Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2016: Results

13. Yoshi Oida in Silence - Oida gives a moving depiction of the quiet earnest devotion of one of the most devote Christians in Japan.

Best Scene: Ichizo pleads for someone to join him.

12. Shinya Tsukamoto in Silence -Tsukamoto along with Oida gives a moving depiction of a devoted Christian particularly as he faces certain demise.

Best Scene: A final hymn.

11. Alden Ehrenreich in Hail Caesar! - Ehrenreich gives a very funny performance by being so earnest in his approach to a singing cowboy who tries to be an actor.

Best Scene: Would that it were so simple.

10. Harvey Scrimshaw in The Witch - Scrimshaw gives an effective natural depiction of a boy in an unnatural situation that is absolutely haunting in his final moments.

Best Scene: Caleb wakes up.

9. Damian Lewis in Our Kind of Traitor - Lewis gives an incredibly compelling performance that works so well within the certain constraints he purposefully sets up for his refined government agent.

Best Scene: Hector tells about his son. 

8. Tadanobu Asano in Silence - Asano gives an extremely incisive yet somehow funny portrayal of a man viciously needling his hostage in order to break him. 

Best Scene: The interpreter meets Rodrigues.

7. Ralph Ineson in The Witch - Ineson gives a powerful depiction of a man essentially coming to terms with his own desperate state, and losing his delusions of grandeur.

Best Scene: William's prayer at night. 

6. Stellan Skårsgard in Our Kind of Traitor - Skårsgard is asked to do a lot in short order, yet he matches the challenge while giving an incredibly poignant portrait of a man doing whatever it takes to save his family.

Best Scene: Dima says goodbye to Perry.

5. Yosuke Kubozuka in Silence - Kubozuka gives a haunting portrayal that grants a heartbreaking understanding of what seems to be a wretched man.  

Best Scene: Kichijiro's first Confession.

4. Liam Neeson in Silence - Neeson in only a few scenes leaves such a considerable impression through his subversion of his usual role as the confident mentor by instead portraying a sad broken man being forced to destroy his own teachings.

Best Scene: Ferreira meets Rodrigues.

3. Issey Ogata in Silence - Ogata gives a truly menacing yet somehow also absolutely hilarious portrayal of a persecutor with a unique yet brutally effective method of destroying his foes.  

Best Scene: A story of Concubines. 

2. Sam Neill in Hunt for the Wilderpeople - Sam Neill delivers his best performance giving such a hilarious yet heartwarming portraying an irascible old man finding a connection with a troubled boy. Neill balances the various tones of the film brilliantly to be both very funny yet incredibly touching in depicting Uncle Hec's personal journey during his more literal journey through the bush.

Best Scene: The Boar. 

1. Ben Foster in Hell or High Water - Good prediction Michael McCarthy, and Luke Foster gives yet another great performance to his ever growing list of them. He gives an entertaining yet edgy depiction of an outlaw, yet he underlines it all with just a heartbreaking portrayal of man who has only ever found any use for himself as a criminal. Although this was a strong year for the category I have to admit this was an easy choice for me. Not just because this is a great performance, it is, but it hit me on an even more personal level than a good performance already hits you on.

This is not something I mentioned in my review but will I now. Foster's realization of Tanner went even further for me as he so reminded of my own older brother with whom I share a similair relationship to that Toby shares with Tanner, though far less extreme and in different circumstances of course. The little nuances and details of such relationship were there for me, and it connected with me on an even deeper level because of that. I simply cannot deny something like that.

Best Scene: The brothers say their goodbyes.

