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)

My Favorite Philip Seymour Hoffman Performances

Today we lost Philip Seymour Hoffman, who has consistently been one of the most dependable actors.  He has played nearly every type of role and has fit into a small cameo as easily as a leading man.  Every performance he has given has been worthwhile and has elevated the film.  He will indeed be missed.  As sort of a tribute and reflection on his career I wanted to examine the movies I have seen him in.  I have seen 15 movies of his.  I know there are still plenty of great ones that I have yet to watch (Capote being one of them).  But each of these 15 movies represent his extraordinary talent.  The order of these movies does not matter as much as the fact that they are all incredible performances.

15. Patch Adams (1998)

Easily one of the lesser movies in his filmography, but even when Philip Seymour Hoffman is in a bad movie he gives his character the same effort he would in a good one.  In this scene he gives a very restrained performance, while keeping his signature grandness in the appropriate lines.  We are clearly meant to root against this character, but Philip Seymour Hoffman brings an honesty to the pretty contrived scene that earns more sympathy than the manipulative Robin Williams performance.

14. Scent of a Woman (1992)

One of Hoffman's earliest roles is Scent of a Woman.  A decent movie with a few great scenes, this being the best.  This is of course the speech that earned Pacino an Oscar, and an unknown Philip Seymour Hoffman supports it.  He is only in one shot, but he let's you know so much about his character in his reaction.  A lot of his performances deal in revealing a lot of information in very little screen time, which is not a skill that a lot of screen actors have.

13. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Hoffman had a very memorable cameo in his third collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson.  Watch how quickly and believably he escalates from boredom to extreme frustration.  He is being intimidating without directly reacting to anyone, he is just on the phone but he absolutely owns this scene.

12. Ides of March (2011)
This performance was nominated for a BAFTA and is one of the more memorable parts of a forgettable film.  Hoffman is great in this.  There is one scene where he is staring down rival campaign manager, Paul Giamatti, at a debate and all you can think of is how awesome it would be to see these two enormous actors face off against one another.  This clip shows Hoffman as a no-nonsense professional. He is extremely condescending while still holding your attention.  This scene really works independently from the rest of the movie because Hoffman is so good in big speeches.  Later on in the movie he does a great job at playing defeated in an understated way.

11. Nobody's Fool (1994)
I couldn't find a full clip of one of his scenes, but he is well represented in the trailer even though he is an unknown actor playing a small role.  A lot of these examples are of Hoffman playing large and intimidating but he is the complete opposite in this movie.  He is a young, stupid cop who doesn't know how to handle the irascible Paul Newman.  This is a character that we never sympathize with, he is just a loser that aggravates the lead.  Hoffman can really play an unlikable loser better than anybody.  If you have not seen this movie you really should.  Hoffman is great in it, as is the rest of the impressive cast.  One of my favorites.

10. Moneyball (2011)

This is the type of movie that requires Hoffman.  When there is an important character with little screen time Hoffman was the one actor who could quickly and effectively convey the entire character.  His role is not much larger than this 45 second clip, but he perfectly captures the frustrated coach working under an unorthodox manager.  His performance helps to make this premise work on film.

9. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Philip Seymour Hoffman was the big addition to the cast of the Hunger Games sequel.  I won't say too much about his performance because I don't want to spoil anything (even though I am sure that everybody has seen or read it).  But he is perfectly cast.  He is not the focal point and he can play understated to support the story, but he still fully utilizes his skills at playing intimidating.  He is clearly setting up a bigger character for the sequel and Hoffman was the perfect choice for such an ambiguous character that would later grow in importance.

8. Boogie Nights (1997)

This is the movie that first put Philip Seymour Hoffman on most people's radars.  Throughout the movie he is the epitome of awkwardness.  In this incredible scene he fully embodies insecurity, unrequited love, denial and self-loathing.  He is so committed and sincere in his feelings while constantly doubting himself.  This is just an absolutely tragic scene.

7. Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

Aaron Sorkin is a great writer, but his scripts need great actors for them to make sense to the average movie goer.  Hoffman really makes this movie accessible.  He really finds the perfect tone for this comedic drama.  He plays it over the top with perfect comedic timing, but there is a weight to everything his character does.  He is somewhat of a comic relief, but he also makes this premise work.  This scene stealing supporting role was one of the few Oscar nominations that this Oscar bait film received.

6. The Master (2012)
I was not the biggest fan of this movie, it was good but I did not see it as a masterpiece.  But as one would expect Hoffman gives another great performance in it.  He is so great at ambiguous characters with a lot going on.  This character has a very specific public persona that the audience is asked to doubt.  You do doubt him and see him as fake, but Hoffman is so committed to this role that you understand the character's success.  He plays off of his co-stars perfectly, showing vulnerability in private scenes with Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams that he wouldn't show otherwise.  A friend mentioned that in The Master Joaquin Phoenix gave a masterclass of method acting and Philip Seymour Hoffman gave a performance similar to one that Orson Welles might give.  That was a really good comparison, because Hoffman could always work at his largeness.  This was Hoffman's final collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson and his final Oscar nomination.

5. Magnolia (1999)
This was the clip I shared on Facebook when I learned Philip Seymour Hoffman had died.  This was a character that the movie really needed.  Magnolia is pretty depressing movie with a lot of people that are broken and do terrible things.  Hoffman plays a nurse trying to reunite a dying man with his son.  This scene may be too self aware for some, but Hoffman's earnestness is really moving.  It stands out as one of my favorite scenes of his.

4. Synecdoche, New York (2008)
This is a very difficult movie, Charlie Kaufmann wrote and directed it after all.  This one is very polarizing.  There are people like Roger Ebert who thought it was the best film of the last decade.  There are others who thought it was pretentious and pointless.  I won't analyze the movie itself, because that would take too long and I am not completely sure that I understood it all.  But what I can say with confidence is that this would not have worked with Philip Seymour Hoffman in the lead.  This is a tough character and a tough movie to sit through, but Hoffman carries it all on his shoulders.  He remains interesting even when things get even more confusing.  He understands this character and gives his usual great performance.

3. Almost Famous (2000)
My favorite one-scene wonder of his.  Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of the most memorable parts of Almost Famous as legendary rock journalist Lester Bangs.  Here he is being honest with the main kid.  He is clearly carrying a rock persona, but he is also straight forward and helpful.  This is a tough performance to really analyze, because there is not much too it.  It is just a great performance because Hoffman is always so comfortable acting and always entertaining.

2. Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Another scene-stealing, entertaining performance.  Hoffman plays Jude Law's troubling best friend.  Hoffman is just boisterous and larger than life.  He is not a character you like, but he is easily the most entertaining and electrifying thing in an otherwise quiet drama.  Again it can be hard to pinpoint what made every Philip Seymour Hoffman role great, but he could just be so fascinating to watch.

1. Doubt (2008)
After I saw this I remember discussing the movie with my drama teacher.  She believed that Hoffman's Priest was guilty and I believed that he was innocent.  Neither of us were wrong, because the movie leaves it open for both possibilities.  Hoffman does not only play the character of the movie, he plays the premise.  The movie is about something that he might have done so he needs to play ambiguous the entire movie.  He walks that very fine line perfectly while portraying a three-dimensional character.  There are so many great scenes in this movie and he plays off of his small ensemble perfectly.  This and his three co-stars all earned well deserved Oscar nominations.

10 Properties That Disney Could Update

Yesterday Disney announced that they were making a live-action movie based on Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers.  This is a nostalgic cartoon for many who grew up in the early nineties and is one of Disney's best television series.  There is of course a chance that this movie could turn into Alvin and the Chipmunks or The Smurfs, but in looking at the franchise there is a lot of potential for a really fun feature.  Here are ten other Disney properties that could succeed as a new movie or series.

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Not Disney's best cartoon, but still a lot of fun with a lot of cool designs.  This was a series based around the adventures of the "real" Buzz Lightyear in Star Command.  It expanded the roles of Zurg and the Little Green Men and added new allies and adversaries.  The series had an emphasis on comedy but with the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars, a more simple animated space adventure could find an audience.

