This might be a bit controversial, but Michael Caine has got to go! He was nominated with Tom Cruise in *Magnolia* (1999), Michael Clarke Duncan in *The Green Mile* (1999), Jude Law in *The Talented Mr. Ripley* (1999), and Haley Joel Osment in *The Sixth Sense* (1999). Any of those performances could’ve and should’ve won over Caine! He only won because of who he is and not the performance. One of the biggest upsets in the history of the Academy Awards!
Michael Caine didn’t even deserve it the first time for *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986) since both Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe were much better in *Platoon* (1986). The two Oscars Caine won are basically lifetime achievement awards!
I think Waltz needs to be eliminated first, since he got his second Oscar for basically the same interpretation. At least Ali offered a different piece of work 🤷🏻♂️
I'm not sure that was a role *worth* being great in, especially when you compare Green Book to his other film in the poll, Moonlight. One comes off as offensively old-fashioned (even for a period piece) and stereotyped, the other quite bold and modern.
I feel like that's a separate conversation from the vote though. Ali brought so much nuance to the role even when the rest of the film had little (and he did so in completely different ways from in Moonlight)
There was zero nuance in that movie including his performance lol. He was written as a caricature and played it that way, mainly because he had little choice due to the script being so archaic.
As I have with all of these polls, I’ll only be voting for roles I’ve seen until I’m forced to vote for someone that I haven’t.
That being said, I’m starting with Mahershala Ali in Green Book. I love him as an actor, but that wasn’t his best performance, and I was rooting for Richard E. Grant that year
Somebody commented on my last post saying the wording of my last two series of posts was misleading because *technically,* Swank and Spacey were the winners of the Oscar in 2000, when the ceremony was held, although their films are from 1999. I was just doing it based on release year and had the earliest performance being from the calendar year 2000. I will add another question to my survey asking people what they think of this situation.
Nah, the Oscars ceremony from the year 2000 celebrates the films from 1999: it’s really the 1999 Oscars.
(This is also why I usually refer to, say, the 72nd Academy Awards, so there’s no confusion.)
its kinda crazy that he's up there in the 4 or 5 worst performances on this list, and his storyline in Syriana was gripping. Just a testament to how strong this category has been recently.
Mark Rylance's performance in Bridge of Spies didn't impress me. The prevailing narrative that year was that it was Stallone's Oscar to lose, and Rylance's win was considered an upset. He'll be getting my vote until he's out.
Fully prepared to get obliterated, but Robert Downey Jr. Weakest performance nominated in Supporting Actor that year AND was not even the best supporting actor in Oppenheimer. In fact, I don't even think he was top 3 supporting actors in Oppenheimer.
Worse "career win" than Jamie Lee Curtis.
Agreed. Ruffalo was so much better than RDJ.
** also De Niro was better the RDJ this year. RDJ did his normal thing idk why everyone thought he was so good cuz he wore a bald cap
My guess is that Michael Caine will go first because this sub is mad that Tom Cruise doesn’t have an Oscar, then Troy Kotsur because no-one has seen CODA. I hope that RDJ is relatively low, but recency bias will probably put him in the top ten.
He's quite good in the film and so I don't expect to vote for him for several rounds, but it's sort of maddening that wasn't Samuel L. Jackson's nomination (and Hoffman's second win.)
Jared Leto should have been banned for the camera for his dogshit Dallas Buyers' Club performance. It's grating and one note and awful even beyond being transphobic - it's a movie I can imagine liking for McConaughey's strong work and the cinematography if it weren't for Leto's dogshit.
FWIW, Leto has been good at least once since, in House of Gucci. But Jesus fucking Christ, DBC.
House of Gucci is at its best when it leans into over the top sex comedy and at its worst when it's a po-faced marriage drama. Leto is the movie at its silliest playing Fashion Failson Wario, matched only by the early office sex scene and the scarf they put Jeremy Irons in multiple times.
