Globes' best actor: Ledger, Hoffman or Howard
Oh my head hurts trying to figure out the race for best drama actor at the Globes. Sure, it looks, at first glance, like a lavender tossup: take your pick between gay roles played by, to use hipster's written slang, "str8" chaps Heath Ledger ("Brokeback Mountain") and Philip Seymour Hoffman ("Capote"). Let's get to that discussion in a moment. Meantime, the presence of Terrence Howard ("Hustle & Flow") makes me reach for Advil.
Because Howard has a real — albeit modest — chance of winning. There's nothing Globe voters love more than hailing the Hot New Star during his or her "moment." It's their job. Voters, after all, are foreign journos who are intensely searching for breaking news and trends to trumpet in their publications back in Oslo, Cairo and Buenos Aires. They like African Americans (Denzel Washington won best drama actor for "The Hurricane") and art-house actors. Let's recall, for example, that the star of the arty film "Shine," Geoffrey Rush, beat Ralph Fiennes for best drama actor of 1996 even though Fiennes appeared in best picture winner "The English Patient" and was considered a red-hot property after breaking out big time three years earlier in "Schindler's List." But there was so much new buzz surrounding Rush in 1996 that it seemed to be his moment, so he won. Thus the question now: What about Howard?
HFPA members have witnessed his ascendancy up close. Howard was not among the cast members sent by producers to chat with voters when "Crash" held its HFPA press conference early this year. "He wasn't yet Terrence Howard, if you know what I mean," notes an inside source.
Photo: Peter Travers of Rolling Stone magazine believes Heath Ledger is riding high in the best actor saddle at the Globes, but beware: There might be an ambush on awards night.
(Focus Features)
However, that changed later in 2005 as Howard wowed film critics with dynamic performances in several additional movies: "Hustle & Flow," "Four Brothers" and "Get Rich or Die Tryin'." HFPA press conferences were held for "Hustle" and "Rich" and suddenly Howard was not only front and center, he was also welcomed warmly.
But Peter Travers of Rolling Stone magazine — one of the most canny Golden Globe seers in the universe — notes that Howard may be losing his buzz as the year's most gushed-over rookie. "I was shocked at the Gotham Awards when Terrence lost the award for best breakthrough performer to Amy Adams," he says. "That may be telling us something or it may just mean that Gotham voters didn't see the movie. Have the Globe voters really watched 'Hustle & Flow'? A lot of people haven't."
Travers insists that a different Globe contender is the front-runner in this race for best drama actor: "Heath has all the heat."
Yes, Ledger is having his own moment right now, too, and he stars in the Globes' best picture front-runner, "Brokeback Mountain." Even though that actor-picture hook failed to pay off for Fiennes, it often prevails, as can be observed in past linked victories for Tom Hanks and "Forest Gump," Russell Crowe and "A Beautiful Mind," and Leonardo Di Caprio and "The Aviator," among others. In addition, Ledger has a studly quality that has currency at the Globes, if not at the Oscars where pretty boys are often slapped. (Tom Cruise has three Globes, but still hasn't won an Oscar. Paul Newman didn't win an Academy Award until he in his sixties and had suffered seven defeats.) It helps too that Ledger has "Casanova" in current release. Being a comedy, it underscores his artistic range.
While Ledger may appear to be the front-runner, Philip Seymour Hoffman could surpass him easily. Hoffman's performance is based upon a real person — that's always a strong plus — and he nails every nuance of Truman Capote's eccentric manner and haunted soul. Hoffman and his movie have artsy snob appeal too. One of the chief reasons Rush probably beat Fiennes was because his role as a concert pianist had so much snob appeal to voters always straining to prove that the Globes are legit in a highfalutin sense. They don't just slobber over pretty superstars. Often they give prizes to frumpier thespians like Brenda Blethyn ("Secrets and Lies," 1996) over Kristin Scott Thomas ("The English Patient"), Emily Watson ("Breaking the Waves") and Meryl Streep ("Marvin's Room").
