be. He really is a hatchet man used by Trippe for Hughes, but he does it all in a traditional sort of politician smile. Alda has that smile and has the right dynamic between being that friend of everyone politician face along with a more sinsiter quality in his eyes for when he needs to do what he must. Alda is fine in showing that Brewster is putting on always a bit of act that allows him to be a senator.

Past just the whole idea of who Brewster is Alda does not do all that much in the part, since we don't really know much about Brewster other than that he is against Hughes and for Trippe. There is never a moment that he is anymore than a typical poor sort of politician. Alda is never bad in the role, and is exactly as he should. Is it anything that needed to be awarded, no, is it very memorable, no, but it is technically a descent performance nonetheless.

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Best Supporting Actor 2004

And the Nominees Were:

Alan Alda in The Aviator

Thomas Haden Church in Sideways

Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby

Clive Owen in Closer

Jamie Foxx in Collateral

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In defense of Diablo Cody

I love when blog posts generate other blog posts. My review of YOUNG ADULT prompted reader Tim W. to write this:

You should do a blog post in defense of Diablo Cody. What seems to be the biggest complaint among her detractors is that her dialogue is not realistic and too stylized. That bothers me because there are few writers that actually seem to have a unique voice and when one does, they get

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Best Supporting Actor 1964: Results

5. Edmond O'Brien in Seven Days in May- O'Brien has limited opportunities due to the nature of the film, but he still manages to realize his alcoholic senator quite well.

4. Lee Tracy in The Best Man- Tracy is good in showing the differences between his warm great facade, and his cynical side he shows behind close doors.

3. Stanley Holloway in My Fair Lady- Stanley Holloway gives a very enjoyable performance that is very entertaining, he also handles his songs incredibly well making them some of the best moments of the film.

2. John Gielgud in Becket- Gielgud although is in the film for less than ten minutes makes a sustainable impression instantly bringing Louis to life as a charismatic, humorous, and strong willed King.

1. Peter Ustinov in Topkapi- Good Prediction Dinasztie. This is a very good year actually with all of the nominees giving good performances. The best though is easily Peter Ustinov even though to be fair he had an advantage since he is the lead of his film. Ustinov nonetheless gives an absolutely hilarious performance, that makes Arthur Simpson a wonderful endearing character that is joy to follow through the film's story.

Deserving Performances:
George C. Scott in Dr. Strangelove
Frank Overton in Fail-Safe
Fredric March in Seven Days in May

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Best Supporting Actor 1964: Edmond O'Brien in Seven Days in May

Edmond O'Brien received his second and final Oscar nomination for portraying Senator Raymond Clark in Seven Days in May.

Seven Days in May is a political thriller about an attempt to overthrow the U.S. government.

Edmond O'Brien portrays one of the loyal men to the president Jordan Lyman (Fredric March who gives the best performance in the film, but probably suffered from category confusion). O'Brien role is rather simple in that he acts as an operative for the president in trying to find out the truth behind a secret army base. Edmond O'Brien although has a descent amount of screen time he spends most of the time listening to others as he attempts to either help the president or decipher the mystery of the possible coup. O'Brien is required to develop his whole character as he moves through the plot.

O'Brien actually handles this quite well and does develop Raymond Clark into an actual person despite limitations caused by the type of film it is. In all of his scenes he makes an enjoyable characterization of a real old timey southern Senator, who drinks to much, but does believe in the president and plans do to his best to help him. O'Brien has some very good mannerisms here, that although he ensures they are very distinct he also never overplays them to the point that they become caricature.

He realizes Clark with these mannerisms very well showing exactly where he comes from and as well as his clear history in politics. O'Brien creates the history of the man simply in his face. O'Brien is good as he proceeds to show Clark as a flawed man being an aged alcoholic, but still a man with pride, as O'Brien shows in his scenes of supporting the president. O'Brien has the passion of Clark just right as it certainly is reduced by age and drink, but it still is clearly apparent. This is not an amazing performance by O'Brien, but most certainly an interesting one and from what he did do with Clark, I actually wish he had been given more to do in the script than he was allowed.

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Best Supporting Actor 1964: John Gielgud in Becket

John Gielgud received his first Oscar nomination for portraying King Louis VII of France in Becket.

John Gielgud portrays King Louis of France who actually is only in two scenes during the film. This is not a forgettable two scene performance though, and does give the most memorable supporting performance in the film. In his first scene he stands as an ally of sorts for Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) who is at odds with King Henry II (Peter O'Toole). He really makes himself an ally because anyone who makes a problem for Henry helps him since France and England stand at constant odds with one another.

Gielgud is always absolutely at ease with these sort of authority roles, which is quite necessary for the part since the film requires that Louis establishes himself as a King all in a single scene. Gielgud must have the Kingly presence right from the first moment because he is gone in the next. Gielgud though is a master of these sorts of character and has all of the qualities realized from his first scene. From the moment you see him you not only know he is the king, but also a strong willed King, just from the the way Gielgud looks and stands.

When he talks Gielgud only furthers his characterization of a jovial, quick witted King, who also always seems to be in charge of his affairs. Gielgud has the right command of his single scene, and does take over the scene as needed. In his one scene he is charming, he is funny, and he shows the experience of Louis when it comes to manners involving Henry, through his fairly casual manner he helps Becket undermine Henry as well as he is able to.

It is a great single scene performance that is perfectly placed within the film. His other scene really does not have much to it he just quickly brings Becket to meet Henry, although again Gielgud shows the strength and the intelligence of Louis. Gielgud certainly is not on screen for long, but he still leaves a nice impression after he has left the screen. Louis could easily have been a forgettable character, with a forgettable performance behind him, but Gielgud does his best to make the most of his relatively minor character.

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