Another Year And Another Official Lineup

Once again my annual predictions for Lead and Supporting Actor at the Oscars.With lead, as with last year, I'm going with the SAG line up. Which gave me 4 out of the five correctly. This could be a year where they line up perfectly since there is no reason not to believe it, since all of their films have been performing well essentially to back them up. The two obvious alternatives of Tom Hanks, and Joel Edgerton came from films which already had...

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Alternate Best Actor 1993: Daniel Day-Lewis in The Age of Innocence

Daniel Day-Lewis did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Newland Archer in The Age of Innocence.Age of Innocence is a fairly remarkable film about the very proper romantic entanglements in upper class 18th century New York.1993 offered yet another banner year for Day-Lewis, much like in his breakout year in 1985, through his vastly different characters he portrayed. His Oscar nominated turn as a seemingly aimless Irish youth wrongly accused...

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Alternate Best Actor 1993: Anthony Wong in The Untold Story

Anthony Wong did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Wong Chi-hang in The Untold Story.The Untold story tells the true story of a serial killer cook, although this version of the story is the type you might find within a dirty copy of a sleazy gossip rag in the trash of a smelly bus station bathroom.The film though is acutely aware of this as it goes for pure exploitation here. The film would be like if in Zodiac you spent half the film...

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Alternate Best Actor 1993

And the Nominees Were Not:Daniel Day-Lewis in The Age of InnocenceAnthony Wong in The Untold StoryAnthony Hopkins in ShadowlandsJesse Bradford in King of the HillLeslie Cheung in Farewell My ConcubineAnd finally a review of:Jeff Daniels in Gettysb...

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Alternate Best Actor 1951: Results

5. Raj Kapoor in Awaara - Despite the somewhat disjointed nature of what is required of him, Kapoor actually matches well any tone or style is requested of him by himself as director.   Best Scene: Raj catches the "thief".4. Richard Basehart in Fourteen Hours - Basehart keeps most of his more theatrical tendencies under control to an effective portrayal of the intense state of mind on the edge both literally and metaphorically.Best...

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Alternate Best Actor 1951: Raj Kapoor in Awaara

Raj Kapoor did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Raj Raghunath in Awaara.Awaara has a potentially interesting story through the trials of a young thief who is the disowned son of a wealthy judge. I'm here to give my opinion though so I have to admit the Bollywood musical scenes completely weighed the film down for me. It makes the pacing somewhat intolerable and every time they came in they completely...

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Alternate Best Actor 1951: Michael Redgrave in The Browning Version

Michael Redgrave did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite winning Cannes, for portraying Andrew Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version.The Browning Version is a rather excellent film about the last days of a public school professor.Michael Redgrave is an actor who I have appreciated his past work to be sure, though those were often in smaller roles, or as co-leads. Redgrave is the central figure to this film, and I won't attempt to obscure my...

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Alternate Best Actor 1951: Trevor Howard in Outcast of the Islands

Trevor Howard did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Peter Willems in Outcast of the Islands.Outcast of the Islands is a very intriguing character study about a rogue who is given a second chance on trading post/island.Trevor Howard is an actor I've liked in the past in his roles as either the suave gentlemen, or the fierce gruff type, this is perhaps the most challenging role I've seen him undertake. It is also the first of his leading...

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Alternate Best Actor 1951: Oskar Werner in Decision Before Dawn

Oskar Werner did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Corporal Karl Maurer aka Happy in Decision Before Dawn.Decision Before Dawn about a German being made a spy for the allies takes a little too long on its setup but is a decent thriller once it focuses on that character.Oskar Werner plays the eventual lead of the film as Happy, who we first see as a German medic and POW but later becomes a spy for the Allies. The film takes a bit of time...

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Alternate Best Actor 1951: Richard Basehart in Fourteen Hours

Richard Basehart did not receive an Oscar nomination, despite winning NBR, for portraying Robert Cosick in Fourteen Hours.Fourteen Hours is rather compelling hidden gem, despite a few lets slowly explain the psychology of the situation it to the audience moments, about a man standing on a ledge of a tall building threatening to commit suicide.Richard Basehart plays the man who we first meet as he's already on the ledge apparently waiting to jump...

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Alternate Best Actor 1951

And the Nominees Were Not:Raj Kapoor in AwaaraOskar Werner in Decision Before DawnTrevor Howard in Outcast of the IslandsMichael Redgrave in The Browning VersionRichard Basehart in Fourteen Hours...

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2005: Results

5. Jeffrey Wright in Broken Flowers - Wright gives a relatively brief yet enjoyable turn bringing such endearing enthusiasm to his role as a kooky wannabe detective. Best Scene:Winston lays out the case.  4. Min-sik Choi in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance - Choi has a limited role yet still gives a captivating portrayal of diabolical sleaze. Best Scene: "Nobody's perfect" 3. Cillian Murphy in Red Eye - Murphy gives first a charming than rather chilling...

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