The Super Network

Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10’ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!

With the Oscars having been and gone for another year, I got to thinking about some of the snubs from this awards show. While those nominated were worth while, there are those who generally lose out. But what about those who always seem to? There was a lot of excitement for Gary Oldman’s nomination, after all these years! The man surely should have been nominated a good 10 years ago, but the fact remains he got it. So let’s explore those actors who haven’t gotten it and for the role/s they should have gotten it for.

Honourable Mention – Bruce Greenwood

I couldn’t have a list without at least mentioning this incredibly talented actor. He has been in some great films and given some truly powerful performances. Another one always over looked, maybe one day? Personally, I’d have given him awards for Exotica and Meek’s Cutoff, that’s right given him not just a nomination! He has done great work, and if you haven’t yet discovered his greatness imdb the man and start watching!

5.) Guy Pearce

This brilliant Australian actor has been around for a good 20+ years, making his mark in films such as The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and L.A. Confidential. I have always been a fan, but I felt his true talents shined in a career best turn in Christopher Nolan’s Memento. This was a challenging role, and he nailed it perfectly. His character who could form no short term memories, had to do what he could to remember things, no easy task. This film and this performance remain a favourite of mine, and I really can’t believe how fantastic he was in this and not really get recognised for it. Sure he may have followed this up with some questionable choices, but he bounced right back with the fantastic acting in The Proposition.

4.) Val Kilmer

I could have sworn Val Kilmer had been nominated for something during those earlier years, but sadly no. His turn in Oliver Stone’s The Doors as Jim Morrison was quite unbelievable. He transformed into the man completely, in every sense of the worth. This wasn’t an imitation, this was a performance, a captivating and moving one. Dare I say one of the best around for biopics over the past 25 years? I do dare say it, and I mean it! This is a truly amazing performance, his best next to Doc Holiday in Tombstone, another role he surely should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor that year. In a perfect world he’d be a two time nominee at least.

3.) Kyle MacLachlan

No here I am not going to suggest he should have been nominated for Showgirls – ha. But I do think that Kyle MacLachlan is one of the truly underrated actors working today, he has been in some fantastic films and given some incredible performances. My personal favourite (aside from his TV work) is that of Jeffrey in Blue Velvet. He carried his own with the likes if Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini and Dennis Hopper, his performance was well rounded and a difficult one to pull off. He needed to be engaging and raw, and he did that. I’d even say, his turn in 2000’s Hamlet was fantastic and one that gets over looked. For every poor choice he’s made, there are other choices he’s made that are truly satisfying and award worthy.

2.) Alan Rickman

A lot of people were expecting that perhaps Alan Rickman would receive a nomination for his turn as Severus Snape in the final chapter of Harry Potter. Sadly this did not happen, and once again this fantastic and talented actor was snubbed. He delivers time and again with his work, and I honestly can’t understand why he’s always over looked. My vote for a nomination would be for one of his earlier roles as Jamie in Anthony Minghella’s Truly, Madly, Deeply. He plays a man who dies, and comes back as a ghost to be with his girlfriend. It sounds familiar doesn’t it, but this is quite a lot different than that other film, and I think it has a lot of emotion and meaning, more so than the other. The performance is simply stunning, his performance brought me to tears and I was so moved. Another case of an actor who has been subbed by the Academy …

1.) Kurt Russell

I am sure for those of you who know me, this entry will come as no surprise. Kurt Russell for me is one of the reasons why I actually become the fan of cinema that I am. From Tango & Cash to Backdraft to Big Trouble In Little China, I watched everything he was in and I enjoyed the heck out of them. Here was a guy who could act, was easy on the guys and was such a charismatic person who could take on any role. He immersed himself in his performances no matter, what they were. A prime example is his portrayal of Elvis, it simply wasn’t an imitation it was an actual performance and embodiment of the man. Russell has always been strong, with everything he does, no matter how silly it may be. He has given us some truly strong and fantastic performances during his long and simply stunning career, but not even an Oscar nomination. My pick for that accolade would fall with his performance as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone. That year Kurt and Val should have hit the double whammy and both been nominated for their performances. Then you also have such great turns from him in Silkwood, The Thing and even Vanilla Sky that could be considered worthy. Kurt Russell is deserving, and it is sad to see he has never received the recognition he so deserves.