Halfway: Best Supporting Performances of 2015 Thus Far
Monday, July 6, 2015 at 6:15PM ½way mark - part 6 of ?
While it was a great deal of fun choosing and articulating the Best Leading work of the year (thus far) at the halfway mark, the Supporting fields prove a more difficult task. This is not exactly the norm as movies tend to have more supporting role than leading ones. But -- grossly generalizing now -- a lot of movies underuse their supporting casts, especially the women. This is particular true of summer blockbusters: Jurassic World and Terminator Genisys, for example, don't even have any supporting females. You're either a male character, a leading female love interest, or you don't exist... except perhaps in cameo form (the eternal plight of one Judy Greer). Either that or the character actors are severely underchallenged. It's easy to feel exceptional warmth for Mary Kay Place in I'll See You In My Dreams or Sally Hawkins in Paddington, for example. Both women are welcome onscreen at any time, terrific actresses, but they're not expected to do much at all other than be a warm and welcoming presence.
Anyway, let's proceed.
Supporting Actress: Rose Byrne & Kristen Stewart
But...that's not playing by the rules which is to choose five performances like you're doing an Oscar shortlist (though these lists should never be mistaken for Oscar Predictions which is a different topic altogether). So let's try again.
Here we go with 4 acting categories after the jump
Best Supporting Actress
• Elizabeth Banks, Love and Mercy
This is a leading role of sorts (she owns half the film) but we're all into her at the moment so forgive our unusual slip in this regard. And please do listen to the podcast where we discuss her work
• Rose Byrne, Spy
For wearing her clothes like they're judging yours. For the stiff body but fluid comedy. For "sad Bulgarian clown". For being smart but selling outwitted. For laugh after laugh after laugh after laugh. For an actress who made her name on miserabilist dramas, comedy sure is her forte.
• Kiersey Clemons, Dope
Wonderfully modern as the tomboy of the Dope trio, perfectly chill in the group shots (just one of the guys) but sparks whenever you most need a dose of her as in that extended funny "you can't say the word" scene
• Phyllis Smith, Inside Out
Like Meryl Streep playing Eeyore. She transcends mere mopeyness with those 'needs a hug' line readings. A fully adorable film-serving realization of "Sadness" as both perpetual state and catalyst.
• Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria
"an out-and-out revelation"... but we've raved enough in the past, probably.
With apologies to multiple other women but mostly in the way of "I'm sorry the movie didn't give you more to do -- we think you're swell!"
Best Supporting Actor
• Paul Bettany, The Avengers: Age of Ultron
And no, I'm not joking. Genre performances are not easy to pull off and actors rarely get credit for handling their often impossible tasks. But he emerges as the MVP of the picture, despite not showing up to until the last act, synthesizing that familiar 'Jarvis' voice with alien curiousity, unflappable robotic cool, and even dry humor -- all without not making a joke of himself while painted bright red and flying around with a gold lame cape.
• Louis Garrel, Saint Laurent
His uniquely erotic screen presence is harnessed for more nefarious purposes this time and Garrel meets the challenge with druggy dangerous predatorial aplomb -- he doesn't even need to hunt - you'll come right to him.
• Nicholas Hoult, Mad Max Fury Road
There's little evidence in his filmography to date that he had "Nux" in him but he emerges as the improbable MVP of the picture (among the actors I mean), balancing the sober pathos of Hardy & Theron with the gonzo verve of the filmmaking and side characters in this highly stylized work
• Martin Starr, I'll See You In My Dreams
Quietly affecting even as you wish he would speak up. Who knew back when he did Freaks & Geeks what a talent he'd turn out to be. The way he tiptoes into this unusual friendship and still feels stepped but recalibrates. It's very moving work and generous in helping Blythe to shine, too
• Jason Statham, Spy
A fun comic riff on the badassery of his screen persona, his spy's confidence is inversely proportionate to his actual skill set. Note to McCarthy for all leading roles forthwith -- make sure your supporting team is this strong every time.
And a shout out to fine voice work from Richard Kind in Inside Out and James Spader in Age of Ultron and a few more fine actor, busy making their movies better.
Best Actor or Actress in a Cameo or Limited Role
• Jennifer Ehle, A Little Chaos
• Jennifer Ehle, 50 Shades of Grey
All hail Queen Ehle, who can whip up so much character and heart and style in just a scene or two that it seems impossible that she's not being courted for major supporting roles or leads. Wake up casting directors! I kept wanting both of these movies to be about her... or at for her to have three times as many scenes.
• Keegan-Michael Key, Tomorrowland
He's amusing as a (spoiler) an evil robot in this well meaning sci-fi adventure. But in truth I wanted to single him out because he's also even better in a larger role in Pitch Perfect 2. Becca's internship is a weak part of the movie but he still demands that it be better as her boss.
• Andie MacDowell, Magic Mike XXL
Steals the movie in one scene. Effortlessly sexy, damn beautiful, slyly funny, and believably aroused and buzzed all at once. Magic MacDowell supersizing her XS part
• John Hoogenakker, Animals
While Animals generally trains its cameras on its strong leads (Dastmalchian and Kim Shaw), some of the bit parts pop especially Hoogenakker's unexpectedly sympathetic nervous john unwisely testing his luck with a prostitute he ordered by phone.