Overall Rank:

1. Ben Foster in Hell or High Water
2. Sam Neill in Hunt for the Wilderpeople
3. Issey Ogata in Silence
4. Liam Neeson in Silence
5. Yosuke Kubozuka in Silence
6. Mahershala Ali in Moonlight
7. Stellan Skårsgard in Our Kind of Traitor
8. Ralph Ineson in The Witch
9. Tadanobu Asano in Silence 
10. Damian Lewis in Our Kind of Traitor
11. Hugo Weaving in Hacksaw Ridge 
12. Woody Harrelson in The Edge of Seventeen
13. Harvey Scrimshaw in The Witch
14. Alden Ehrenreich in Hail Caesar!
15. Christopher Lloyd in I Am Not A Serial Killer
16. Shinya Tsukamoto in Silence
17. Yoshi Oida in Silence 
18. Gil Birmingham in Hell or High Water 
19. Sharlto Copley in Hardcore Henry
20. Jack Reynor in Sing Street
21. Macon Blair in Green Room
22. Tracy Letts in Christine
23. Ha Jung-woo in The Handmaiden
24. Nick Offerman in The Founder
25. John Carroll Lynch in The Founder
26. Toby Kebbell in A Monster Calls
27. Jun Kunimura in The Wailing
28. Jared Harris in Certain Women
29. Alan Rickman in Eye in the Sky
30. Donnie Yen in Rogue One 
31. Tom Bennett in Love and Friendship
32. Adam Driver in Silence
33. John Goodman in 10 Cloverfield Lane
34. Andre Holland in Moonlight
35. Ma Dong-Seok in Train to Busan
36. Jovan Adepo in Fences
37. Kurt Russell in Deepwater Horizon 
38. Ralph Fiennes in Hail Caesar!
39. Patrick Stewart in Green Room 
40. Kevin Costner in Hidden Figures
41. Aaron Paul in Eye in the Sky
42. Mykelti Williamson in Fences
43. Sebastian Stan in Captain America Civil War 
44. Alan Tudyk in Rogue One
45. Jharrel Jerome in Moonlight 
46. Tom Wilkinson in Denial
47. John Gallagher Jr. in 10 Cloverfield Lane
48. Lucas Dawson in The Witch
49. Stephen Henderson in Fences
50. Barkhad Abdi in Eye in the Sky
51. Bradley Whitford in Other People
52. Daniel Bruhl in Captain America Civil War
53. Mads Mikkelsen in Rogue One
54. Luke Bracey in Hacksaw Ridge 
55. Evan Peters in X-Men Apocalypse
56. Byung-hun Lee in The Age of Shadows
57. Tom Holland in Captain America Civil War
58. Alessandro Nivola in The Neon Demon
59. Kevin Spacey in Elvis & Nixon 
60. George Clooney in Hail Caesar!
61. Liam Neeson in A Monster Calls 
62. Cho Jin-woong in The Handmaiden
63. Barry Shabaka Henley in Paterson
64. Billy Crudup in Jackie
65. John Leguizamo in The Infiltrator
66. Frank Langella in Captain Fantastic
67. Peter Sarsgaard in Jackie
68. Keegan Michael-Key in Don't Think Twice
69. Ethan Hawke in The Magnificent Seven 
70. Chadwick Boseman in Captain America Civil War
71. John Hurt in Jackie
72. Billy Crudup in 20th Century Women 
73. Max Baker in Hail Caesar!
74. Michael Fassbender in X-Men Apocalypse
75. William Jackson Harper in Paterson
76. Bill Murray in The Jungle Book 
77. Russell Hornsby in Fences 
78. Blake Jenner in The Edge of Seventeen
79. Rene Auberjonois in Certain Women
80. James McAvoy in X-Men Apocalypse
81. Anthony Mackie in Captain America Civil War
82. Adam Driver in Midnight Special  
83. Paul Rudd in Captain America Civil War
84. Ralph Fiennes in Kubo and the Two Strings
85. Riz Ahmed in Rogue One
86. Byung-hun Lee in The Magnificent Seven
87. Masatoshi Nagase in Paterson 
88. Mike Birbiglia in Don't Think Twice
89. Channing Tatum in Hail Caesar!
90. Idris Elba in The Jungle Book  
