Best Actor 1987

5. Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam- Williams is given the right part that allows him to show his comedic ability in this film, it is not anything great, but it still is an effective enough performance.

4. William Hurt in Broadcast News- Hurt's performance is not all that interesting, but it does fulfill the requirement of his role as the rather shallow newscaster.

3. Marcello Mastroianni in Dark Eyes- Mastroianni puts a whole lot of effort in his big romantic performance, some of his performance does not entirely pay off, but enough does for this to be overall a charming as well as tragic performance.

2. Michael Douglas in Wall Street- Douglas' Gordon Gekko is not the most three dimensional character, but Douglas is properly commanding and convincing in his entirely villainous role.

1. Jack Nicholson in Ironweed- Nicholson for me this year stands far and above the rest of the performances. His performance as the homeless alcoholic Francis Phelan is a sad, haunting, exceedingly memorable performance, that easily gets my choice.

Deserving Performances:
John Lone in The Last Emperor

Best Actor 1987: William Hurt in Broadcast News

William Hurt received his third Oscar nomination for portraying Tom Grunick in Broadcast News.

Broadcast News is a rather 80's film about hard working news producers Jane Craig (Holly Hunter), and two television reporters who are also her potential suitors the good reporter, but lacking in charisma Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks), and the less able reporter but charismatic Tom.

William Hurt does a surprisingly little amount as Tom actually, since Tom is an exceedingly non too bright man, who gets by almost solely on his charisma. The biggest aspect of Tom, beyond this that Hurt explores is his lack of self-respect, which he lacks at the beginning of the film due to his lacking ability as a reporter. Hurt does present Tom's lack of respect well enough, and displays his yearn to learn how to actually report well enough. Hurt has the proper earnestness, in his portrayal, linked with his lacking confidence. This aspect of Tom goes away rather quickly once he gains the confidence though.

After that Hurt performance almost is entirely based on presenting Tom's charisma. Hurt is actually good at this, and he certainly is believable as the slick anchorman. Hurt has the right manner, and way that certainly is just like that of an actual news anchor. He is also equally believable in his relationship with Holly Hunter, as she falls for him rather easily, but Hurt is properly believable to make their relationship to be realistic. Their relationship is rather simple, but Hurt knows how to play it, showing how his charisma is simply just a dominating factor.

After his charisma there is not all that much to Hurt's character, or Hurt's portrayal becuase of that. Hurt takes what there is and gives a proper portrayal, but that just never amounts to all that much. I think his performance is also harmed a little by the end of the film, where they makes his character basically become a sort of a bad guy, who completely rejects any notion of reporting. I really think his turnaround as a character at the end, to becoming a completely shallow person, really went against a bit, by some of his earnestness he showed beforehand, but I really blame this on the script more than Hurt's performance. Hurt's performance though is still fine, but never all that interesting.

Best Actor 1987

And the Nominees Were:

William Hurt in Broadcast News

Marcello Mastroianni in Dark Eyes

Michael Douglas in Wall Street

Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam

Jack Nicholson in Ironweed