Recently, Satellite Awards voters may have tipped us off that their Globe counterparts plan to pick Hoffman. The splinter group that broke off from the HFPA in 1996 just named him best actor over Ledger. Last year their awards predicted all four lead acting categories correctly at the Globes, but, granted, that rarely happens. It's certainly not going to happen this year because the Satellites put Terrence Howard in the race for musical/comedy actors, which he won. Howard's award reps had asked HFPA to put him in the equivalent race at the Globes, but the eligibility committee disagreed.
While the Globes and Satellites are decided by foreign journalists residing in L.A., it may be of interest to note how Yankee journos voted for the awards bestowed by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.: Hoffman won by a landslide. Out east two days later, the New York Film Critics Circle dealt Hoffman a loss — best actor went to Heath Ledger by a slim margin of 35 to 33.
Nonetheless, Travers believes that Ledger will triumph at the Globes on Jan. 16 because of one key advantage: likeability.
"Hoffman's role isn't sympathetic," he observes. "As Capote, he pretends to be the killers' friend while he wishes that authorities would hurry up and hang them so his book can be published. Meantime, he lies to Perry Smith about not having a title for the book. But it's impossible not to feel sympathy for Heath Ledger in 'Brokeback.' Heath can't express his feelings, but you see them all pent up inside him. You ache for him."
Despite giving Ledger such a strong endorsement as an award front-runner, Travers doesn't really believe that he's outdistanced Hoffman as a performer.
"To me, Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance is not just the best piece of acting I've seen this year, but it's one of the best I've seen in five years," he adds. "That said, my vote doesn't count at the Globes. In their case, I just happen to think they're going to be more impressed by what Heath Ledger did without words. His performance is all in his eyes."
So what do you think, dear reader? Would you like some of my Advil?
I am not convinced about Ledger's performance.
A lot of buzz blah blah blah...BUT....its very much a lone jewel in his recent resume.
Awards tend to be given, whether we like it or not, for a body of work. Actors tend to have to work for them the hard way....when Crowe won his he had already been nominated for The Insider and failed to be nominated for LA Confidential.
Giamatti this year is a favorite largely because he has 'paid his dues' and didn't get nominated last year.
Ledger has a new film out 'Casanova'. The reviews range from Poor to Mixed. And his performance has beennoted by many reviewers as a disappointment after Brokeback and a return to indifferent form. That could hurt him. It may well reinforce the idea that One Swallow Doesn't Make A Summer. Voters may well pause.
Posted by: Janet Mozelewski | January 05, 2006 at 01:23 PM
I saw both Capote and Brokeback Mountains, but I only returned to see BBM again because the impact it had on me on the personal level. Although both Hoffman and Leger gave an excellent peformance, I personally will give my vote to the one that touch me deeper, hence Leger. I hope both the Golden Globe and Oscar members will cast their votes not only on technicality on acting, but more so on humanity. And frankly speaking, I'm getting tired all those wicked gay characters in so many hollywood movies.
Posted by: Roofwire | January 02, 2006 at 01:41 PM
The momentum is with Brokeback, and therefore Ledger. My personal view is that Ledger's feat of constructing the enormously complex character of Ennis from the written page carries more punch as an acting achievement than Hoffman's impersonation of the widely photographed cartoon personality that was Truman Capote.
Posted by: John Rankin | January 01, 2006 at 10:33 AM
Ledger Ledger Ledger, Oi Oi Oi
Ledger Ledger Ledger, Oi Oi OI
Ledger, Oi
Ledger, Oi
Ledger Ledger Ledger, Oi Oi Oi
Posted by: Kurt | January 01, 2006 at 04:53 AM
Ledger will likely be the favorite come Oscar time as well as at the Globes, especially if Brokeback Mountain remains the front runner, which nearly all the critic's awards indicate it will. (Remember, the LA critics voted for Hoffman before Brokeback generated heat, while the NY critics voted for Ledger just as the heat was being turned up. Also note that the Village Voice voters two weeks later gave Ledger the lead by some 200 votes.)