91. Hayden Szeto in The Edge of Seventeen
92. Mads Mikkelsen in Dr. Strange
93. Lucas Hedges in Manchester by the Sea 
94. David Wenham in Lion
95. Jiang Wen in Rogue One
96. Brendan Gleeson in Live By Night
97. Toby Jones in The Man Who Knew Infinity
98. Sam Worthington in Hacksaw Ridge
99. TJ Miller in Deadpool
100. Jimmy O Yang in Patriots Day
101. Charles Berling in Elle
102. Michael Shannon in Nocturnal Animals
103. Simon Pegg in Star Trek Beyond
104. Toby Jones in Anthropoid
105. Colin Farrell in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 
106. Oscar Kightley in Hunt for the Wilderpeople
107. Aaron Eckhart in Bleed for This
108. Colin Hanks in Elvis & Nixon
109. Rhys Darby in Hunt for the Wilderpeople
110. Jeremy Renner in Captain America Civil War
111. JK Simmons in Kung Fu Panda 3  
112. Stefan Kapicic in Deadpool
113. Ben Kingsley in The Jungle Book 
114. Michael Sheen in Passengers 
115. Hwang Jung-min in The Wailing
116. Joel Edgerton in Midnight Special
117. Michael Parks in Blood Father
118. Shingo Tsurumi in The Age of Shadows 
119. Aidan Gillen in Sing Street
120. Corey Stoll in Cafe Society 
121. Jaden Piner in Moonlight
122. Ben Mendelsohn in Rogue One
123. Robert Picardo in Hail Caesar!
124. Joe Cole in Green Room
125. Kyle Chandler in Manchester by The Sea
126. Alex Wolff in Patriots Day
127. Themo Melikidze in Patriots Day
128. Benedict Wong in Dr. Strange 
129. Callum Turner in Green Room
130. Ed Skrein in Deadpool
131. Keanu Reeves in The Neon Demon
132. Timothy Spall in Denial
133. Frank Grillo in Captain America Civil War
134. Bryan Cranston in Kung Fu Panda 3
135. Matthew Goode in Allied  
136. Chiwetel Ejiofor in Dr. Strange
137. Mahershala Ali in Hidden Figures
138. Bill Camp in Midnight Special
139. Mahershala Ali in Free State of Jones
140. Jared Harris in Allied  
141. Laurence Fishburne in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 
142. Ciaran Hinds in Bleed For This
143. Jemaine Clement in Moana 
144. Kevin Bacon in Patriots Day 
145. Nicolas Cage in Snowden
146. John Goodman Patriots Day
147. Ben Foster in The Finest Hours  
148. Babak Karimi in The Salesman
149. Laurence Fishburne in Passengers
150. Jonas Bloquet in Elle
151. Ciaran Hinds in Silence
152. JK Simmons in Patriots Day
153. Woody Harrelson in Triple 9 
154. William H. Macy in Blood Father
155. Jeremy Irons in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
156. Kodi Smit-McPhee in X-Men Apocalypse
157. Ethan Suplee in Deepwater Horizon 
158. Jay Hernandez in Suicide Squad
159. Karl Urban in Star Trek Beyond 
160. Tye Sheridan in X-Men Apocalypse
161. Clancy Brown in Hail Caesar! 
162. George MacKay in Captain Fantastic
163. Rhys Ifans in Snowden
164. Aaron Eckhart in Sully
165. Chiwetel Ejiofor in Triple 9
166. Laurent Lafitte in Elle
167. Zachary Quinto in Star Trek Beyond
168. Harry Lloyd in Anthropoid
169. August Diehl in Allied  
170. David Costabile in 13 Hours
171. Anthony Mackie in Triple 9
172. Ken Stott in Cafe Society
173. Simon McBurney in Allied
174. Bradley Cooper in War Dogs
175. Karl Geary in I Am Not a Serial Killer 
176. Graham McTavish in The Finest Hours
177. Norman Reedus in Triple 9 
178. Chris Messina in Live By Night
