If it was difficult before picking
out nominees, it's going to be nigh near impossible now. 'Fargo', 'American
Crime', 'Night Manager' and 'People V. O.J. Simpson' have enough potential
nominees on their own, and that's before we even think of getting near the TV
movies of the year. Trying to figure out which ones will get picked and which
won't will have a lot of Monday
Morning quarterbacks thinking. Here are my humble choices.
Sterling K. Brown, 'The People V.
O.J, Simpson'
David Schwimmer and Cuba Gooding,
Jr. will probably be good possibilities, but of all this performers cast, by
far the most engaging was Brown's work as the embattled Christopher Darden, a
good man who was bulldozed by the publicity behind the trial. He showed a
warmth and realness that we didn't see in the trial. And considering the charm
and chemistry he showed in the private moments with Sarah Paulson's Marcia
Clark were so genuine, you almost wonder what happened behind closed doors.
Ted Danson, 'Fargo'
Nothing against Jesse Plemmons,
whose brilliant work as the beleaguered butcher who wanted a better life, but
Danson, who has over the past decade built up a resume as one of TV's great
character actors. And oh, did he demonstrate as Hank Larsson, the good soldier
and caring father-in-law to Lou. Playing the understating, measured and quirky
sheriff, who served as a foil to all of the rogues who proliferated this
season, Danson demonstrated what a great actor he was, when he was given a good
script.
Connor Jessup, 'American Crime'
Almost lost in all of the great
performances in this season of great ones was this young teenager's work as
victim Eric Blaine, the man whose assault sets all the events into motion.
Desperately trying to get on with his life, question his sexuality and driven
into impossible corners before committing a horrifying act, it was easy to feel
more for him than any other character on this series. And considering the boxes
they were painted into, that's saying a lot.
Frank Langella, All The Way
There were a lot of great
supporting performances in this movie, including Bradley Whitford's mannered
performance as Hubert Humphrey and Anthony Mackie's as Martin Luther King. But
playing the aging southern senator Richard Russell, a great politician on the
wrong side of history, this brilliant character actor gave one of the more
mannered performances as a man trying to hold on to a way of life that never
really existed. Langella deserves a nomination for his work as a Soviet handler
on 'The Americans', but in case he doesn't get it, this is a more than worthy
consolation prize.
Hugh Laurie, 'The Night Manager'
Laurie has been making a remarkable
comeback the last year, and as the obscenely wealthy, morally bankrupt arms
dealer Richard Roper, he gave one of his most brilliant performances creating
an extraordinary villain. Watching him manipulate the people around him, all
the while assured - until the last few minutes - that his position in the world
will protect him from any punishment, and showing surprising moments of
compassion, this role may finally win Laurie the Emmy he's been denied for the
past decade.
Bokeem Woodbine, 'Fargo'
As
Kansas City enforcer Mike
Milligan tasked with bringing down the Gerhart family, Woodbine gave a performance that very nearly
stole the show from so many other great actors. With his cheerful repartee and
amazing literary and historical knowledge, you could almost forget what a
bloody monster he was - until he slit someone's throat. There were a lot of
good side performers this season - Nick Offerman and Brad Garrett among them -
but Woodbine's work was by far the most deserving of a nomination.
No comments:
Post a Comment