2015 Calvin Awards: Best Actor
By David Mumpower
February 12, 2015
BoxOfficeProphets.com
What’s a washed up comic book hero to do after their journey ends? No, I’m not posing a question about Andrew Garfield’s future now that he’s been fired from Spider-Man. Instead, I am describing the premise of Birdman, which explores the all too real history of former Batman Michael Keaton in a fictional manner. As former A-List actor Riggan Thomson, Keaton draws upon his time as the top movie draw in the world - Batman and Batman Returns both set all-time records for opening weekend performance back in the day – to reveal the inner monologue of a man in denial regarding his fate.
Thomson may or may not be crazy, and his sanity may or may not be attached to his belief that he has developed some of the same supernatural abilities as the titular character he portrays in the film. Birdman is as existential as any Best Picture nominee in recent memory, and the key to the audience’s acceptance of the absurdity of it all is Keaton.
Best known as a comedic actor thanks to his work in blockbusters like Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice, Keaton has quietly built a tremendous resume as a serious actor. Starting with Clean and Sober in 1988, he has gravitated toward dramatic roles such as Clean and Sober, Pacific Heights, Jackie Brown and The Paper, all of which earned him praise for demonstrating his range.
Despite all the lauded performances, Keaton had never received a major nomination prior to his work in Birdman, which is fairly shocking for a liked and respected industry veteran of 30 years. Keaton’s role is a prototypical demonstration of the perfect role at the perfect time for a gifted thespian. He has felt like a mortal lock for Best Actor ever since members of our staff raved about Birdman over opening weekend, and the dominant voting reflects the fact that our opinion never wavered in this regard.
Finishing in a distant second place is the leader of the also-rans, David Oyelowo. The British actor was asked to portray an icon of American history, and he did so with aplomb. Mastering the mannerisms as well as the vocal machinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Oyelowo inspires much of the same devotion and emotional gravitational pull. In the process, he demonstrates a presence that commands attention even as the events of Selma, especially Bloody Sunday, unfold around him. It’s a heartfelt portrayal of one of the gloomiest days for American civilization.
Jake Gyllenhaal is arguably the most employable and famous actor never to have broken through as an A-list performer. Our staff has loved him ever since Bubble Boy, yet even we have been conflicted about many of his performances. He has received votes in the category in most of the years that The Calvins have existed, but his only prior selection was in 2008 for Zodiac. Seven years later, Gyllenhaal has finally delivered on his promise with his portrayal of an unethical opportunist in Nightcrawler. His third place finish in Best Actor is not only his highest placement to date but also reflective of his earning the second largest number of first place votes in the category. Hopefully, Gyllenhaal is finally ready to become the actor we always believed that he could be.
Our winner for Best Character and ninth place entrant for Breakthrough performance wrap up our top five selections this year. Ralph Fiennes will always be known as Voldemort first and Amon Goeth second, but his delightful portrayal of Monsieur Gustave H., the elderly-loving concierge at The Grand Budapest Hotel, is one of the best in his storied career.
Miles Teller, on the other hand, is just getting started in Hollywood, yet he has already wowed us multiple times. As the lead in Whiplash, Teller literally played the drums until his fingers bled. His demonstration of what a musician needs to do to stand out from one’s peers is yet another sublime rendition from this rising superstar. If we could bet on the future of one under-30 actor in Hollywood, it’s probably Teller.
Damaged British icons comprise our sixth and seventh place entries. Eddie Redmayne already won Breakthrough Performance for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. He also finished in sixth place for Best Actor in demonstrating how force of will can overcome the limitations of bodily fragility. Benedict Cumberbatch’s work in The Imitation Game nakedly demonstrated the challenges socially awkward Alan Turing faced while trying to aid the Allied efforts in World War II. The film doubles on a treatise on the madness of judging people based upon their sexual preferences. Cumberbatch deftly demonstrated heartbreak without bitterness through his reactions to how harshly a war hero was treated by complete strangers who owed him their very lives.
Three industry heavyweights complete our list. Bradley Cooper’s work in American Sniper has been championed at the box office as well as in the media. Our staff was equally transfixed, shaky southern accent notwithstanding. There was theoretically nowhere for Matthew McConaughey to go but down after The Wolf of Wall Street, Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective. He somehow avoided that fate with a terrific turn as the potential hero of mankind in Interstellar. Finally, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last appearance will technically be in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, but BOP will remember him for his gritty turn as German master spy Günther Bachmann in A Most Wanted Man. Hoffman rarely accepted lead roles in films, which is a further tragedy on top of his shocking death.
Narrowly missing selection this year were Steve Carell in Foxcatcher, Andy Serkis in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (despite a devoted campaign from BOP’s funniest staff member), John Lithgow in Love is Strange, Chris Pratt in Guardians of the Galaxy, Ben Affleck in Gone Girl, Tom Hardy in Locke, Bill Hader in The Skeleton Twins, Chadwick Boseman in Get on Up, and Tom Cruise for Edge of Tomorrow.
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