179. Jeremy Renner in Arrival
180. Chris Cooper in Demolition
181. Keanu Reeves in Keanu 
182. Edgar Ramirez in Gold
183. Mark Strong in Miss Sloane 
184. Stephen Fry in Love and Friendship
185. Vince Vaughn in Hacksaw Ridge
186. JK Simmons in The Accountant 
187. Idris Elba in Zootopia
188. Jai Courtney in Suicide Squad
189. Kevin Pollack in War Dogs
190. Christopher Lambert in Hail Caesar!
191. Michael Shannon in Loving 
192. Sam Waterston in Miss Sloane
193. Steve Carrell in Cafe Society 
194. Sam Shepard in Midnight Special
195. Anton Lesser in Allied 
196. Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nocturnal Animals 
197. Jon Bernthal in The Accountant 
198. JK Simmons in Zootopia
199. Clifton Collins Jr. in Triple 9
200. Method Man in Keanu 
201. Anton Yelchin in Star Trek Beyond
202. Choi Woo-shik in Train to Busan
203. Jason Mitchell in Keanu
204. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in The Magnificent Seven
205. Andrew Scott in Denial
206. Forest Whittaker in Arrival
207. Michael C. Hall in Christine
208. Don Wycherley in Sing Street
209. Eric Bana in The Finest Hours
210. Chris Gethard in Don't Think Twice
211. Matthew McConaughey in Kubo and the Two Strings
212. Kim Eui-sung in Train to Busan
213. Scoot McNairy in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 
214. Martin Sensemeier in The Magnificent Seven
215. Johnny Depp in Yoga Hosers 
216. Christopher Walken in The Jungle Book
217. Tracy Letts in Indignation
218. Chris Hemsworth in Ghostbusters 
219. Keith David in The Nice Guys
220. Idris Elba in Star Trek Beyond
221. John Lithgow in The Accountant 
222. Zach Woods in Other People
223. Dylan Minnette in Don't Breathe
224. Andy Garcia in Ghostbusters
225. Peyman Moaadi in 13 Hours
226. Justin Long in Yoga Hosers 
227. Matt Bomer in The Nice Guys 
228. Michael Stuhlbarg in Arrival
229. Robert Glenister in Live By Night
230. Michael Sheen in Nocturnal Animals
231. Will Smith in Suicide Squad 
232. Oscar Isaac in X-Men Apocalypse
233. Beau Knapp in The Nice Guys
234. Luke Evans in Girl on the Train
235. Michael Stuhlbarg in Miss Sloane
236. Chris Cooper in Live By Night
237. Ezra Miller in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
238. Daniel Zovatto in Don't Breath
239. John Malkovich in Deepwater Horizon 
240. Nick Kroll in Loving
241. Aaron Paul in Triple 9 
242. Jim Parsons in Hidden Figures
243. Vincent D'Onofrio in The Magnificent Seven
244. Diego Luna in Blood Father
245. Armie Hammer in Nocturnal Animals  
246. Forest Whittaker in Rogue One 
247. Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
248. Jacob Latimore in Collateral Beauty 
249. Justin Theroux in Girl on the Train
250. Bill Murray in Ghostbusters 
251. Judah Lewis in Demolition
252. Peter Sarsgaard in The Magnificent Seven
253. Ralph Garman in Yoga Hosers
254. Joel Kinnaman in Suicide Squad
255. Tyler Posey in Yoga Hosers
256. Jesse Eisenberg in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
257. Matthew Maher in Live By Night
258. Simon Helberg in Florence Foster Jenkins
259. Jared Leto in Suicide Squad
260. Edward Norton in Collateral Beauty
261. Austin Butler in Yoga Hosers
262. Neil Casey in Ghostbusters
263. Michael Pena in Collateral Beauty

