They Weren't Even Nominated!! Best Supporting Actor Nominees that Never Were!!

-This year's crop of nominees for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar is without question one of most interesting in recent years. No one doubts that Christoph Waltz will be awarded the prize for his turn in Inglorious Basterds, but there would be little disappointment if one of the other fine actors proved to be an Oscar upset. Both Stanley Tucci and Christopher Plummer are both up for their first nominations for The Lovely Bones and The Last Station respectively; nominations I might add which are long overdue, and Woody Harrelson and Matt Damon are also both nominated for The Messenger and Invictus respectively for performances which went beyond the typical sort of roles they are offered and showcasing their unique skills. While these four men are honored for their work this past year, I can't help but be reminded of the fine performances each has done in the past which went unnoticed by the Academy and for that matter, the work of other brilliant supporting actors which suffered the same fate. In celebration of these long overdue nominations, I have decided to take a look back at some of the great supporting performances from past years that never made it to the Oscars.

1940s:

-Farley Granger for Rope (1948) instead of Oskar Homolka for I Remember Mama

-So many have labeled this film as "experimental Hitchcock," (the legendary director tried to make the entire film appear as if it had been shot in one long, continuous take) without giving it much more credit. Besides being a great suspense thriller, the film contains an excellent turn by Farley Granger. As one of two young men who murder an old friend from prep school, Granger is positively riveting as the more fragile of the two who exerts his nervous energy through piano playing and drinking. Perhaps it was the implied homosexual aspects of the film which prevented Rope from succeeding and Farley from getting the nomination he deserved. But deserve it, he did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L52MJNdZpMs

1950s:

-Orson Welles for The Long Hot Summer (1958) instead of Gig Young for Teacher's Pet

-The Long Hot Summer comes along in the tradition of southern family dramas complete with picnics, sun and family pride. While Newman and Woodward were meant to be the stars of the film, it was the legendary Welles as patriarch Will Varner who truly steals the show. Welles gives one of his most powerhouse performances as a prosperous businessman trying desperately and selfishly to steer his children in what he feels is the right direction. Its a Welles performance unlike any other given by the actor before and one of his most dynamic times on screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVGgcILWIXQ&feature=related

1960s:

-Paul Newman for What a Way to Go! (1964) instead of Lee Tracy for The Best Man

-Its hard for an actor to make himself distinguishable in a cast which also includes the likes of Dean Martin, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Mitchum, Robert Cummings and Gene Kelly. Yet Paul Newman manages quite easily in the dark comedy What a Way to Go! As one of Shirley Maclaine's many husbands, Newman is able to bring a required level of depth and intensity to the film as a bohemian artist. While this film is considered more of a classic of Maclaine's than of any of the actors involved, one should not overlook Newman's fine work in this film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3JU-knnk0k

1970s:

-Truman Capote for Muder by Death (1976) instead of Jason Robards for All the President's Men

-This might seem an odd choice at first. Yet Truman Capote made quite an impressive acting debut in the Neil Simon comedy/mystery Murder By Death. Capote plays famed mystery writer Lionel Twain, who invites his fellow writers and rivals to his isolated mansion for a real-life murder mystery. The author, in his first role, was definitley sinsiter bordering on creepy, yet also funny. Although he is only in the film for a brief period of time, he more than leaves his mark. Despite earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Newcomer, its a shame nothing more came of Capote's acting career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbL029LRwA

1980s:

-Robert Downey Jr. for Less Than Zero (1987) instead of Vincent Gardenia for Moonstruck

-The film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' breakthrough novel Less Than Zero was considered lackluster at best by most ardant followers. Yet the one aspect of the film which everyone agrees works is the captivating brilliance of Downey's performance. As Julian, a Beverly Hills drug addict whose lost everything, the actor is at his best. His portrayal of the character is heartbreaking to watch yet at the same time so compelling with his false optimism and hopeless attempts at escape from the life he has made for himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQSGS5-7QI4&feature=related

1990s:

-Greg Kinnear for Sabrina (1995) instead of Tim Roth for Rob Roy

-Many have seemed to embrace Sidney Pollack's dicey remake of the classic Sabrina. Yet the film works for many reasons, not least of all Greg Kinnear's performance as David Larabee. In what was his debut performance, Kinnear plays a rich Long Island playboy who spends his time living the good life instead of helping his brother (Ford) to run the family business. Its hard to believe that Kinnear had no previous film experience since this is clearly a performance given by a professional. As David, Kinnear makes good use of what is definitley the film's flashiest role and injects it with the pitch-perfect comedic timing and charisma that it requires.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQv3u_aj5m4

2000s:

-Ben Affleck for Hollywoodland (2006) instead of Mark Wahlberg for The Departed

-Affleck took a decidedly Hollywood route after winning his Oscar for Best Original Screenplay by attempting to carve out a leading man niche for himself in films like Bounce and Paycheck while doing favors for good friend Kevin Smith. Yet none of those roles was ever successfully able to capture his abilities as an actor quite like the true-life mystery Hollywoodland. As actor George Reeves (TV's Superman) who was found shot dead mysteriously in his home in the Hollywood Hills, Affleck showed a side of himself no one thought existed. He portrays Reeves the way many believe he was in real life; scared, angry, frustrated, and depressed. Affleck has truly never been better and one can only hope that a role such as this finds him in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZvDDWQfgFA

Tomorrow...Best Actress!!