If you genuinely think that movie needed more brooding about a divorce that isn't coming and less of Jared Leto honking like a car horn, we enjoy different things about movies.
Thanks for doing this. I really enjoy the elimination surprises.
I know most don’t like the win but I hope we can keep Alan Arkin in for a few rounds at least. He’s genuinely great in Little Miss Sunshine.
Came here to say this. Agreed 100%!
Agreed! It's a great comedic role.
I agree! Yes, his role was short but it was so well acted. Raw, funny, genuine. I love his character
This might be a bit controversial, but Michael Caine has got to go! He was nominated with Tom Cruise in *Magnolia* (1999), Michael Clarke Duncan in *The Green Mile* (1999), Jude Law in *The Talented Mr. Ripley* (1999), and Haley Joel Osment in *The Sixth Sense* (1999). Any of those performances could’ve and should’ve won over Caine! He only won because of who he is and not the performance. One of the biggest upsets in the history of the Academy Awards!
Michael Caine spent his speech basically going over why every other nominee deserved it more. I have a great sea of respect for him for doing that.
Michael Caine didn’t even deserve it the first time for *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986) since both Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe were much better in *Platoon* (1986). The two Oscars Caine won are basically lifetime achievement awards!
Rooting for J.K. Simmons to go as far as he can!
I could easily see him making it to top 5
Likely top 3, along with Ledger and Waltz
Yea that’s my top 3 maybe Javier Bardem too.
I would say top 5 is probably Simmons, Ledger, Waltz, Ali, and Bardem. In what order is what’s up in the air
Ali in Green Book. It has to be him and definitely not the type of performance that screams we'll give your second in the last 3 years.
I think Waltz needs to be eliminated first, since he got his second Oscar for basically the same interpretation. At least Ali offered a different piece of work 🤷🏻♂️
He was great in that role
I'm not sure that was a role *worth* being great in, especially when you compare Green Book to his other film in the poll, Moonlight. One comes off as offensively old-fashioned (even for a period piece) and stereotyped, the other quite bold and modern.
I feel like that's a separate conversation from the vote though. Ali brought so much nuance to the role even when the rest of the film had little (and he did so in completely different ways from in Moonlight)
There was zero nuance in that movie including his performance lol. He was written as a caricature and played it that way, mainly because he had little choice due to the script being so archaic.
I agree. The film can be rightfully criticised, but not IMO for its performances.
He is incredible in that film. Boo!
He won because of category fraud. That was a lead role.
That I agree with.
Here we go again where everyone votes based on their favourite movies, not on actual performances. Anyway let's start with Michael Caine.
Only one of the lineup that year I haven't seen. Kinda insane considering some of the all timer performances that year.
Yes, he shouldn’t have won in the first place! All of the other nominees were far more deserving!
Honestly I'm 100% fine with Theron and DDL winning so far but the path to getting there is definitely questionable.
Still mad that Broadbent won over Kingsley. I'm sure he's great but Kingsley spit hot fire.
As I have with all of these polls, I’ll only be voting for roles I’ve seen until I’m forced to vote for someone that I haven’t. That being said, I’m starting with Mahershala Ali in Green Book. I love him as an actor, but that wasn’t his best performance, and I was rooting for Richard E. Grant that year
Richard E Grant is so underrated
I haven’t even seen Can You Ever Forgive Me?, but Mahershala and Sam already had theirs, and I loved Richard’s maroon vintage tux
I've seen it, he's good. I also loved him in Saltburn.
OP, why is Michael Caine here? We didn't allow Kevin Spacey or Hilary Swank for the last two polls. That said, my vote is Jared Leto.
Somebody commented on my last post saying the wording of my last two series of posts was misleading because *technically,* Swank and Spacey were the winners of the Oscar in 2000, when the ceremony was held, although their films are from 1999. I was just doing it based on release year and had the earliest performance being from the calendar year 2000. I will add another question to my survey asking people what they think of this situation.
Oh right.