What Ledger's role has that Hoffman's doesn't is resonance in terms of posterity and legacy. His characterization promises to make a big impact on the future of film acting at the same time that it pays tribute to the great westerns and legendary cowboy actorsof the past. Hollywood loves and rewards films touted to be making history upon their release (as opposed to those that posterity forces us to see as groundbreaking in hindsight). Hollywood also loves and rewards films that show reverence to the great Holllywood classics. Ledger's contribution to all this is significant in that he is not only exposing the pain and humanity of so many onscreen souls we thought we knew but didn't, he is also making us feel the collective despair and sacrifice of millions of real people over the ages. For an actor to be handed this kind of opportunity is rare. For him or her to succeed on so many levels is even rarer.
Hoffman's role is more limited in this sense, for he is confined to making us feel only the self-absorbtion of an artist concerned with his place in history. As remarkable as that place may be, it cannot outshine the collective spirit that Ledger illuminates.
If I still think of Capote two years from now, it will be as a fine and gripping drama with a truly great performance. But I doubt it will be included in the canon of great films taught at film schools or cited on critic's lists around the English-speaking world. On the other hand, I expect Brokeback Mountain to be one of those films that history will reward by according it a place among the milestones. It isn't often that Oscar voters get the chance to affirm such films and their own foresight at the same time, but when such opportunities come around, they don't usually miss out on them.
Posted by: rogerdenson | January 01, 2006 at 01:08 AM
You know its tough to decide between Heath Ledger with brokeback mountain my favorite movie i have ever seen as of friday or capote with which all i took from was the feeling of a great impersination from Hoffman. You cannot deny the two actors have extraordinary talent and is about time Hoffman is recognized, but Heath conveys Ennis in such a way it makes you feel like it really happened like you are watching a reality show and he is showing you his story is the best way i can put it. While Hoffman does nail Truman Capote he doesnt give as much emotion or gives me a since of sympathy for his troubled character. Heath does that with Ennis he portrays a man who is afraid to be what he really is and is letting that quandary eat him alive, and not only gave a performance i still have not forgotten but teaches you that any love is true and that is all there is. I would also like to add that Jake Gyllenhaal did do an extraordinary performance as well although may not great enough to win but certainly deserving of second place.
Posted by: Walker | December 31, 2005 at 08:36 PM
QUOTE:The general consensus within the industry is that whatever the role or film, Hoffman will always put in a good performance. Having developed this reputation, he has yet to receive any kind of high-profile awards for his work. ..............
...He's not too young. He's been around long enough and been in enough films to almost be considered a veteran.:QUOTE
You make excellent points. Some of your points could easily apply for Ralph Fiennes as well.
As much as I like Hoffmans performance and it is Oscar wothy.....I am just sad that Fiennes is not getting the attention he deserves....especially since in addition....he is a two-time Acedemy Award nominee. Maybe its the Brit thing....I don't know. Its quite baffling why there is very little buzz.....except maybe on Oscar Blog message boards. Could it be that there are more fans of his performance then is being mentioned by the media?
Posted by: nancy | December 31, 2005 at 03:10 PM
I saw Hustle and Flow and was overwhelmed by the poignancy of the love and caring that Howard was able to express. Then I saw Capote and that unlikable character tore my heart out. Finally I say Brokeback Mountain and ended up absolutely aching with the pain and loss of Ledger. I don't care who wins in our nice competitive society among these three as they were all superb and it has been a wonderfully rich year.
Posted by: Trish Amerine | December 31, 2005 at 04:05 AM
Tom, my man, what were you thinking when you said that "[Globe voters] like African Americans (Denzel Washington won best drama actor for "The Hurricane")?"
How soon we forget recent history, in this case 1995, a year that had a plethora of high-profile and in some cases first-rate big screen fare featuring African Americans in substantial roles both in front of and behind the scenes.
The amazing Don Cheadle was overlooked by the Globes for his starmaking performance in "Devil in a Blue Dress." Though to be fair he did go on to win a Globe a few years later for his equally killer performance as Sammy Davis, Jr. in the HBO telefilm "The Rat Pack."
All the ladies of "Waiting To Exhale" were snubbed (most egregiously the sensationally talented duo of Angela Bassett --a previous winner for "What's Love Got To Do With It? --and Loretta Devine) not to mention Babyface's amazing original songs ("Exhale," "Not Gon' Cry," "Let It Flow," "Sittin' Up In My Room," and etc.) many of which dominated the music charts for months. And Bassett remains the sole African American actress to win a Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical.