Next Year: 1937 though I'm going to take a break until after the Oscars.

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2016: Shinya Tsukamoto, Yoshi Oida, Tadanobu Asano, Issey Ogata, Liam Neeson, and Yosuke Kubozuka in Silence

Shinya Tsukamoto and Yoshi Oida did not receive Oscar nominations for portraying Mokichi and Ichizo respectively in Silence.

Although Silence may seem to be a story about an individual's journey, the story of Jesuit priest Sebastião Rodrigues, played brilliantly by Andrew Garfield,  as he attempts to spread Christianity in Japan while learning of the whereabouts of his former mentor, it is so much more than that. The film is built around Rodrigues, but through him we encounter so many different people within 17th century Japan. Two of the first Rodrigues, and his fellow priest Garupe (Adam Driver), encoutner are Mokichi and Ichizo played by Shinya Tsukamoto and Yoshi Oida. The two men are Japanese Christians with Ichizo having even been trained to give baptisms. Their performances are defined by an honesty in their very presence. Both Tsukamoto and Oida portray this desperate passion in the men in order to renew their faith once more. The two portray a direct uncompromising respect for the priests, which comes with this palatable attachment the villagers have to what they bring in to their lives.

What is important about both of their performances is that even within the intensity of that attachment the two directly show the appreciation that each man has for the priests, which directly connects to their faith. The desperation is real but within it Oida and Tsukamoto reveal what it is that Mokichi and Ichizo are granted from it. When in direct interaction, of their faith, they portray the solace they receive from it. Their joy is overwhelming at times and in that they directly suggest not only what they find in their beliefs but also what it grants them. All in this though we are given an insight into the very peculiar status of the men's beliefs considering that they are technically praying in secret. This is found in their performances that convey this terrible attempt to keep hidden something they hold dear. That intense fear they both bring when they believe they may loses the priests, it is not that either of them are holding onto the men, but rather the idea of the men being such powerful tools of their belief.

Their test of faith comes though when the Japanese inquisition visits their village, and again both actors excel in these scenes. There is real power in the terror that grace their face as they attempt to stand in front of the inquisition. It is decided that both Mokichi and Ichizo must be hostages, but they must find two more. Oida has a terrific scene where he reveals the pure unadulterated faith in Ichizo as he pleads with another to join them in their sacrifice. Here in these scene there such a poignancy in depicting both men attempting to deal with their own struggle to abandon their faith in order to save themselves. Both are exceptional in the moment where Rodrigues grants them the permission to trample the image of Christ they will be presented with. Rodrigues's own statement is given understanding through the sheer horror that Tsukamoto portrays as he asks what to do, and Oida is equally effective as he conveys Ichizo's surprise at the advice. The two fail though to apostatize to the inquisitions requirement, they do trample the image Christ but without certainty. Again both of the performances are essential in these moments as silently they given the terrible struggle in both men, and allude to their belief. The men are sentenced to death and slowly executed by the tide while placed upon wooden crosses. This is Tsukamoto's scene and he is heart wrenching throughout the scene. As he reveals the man's slow emotional death in painful detail. What makes it so moving though is that Tsukamoto depicts still that solace in the man's eyes as he says a pray for his friend when Ichizo dies, and then later when he sings a hymn as he tries to hold onto life or perhaps ease his death. Both actors give very strong performances as they so effectively, and importantly grant a face to the Japanese Christians and their struggle. Their deaths are not meaningless, as they continue to haunt long after their departure.

Tadanobu Asano and Issey Ogata did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying The Interpreter and the inquisitor Inoue Masashige respectively in Silence.

The lead persecutor of Christians in Japan we actually meet relatively early on as the Japanese inquisition first visits the Christian villagers. Ogata appears but does not speak for some time. In these scenes though we do get a glimpse into his rather brilliant approach to the part. As he's riding through the village he does not stare down at the villagers with hate, but actually a rather pleasant smile. Ogata's approach is not to present Inoue as this sinister villain instead playing the role kind of like a kooky old grandfather. The amazing part of it is how well he pulls it off. He's unassuming as we see him yet there is just something so interesting about the old man who rides with the inquisition. Everything about Ogata's demeanor is kind of something else, and again brilliantly so. The way he squints his eyes, his hunch, and especially that almost sweet? voice that he does, grants a most unique presence within the film to say the least. He gives though the age of the character, but also this man of power who essentially behaves in a way that only a man with his power could behave.

