2nd Annual Non-Oscars

Last year I made a series of blogposts where I named several great performances that were not nominated for Academy Awards.  Only twenty actors can receive Oscar prestige in a year when there are so many more great actors who never get noticed.  These were not all Oscar bait roles or even perfect performances, but there was something worth mentioning.

I have done that again this year.  Keep in mind that I have not seen every movie.  There are plenty of great movies from 2013 that I have yet to see.  But no matter what these are twenty performances that meant a lot to me and I am happy to give well-deserved recognition to.  Click on the links below to look at the performers:

Best Leading Actor Not Nominated for an Academy Award

Best Leading Actress Not Nominated for an Academy Award

Best Supporting Actor Not Nominated for an Academy Award

Best Supporting Actress Not Nominated for an Academy Award

Non-Oscars: Best Supporting Actress

I have not yet seen Sally Hawkins in Blue Jasmine, nor Julia Roberts in August: Osage County.  I thought that Jennifer Lawrence was fine in American Hustle, but not the eye-opening performance many found.  June Squibb was an absolute scene-stealer in the best way in Nebraska and earned a well deserved nomination.  Newcomer Lupita Nyong'o gave the best showing of the five with her difficult role in 12 Years a Slave.

Melonie Diaz, Fruitvale Station
Melonie Diaz gave an incredibly impressive debut in Fruitvale Station.  She plays Oscar Grant's long suffering girlfriend.  And in the hands of Diaz this character certainly suffers, but she also loves and supports.  This is a smart character that is not just dependent on a man, Diaz gifts her with a lot of strength that is important later on in the movie.  Diaz has great chemistry with Michael B. Jordan and that incredibly expands the world of the lead character.  One of many performers that I really hope to see again soon.

Adepero Oduye, 12 Years a Slave

Crying on film is sometimes seen as cheap and manipulative.  It is certainly true that actors will cry for an Oscar, but there are still performers who can break down and make the audience feel.  I remember Adepero Oduye's character vividly, even with her limited screentime.  Oduye gives one of the most harrowing portrayals of a grieving mother that I have ever seen.  There is just something about the way she constantly cries after being separated from her child that is so tragic.  And then there is her standing up to Solomon Northrup for her feelings.  After being yelled at to stop crying she turns around and lashes out on the film's leading character.  It is one of the most powerful moments of an incredibly powerful film.

Margot Robbie, Wolf of Wall Street
There are certainly sex bomb roles that rely solely on sex appeal.  Girls are definitely cast just because they look pretty.  Then there is Margot Robbie who is portraying a very sexual role and forces you to acknowledge her acting.  Margot Robbie completely owns every scene she is in and is an intimidating force against the much more experienced Leonardo DiCaprio.  There is a fearlessness to her character and an intimidation that sticks with you.  This is the type of character that can affect the superficial Jordan Belfort.  Robbie in the role of a victim really has some incredible strength that is one of the most memorable things about the long film.

Octavia Spencer, Fruitvale Station
She may be too young for the role and may not have much screen time, but you don't care because Octavia Spencer owns every second of screen time as Oscar Grant's mother.  One of the film's many highlights is a scene between an incarcerated Oscar Grant and his mother.  The scene is reliant on its two actors and Octavia Spencer gives a tour de force performance.  She shows love to her son, but she also shows disappointment.  There is something that sticks with you about Octavia Spencer's expressions in the jail.  There is so much emotion coming out of her small performance that fuels the rest of the movie.  Octavia Spencer helps the audience understand that Oscar Grant was a man with a mother who loved him and demanded better of him.  Which is of course so tragic that he lived up to that, but not for long enough.

Oprah Winfrey, The Butler

Early buzz was all around Oprah in this role.  She may have been overhyped, I remember seeing this with high expectations and not thinking that her performance was anything special.  But after looking back upon my two viewings this really was a great performance.  It was not a big, showy role but she supports the movie.  She completes the family that is made up of Forest Whitaker and David Oyelowo. She shows conflict in Whitaker's home life while maintaining the family's connection with Oyelowo.  Oprah really represents the home life and family aspects of the Civil Rights movement.  She shows a side that isn't fighting externally, but struggling with some very relatable performances.  Getting her to act again was great for this movie.