Also noteworthy: Max Gail did a fine job kicking off one of those audition-style montage of hopelessness scenes (speed dating in this context) in I'll See You in My Dreams, managing to make you feel for him and not just our beautiful reluctant protagonist -- and its nice to have your sympathies challenged in a movie scene (why is she so rude to him?); Lindsey Moser nailed that punchline look in Magic Mike XXL's mini-mart scene; Bjorn Gustafsson made me laugh probably harder than I should have with his "not crying" face in Spy; And it was a treat to see John Heard ordering pizza so sympathetically in Animals (I've missed him! He was such a familiar supporting actor face in the 80s). And so on... TheFilm Experience is always looking for treats in every corner of the movie screen.
one of the funniest scenes in Andersonn's absurdist comedy "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch..."
Best Ensemble
• Dope
• Far From the Madding Crowd
• Magic Mike XXL
• A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
• Spy
Obviously I'd love to say Wild Tales here but it counts as a 2014 film due to Oscar qualifying run.
Previously at the Halfway Mark
pt. 1 Oscar Chart Updates - Acting
pt. 2 10 Best Leading Performances
pt. 3 Best & Worst in Animation
pt. 4 Most Ubiquitous - Alicia Vikander
pt. 5 Oscar Chart Updates - Picture
Reader Comments (26)
I'm shocked you didn't find room for Michael Sheen's desperate suitor in Far from the Madding Crowd. I thought he was absolutely terrific and the arguable acting MVP of the film.
Very good call on Phyllis Smith being great. I'd argue it's borderline co-lead with Amy Poehler, because it's fairly dialogue heavy, but she nailed it either way. Though I almost have the opposite intuition about that character based on her work. She comes off as very sad, but too comfortable in it to need a hug, at least for me.
I'm kind of in the middle between you and Nick when it comes to Rose Byrne in "Spy." I don't really love her, but I was still really into her throughout the movie. I don't think it's comedic genius, or that she needs an Oscar for it, but I still thought she was very good. (FWIW, I think she rocked ever harder in "Bridesmaids.")
Bridesmaids remains Rose's crowning achievement as a comedic performer. I think she received a lot of hype for Neighbors because it was a male centered movie and she was not a stereotypical annoying female in a male centered movie. Her work in Spy is fine. Though had no one said Oscar to me before seeing it I may have thought more of it. But high expectations is a ruining thing for performances and movies.
Onboard with Elizabeth Banks. All the acting was excellent in Love & Mercy.
I really liked her in Spy but preferred her in Neighbours and Bridesmaids. Add get Him to the Greek to the list and that's 4 pretty impressive, pretty different, incredibly funny performances from her.
I'm not sure I've ever seen a better performance in that hoary thankless stock role of supportive wife. Elizabeth Banks gives that character life, meaning, and dignity in ways the script doesn't even have in mind.
No matter what, I'm always behind awards! Of all the films mentioned I've only seen Mad Max. Also, Ehle is the bomb and has been in every bit part I've seen her pop up in since pride and prejudice so long ago.
Surprised not to see Harrison Ford's work in Age of Adaline mentioned. His finest role in years.
Michael Sheen was incredibly moving in Far From the Madding Crowd !
Funny. I remember Andie McDowell being either terrible or merely serviceable in everything in which I've seen her.
Hoult is my #1 supporting performance of the year so far, which is weird given that it's really not an actors film - but he's outstanding in it (and yes, in an unexpected way).
Also, as a longtime fan of Phyllis Smith and Elizabeth Banks, I'm very happy that they're getting so much attention and having so much success this year.
I would've thrown The Overnight, Love and Mercy, and maybe even Infinitely Polar Bear into best ensemble... Though Spy is really the ensemble of the year so far. Everyone was just so inspired, both separately and together. And I was so impressed that actors of such seemingly disparate styles all managed to jive into the same comic rhythm.
I wasn't super impressed by Kristen... Good work, yay that she gave a real performance, but she's got nothing on Binoche, as far as I'm concerned. I guess, given the slim pickings so far, maybe she deserves one of the five slots.
Speaking of Mad Max and supporting performances, I thought Rosie Huntington Whitely was great in it / deserved more good reviews. Not a huge part, but I really empathized with her character and thought the actress brought a lot to the part. That scene where she protects Charlize with her pregnant belly was really powerful.
I don't know the actress's name, but I also liked like the bride who looked like the khaleesi. Hope she gets more work.
I feel guilty echoing what other people have said because Rose Byrne is one of my very favorite actresses in the business. But hearing that her work in Spy was Oscar-worthy had me searching and waiting for the moment of brilliance where that would be revealed, and it never came.
She's very very good and thoroughly enjoyable (as always in comedy) but the role is a bit flat and she plays it exactly as you'd expect Rose Byrne in Feig mode to do.
When I rewatch Inside Out, i'll have to watch for Smith's performance, but I think maybe Kaitlyn Dias (Riley) might be the one more deserving for awards consideration. She did have to make sure that all the complex stuff going on in her mind came through in her voice, and need we forget that one scene at the end?
