I highly doubt I'll be keeping these posts up with this level of frequency, but for now I'm quite enjoying writing these up. So here's another list made upon suggestion, and hopefully it draws a little more attention to some fantastic performances.
Over the past decade, there have been few actors to amass such an impressive resume as Michael Shannon. With his distinctive looks and loads of dramatic range, Shannon has appeared in dozens of movies and shows, often giving some of the best performances of the projects he's involved in. Although he has earned 2 Oscar nominations and appeared in mainstream blockbuster movies in major roles, Michael Shannon still doesn't seem to get quite as much attention as he deserves. So that's where I come in. Because, you know, I have such huge influence and popularity.
| 10. | Elvis Presley
in Elvis & Nixon |
Why not start this list out with something nobody has either seen or remembers? Elvis & Nixon is a great vehicle for its two stars in a speculative fiction/non-fiction premise, but it's really Shannon who left the stronger impression on me of the two. His Elvis is definitely an odd one, and though he doesn't look the part, the sheer fact that he managed to pull it off at all is at least noteworthy.
| 9. | Nelson Van Alden
in Boardwalk Empire |
This is a bit of a cheat due to how little of this show I have seen (I haven't gotten past the first season), but while I wasn't drawn into this show, one of the few aspects that had me wanting to come back to it was the performances, with Shannon being right near the top of that list. He makes an excellent and multi-dimensional character that I could see a lot of potential in. So if I watch more of the show, this could wind up higher, but until then 9th will have to do.
| 8. | Walt Thrombey
in Knives Out |
Knives Out has one of the best ensemble casts I've seen in quite some time, which both helps and hurts this specific performance, as he tends to get drowned out a bit by some of his showier co-stars, but part of what I loved about this performance was how subdued he was in relation to most of the rest of his filmography. He's a pretty pathetic character, even when he's being intimidating, and I enjoyed every one of his scenes.
| 7. | John Givings, Jr.
in Revolutionary Road |
The smallest performance on this list, Shannon's couple brief scenes in this movie leave a huge impression, even managing to garner him his first Oscar nomination in spite of how little he really is in this movie. He finds the right blend of crazy and rational in this, which really helps drive home the point of the movie. He might only be in the movie for like 10 minutes, but they are the best 10 minutes the film has to offer.
Obviously Shannon is at home in roles like this, where he dials up the crazy to 11, but while it's the kind of role he comes to naturally, anyone else in this role would have been hammy and ridiculous. The script bounces back and forth between compelling and terrible, but his performance manages to stabilize that roughness, and he ultimately carries the whole film. Not a great movie, but a great performance for sure.
| 5. | Richard Kuklinski
in The Iceman |
Hey look, another movie nobody saw or remembers! Notice a running theme with this guy? Don't worry, most of the rest of the list are things that aren't too off the beaten path. In this he plays a cold-blooded killer, and he manages to be both scary as hell and somehow grounded in humanity. Just like Bug, I didn't love this movie, but Shannon was able to make it watchable, and his handling of this mediocre material was definitely worth watching.
| 4. | Col. Richard Strickland
in The Shape Of Water |
The Shape Of Water is a wonderfully simple movie, and the same can go for its characters. Subtlety isn't exactly this films strong suit, and Shannon's villainous Colonel is about as unsubtle as it gets. But ultimately, Shannon gives him a little extra dose of humanity that brings out the flaws in the character and makes him not only menacing and brutal, but somewhat sympathetic. It's familiar territory, but a very well-polished bit of acting.
| 3. | Bobby Andes
in Nocturnal Animals |
Being equal parts menacing and pathetic are key to the effectiveness of a large portion of Michael Shannon's performances, in case you hadn't noticed. And much like the others, this one works in a similar way. But what really works so well here is how he's not just being the villain. In fact, this is one of his rare good guy appearances -- unless you still don't consider anti-hero to be heroic. He's a strong character, and Shannon's ability to add a dose of frailty to it only improves the part.
| 2. | Rick Carver
in 99 Homes |
Pretty much the perfect immoral asshole character, Shannon doesn't even bother with subtlety here, and steals every single scene he's in. Serving as both a mentor to the film's lead and the primary antagonist, he gives the audience insight into the cunning and deceptive nature of the real estate business, and does so in an endlessly entertaining and ethically bankrupt way. He absolutely carries this movie, and I loved every single thing about him in it. For most actors, this would be good enough to land at #1, but not for Shannon. Which I think just makes it even more impressive.
| 1. | Curtis LaForche
in Take Shelter |
There was never any real question as to what would be in this last spot. Take Shelter is not only a near-perfect film with tons of atmosphere and a sense of dread and impending doom unlike almost anything else, but it's all held together by Shannon as a man whose apocalyptic visions have all but taken over and destroyed his family life. Thanks to a wonderful screenplay that only reveals what it wants to reveal in small doses, Shannon is able to suck you in with this performance, which slowly evolves over the course of the film into something completely unrecognizable by the end. It's a shame and a sin that this movie wasn't able to earn Shannon the awards recognition he deserved, as I see it as one of the great lead performances of the decade. Watch it if you're interested, it's the best thing Michael Shannon has ever done, or likely ever will do.