Other Great Supporting Performances:

Alison Brie (Kings of Summer), Evangeline Lilly (The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug), Jena Malone (The Hunger Game: Catching Fire), Sarah Paulson (12 Years a Slave), Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave)

Non-Oscars: Best Supporting Actor

I have not seen Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club or Barkhad Abdi in Captain Phillips yet so I cannot judge those two.  Jonah Hill really stretched as an actor in Wolf of Wall Street and became an iconic character in that film.  Michael Fassbender was absolutely merciless in 12 Years a Slave and risked a lot in going all out with such a menacing character.  My favorite of the five is actually Bradley Cooper in American Hustle.  I honestly hoped that the film followed him more as he became much more sympathetic and fascinating.  I was really disappointed in the movie's end because it seemed like they were asking me to hate a character that I really grew to love.

Will Forte, Nebraska
This was a surprising casting decision that really paid off.  Will Forte gives an incredibly understated performance that has unfortunately been overlooked.  He is easily overshadowed by his co-stars because his character is one who is forced to react to others.  Which Forte does perfectly, he definitely excels in the "supporting" aspect of being a supporting actor.  But Forte portrays a three-dimensional character with his own complete backstory and motives.  These things don't receive focus, but the fact that they are so clearly there makes Forte's son character all the more effective.  He also plays a decency that the movie needs.  Career making performance for Forte that hopefully takes the great comedian places.

James Gandolfini, Enough Said
This was of course the last film starring James Gandolfini to be released and it is appropriately dedicated, "For Jim."  Gandolfini is very appropriately cast against type as a caring man with a chubby exterior.  Gandolfini is great with humor as he knows he doesn't look ideal, but he shows an extreme confidence in that.  Gandolfini has a confidence throughout the movie that really makes him attractive, but he still plays extremely vulnerable.  This is one of those characters that when he hurts, you hurt.  He is a genuine, nice guy that you really want to get to know.  You end up rooting for him more than the flawed lead.  This is not because Gandolfini takes unnecessary focus from Dreyfus, but because that is the way the story needs to work.  Gandolfini plays a surprising great romantic comedy love-interest and makes this a quality film that is worth seeing.

Cuba Gooding, Jr., The Butler
Watching Cuba Gooding, Jr. in The Butler I really could not believe that he had not been acting in better movies.  This was an eye-opening performance for an actor that I've always liked, but has had somewhat of a laughable career.  I really hope that The Butler earns him better work, because Gooding is such a great screen presence.  He can be funny when the movie needs someone to be funny or combative when the scene needs a conflict.  He even gets his own dramatic scene which is one of my favorites of the movie.  I am really naming Gooding because I enjoyed him so much.  There was something about this performance that I wanted to see more of.  I love supporting roles like this, the role is not much but the actor makes it something memorable.

Nick Offerman, Kings of Summer
There are of course comparisons that can be made to Ron Swanson, but Offerman inspires an entirely different reaction with this role.  You recognize that this character is difficult for his teenage son to love, but you can't help but sympathize with him even if you don't always like him.  This is a very believable father-son realtionship, Offerman and Nick Robinson play well off of one another.  Offerman also carries a lot of difficult backstory with him as this character is a widower and an unsure father.  Even before the movie gives that information he is clearly portraying a broken man.  This is a performance that is easily overlooked, but it is a vital character for the film that not everyone could have played in Offerman's specific way.

David Oyelowo, The Butler
The heart of The Butler hinges on the difficult father-son relationship and Oyelowo is certainly up to the challenge of acting against the father played by Forest Whitaker.  Oyelowo, a man in his thirties, believably plays this character from his teens to middle aged.  Oyelowo gifts his character with decency and hope, but there is definitely an anger that Oyelowo never overplays.  The movie often diverts to focus on his character and you are always interested in it, Oyelowo really carries his own varied subplots.  The absolute best scene of the movie is a dinner table scene where Oyelowo argues with Whitaker and it is one of those scenes that is amazing just because of the acting.  This was an important role that Oyelowo excels in and he should have received much more notice for it.

