Category: Best Acting

Seeing the film poster for many years, I had gone into this expecting a boxing film. Indeed it is about boxer Ruben ‘Hurricane’ Carter, portrayed by Denzel Washington, but it focuses on his life after he was wrongly convicted for murder and the nearly 20 years he spent in prison for this crime. Parallel to his story is the experiences of Lesra Martin (played by Vicellous Reon Shannon), an American teenager who was fostered in Toronto and became interested in Hurricane’s case after reading his autobiography. Dan Hedaya as the cop hounding Hurricane his entire life and determined to keep him in jail is a bit too much of a mustache-twirling bad guy. Though I find the relationship intriguing, the trio fostering Martin are otherwise indistinguishable and somewhat white savior-y. The strengths in the film lie solely on Washington’s portrayal. At this point in his career, Denzel was well versed at charismatically leading a film and he is incredibly powerful here. The emotions and experiences he displays run the gamut from cocky prize fighter to dignified dissident to resigned prisoner, all handled adeptly. 

Oscar Nomination: Best Actor in a Leading Role

Even though it’s not really a life’s goal, I definitely warm to Shakespeare adaptations as I become more and more familiar with the story. Here we have a hammy Laurence Olivier as the titular Othello whose jealousy for his wife’s attentions is stoked by rival Iago. For me the costumes and make-up distract from any issues with the performances though. As if the blackface of Othello isn’t generally unsettling enough, Olivier’s makeup here has a weird bluish tinge as if he also had been on a colloidal silver regimen at the same time. While seemingly consistent with other Olivier Shakespeare productions, the wigs on many of the characters are unflattering and ill-fitting, as are the caftans that seem to comprise the majority of Othello’s wardrobe. The barebones set pieces seemed to work better here than they do in Richard III ; the colors especially helping to invoke the tragic mood of the work. I do enjoy seeing Maggie Smith in her younger roles. Years of watching Downton Abbey reruns and Harry Potter films always has me unprepared to see her softer side.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role; Best Actor in a Supporting Role; Best Actress in a Supporting Role (2)

On their overseas flight to Italy, Vivien Leigh’s rich husband suffers a fatal heart attack. She decides to continue on with the trip, but her loneliness pulls her into the clutches of madam Lotte Lenya and a gigolo in her stable, Warren Beatty. The early parts of the film were the best part with Leigh being an independent woman in Rome, wearing beautiful dresses, and surrounded by gorgeous scenery. Then Beatty plays a much bigger role and it becomes ludicrous. His fake tan and atrociously comical accent are incredibly distracting, even Leigh’s hair and costumes become dowdy in his presence. While the assumed ending is probably fitting for a Tennessee Williams work, I prefer to believe a happier ending; Vivien deserved it after being saddled with Warren for so long in the film.

Oscar Nomination: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

In this biography of sorts, six different actors portray seven different characters inspired by the life and music of Bob Dylan. If I were a fan of Dylan, I would probably have gotten a lot more out of the film than I did. As it was, I was mostly confused as to who each of the characters were and I am completely ignorant to any of the referential works or events that were presented. I appreciate what the film was attempting. I did get the feel that the various characters can be different aspects of the same person and liked the storylines featuring Cate Blanchett and young Marcus Carl Franklin the best. 

Oscar Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role