Best Actor 2009: Results

5. George Clooney in Up in The Air- Clooney tries to ride almost his whole performance on his supposed charm, I myself don't see any charm, but either way because of this he fails to bring an actual conviction to the role.

4. Morgan Freeman in Invictus- When one hears Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela one probably would say, perfect casting. Unfortunately Freeman's mannerisms, and voice he uses for the role are inconsistent, and weigh down the entire performance.

3. Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart- Bridges is certainly good and believable as the country star most of the time, but certain aspects of his performance do not really work. His relationships with Colin Farrell's character is a bit overdone, and his relationship with Maggie Gyllenhaal's character in many ways feels like a plot contrivance.

2. Colin Firth in A Single Man- Firth's performance is one that strikes me in a different way than every other performance on this line up. I most certainly though it was a strong effective piece of acting, with some amazing moments, but at the same time the performance always left me wanting more, I never felt it lackluster, but many moments I always felt he could have gone even further in his performance that he did.

1. Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker- A performance that one first glance may not seem the most, but that is part of what makes this performance so special. Renner never seems to act in his performance, and despite the fact that he really is given few moments solely devoted to character development Renner still creates a three dimensional complex character. Renner always stays very understated in his approach to his character, and because of that he gives a truly fascinating portrait of a man addicted to his very dangerous job.

Deserving Performances:
Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man
Joseph Gordon Levitt in 500 Days of Summer
Note: I have not seen Moon, The Road or Two Lovers, (I probably should)

Best Actor 2009: Morgan Freeman in Invictus

Morgan Freeman received his fifth Oscar nomination for portraying Nelson Mandela in Invictus.

Invictus tells the story of the winning season of the South African Rugby team, and how it aligned with race relations in a post apartheid South Africa.

Morgan Freeman's performance as Nelson Mandela is really a far too calculated one in many ways. The way he shakes his hand, the way he stands, and walks, the way he talks is all calculated to make him seem like the real Nelson Mandela. The problem is a lot of the time it just seems to be a bit too much, he just seems to be trying to hard most of the time, making it seem a tad unnatural.

It is not helped by that Freeman is not always entirely consistent either, he fails to always be the Mandela he is in one scene as he is in another scene. This is quite disappointing, and unfortuantely true. In some scenes his mannerisms, and voice completely fall by the way side making his performance even more lacking. This is unfortunate because Freeman seems like he should be perfect for the part, but he just is not, frankly sometimes it seems director Clint Eastwood should had few takes to always ensure the voice and mannerisms were consistent.

Freeman performance unfortuantely mostly consists of these mannerisms, since Mandela really is not investigated all that much in the film, or at least as one would think. Mandela really is only dealt with in relation to the Rugby team. There are minor scenes that attempt to tell more about him, such as when asked about his family, but really it can't be said his Mandela does much more than make passionate speeches about the need to unify the country behind the rugby team.

Freeman is properly passionate I suppose though in his speeches, as well as Freeman does have his natural charisma that shines through here as it usually does in his performances. Also the breif moments that show his past while in prison are well handled by Freeman as he does have some weight in his single look he gives showing the struggles Mandela is going through and will continue to be going through. Still though the mannerisms almost completely sink the performance, they are just far too broad, and overarching to be ignored. This performance is a bit of a missed opportunity, not all bad, but most certianly lackluster.

Best Actor 2009

And the Nominees Were:

Colin Firth in A Single Man

Morgan Freeman in Invictus

Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart

Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

George Clooney in Up in The Air

Best Actor 1994: Results

5. Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump- Hanks keeps his character consistent. Allow I do not think his character is amazing by any means, has grown on me quite a bit since my first viewing of the film.

4. Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool- Newman gives a charming performance that overcomes the weakness of the film in some respects, but unfortunately not all. 

3.John Travolta in Pulp Fiction- Travolta has the right naturalism with his dialogue, and effectively and memorable portrays his character. His performance shines the most though do to his strong chemistry with his co-stars.