Why not start this list out with something nobody has either seen or remembers? Elvis & Nixon is a great vehicle for its two stars in a speculative fiction/non-fiction premise, but it's really Shannon who left the stronger impression on me of the two. His Elvis is definitely an odd one, and though he doesn't look the part, the sheer fact that he managed to pull it off at all is at least noteworthy.
This is a bit of a cheat due to how little of this show I have seen (I haven't gotten past the first season), but while I wasn't drawn into this show, one of the few aspects that had me wanting to come back to it was the performances, with Shannon being right near the top of that list. He makes an excellent and multi-dimensional character that I could see a lot of potential in. So if I watch more of the show, this could wind up higher, but until then 9th will have to do.
Knives Out has one of the best ensemble casts I've seen in quite some time, which both helps and hurts this specific performance, as he tends to get drowned out a bit by some of his showier co-stars, but part of what I loved about this performance was how subdued he was in relation to most of the rest of his filmography. He's a pretty pathetic character, even when he's being intimidating, and I enjoyed every one of his scenes. 
The smallest performance on this list, Shannon's couple brief scenes in this movie leave a huge impression, even managing to garner him his first Oscar nomination in spite of how little he really is in this movie. He finds the right blend of crazy and rational in this, which really helps drive home the point of the movie. He might only be in the movie for like 10 minutes, but they are the best 10 minutes the film has to offer.
Obviously Shannon is at home in roles like this, where he dials up the crazy to 11, but while it's the kind of role he comes to naturally, anyone else in this role would have been hammy and ridiculous. The script bounces back and forth between compelling and terrible, but his performance manages to stabilize that roughness, and he ultimately carries the whole film. Not a great movie, but a great performance for sure. 
Hey look, another movie nobody saw or remembers! Notice a running theme with this guy? Don't worry, most of the rest of the list are things that aren't too off the beaten path. In this he plays a cold-blooded killer, and he manages to be both scary as hell and somehow grounded in humanity. Just like Bug, I didn't love this movie, but Shannon was able to make it watchable, and his handling of this mediocre material was definitely worth watching. 
The Shape Of Water is a wonderfully simple movie, and the same can go for its characters. Subtlety isn't exactly this films strong suit, and Shannon's villainous Colonel is about as unsubtle as it gets. But ultimately, Shannon gives him a little extra dose of humanity that brings out the flaws in the character and makes him not only menacing and brutal, but somewhat sympathetic. It's familiar territory, but a very well-polished bit of acting.
Being equal parts menacing and pathetic are key to the effectiveness of a large portion of Michael Shannon's performances, in case you hadn't noticed. And much like the others, this one works in a similar way. But what really works so well here is how he's not just being the villain. In fact, this is one of his rare good guy appearances -- unless you still don't consider anti-hero to be heroic. He's a strong character, and Shannon's ability to add a dose of frailty to it only improves the part. 
Pretty much the perfect immoral asshole character, Shannon doesn't even bother with subtlety here, and steals every single scene he's in. Serving as both a mentor to the film's lead and the primary antagonist, he gives the audience insight into the cunning and deceptive nature of the real estate business, and does so in an endlessly entertaining and ethically bankrupt way. He absolutely carries this movie, and I loved every single thing about him in it. For most actors, this would be good enough to land at #1, but not for Shannon. Which I think just makes it even more impressive. 
There was never any real question as to what would be in this last spot. Take Shelter is not only a near-perfect film with tons of atmosphere and a sense of dread and impending doom unlike almost anything else, but it's all held together by Shannon as a man whose apocalyptic visions have all but taken over and destroyed his family life. Thanks to a wonderful screenplay that only reveals what it wants to reveal in small doses, Shannon is able to suck you in with this performance, which slowly evolves over the course of the film into something completely unrecognizable by the end. It's a shame and a sin that this movie wasn't able to earn Shannon the awards recognition he deserved, as I see it as one of the great lead performances of the decade. Watch it if you're interested, it's the best thing Michael Shannon has ever done, or likely ever will do.
No comments:
Post a Comment