Academy members are furiously filling out their ballots in preparation for the Jan. 25 Oscar nomination ceremony.
Some films and performances are a mortal lock – think “Black Swan,” “The Social Network,” “The Fighter” and “The King’s Speech.” Other movies will be forgotten in the awards shuffle, and that’s a shame.
So just in case an Academy member googles “toto toilets” or the song “Rosanna” and ends up at WWTW, here are some suggestions for movies and actors deserving of a second look.
- Casey Affleck, “The Killer Inside Me” – The film got slammed by critics for its vicious content. Both Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba get beaten up – badly – at the hands of Affleck’s character, a lawman with a temper that knows no bounds. But the actor’s chilling performance, delivered without chewing scenery or even raising his voice, set the movie far apart from other indie fare.
- Aaron Eckhart, “Rabbit Hole” – This unsung actor needs to be recognized officially by the Academy. He’s too good, too often in both indie fare and mainstream productions. And in “Rabbit Hole,” he shows yet another side of his talents, making a man mourning the loss of his young son – and the possible demise of his marriage – both touching and real.
- Dieter Laser, “The Human Centipede” – It would be blasphemous for this nauseatingly original horror flick to even get a mention on Oscar night. But the stuffed shirts in the crowd deserve to hear Laser’s name all the same because he crafted a villain for the ages.
- Ed Harris, “Touching Home” – This bona fide sleeper lets Harris flash his gritty, gravelly side. He turns a stock character, the boozy father who can’t get sober long enough to support his family, into someone worthy of our compassion.
- “Best Worst Movie” - The odd way documentary films earn the chance to be nominated is too confusing to explore here. But just because “Best Worst Movie” doesn’t try to change the world or pack an ideological punch doesn’t mean it’s not a rousing slice of entertainment.
- Chloe Moretz, “Kick-Ass,” “Let Me In” – Two very different performances from a young actress who appears capable of tackling any on-screen challenge. She’s like Dakota Fanning, but you wouldn’t want to get her angry.
- Sam Rockwell, “Conviction” - When I left the theater after seeing this compelling true-life story I figured this would be Rockwell’s year for Oscar validation. But his remarkable work playing a tortured man jailed without a proper defense is being overshadowed by Christian Bale’s bravura work in “The Fighter.” Both deserve Oscar recognition.
- Watchers’ Choice – Who have I left out?
(Photo: Chloe Moretz fights crime – and societal standards of how children should be seen on screen – in “Kick-Ass.”)
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Steve Carrell, Dinner for Schmucks – The Academy loves comedy roles in the Supporting Role and while this is more of a lead that didn’t hurt Sam Jackson getting thrown into the category for Pulp Fiction.
It’ll never happen, EricP, but that’s a good choice. Just re-watched Schmucks and Carell is outstanding in it.
Sam Rockwell has had so many great performances overlooked by The Academy that they might as well just give him a Lifetime Achievement Award now.
While I agree about Rockwell, get him in line behind Gary Oldman, who’s never even been nominated. I’ll even go so far as to throw his Carnegie from Book of Eli into this thread’s mix for 2010, ditto Mila Kunis’ performance.