A shame about a transformative performance like this is it is not one that can be readily appreciated, though Ogata was the only supporting actor from the ensemble recognized anywhere to begin with, but if one actually goes to see the man in an interview one can see that he truly went out on a limb with his performance here. It absolutely works though and makes him the all the more effective as a villain. Ogata does not really speak for over an hour into the film, even though we see him before that point, after Rodrigues has been captured with a group of Japanese Christians. He speaks and we get a glimpse of Inoue's most unusual method of defeating his enemies. In that Ogata delivers his initial words against the Christians as though he is merely pleasantly giving them a bit of advice. This even continues as he opens up to Rodrigues, but this changes when Rodrigues makes it clear that he will not be an easily defeated priest. Ogata's switch is perfect, as well as rather menacing, revealing a more exact hatred, when he makes his frustrations known directly to him. I especially admire his venomous delivery of "The price of you glory is their suffering" suggesting a less gentle man when he sees that this priest will take some time.

We are soon introduced to the second persecutor with considerable emphasis within film which is the man only named as the interpreter. He is the man who most often interacts with Rodrigues as they attempt to get him to apostatize. Although the interpreter fulfills the requirements of his name that is not his only purpose. Tadanobu Asano's work is yet another striking turn in this film. Asano again twists the part in rather compelling way. He does not scream at Rodrigues, but he rather, well what's the best word to describe, yes I know, he trolls him. Asano delivers this palatable disdain in everything about his performance that is so effective in offering this curious atypical yet still sinister presence. What's so great about Asano's approach is just how much passive aggression he brings to the part, though he portrays all of the interpreters hatred as very much a natural state of being that he's quite comfortable with. Asano is not one note though even quite effectively delivering a real passion as he states what the value in Buddism is. Asano delivers this straight to even allow one to potentially agree with the interpreter, of course then Asano is so incisive as he turns this honest defense into a vicious attack against Rodrigues's own beliefs.

Now the reason I discussed Ogata and Asano together, besides that their characters are in supportive of each other in the same task, is that they are also kind of hilarious. Despite being the most identifiable villains for the film, they are also the source of the most light hearted moments in the film. What is astonishing is that it somehow feels not only natural it only elevates the film's strengths all the more. A great deal of the credit for this needs to go to both actors. Asano's comedic moments come from that general sense of superiority he grants the Interpreter. Asano though is suddenly funny when he is funny, particularly his timing when Rodrigues asks if their plan is to let their body betray him and he instantly counters "Not at all" with such abrasive indifference. Ogata's very being is amusing particularly with the little business he goes in whether it is shooing a fly in his initial interrogation or his manner of calling or punishing those he needs when he's trying to straighten up. Both make the humor genuine, and fitting to their characters. In these instances Asano and Ogata reflect the attitudes of the men whose job it has become to inflict such punishments, and they're so comfortable in it that they can be rather blasé about it all. 

Ogata and Asano do not compromise their characters intentions though with those lighter moments. They are a natural part of their overarching characterizations of these inquisitors. When they become more direct in their technique both are brutally effective. Again one of the most notable sequences of the film is when Rodrigues is forced to watch Father Garupe drown in a failed attempt to save some of the Japanese Christians. Asano is bone chilling in the scene as he offers such exact remarks towards Rodrigues throughout it. There is no sympathy just the intention to break the man with his cruel words that are made all the crueler through Asano's direct almost unemotional delivery. Ogata excels in crafting this most unusual man's way of destroying those who oppose him, and he manages to make something so menacing out of only usually implying what he's capable of. We actually don't really ever hear him order someone to be directly executed or tortured. Ogata gives us that sly smile and even a warmth as he speaks to Rodrigues about a story regarding concubines, even offering this shyness as he ponders if he should regale such a story to a celibate priest. When the story is revealed to be a metaphor for the other countries interfering in Japan, there is this darker shade in his eyes, which only worsens when Rodrigues's resolve is not lost. Ogata in those moments suggests the man responsible for the torture and murders of so many. Ogata though in the end presents a man who has come to attempt to convert rather than kill, though that may involve the killing of others. I feel this is best represented in Ogata's final scene where he actually comforts the defeated Rodrigues, and delivers his message as "hey you tried your best but it was all against you". Ogata gives a great performance as he not only offers such a unique character, that you feel has quite the life outside of the frame we view him in. Asano and Ogata realize the effectiveness of the inquisition. They present men who have become so very comfortable and efficient in their task, making it almost second nature to them, even though it involves so many horrible deeds.