On that note, how come Inside Out didn't make the shortlist for Cast Ensemble?
I'm a little surprised you're putting Sadness in Supporting, since I would think you would put her as a co-lead with Amy Poehler (of course, Joy is the film's protagonist, the one who goes through the biggest character arch in the movie). Either way, Phylis Smith was perfect in the role and I'm glad you're mentioning her (as well as Richard Kind).
I also want to give a shout out to Raffey Cassidy in Tomorrowland. The movie has problems, but every time she's on-screen, she lights it up with a character that could have just easily been dull and humorless. Her "old-married-couple" banter with George Clooney was among my favorite things in the movie (and, your mileage may vary on this, I didn't find it creepy at all).
Not to quibble with the overall point, but Lauren Lapkus played a pretty prominent supporting character in Jurassic World. She got two or three of the biggest laughs in the movie.
Glad to see there are others who feel the same way about Rose Byrne in Spy. Love her and she was good, but I failed to see the Oscar worthy performance. That might be in part because everyone kept hyping her performance before I finally saw the movie.
To pivot a little, I just loved what Miranda Hart was doing in Spy. Her character was TERRIBLY written, but her performance was such a throwback to the 90s Richard Curtis school of daffy British eccentrics. She could've been playing Hugh Grant's sister or Bridget Jones's confidante. Brilliantly out of step with the rest of the story but such a warm and familiar addition.
I LOVE that you mentioned the following special performances that also caught my eye so far this year:
Kiersey Clemons in DOPE. That girl has the on screen magic. She's just luminescent. And I ended up watching her whenever she was in a scene - whether she was doping/saying anything or not. I want to see more of this actress!
Elizabeth Banks in LOVE AND MERCY. I came out of that movie really loving this character/actress. I just thought she was marvelous. And I'm so impressed with how many interesting roles she's done. This seems like a woman who is ready to handle a really major dramatic role!
Paul Bettany in AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON. I had to laugh when I was watching the film because every time Bettany appeared on screen I became convinced the entire movie was about him. Everything you wrote is so true - he was so cool, and magnetic, and charming in that damn makeup and costume. Wondering sexy too. And we can't ignore that fact that he conveyed such charisma in a movie jammed packed with charismatic actors!! Brilliant casting!
Martin Starr in I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS. God I loved him in this movie. Talk about acting "real" - this guy was so natural and so uniquely natural that I just adored him. Wonderful contribution to the film too. I mean the fascination of watching Danner's actorly style (perfect for an ex-singer); Sam Elliott's easy macho style; and then this guy's incredibly naturalistic subtle but sensitive stuff - great fun. I definitely want to see more of this guy too!!
These are definitely among my favorite performances so far this year and it just tickles me pink that you highlighted them like this. You and I are obviously very perceptive people with excellent taste!
Yeah, count me among those who found Byrne's performance not quite in tune with the hype. She was very good for sure, but in that movie alone she gave only the second-best supporting performance, next to Miranda Hart doing adorable wonders with an on-paper beyond-lame role.
I do however really like Byrne in comic/bitchy mode - her cameo in Marie Antoinette was pitch-perfect and also the first time I found I could tolerate her on screen. Then of course Bridesmaids was a revelation. And she was best in show in Neighbors.
However, while I was minimally underwhelmed by Byrne's work in Spy in light of the hype, I can sort of see why others love that performance.
When it comes to Stewart in Sils Maria on the other hand... I'm convinced I watched a separate movie to the rest of the world. It's been years since I've been this confused by a film's critical reception.
I didn't notice one remarkable thing about what Stewart did, and it's beyond me how someone could pull their eyes away from Binoche to even take in anyone else in that film.
I've never disliked Stewart (never saw Twilight/Snow White etc) so she certainly has nothing to prove/compensate for in my eyes. And I didn't for a moment think she was anything less than fine in Sils Maria (she did nothing there to recall her diabolical/hilarious butchering of Chekhov in Still Alice). I just don't understand the hype/hosannahs/Cesars and since they're so universal, I worry I missed something.
@Richter Scale: I don't think Sadness really rises to the level of co-lead. While she does tag along with Joy for much of the adventure, she's absent for some crucial parts (the memory dump scene, most obviously), and the story is really about Joy coming to a realization about the role of Sadness, not Sadness herself changing, and Joy is in the driver's seat throughout the climax (even relinquishing control being mainly about Joy).
Sean, I agree with you, I'm just saying it surprises me that Nathaniel didn't think of her as co-lead, since his definiton of "lead" extends to plenty of characters others would call "supporting" (including a lot of recent Supporting winners). That's all I meant...
Yeah, I don't think Stewart is supporting in 'Sils Maria,' nor do I think her performance (or the film, actually) is all that.
Rose Byrne is great at comedy. I loved her in Spy, which I overall found enjoyable but a little disappointing (it peters out near the end and runs about 15 minutes longer than it should have). Really hope she continues to do more of this kind of work - she was of course fantastic in Bridesmaids and quite good in the otherwise just above-average Neighbors (another comedy that just did not sustain itself for the length of its run-time).