The Weigh In #43

And the winner is (part two of three):

This week I took a look at the best actor and actress category. Here are my impressions.

Actor in a Leading Role

Philip Seymour Hoffman-Capote:
One of my problems with watching an actor portray a real life character is I keep comparing the actor to the real person. Sometimes it works out and other times it completely ruins the experience for me. In this case I would have to say that at times during the movie I completely forgot I was watching Phillip Seymour Hoffman in this movie. The voice, the mannerisms, all seemed dead on to me. His performance is outstanding and he really seemed to understand what Truman Capote went through writing “In Cold Blood”.

Heath Ledger-Brokeback Mountain:
As the lead character, Ennis Del Mar, the movie almost entirely focuses on how his affair with Jack Swift changed his life. Brokeback Mountain shows a deeper, darker side of the affair, and Heath Ledger is able to take all of this and run with it. While I am not sure that it compares to some of the other contenders for best actor, it was definitely a standout performance.

Terrence Howard-Hustle and Flow:
Terrence Howard plays a low level pimp looking for a little more, he finds a possible way out in rap music. While this genre of films has definitely been done to death, his performance in particular is a standout and elevates this to more than just another Get Rich or Die Trying type of movie. He brings caring and sympathy to a character that I think most actors would allow to fall into type. I think that he is deserving of all of the attention he is getting for this film, he just may be the dark horse in a very tough race.

David Strathairn-Good Night and Good Luck:
David Straithairn I think pulls of a brilliant Edward R. Murrow, from the tone of voice all the way down to the look. I have seen him in quite a few movies and he is a great character actor, but in this he seems to have really taken over the spirit of the character. He is hardly recognizable, and while most actors have certain movements or mannerisms that make them noticeable, he seems to have dropped them completely and became an entirely new person.

Joaquin Phoenix-Walk the Line:
Wow, that is pretty much all I can think to say. Joaquin Phoenix pulls of the Man in Black to perfection, the look, the feel, the voice. Incredible stuff. Before I saw the movie I really wasn’t sure what to think. Wow.

Who I think should win best actor in a leading role: Joaquin Phoenix-Walk the Line

Who I think will probably win: Joaquin Phoenix-Walk the Line

Noticeably absent from the nominations
Russell Crowe: James J. Braddock-Cinderella Man:
One of the best movies of the year rests solely on the shoulders of its main character. The heartbreak and the elation that you feel as you watch this man go through some of the most trying times in his life is mapped out all over Russell Crowe’s face. Two scenes in particular convinced me that he should be on this list. A scene when he is begging the very men that took his job for enough money to turn on his heat and bring his kids home made me a little watery around the eyes and the final triumphant scene. Russell Crowe made this movie what it was, and I can’t think of another actor that could have pulled off what he did. I am a fan of most of his work, but I think this was far and away his best film, and he should have been recognized for it.

Actress in a Leading Role

Felicity Huffman-Transamerica
Her performance in Transamerica is exactly the reason I think the Oscars were supposed to be awarded. As a pre-op trans-gender she completely transforms herself into her role and loses herself more than a few times. While I am not a big fan of the film itself (for entirely different reasons) I couldn’t crow about her performance more.

Charlize Theron-North Country:
In North Country, Charlize Theron plays a single mom trying to raise her family while working at the only job that will allow her to do that. She is one of the few female workers at the local coal mine and becomes subject to incredible acts of harassment. This is Charlize’s second film with a serious premise and her second Oscar nomination. I think both are well deserved but I think a large reason for her nomination stands on how down to earth she made herself. She comes across as an every-person (as she should) but I don’t think this compares to her earlier work in Monster, where she won the award. Her character reminds of Norma Rae or a Karen of Silkwood without the emotional range of both characters.

Reese Witherspoon-Walk the Line:
What a little firecracker. Full of life and just lights up everything up whenever she is on screen. A perfect compliment to Joaquin Phoenix’s man in black. And what a voice. I had no idea she could sing that well. I think in any other year she should win this competition hands down.

Keira Knightley-Pride and Prejudice:
Far smarter than the role she was given; it is apparent whenever she gives a wry look or opens her mouth. She seems completely out of place in this film and in an English film full of Americans, it seems her place is only to add validity to the role. She seems too smart and savvy for this type of role.

Judi Dench-Mrs. Henderson Presents:
As Mrs. Henderson, the recently widowed of a rich socialite, Mrs. Henderson purchases the Windmill theatre that will become a famous theatre that helped to get London through the blitz during WWII. I am so used to watching Judy Dench play a very upstanding, proper English woman that watching her play a woman that reverts back to adolescence is actually funnier than anything else. It is incredibly fun to watch.

Who I think should win best actress in a leading role: Felicity Huffman-Transamerica

Who I think will probably win: Felicity Huffman-Transamerica

Check next week’s “Weigh In” when I sit back and take a look at the best director and best picture categories.

This week at your local multiplex (2/24/2006):
Running Scared: Drama
Paul Walker, Chazz Palmintieri
Plot: In order to cover up a murder, a low level mob boss must find the gun used in a hit before the police or his bosses do.
Buzz: New Line is throwing all sorts of stuff out there and from what I have seen, this looks like a very stylized crime caper flick. To help with your decision, this film is from the guys that brought you the writer of The Usual Suspects, and, The Way of the Gun.

Madea’s Family Reunion: Comedy
Tyler Perry, Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons
Plot: Madea is court ordered to take in a troubled runaway, all while trying to put together a family reunion and keeping her family together.
Buzz: After Diary of a Mad Black Woman, the many direct to video sequels and the soon to be released stage play, it is good to see the Lion’s Gate isn’t trying to run this franchise into the ground.

Doogal: Animation
(voices) Keenan Thompson, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, William H Macy, Chevy Chase, Judi Dench, Kylie Minogue
Plot: An evil wizard plans to collect three mythical stones in order to freeze the sun. Four unlikely heroes set out to stop his nefarious plans.
Buzz: Surprised that this one slipped under everyone’s radar? Don’t be. The animation is horrific and the plot is completely ludicrous, (I cleaned it up to make at least somewhat coherent, I read it three times and still have no clue what whoever wrote it was smoking). This is the only family movie over the last few weeks so it wouldn’t completely surprise me to see this smelly little turd do well.

This week on DVD:
The Weather Man
First Decent
Domino
NYPD Blue (season 3)
Rent
3rd Rock From the Sun (season 3)
North Country
The Prince and Me 2
All The President’s Men (se)
Stuart Little 3
Midnight Cowboy (se)
Death in Gaza
Action (entire series)
The Beverly Hillbillies (season 2)
Ultimate Avengers (animated)
Eric the Viking
Class of 1984
Naked World
Father and Son: Once Upon A time in Hollywood

As always, you can drop me a line or dip into the well that is my knowledge at DPlace76@yahoo.com. Also, you can check out my random ramblings at www.livejournal.com/users/bigdpimpin.