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