Who Should Have Won Best Supporting Actor for 1997

 

This is a toughie because 1997 was a good year for movies of all genres, well, almost all. I decided to choose Best Supporting Actor and will just say it...Don't hate me. This is the year the great Robin Williams won and he did give a great performance and a memorable one but I feel there is one equal and am going out on a limb here because it is for a comedy. Now, I miss Robin Williams so much and was very upset when he died. It was the same when John Candy died, some just leave a mark. I am trying to go by performance and, maybe on another day, I might choose Robin but not today...

1. VINCENT D'ONOFRIO IN MEN IN BLACK

This comedic gem in acting is the best thing from this comedy. I’ve watched this film more than once because it’s brainless fun but I always get a kick out of Vincent D’Onofrio’s  character. In fact, each time I’ve watched this, I am quite amazed how dexterous Vincent is moving in a jerky style with every joint seemingly going in different directions. He starts off as an a-hole husband with the IQ of a turnip, who investigates a crash and is quickly taken by some alien only to appear different, his face not quite attached. He asks his wife for sugar in water, gulps it down, freaks out his wife, who faints, and then proceeds to locate a galaxy. As he searches, he is looking more decayed but he continues to talk and move in a hilarious style that makes me laugh every time even though he is looking more gross by the second. I find his performance quite stupendous because of his range, his physical dexterity and, through the makeup, still be able to move his face making me laugh every time. He wasn’t even nominated and, I feel he should have won.

2. ROBIN WILLIAMS IN GOOD WILL HUNTING

Ughhh, Robin is so good in this film that, not picking him, feels like I just dropped kicked a kitten across the gorge. He did win the Oscar this year and I am happy about this but he deserved it for other years which I won’t say because I will pick this another time. Robin Williams is someone I still weep over because, I thought, he would live to be 95 years old. He was such a force of energy that it defied belief how much he knew and how he could use it to make us laugh. Thankfully, he rose above Mork from Ork, showing his huge range in films from the very funny like “Mrs. Doubtfire” to the very eerie like in “One Hour Photo.” In this film, he plays a professor who takes Matt Damon under his wing to help this bratty jerk develop his genius in mathematics and science. He won’t take bullshit shocking Matt Damon’s character and us. He made me cry when sharing, with Matt, his memories of his late wife who would fart while sleeping. In other hands, that scene may not worked but, in Robin’s hands, he made us laugh and cry at the same time. I don’t mind, at all, that he won the Oscar but, I just feel that Vincent’s comedic turn deserved to award more.

3. BURT REYNOLDS IN BOOGIE NIGHTS

Burt was very good in this role as a slimy director/ producer who cares for his porn people who seem to get into all sorts of icky situations. This film made a star of Mark Wahlberg as the lead porn star during the heyday of porn in the 1970s. He is recruited by Burt who sees potential( think long shlong) in this kid and, to make sure, has him have sex with Rollergirl, played by Heather Graham. You meet a number of people who work under Jack ( not “that” under) who deal with all sorts of issues not the least is cocaine which was a big problem back in the 70s and 80s. Jack becomes very angry when his higher ups want these films to go straight on video, not film which makes Jack feel will diminish his films. Burt knows this era having lived it but, not as a porn star, but as the biggest actor in the 70s. His character is believable as someone who truly cares about his actors, cameramen etc… while producing films that is the lowest of the low…porn. Burt was nominated and, I believe, he thought he was going to win, but didn’t. I remember seeing his face after he lost and his hidden anger and disappointment carried through the camera lens. Oh well, be happy you were nominated. 

Do you agree with my assessment or are aghast that I chose someone other than the great Robin Williams (I’m sorry)? Would you choose someone completely different? Let me know.