Denzel Washington was snubbed for both "Devil" and "Crimson Tide," in the motion picture - drama actor race.
And since they apparently adore art-house actors how could you possibly explain the HFPA snubbing 1997's highest grossing independent feature film, "Eve's Bayou," which had award contender written all over it? How Jurnee Smollett and Debbi Morgan (who in my humble opinion gave the superlative supporting performance of the '90s) were snubbed is one of the most embarrassing blunders in both the HFPA and AMPAS' respective histories.
True, the Globes have honored far more African Americans with the big prize than the Oscars but I wouldn't dare to say that they "love" us, or rather, our artists.
Off the top of my head, I know that the following African Americans have won Golden Globes:
1) Redd Foxx ("Sanford and Son," best actor in a TV series, comedy/musical)
2) Louis Gossett, Jr, ("An Officer and A Gentleman," supporting actor - film & "The Josephine Baker Story," supporting actor - series, mini-series or movie made for tv)
3) Denzel Washington ("Glory," supporting actor - film & "The Hurricane," best actor in a motion picture - drama)
4) Angela Bassett ("What's Love Got To Do With It?," best actress in a motion picture - comedy/musical)
5) Alfre Woodard ("Miss Evers' Boys," best actress in a mini-series or movie made for tv)
6) Don Cheadle ("The Rat Pack," supporting actor - series, mini-series or movie made for tv)
7) Regina Taylor ("I'll Fly Away," best actress in a TV series - drama)
8) Jamie Foxx ("Ray," best actor in a motion picture - comedy/musical)
9) Morgan Freeman ("Driving Miss Daisy," best actor in a motion picture - comedy/musical)
10) Bill Cosby ("The Cosby Show," best actor in a TV series - comedy/musical)
11) Ving Rhames ("Don King: Only in America," best actor in a mini-series or movie made for tv)
12) Whoopi Goldberg ("The Color Purple," best actress in a motion picture - drama & "Ghost," supporting actress - film)
13) Diana Ross ("Lady Sings the Blues," Most Promising Newcomer - Female)
14) Sidney Poitier ("Lilies of the Field," best actor in a motion picture - drama & the Cecil B. DeMille Award)
15) Issac Hayes ("Shaft," Best Original Score - Film)
16) Irene Cara ("Flashdance...What a Feeling" from "Flashdance," Best Original Song - Film)
17) Stevie Wonder ("I Just Called To Say I Love You" from "The Woman in Red," Best Original Song - Film)
18) Lionel Richie ("Say You, Say Me" from "White Knights," Best Original Song - Film)
19) Karen Robert Jackson (one of the two female producers of "Toy Story 2," best motion picture - comedy/musical)
Posted by: Mack Bates | December 30, 2005 at 11:47 PM
Hoffman will win the Oscar. Here's why:
1) Hollywood loves him. The general consensus within the industry is that whatever the role or film, Hoffman will always put in a good performance. Having developed this reputation, he has yet to receive any kind of high-profile awards for his work. And now he has the role of a lifetime. The Academy likes to take advantage of these opportunities. For example: Nicolas Cage (at the time), Kevin Spacey, Cate Blanchett, Frances McDormand.
2) He's playing a real-life cultural icon. He doesn't have to share the spotlight with anyone in this film. And "everyone" agrees that he nailed it.
3) Besides being a real person, Capote was an "industry" person. I'm sure many voters actually knew or had met the man himself. I'm not saying that they all loved the man, but that this fact makes Hoffman's performance seem that much more impresive. And contrary to what many are saying, the film doesn't treat Capote as entirely unsympathetic. He's portrayed moreso as morally-conflicted, which only helps.
4) It doesn't hurt that Hoffman is seen as a nice, normal guy. No political agendas or personal baggage to get in the way. Doesn't hurt that he's American either.
5) He's not too young. He's been around long enough and been in enough films to almost be considered a veteran.
6) Ledger, Hoffman's only real competition, is too young (in the eyes of the Academy) to win. No matter how acclaimed his performance may be, youth is always a big strike when it comes to winning, especially for men. "He'll have plenty of chances." Even if Ledger wins the Globe, look what happened to Clive Owen and Leonardo DiCaprio last year.
