OSCAR 2015: BEST ACTOR
A lethal human weapon; an artist in crisis; an insistent scientist; a mysterious war security advisor; a psychopathic wrestling coach. There’s an evident similar aspect in this year’s contenders for Oscar’s Best Actor: the male ego. They are five men persuading their beliefs, struggling to prove their masculinity, their self-confidence and carrying the natural pride of developing their respective gifts or aspirations. They are also fighting for their interests, dealing with a permanent emotional and physical crisis, as well as their religious doubts, loneliness, insecurities, and misconnected closer relationships. Even harder, they’re trying to prove their ability in a specific field, urging to accomplish victories. Bradley Cooper’s “American Sniper” is determined to fight for his country at any cost, including losing himself, as his mission of protecting his homeland from terrorists becomes the center of his life. When he fails as a professional cowboy, he learns his talent earned from his father as a rapid hunting shooter, can be improved amidst the chaos and pain his nation’s been experiencing with tragic attacks. He delves on the hunt for his targets/enemies, abandoning everything behind, including his family. Cooper is very good as America’s most infamous war sniper, but sometimes his expressions feel exaggerated. Both The Academy and audiences have been watching him closely, raving his popular takes on dysfunctional characters. As the film became controversial and the most popular of the season, on pace to Top 2014’s Highest Box-Office within days, Cooper appears to be the front-runner, especially being his 3rd consecutive nomination. For that, he must beat the favorite Michael Keaton, who’s furiously outstanding as a lunatic actor who used to be very popular playing the superhero “Birdman” and now is trying to prove himself as an accomplished artist. As he puts up a play on Broadway to establish a new phase in his career, he bumps head to head with everyone around him, including his own spectators, while analyzing his artistic and emotional turbulences and being warned by his ego of his thirsty for glory. His madly hilarious performance is a study on human ambitions, gathering aspects of a modern society defied by insecurities emerging as obstacles. Eddie Redmayne has got a lot of buzz and conquered audiences’ hearts as a paralyzed scientist who’s persuading to prove his own physical theories of creation in “Theory of Everything”. His performance is heartbreaking and compelling, with incredible technique of body expressions, although it’s impossible to understand some lines he pronounces. He’s responsible for a motivating and inspirational take on faith and hope, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Academy chooses him, counting the fact they tend to honor disabled characters and actors who extremely lose weight. Benedict Cumberbatch is a revelation with a vigorous work in “Imitation Game”, playing a shy young man whose knowledge deciphering enigmas helps Britain win a couple of wars. He faces obstacles as he tries to build a machine and to hide his conflicting sexuality. His fantastic performance is filled with a moderated balance between despair, madness, and eagerness. Finally, Steve Carell is up for his prosthetic nose in “Foxcatcher”. Just kidding; not really. They misplaced the creepy spot belonged to Nightcrawler’s Jake Gyllenhaal or even Mr. Turner’s Timothy Spall for Carell’s ambiguous, vicious and obsessive wrestling coach recruiting for the Olympics. It’s a reasonably dark and strange performance, but not a powerful one. So, who will get the Top Award and become the most celebrated actor of the year? My favorite is Keaton for his tumultuous persona, but I’d be glad also for Redmayne. In other hand, Cooper has been improving over the years, but I believe his time is yet to come. Good Luck!
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