The Matty’s- 2015: “Best Actor”

Alright now, we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty. Three MATTY’S down, two to go.

I’m your host, Matty W. Kelley, and we are here to give out the MATTY for “Best Actor.”

But before we do I want to tell you that I saw “50 shades of Grey” this weekend, and boy was I surprised. It was better than what I expected and WAY BETTER than the book (because books suck). I went in thinking I would see some soft-core porno but there was actually a half decent story to it, and some pretty good acting too. I can guarantee you it won’t win a MATTY next year, but what the hey, I was entertained. (I gave it 2.5 out of 5 Giant Noses.)

Back to the awards show!

Tonight I am giving out my “Best Actor” award to whom I think performed above and beyond their expectations. Now there were a lot of great performances this past year, but only one man can walk away with his “nose” held high.

Who will it be?

And the nominees are:

Steve Carell, (Foxcatcher):
Mr. Carell can act. He’s very good at his profession. He can do comedy, he can do romance, and in “Foxcatcher,” he can do drama.
Carell plays multi-millionaire John du Pont, a man focused on bringing a gold medal to the United States in Olympic Wrestling in 1988. He’s also a psycho.
Carell delivers a good performance, but a lot of the film may have been focused on his oddly slow delivery and his even odder prosthetic nose. (and this is coming from me, a man who gives out a “giant nose” statuette as a trophy.) Now that alone should garner him a MATTY.

Bradley Cooper, (American Sniper):
Coop can also do it all. He can do comedy, he can do romance, and in “American Sniper,” he can do drama. Coop play Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL who was the most lethal sniper in American history. He also cannot come to grips with civilian life. This is where Cooper shines. He delivers a gripping performance that will make you feel exactly where he is coming from. A great job by Coop it was.

Benedict Cumberbatch, (The Imitation Game):
This man can act. I’m not quite sure if he can do comedy, but he can surely do romance, and in “The Imitation Game,” he can do drama.
Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, a code-breaker during World War II in this thriller. But there is a much bigger story to this film. You find out that Turing is a war hero, the creator of the computer, and also a homosexual. So instead of celebrating this man for saving the Allies in this war, he is punished for his sexual preference. What Cumberbatch did was, make you really feel for this man. I loved learning about this man, and Cumberbatch’s performance was fantastic.

Michael Keaton, (Birdman):
Mr. Keaton can act. He can do comedy, he can do romance, and in “Birdman,” he can do drama (and comedy).
Keaton plays a washed up actor who is putting on a Broadway play to get his name back in the limelight. He desperately wants to be relevant again. During the film (which never slows down, mind you) Keaton’s character has to deal with a prima-donna actor, a jilted lover, an ex-wife, a recovering daughter, and a spiteful critic, all the while having to deal with the voice in his head of the “Birdman,” an iconic superhero that he portrayed in the movies over twenty years ago.
It’s an incredible film with an incredible performance by Keaton.

Eddie Redmayne, (The Theory of Everything):
Eddie can act. I don’t think he does comedy, but he can do romance, and in “The Theory of Everything,” he can do drama (and romance).
Redmayne plays physicist Stephen Hawking, the smartest man in the world. Redmayne delivers an incredible acting performance not only through his lines, but also through the physicality of the role. Redmayne had to learn to walk, talk, eat, and eventually perform in a wheelchair, since Mr. Hawking was stricken with a motor neuron disease, later known to us as ALS. This was not an easy task to take on, but Mr. Redmayne surely achieved greatness with this character.

Jude Law, (Dom Hemingway):
Jude the dude can act. He can do comedy, he can do romance, and in “Dom Hemingway,” he can do drama (and comedy).
Law plays the title character, a man who is sent to prison for 12 years for not ratting out his accomplice. Now he’s out and he wants to get paid what’s owed to him.
Hemingway is crass, he is vile, he’s a drunk, he’s a druggie, he’s ruthless, he’s vicious, he’s a tad bit insane, and he also has a heart. I loved this character because Law holds nothing back when he is “Dom.”
You don’t see too many characters like Dom Hemingway and one of the reasons why is that there are not too many actors with the skills of Jude Law.
Underrated actor. Excellent performance.

Tom Hardy, (Locke):
Tom Hardy can act. He can do comedy, he can do romance, and in “Locke,” he can do drama.
And Tom Hardy REALLY does drama in the film, “Locke.”
Hardy plays Ivan Locke, a construction manager who has a series of life changing challenges presented before him all in the same evening.
Locke is a dedicated and calculated man who doesn’t let pressure get to him, even under the most overwhelming circumstances.
Oh, and did I mention that this entire film takes place in his car… and he is the only actor seen in this film?
That alone made me appreciate this film and his performance all the more.

Scott Haze, (Child of God):
Can Scott Haze act? Can he do comedy? Can he do romance? Can he do drama? I’ll tell you what he can do: He can do “crazy,” and he can do it well.
In “Child of God,” Haze delivers a performance for the ages. I’m not sure all of you would like this film, (or any of you for that fact) but I must admit, this guy completely nailed the role of “mentally insane” to the boards.
I don’t really know what else to tell you about this film except, if you love movies then you’ve got to see this film.
You know what I will tell you though, I am a huge fan of watching completely insane, psychotic, and somewhat sad characters on film. I think it must be difficult for an actor to get his head into that dark of a place, but when it’s done right, it surely makes for an interesting character.

Nicolas Cage, (Left Behind):
Are you kidding me!? Are you kidding me!?
Well, I’m kidding you!
This movie was horrible! His acting was horrible! And although I am a huge fan of religion and Jesus Christ in general, this movie made me question my own faith! (I’m kidding, I just did not like this movie at all).
Jesus #1!

There you have it, your nine nominees for “Best Actor.” (Ok, eight nominees. We won’t count Nic Cage).

And The MATTY goes to:

Tom Hardy!
Hey, this ain’t The Oscars, it’s the Mattys, and I get to pick who I think deserves the coveted “Golden Nose!”
My reasoning behind my choice?
Well, there were so many great roles for men this year, but I believe it was a race between four actors: Keaton, Redmayne, Hardy, and Haze.

I didn’t give “The Nostrils” to Keaton because, as great as he was, I found that the ensemble cast was more deserving of an award than just one actor.

I didn’t give it to Redmayne because, no matter how great his performance was in that film, the movie itself didn’t blow my tires out.

I didn’t give it to Haze, well… because I think that you people would crucify me if I gave it to him. (You must see this film).

I gave it to Tom Hardy because he delivered a performance that kept me up in my seat and interested throughout the entire film. He had me feeling like I was sitting right next to him in that car. I could feel his pain, his anger, his relief, and his grief, like it was mine.
And, hey, if you can be the only person in an entire movie, and carry that movie the way Mr. Hardy did, well then, you my sir, deserve the “Golden Nose.”
Congratulations, Mr. Hardy.

Who WILL win the Oscar: Eddie Redmayne.

Who SHOULD win the Oscar: Eddie Redmayne.

Matty W. Kelley, reporting.
mattywkelley.com

Don’t forget, the big one is next! Stay tuned for Matty’s “Best Picture” winner!