7) No other potential nominees have such a broad consensus of support to get behind them, including Strathairn and Phoenix.
IN CONCLUSION - Hoffman is someone whom the Academy will feel good about voting for this year. I think they're actually looking forward to seeing him up on that stage.
Posted by: Jimrichie | December 30, 2005 at 11:35 PM
Whatevern happened to David Strathairn? Doesn't anyone think he has a chance? I thought his performance in Good Night and Good Luck was a million times better than either Heath Ledger or Terence Howard's performance. And of course Phillip Seymour Hoffman is amazing, but do you think that it would be in anyone's best interests to give an actor an oscar for playing Truman Capote?
Posted by: Heather | December 30, 2005 at 02:31 PM
For me, Philip Seymour Hoffman crowns a spectacular career in playing character roles, that defy the concept that he is even acting.
That is what makes a great actor. Hoffman's words, delivery, nuances are so subtle and yet so powerful, that he gets the Oscar, running away.
Posted by: Philip Gershater | December 30, 2005 at 08:31 AM
I was blown away by Hoffman's performance in Capote. Having said that Brokeback Mountain doesn't open in my city, Memphis, for another two weeks, and I expect Ledger's performance to be outstanding but for it to be better than Hoffman's would be the biggest shock for me this year in film.
Posted by: Christopher Shappley | December 29, 2005 at 08:51 PM
Yeah, the AfAm thing made no sense. For example:
the globes did NOT award Denzel for Malcom X (when he deserved it),
the globes did NOT award Denzel for Training Day (when oscar did),
the globes did NOT award Cuba Gooding Jr. for Jerry Maguire (when oscar did),
the globes did NOT award Morgan Freeman for M$B (when oscar did),
the globes did NOT award Halle Berry for Monster's Ball (when oscar did)...
Can you see where this is going? The globes show absolutely NO special preference for African Americans. The academy, in fact, has honored them more often, and they are accused of being racist. You just used the one example when the globes did honor a black actor and the academy didn't, when there are numerous counterexamples to that theory. Howard is not going to win. His nomination was his reward. It's between Hoffman and Ledger (edge to Ledger, IMO). Stop trying to make drama that isn't there.
Posted by: Adam Keller | December 29, 2005 at 07:24 PM
QUOTE:In their case, I just happen to think they're going to be more impressed by what Heath Ledger did without words. His performance is all in his eyes." :QUOTE
My two favourite male performances of 2005 were Ledgers and Fiennes. The statement above could easily describe Fiennes brilliant performance in "The Constant Gardener"
......I just wish it was getting the attention it deserved. This type of acting is my favourite kind.....nothing overt.....very real. I guess thats why I love both performances. Both
moving perfromances of personal growth ...of love and loss. Both would be worthy Oscar
winners.....although I feel Fiennes has been overlooked far too long.
Hoffmans performance was technically brilliant.....it was not moving...and I did not like the character. I LOVED Ledgers "Ennis" and Fiennes "Justin".....both heartbreaking and memorable.
Posted by: nancy | December 29, 2005 at 06:00 PM
I have a feeling that Hoffman will run out of steam by mid-January. The movie isn't connecting with the public while Brokeback has got mega buzz. Everyone's talking about it, arguing about it, wondering about it - maybe even a little afraid of it? Either way, it has poeple's attention. At this point, I'd say Ledger is gaining on Hoffman.
Posted by: TorontoTom | December 29, 2005 at 05:34 PM
Let me get this straight... The Golden Globes 'likes African Americans' because Denzel won for 'Hurricane'? Is is possible that the Globes 'likes great performances' such as the one Mr. Washington delivered (again)? In the future, could you be a little less lazy in making your case? One example does not a Black Lovefest make, as many African-Americans can tell you. (especially, dude, when you actually could have listed a few other Black winners to substantiate).
Posted by: ... | December 29, 2005 at 04:59 PM
Ledger will win the globe. But I think Hoffman will win the SAG and the IFP award. BFCA is a toss-up. So is oscar.
Posted by: Adam Keller | December 29, 2005 at 12:31 PM