2015 Calvin Awards: Breakthrough Performance
By David Mumpower
February 11, 2015
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Previous winners include Lupita Nyong’o, Hailee Steinfeld, Christoph Waltz, Dev Patel, Ellen Page, Michael Sheen, Rooney Mara, Zach Braff, Keisha Castle-Hughes and Terrence Howard. We have for the most part favored youthful thespians over the years, but we also hit home runs with our identifications of Waltz, Page, Sheen and (to a lesser extent) Howard as actors to watch in coming years. This year, we again follow this trend by selecting a man who was a virtual unknown only months ago for the Breakthrough Performance of 2015.
While Eddie Redmayne was sharing scenes with Matt Damon all the way back in 2006 in The Good Shepherd, his career was primarily spent as a bit player until 2011 when he portrayed Colin Clarke in My Week with Marilyn. His only work since then, however, had been a smaller part in 2012’s Les Misérables. As such, his heart-wrenching portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything feels like an out of nowhere performance. Redmayne nails the awkwardness of a socially inept student whose world is turned upside when he learns that he will never walk again. Even worse, he is presumed to have only two years to live.
There is a bit of a scorched Earth vibe to The Theory of Everything, which is based on Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, an explosive memoir written by Hawking’s ex-wife, Jane Hawking. She sacrificed much of her life to aid the world’s greatest mind in his journey to uncover the mysteries of the universe. Redmayne is asked to provide sympathy to a hard man whose disability has driven his life choices, many of which are selfish and single-minded. In addition, Redmayne had to cede his ability to move for much of the film, something he has stated led to “numerous freakouts” for obvious reasons. The fact that he accomplished so much in the face of such obstacles speaks volumes about his natural ability. Redmayne may never top his performance in The Theory of Everything but even if he does not, he has still already established himself as the next great British actor.
Do you believe in miracles? Only two years ago, Rosamund Pike had the misfortune of earning two spots on the Worst Performance list. Our staff considered her work in Jack Reacher and Wrath of the Titans to be so atrocious that we struggled to decide which role deserved more damnation. We voted each one to be among the worst half a dozen “acting” jobs of the year. Fast forward to today and the 36-year-old thespian with more than 20 major film credits – she’s a Bond Girl, for God’s sake! – almost won the category of Breakthrough Performance for Gone Girl. Our evaluation of our ability heading into the year was so low that in delivering one of the great acting jobs of 2014, we were suddenly forced to reconsider all of our preconceived notions about her as a thespian. Only two years after kicking her when she was down, we collectively accepted that she has more talent than we have previously acknowledged.
A previous selection in this category earns an additional nomination here, something that happens twice in the 2015 voting. Two years ago, we lauded Chris Pratt for his gritty portrayal of a Navy SEAL in Zero Dark Thirty, a movie with glowing reviews and a cast of dozens. Pratt stood out for us then, but it was a drop in the bucket compared to what he showed in Guardians of the Galaxy. As the lead actor and principal player in the only original blockbuster of the year, Pratt established himself as the next great action lead, a designation he hopes to crystallize in 2015 with Jurassic World and possibly down the line as the new Indiana Jones. None of this would have been possible if Pratt hadn’t hooked us on the feeling of comedic vulnerability he delivered as Star Lord.
A fictional twin and a portrayal of a living legend complete our top five in Breakthrough Performance. Carrie Coon was asked to portray the caustic yet loving twin sister of Nick Dunne in Gone Girl. Her contribution is key to the proceedings as the audience responds to his character predicated upon her interactions with him. When she believes him innocent, so do we, and our opinion changes only when hers does as well. Coon was basically unemployed as a thespian prior to Gone Girl, but that will never be true again.
David Oyelowo had an even greater burden. The English actor was asked to portray Martin Luther King Jr., a man whose legacy is so crucial to American culture that he has his own national holiday. Oyelowo somehow managed to exacerbate the strengths of King while making his long known weakness with regards to fidelity understandable if not necessary. He sinks into this role so completely that his recreations of King’s speeches are at times more engaging than the original pieces, ones that have already stood the test of time. Oyelowo has been acting since 1998 and working steadily since 2002 yet his work in Selma will define him for the rest of his career.
Two people who were kids when production started on their films finish in sixth and seventh place. Ellar Coltrane of Boyhood has had the unusual experience of a fictional version of his childhood filmed over the past 13 years. That reason alone would be enough to guarantee pop culture awareness for the rest of his life; however, his acting grew noticeably better over the duration of the movie, presumably due to the influence of several marvelous thespians who groomed him through his formative years. Tony Revolori’s experience with The Grand Budapest Hotel was briefer, yet he still held his own against an actor who recently portrayed Voldemort. That statement alone explains why our staff selected him for Breakthrough Performance.
The rest of our top ten includes a returning favorite whose star continues to rise and a pair of relative unknowns. Miles Teller finished in ninth place in the category previously, but his work in Whiplash has guaranteed his place among the greatest under-30 thespians in the world. Mackenzie Foy’s work in Interstellar simply required the 14-year-old to act stubborn and petulant, natural abilities for any kid that age, but she still managed to impress our staff with his earnest performance. Finally, Essie Davis nails her role as a mother desperate to protect her child from a Babadook, whatever that is.
Narrowly missing selection are Bill Hader for The Skeleton Twins, Jenny Slate for Obvious Child, Jack O’Connell for both Unbroken and Starred Up, Felicity Jones for The Theory of Everything and Katherine Waterston for Inherent Vice.
2015 Calvin Awards
Calvins Intro
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Album
Best Cast
Best Character
Best Director
Best Overlooked Film
Best Picture
Best Scene
Best Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best TV Show
Best Use of Music
Breakthrough Performance
Worst Performance
Worst Picture