The Coachman
I am not a huge fan of the idea of live-action movies about Disney villains.  Maleficent looks all kinds of awful and Cruella DeVil is pointless since there will not be a better live-action actress in the role than Glenn Close.  However the one Disney villain that could warrant a feature is The Coachman from Pinocchio.  This is one of Disney's best villains because there is absolutely no backstory given to him.  There are so many things that could be explored.  Where he got his island, why he doesn't care that Pinocchio is a puppet, why he doesn't care about his money, why is he obsessed with turning naughty boys into donkeys.  Cast Brian Dennehy in the role and you have a really eerie movie.

Elmer Elephant
There are several ideas I had for TV shows for Disney Junior.  I really think that an update of Adventures in Wonderland could work or new lessons from Ludwig von Drake would do well.  However I am surprised that Disney has never done anything with this Silly Symphony.  I ranked this as one of Disney's best Silly Symphonies, it is fun and feels just like a picture book.  These are pleasant, colorful designs that are just made for young audiences.  A cartoon or picture book series based on this would make for good educational entertainment.

Darkwing Duck
Newsarama ranked this as one of the best rogue's galleries of all time.  This is a Disney Afternoon series that maintains a strong cult following.  This character has even maintained his own comic book series a few times.  There is definitely a case of superhero overkill recently, but this is one of the best super subversions.

Ewoks

Ewoks.  You either love them or hate them.  The hate 'ems will definitely keep them from being in another Star Wars movie, but that just leaves them open for Disney to utilize them in their own franchise.  The Ewoks 1985 TV series does stand out among other eighties cartoons as having good character designs and writing.  It was a fun fantasy series that worked out well without having ties to the larger Star Wars universe.  I really love the backdrop of Endor and personally I love the Ewoks.  A new movie or series could be fun.  Although I do not think we need another live-action Ewok Adventure.

I would suggest an update of the Droids cartoon if only to use this awesome theme song.

Kim Possible
Part of me thinks that this would not work in live-action at all.  All of the characters are too caricatured and making the tone the series had more serious or more hokey would ruin it.  However this are big fun adventures with great characters that Disney should do something with it.  If they could find the right actors then a live-action movie or TV series would be really cool, like a James Bond for Disney.  But another cartoon, an animated feature or comic book series would be good to look into.  Still a large fan base for this.

Kingdom Hearts
Honestly, I haven't played the games because I just don't play video games.  But I am aware of the enormous following and what I have seen of this looks awesome.  I don't think that it needs an exact film adaptation, but rather just an ultimate Disney team-up.  If The LEGO Movie does as well as I think it will, then Disney should have their own ultimate team-up movie.  A movie not just combining the characters featured in the games but also Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, The Muppets and everything awesome Disney has access too.

Uncle Scrooge Adventures
If Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers succeeds then another DuckTales movie seems like an obvious follow-up.  However I would just adapt something truer to the Carl Barks comic books featuring Uncle Scrooge, Donald Duck and their nephews.  These are some of the most beloved comics of all time and they have inspired several famous movies (or at least came up with them first).  There has not been a great adventure movie in a long time and Disney could do something really unique and different with these fun stories.  

Adventures of the Gummi Bears

No matter how ridiculous this title and premise sounds this is one of TV's best fantasies.  The series certainly focuses on funny cartoon gags, but there is a high fantasy feel to it and a lot of adventure elements.  There is definitely a feature film here somewhere.  Sort of like a Lord of the Rings for younger audiences.  The main group of inventive bouncing bears and their medieval forest setting certainly would make for something fun and truly unique.

Gargoyles
This was the obvious choice for me.  An enormous fan base who swears by this series as well as dedication from its creator, Greg Weisman, who wrote its recent comic book series.  The idea of Gargoyles coming to life in present day New York offers a lot of opportunities for action and incredible visuals.  These are fun characters that are really well designed.  I can see an update of this working as a Marvel Comic, feature film or even primetime series on ABC (live-action or animated, could work).  This is an action fantasy story that is unlike any other.