2. Nigel Hawthorne in The Madness of King George- Hawthorne manages this very difficult part with a firm degree of naturalism, and dignity. Hawthorne makes George a likable, commanding monarch, and brings his insanity to life especially well.

1. Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption- This one was actually fairly close for me between Hawthorne, but I will go, at the moment, with Freeman. Freeman's performance is a quite, but extraordinary performance. He goes for subtlety and creates truly emotionally powerful moments. 

Deserving Performances:
Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption

Best Actor 1994: Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption

Morgan Freeman received his third Oscar nomination for portraying Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding in The Shawshank Redemption.

The Shawshank Redemption is strange in how popular it is in terms of the fact that it tops so many internet list as the #1 film, especially since this all came far after its initial release. I can easily see why it so liked by so many people, it a very effective film, with its universally inspiring themes, and beautiful score and cinematography. 

This is a very interesting nomination that any common sense nomination would think the lead nomination for the film would have gone to Tim Robbins in his portrayal as the wrongly convicted Andy Dufresne who is the actual lead of the film. It is not uncommon for the less screen time secondary lead or possibly supporting to get a nomination though, and Freeman I would say boarders on between lead and supporting. Although he does have less screen time in the film he most likely has more lines since Red is the narrator.

Freeman's narration is something one can easily take for granted, but really who can do a narration as well as him. Few, if anyone. Freeman's voice is most certainly one of his greatest assets and he uses it especially well with his narration. Now I say this because Freeman actually I feel handles his narration better than merely reading a description. He really does utilize it to make his narration an emotional guide through this tale. I feel he also not turn it into simply an ambiguous narrator, but this is in fact Red as a person telling his story to the audience.

Freeman's performance for most of the film is indeed supporting as Red a long serving prisoner of Shawshank who knows how to procure contraband items. He is very much reactive to what Andy is doing in the prison. This makes sense for his character who is very much use to the regulated life of prison, he therefore becomes interested and surprised of what Andy does. Freeman despite being secondary in many ways manages not to really be forgotten, and not only because of his narration. Freeman has a strong presence in this film, and never is lost in the crowds, even when very much in the background. When he is given more focus though Freeman dominates the screen with his unique and powerful screen presence.

Freeman performance I almost am glad is not overwhelming, but properly minimalistic. Freeman creates Red into a likable sympathetic man. Freeman in his reactions to what he sees is completely realistic, and when ever he has the chance he is truly emotionally resonate. I think his strongest scenes in terms of his more supporting work are Red's conversations with Andy about life. These a striking very poignant scenes, and a lot of credit for this should go to Freeman. He is interesting in that Red is doubtful of some of what Andy says, but Freeman always suggests that Red always still sees truth in his words about freedom needed for a man for a man really to live. Both actors in these scenes create truly beautiful moments between these two men, and this is because both men underplay the conversations they never enforce the poignancy that comes it just becomes realized through the truthful authenticity of their performances.

Freeman is given moments of lead, particularly at the end of the film where he does indeed become the lead and the focus of the movie. Freeman is given a short odyssey with Red at the end of the film. A short one, but a very striking one. It begins with his last parole hearing, where Freeman has an outstanding scene where he honestly shows a man reflect on his past, and wrongs in a sad and complex manner. The film than follows his life outside of prison. When the film becomes about Red, Freeman  makes the most of it. He final scenes as he struggles in fear on the outside, showing a lost man in a world he has lost his understanding of in a spectacular fashion. What is even greater is his final scenes as his enthusiasm grows to finding his friend and his want for life and freedom once more, completing his journey as a man. An incredibly strong performance that I must admit I grew myself liking more and more as I thought about it and I wrote this review.

Best Actor 1994

And the Nominees Were:

Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool

John Travolta in Pulp Fiction

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump

Nigel Hawthorne in The Madness of King George

Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption