We're surveying the "best" of the year thus far even if the pickings are slim. Previously we covered Actress, Actor and Picture. Now, the gentlemen in the sidelines.
SUPPORTING ACTOR January through June Releases
Surveying what we've seen so far in this particularly category is challenging. In ensemble pieces from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel to To Rome With Love, there just wasn't a breakout performance that rose so far above the film's limitations that you had to praise it. Mark Ruffalo's funny Hulk and Michael Fassbender's suave killer in The Avengers and Haywire respectively came closest but were better showcases for the commanding charisma of the actors than their actual skills. So if I had to turn in a ballot RIGHT NOW (god forbid) it'd go like so...
Explanations and Team Experience survey if you click to continue...
- Michael Fassbender, Prometheus
For David8 or as Jose renames him: "creepy/sexy HAL 9000 redux". We already discussed his Oscar chances and despite universal acclaim, I kind of doubt it. - Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike (discussed in the review)
- Alex Pettyfer, Magic Mike
You may recall that Pettyfer featured prominently in my Cinematic Shame column for the worst of 2011. I'm more surprised that anyone at how authentic he reads in this film as a naive hard partying guy swept up in an exciting new lifestyle. - Jeroen Perceval, Bullhead [not eligible for Oscar consideration]
He wears a tough guy henchman poker face well but Perceval, who plays a grown man who was friends with the title character in childhood, succeeds at contouring a full character underneath with divided loyalties and a lifetime of guilt and secrecy. - Bruce Willis, Moonrise Kingdom
Willis has been handsomely rewarded for his enduring career but he still hasn't really ever gotten his due as an actor. He's so adept at shifting his own formidable stardom to fit whatever genre or filmmaker he's working with. He jumps right into Anderson's odd diorama world with weary good hearted ease.
This list was so hard to draw up that I relished hearing what Team Experience would say when I asked them to name the best Supporting player:
Michael says: Tom Hiddleston in the Deep Blue Sea offers terrrific support for Rachel Weisz in a very tricky role, simultaneously believable as both the impossibly charming man who attracts her and the aloof, cruel man who destroys her.."
<= Beau says: "Fran Kranz - The Cabin in the Woods. For nailing the tone of the film seemingly without effort. For the creation of a colorful character you feel a deep and abiding love for. For a star turn so confident and integral to the success of the film, you can't imagine the picture without him in it."
Craig says: Michael Fassbender - Prometheus... Rarely has a robot been given such varied nuance on screen. Thanks to Fassbender's crucial ambiguity we are constantly left with tantalising questions about David's motives. Plus, he can flick from steely cold to darkly humorous in a heartbeat.
Alexandra says: Michael Fassbender, Prometheus who managed to out-android Lance Hendrickson and Ian Holm, stealing the film easily.
Glenn says: I suspect Michael Fassbender in Prometheus will be a cliched answer, but it's not his fault that nobody else has even attempted to be seated anywhere near a table across the room from him. He's the stand out so far by *that* much!
Who is on YOUR ballot? I mean, apart from Fassy¹ as Davidâ¸