how did Robards win an Oscar?

How did Robards win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor? The same way he won Best Supporting Actor from the NY Film Critics, the National Society of Film Critics and the National Board of Review - by giving an excellent performance.

I think it's outrageous that the performances of Redford and Hoffman were overlooked by so many in 1976, but that doesn't mean Robards wasn't brilliant.




BRADLEE: Garage freak? Jesus, what kind of crazy fu*king story is this?!

Robards was definitely the scene stealer of this film. This happens often in movies with outstanding ensemble casts -- most of the actors give even, effective, workmanlike performances, and ONE of them gets to sink their teeth into the juiciest of all the roles.

Think Ben Affleck in "Boiler Room," Kate Hudson in "Almost Famous" or Joe Pesci in "Goodfellas." Those are just a few that come to mind.

That's Robards in "All the President's Men."

Olivier in MARATHON MAN was one of the hammiest and most unconvincing performance ever given by a major actor

Because he is a great actor you moron and Judi Dench won an Oscar for very few minutes of screen time in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE--his performance is so beautifully real and powerful with no effort whatsoever--if you can't notice him then you are without any ability to see excellence at at work

Not only was it a stellar performance and a veritable scene stealer, I bet you the scene that gave him the Oscar was the wordless one with "the look". At he Post, when Woodward and Bernstein hands over their collective work to Bradlee for evalution, and Bradlee concludes with "You didn't get it".

And Bernstein tries to argue with him, and Bradlee just gives him this look that totally dries him up. That look said everything. "You didn't get it on paper! You don't have anything! There isn't a story!" And Bernstein completely dries up, as he totally understands the point, and he can't even say anything about it. They didn't get it, and he knows it. That look gave Robards the Oscar.

It's interesting, because it's also a handing of the torch, so to speak. The old guard, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Jason Robards, hands the torch over to the up and coming Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. But not before showing what's acting is really about and how it's done.

That look is not only Ben Bradlee telling Woodward and Bernstein how to write a story, it's also Robards telling Hoffman and Redford how to man up and act like real actors do. And it's beautiful. "Howard, they're hungry! Remember when you were hungry?"

robards and the character he played were very alike

olivier and dr. Szell were polar opposites

acting is when you pretend to be somebody else :)

i predict burt young is kinda like paulie in 'rocky'

For one, Jason Robards has been around the block for years. His style of acting has always been a pitch perfect delivery. Every time you see his face, you know how far deep in the part he really is. Either during his meetings with his co-actors in the boardroom to try and see if the story will fly. Not to mention the fact that his persona fit the character to a perfect 'T'. In the real world, this is how the editor was seen as, a gruff, raspy, moody, and all too often brash individual who wants results.

Compare it to Bernstein, and Woodward. Who for the most part, were actually juvenile reporters that got incredibly lucky when they investigated the Water gate conspiracy. Before that they were the typical duo who got stories under rugs at parties, or other forms of functions where dirt might be the norm. I do have to hand it Redford, and Hoffman for their performances. Each have a unique delivery style all their own, which can clash at certain points. Given that they were younger in the days of glory films such as this.

But to make things fair, each could have won an oscar. But it is the audience reactions that makes oscar's available to actors. Jason just wrapped the audience around his finger is all. Nothing more, and nothing less. I was even impressed with his acting in the film, very natural, very daunting, and extremely stoic. Not all can perform like that, and he nailed it perfectly.

The scene I think seals it for him is the dirty look he gives hoffmans character when they are debating which story to lead with, its a memorable scene stealer.
DODGE THIS!!!!!