Other Great Supporting Performances:

So many.  There are always so many great supporting roles for men, I may do another post because several of these do deserve extra notice (Will Poulter and Colin Farrell in particular).  Moises Arias (Kings of Summer), Bob Balaban (Girl Most Likely), Sam Clafin (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), George Clooney (Gravity), Sharlto Copley (Elysium), Robert De Niro (American Hustle), Kevin Durand (Fruitvale Station), Colin Farrell (Saving Mr. Banks), Tom Hanks (Saving Mr. Banks), Danny McBride (This is the End), Matthew McConaughey (Mud), Fred Melamed (In a World), Sean Penn (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Will Poulter (We're the Millers)

Non-Oscars: Best Actress

I have only seen three nominated performances, still need to see Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep in their respective films.  Sandra Bullock was perfectly cast in Gravity and helped to really ground that movie in emotion and she worked along side special effects to tell a story.  My vote would go to Amy Adams' electrifying performance in American Hustle.  I did not think that Hustle was a perfect film, but Adams kept me going the whole way through.  Wish her character had received more screen time and focus.

Lake Bell, In a World
It must be mentioned that Lake Bell not only starred in this movie, but also wrote and directed it.  It is worth mentioning, because Bell's three roles provide the movie with a distinct comedic point of view that is lacking in so many movies.  As a writer-director-actress she is able to create a complete film that is her voice in so many ways.  As an actress in particular Bell is the perfect lead for an indie comedy.  She is not a conventional leading lady, she has a certain edge and is very comfortable making herself look stupid.  There is a vulnerability to this character who seems to struggle just like any person.  Bell also gets to use her comedic and vocal chops which sell the film's unique premise.  Cannot wait to see how she follows this up.

Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
In last year's Non-Oscars I named Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen as one of the best female performances  not nominated for an Oscar.  Well that is true even more so this year as Katniss has grown in leaps and bounds from last year.  This movie delves into the dark implications of a world based around deadly breads and circuses and Lawrence finds every dark corner implicated.  Lawrence certainly has the advantage of this being a vastly stronger film from the original, but it hinges on the foundation she built and the intensity she continues to bring to this role.  She is indeed the star of this exciting franchise and she keeps moving it forward.  The final shot of this movie has me on the edge of my seat until November and I know that Lawrence will continue to grow with this character.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said
Enough Said is very much like a sitcom so casting Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the lead was a brilliant decision.  The experience and familiarity that Dreyfus has grown throughout impressive runs on four TV comedies really benefits this movie.  She is of course likable as always, but her character is not the most admirable.  She makes several decisions that most audience members would not agree with so it is to Dreyfus' credit that she is also intriguing and sympathetic.  This is not a character that is out to hurt anyone, even though she clearly will hurt several people.  Dreyfus is such a great fit for Holefcener's writing and direction and she really perfects the balance of comedy and drama in this movie.

Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
The most baffling Oscar omission has to be that of Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers.  It is interesting to watch how perfectly Thompson complements the constant flashbacks in the movie.  Although Thompson was never in the scenes of young "Ginty"her character constantly reacts to those flashbacks.  Thompson has a very deep understanding of her character's motivation, even when the audience doesn't.  In fact at the start of the movie you don't really like P.L. Travers.  Thompson plays her as extremely difficult, but Thompson is so powerful that you are drawn to her.  This is a relatable portrayal of an outspoken and intelligent character that is so broken.  There is so much going on at all times and Emma Thompson just really makes this movie work.

Olivia Wilde, Drinking Buddies
Yeah, I am calling Olivia Wilde one of the best actresses of the year.  She has certainly struggled in blockbusters that require her to be the "it-girl", but she excels here as a normal person.  Of course she still looks incredibly beautiful, but she never relies on her appearance and in fact it fits this character.  Wilde is definitely the stand-out of this strong ensemble, but she never distracts from the rest of the four.  This movie is about relationships and day-to-day interactions and she works alongside the other actors perfectly.  This is a fascinating character without any gimmicks.  It is just a person who is struggling with relationships.  Olivia Wilde really captures those everyday feelings that may not seem cinematic, but in her hands they feel so worthwhile and meaningful.

Other Great Leading Performances:

Jennifer Aniston (We're the Millers), Rinko Kikuchi (Pacific Rim), Kristen Wiig (Girl Most Likely)

Non-Oscars: Best Actor

I have yet to see Dallas Buyers Club, so I can't judge McConaughey in that film.  I was not incredibly blown away by Christian Bale in American Hustle.  He did fine, but his goofy caricature did not seem to fit in with the rest of the cast.  I never really ended up caring about his character, I always felt that I was watching Bale trying to do a De Niro-esque impression of Tony Clifton.  Wolf of Wall Street is easily DiCaprio's best performance and was eye opening to me as I often find the actor to be overrated.  I am very happy to see Bruce Dern nominated for his subtle, but extremely moving performance in Nebraska.  But my personal Oscar pick would be Chiwetel Ejiofor, who was just as subtle and moving in 12 Years a Slave.  Watching him just breaks your heart, but definitely gets you through a tough film.