(Asano)

(Ogata)
Liam Neeson did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Father Cristovao Ferreira in Silence.

Liam Neeson plays almost the Colonel Kurtz for the journey, in that he's technically the end goal of the missionaries. Unlike Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now we actually do see Liam Neeson before the end. He opens the film as we witness part of Father Ferreira's, who lead the Christian mission in Japan, downfall as he watches his fellow priests being slowly tortured. Neeson is devastating in these glimpses offering a man worn away by his anguish. Neeson in the flashbacks later as well shows a man who has been through hell and is almost hollow in the way his strength has been purged from him. We do not see Ferreira again for over two hours when he finally appears to be a final weapon of sorts by the inquisition in order to get Rodrigues to apostatize, as Ferreira had done. Ferreira is mentioned several times before his reappearance, as the inquisition name him as a great example for all others as he has not only given up his faith but also lives as a Japanese. There is this buildup to the man, again not unlike Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, so Neeson needs to live up to this.

Neeson does live up to his character's reputation but not in the way you may think. Neeson's work here is fascinating as seems aware of his own screen persona. Neeson is of course no way a stranger to playing mentors, on the contrary it is one of his specialties. Neeson though in those roles though is always known for the confidence and command he brings to them. That is not what Neeson brings here and he makes a tremendous impact from his first scene where Ferreira sits across from Rodrigues to speak. Neeson is notable as he gives us this broken man. Neeson realizes what was done to Ferreier in every aspect of his performance. Neeson shares almost no eye contact with Garfield throughout the scene, almost like beat dog, showing this shame as Ferreira knows how he must look to his old student. Neeson inflicts this hesitation in his early greetings, this stops in speech reflecting this overwhelming sadness of the man. When he asks "do I seem so different" to Rodrigues, there is such distress in his voice, as Neeson shows a man who honestly knows the answer already. When he speaks of being happy to finally be of use, Neeson reveals a man writhing in pain just below his skin, torn apart by just what he has become.

Neeson shows that Ferreira only can come out of this depression when he attempts to speak Rodrigues into following his example. Neeson portrays this in no way as Ferreira having become some true believer for the Japanese's  cause. There is something as painful as his depressed state as he attempt to argue for Rodrigues to denounce his faith himself. There is a passion that Neeson grants the words but a cynical passion. Neeson plays this as a man grasping onto his olds doubts to be able to speak these words. Neeson perhaps gives us the most direct Ferreira as he attempts to convince Rodrigues that the Japanese never understood Christianity to begin with. Neeson again does not deliver this as some man whose made a revelation, it is rather a man writhing in his own torments. There is no hope left in Neeson's voice or eyes in his miserable teachings towards his old student. Neeson's work is incredibly striking and oddly enough soulful as he depicts a man who has had his own faith ripped from him. As powerful as Neeson's performance is up until he helps to "break" Rodrigues, one of the most affecting moments though is in his final quiet scene as he and Rodrigues go about their duties as pawns of the anti-christian Japanese. Ferreira states that only "Our Lord" can judge their minds, and in that brief moment Neeson alludes to the man and teacher Ferreira once was, and that his faith was perhaps still within him. This is an outstanding performance by Liam Neeson as it is such compelling subversion of his usual presence, and leaves such considerable imprint on the film despite his very brief screentime. 

Yosuke Kubozuka did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Kichijiro in Silence.

The final performance I write about comes through the character who is probably given the second greatest importance within the narrative, behind Rodrigues of course. Kichijiro we are introduced to outside of Japan as he is living as an expatriate in Macau. Although living might be an overstatement as the two priests are shown the man who is little more than drunken wreck, with the only reason why he's the best man for the job of guide is because he's the only man for the job. Kubozuka does not give a quiet performance, but nor should he. The man after all from his first scene is shown to be a druken fool. Kubozuka excels in being just that as he yells nonsensically against going with them. Kichijiro needs to be an obvious mess to anyone who sees him, and Kubozuka brings that. He makes him a bit of a joke, which again is an intentional realization of the character who is a bit of joke to everyone who speaks of him. There is a moment though that Kubozuka effectively undercuts this slightly when he lashes out at being called a Christian. His lament that Christians die could merely be the ramblings of an idiotic drunk, but Kubozuka infuses it with a bit more pathos than that even if only lasts for a moment.