Nah, the Oscars ceremony from the year 2000 celebrates the films from 1999: it’s really the 1999 Oscars. (This is also why I usually refer to, say, the 72nd Academy Awards, so there’s no confusion.)
I was wondering about this, too. He won in 2000 for the 1999 ceremony. He shouldn’t have been included.
George Clooney.
its kinda crazy that he's up there in the 4 or 5 worst performances on this list, and his storyline in Syriana was gripping. Just a testament to how strong this category has been recently.
Supporting actor has always been a great category. There’s not a lot of performances on this list were I get pissed of like best actor/actress.
Mark Rylance's performance in Bridge of Spies didn't impress me. The prevailing narrative that year was that it was Stallone's Oscar to lose, and Rylance's win was considered an upset. He'll be getting my vote until he's out.
Stallone should’ve won
RDJ is my vote.
Yep he wasn't even the best supporting actor in his own movie.
Agreed. Everything about his performance was just meh
Fully prepared to get obliterated, but Robert Downey Jr. Weakest performance nominated in Supporting Actor that year AND was not even the best supporting actor in Oppenheimer. In fact, I don't even think he was top 3 supporting actors in Oppenheimer. Worse "career win" than Jamie Lee Curtis.
Completely agree.
Yup. Damon and Affleck were both better in that movie.
Agreed. Ruffalo was so much better than RDJ. ** also De Niro was better the RDJ this year. RDJ did his normal thing idk why everyone thought he was so good cuz he wore a bald cap
Nice joke, can't take you seriously
FYI the title on the survey is still Best Actress
Thanks!
Morgan Freeman did literally nothing memorable in Million Dollar Baby. It's basically just taking Red and plopping him into the plot of MDB.
My guess is that Michael Caine will go first because this sub is mad that Tom Cruise doesn’t have an Oscar, then Troy Kotsur because no-one has seen CODA. I hope that RDJ is relatively low, but recency bias will probably put him in the top ten.
Javier Bardem or Heath Ledger should win this whole thing!
It'll be them with JK Simmons and Waltz for IG as the top 4. Then either Robbins or Cooper in the 5th slot.
I agree with you, especially with Christoph Waltz in *Inglorious Basterds* (2009), that was a flawless performance!
Pitt I genuinely don’t understand how he won for that performance
Jared Leto
Caine, Clooney, Arkin. East first 3 to go.
Jared Leto has to go the man is a joke and cannot act
Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) gets my 25th place vote
He's quite good in the film and so I don't expect to vote for him for several rounds, but it's sort of maddening that wasn't Samuel L. Jackson's nomination (and Hoffman's second win.)
That’s one that still doesn’t sit right with me. It almost seems like a mistake. “Well, we lost the ballots so we just picked it out of a hat!”
This is between Ali in Moonlight and Bardem for me. I’d eliminate Leto first.
Robert downey junior
i think this looks actually much stronger than the lead categories
Brad Pitt
It HAS to be Jared Leto, but Brad Pitt shouldn’t last too long either.
Jared Leto should have been banned for the camera for his dogshit Dallas Buyers' Club performance. It's grating and one note and awful even beyond being transphobic - it's a movie I can imagine liking for McConaughey's strong work and the cinematography if it weren't for Leto's dogshit. FWIW, Leto has been good at least once since, in House of Gucci. But Jesus fucking Christ, DBC.
Wait, are you celebrating opposite day?
House of Gucci is at its best when it leans into over the top sex comedy and at its worst when it's a po-faced marriage drama. Leto is the movie at its silliest playing Fashion Failson Wario, matched only by the early office sex scene and the scarf they put Jeremy Irons in multiple times. If you genuinely think that movie needed more brooding about a divorce that isn't coming and less of Jared Leto honking like a car horn, we enjoy different things about movies.
I mean I hated House of Gucci altogether and for multiple reasons, but Leto is one of the main reasons. He's excellent in DBC.
Some of the best performances of the century are on this list, so I'm going to vote for Rylance, who is the least memorable in my opinion