Robert Downey, Jr., Iron Man 3
Most blockbuster stars that have multi-picture deals end up being bored and frustrated in the roles that make them famous.  That is because the films often decrease in quality and the actors are usually only in it for the money.  Although reports may indicate that Downey is frustrated with Marvel's paychecks his performances show no sign of Downey getting sick of playing Tony Stark.  In fact Iron Man 3 is easily Downey's best outing as the character.  Downey maintains an incredible consistency between films as he continues a story arc that started at the end of 2012's Avengers.  Stark beat death against incredible odds and now has PTSD.  Downey gifts this new development with incredible weight without losing his signature smarm and likability.  Downey really adds to his character's already developed personality, he really grows in the role.  It should also be noted that Downey keeps scenes with a little boy grounded as they could have been corny.  This movie is the fifth film appearance of the character and I can't wait to see where he goes next.

Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station is such an emotional experience, because it gets the audience to care about a very real person who became a victim.  By the end of the movie, you feel like you really knew Oscar Grant and the ending will indeed tear you up.  Jordan is an absolute revelation in this movie.  His respectful portrayal of Oscar Grant is extremely likable but believably flawed.  Not two things that are easy things to work into a portrayal of a real person.  Normally there is some judgement or hero-worship involved in movies that are based on a true story, but Fruitvale Station is extremely raw.  Grant made mistakes and hurt people he cared about, but he was still an admirable human being.  I seem to be talking more about Oscar Grant than Michael B. Jordan, but that is a good thing.  This is not Jordan taking on a manipulative role as an attempt to win awards or be taken seriously, he gets the audience to feel and that is an incredible thing.

Nick Robinson, Kings of Summer
I am absolutely shocked that I am including an actor from Melissa & Joey on this list, but anyone whose seen Kings of Summer knows that Robinson definitely deserves to be mentioned.  Robinson plays a fifteen year old boy who runs away from home to live in a childhood fantasy in the woods.  It should be noted that Robinson would have been around eighteen during the time of filming, but this never feels like a case of Dawson's Casting.  Robinson embodies that spirit of a young teen which is important as the movie hinges on child logic.  Robinson behaves and reacts like an average kid.  No matter how difficult he may behave, he remains incredibly sympathetic and relatable.  This movie describes very much what it feels like to be a teenager and Robinson plays it all perfectly.

Jason Sudeikis, We're the Millers
Comedy stars seem to not count as much as dramatic ones, but good comedy certainly takes talent.  And the dependable Sudeikis is full of talent that can anchor a fun summer comedy.  Sudeikis has transitioned much easier to being a leading film star that most SNL-vets.  Mainly because Sudeikis can find the humor in a normal situation without needing gimmicks or weird characterization.  He plays Dave Miller as a real guy, but seamlessly works in sly observational humor.  He is also a perfect ensemble member.  He is comfortable being the focal point, but also plays well with others and shares focus.  Jennifer Aniston, Will Poulter and Emma Roberts all gave better performances because they had a solid lead to play off of and support them.  I hope that Sudeikis keeps finding great scripts to work with, because he is a star that I will gladly pay to see.

Forest Whitaker, The Butler

On the surface The Butler may look like a pretty gimmicky and manipulative film and it is to Whitaker's credit that it isn't.  Whitaker provides the backbone of the movie that spans almost seven decades and a litany of minor characters.  Whitaker's Cecil Gaines is an incredibly developed character.  He is believably an eager charismatic newcomer, loving husband, grieving family member, risk-taking employee and frustrated father.  In fact it is the scenes where he is at odds with his oldest son that are the film's strongest.  Whitaker provides a counter-point to his son's more aggressive methods of civil rights.  Cecil Gaines is indeed a servant but Whitaker plays him with honor and ambition.  Whitaker is a great ensemble member and a great emotional center for a very good film.

Other Great Leading Performances:

Chadwick Boseman (42), Jake Johnson (Drinking Buddies), Paul Rudd (Prince Avalanche), Tye Sheridan (Mud)