Kichijiro does in the end take the priests over to Japan where we eventually learn the cause of the man's state. The revelation is that Kichijiro is not only indeed a Christian but also his whole family was murdered by the Japanese inquisition. Kichijiro only survived himself by apostatizing yet he still saw his family die. We are given a brief insight into the former man as we flashback to see his family being massacred as he watched. Kubozuka's presence is different in that he stands not as the drunken fool, but a normal man. As the family is massacred though Kubozuka's reaction is truly haunting as it echoes the pain the man is suffering, a pain that could bring him to the state the Fathers originally found him in. The scene gives sense to Kubozuka's performance which not of a drunken fool, but rather a man driven to madness due his grief. In the scene where Kichijiro tells Rodrigues his story Kubozuka is absolutely heartbreaking by revealing the real man beneath the wretch. He portrays so well the hint of hope in the man with such poignancy as he asks if there is a chance that God may forgive him.

When the inquisition arrives though Kubozuka shows that although we may have a greater understanding of the man, he's in no way recovered. Kubozuka instead portrays this rather problematic attachment that Kichijiro gains towards Rodrigues. Kubozuka depicts it as that same madness in the man, but now he has a method of trying to find some respite which is through looking towards Rodrigues for guidance and absolution. When the villagers asks for Kichijiro's help, as well as accuse him of wrongdoing, Kubozuka's reaction grants an insight into the man. He reacts in utter fear but his protests are all aimed right towards Rodrigues in attempt for him to escape from his personal demons somehow. Kichijiro is one of the few Japanese who consistently avoids being killed by his willingness to apostatize again and again. Kichijiro for the rest of the film ends up being a rather strange ghost of sorts, though very much alive, who follows around Rodrigues. Again Kubozuka's work offers an understanding to this behavior by portraying that attachment that is so strong to the priest. Kubozuka's terrific because he really is absolutely the wretch Kichijiro seems to be, only becoming more wretched when he apparently betrays Rodrigues to the authorities. There is even a slightly comic element in this as Kichijiro continues to appear no matter where Rodrigues goes in order to deliver his confession. Kubozuka's performance touches upon a humorous undercurrent yet that is only an aspect in his realization of the terrible pathetic state of the man. What's so remarkable about his work is his ability to infuse Kichijiro with that history, and that at all points he carries that very real pain that brought him to this point with a very real desperation in his attempts to find some solace. Kubozuka is the last of the prominent supporting actors to appear in the film as he acts as a servant to the now apostatized Rodrigues. Years have past and Kubozuka gives a slightly more put together Kichijiro, having been living a different life of sorts. Kichijiro still asks to have his confession heard and it is comic in a way yet also tragic because Kubozuka makes the intention of his wish to have his sins forgiven so honest. He's incredibly moving and Kubozuka also manages to give understanding to Kichijiro as a man, despite his pathetic state. He's never a caricature as Kubozuka delivers his own embodiment of man's journey to finding his own path in regards to his faith, that mirrors Rodrigues's own though Kichijiro's perhaps is a less noble one. 

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Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2016

And the Nominees Were Not:

Stellan Skarsgård in Our Kind of Traitor

Damian Lewis in Our Kind of Traitor 

Sam Neill in Hunt For the Wilderpeople

Ben Foster in Hell or High Water

Alden Ehrenreich in Hail Caesar!

Ralph Ineson in The Witch 

Harvey Scrimshaw in The Witch

For Prediction purposes:

Skarsgård from Traitor

Ineson from the VVitch

 And they also were not:

Shinya Tsukamoto in Silence

Yoshi Oida in Silence 

Tadanobu Asano in Silence

Liam Neeson in Silence 

Issey Ogata in Silence

Yosuke Kubozuka in Silence

For prediction purposes:
 
Tsukamoto out of the villagers.  

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