All of these, gosh ANY of these were so much better!
Jack Lemmon – The China Syndrome
Al Pacino – ...And Justice for All
Roy Scheider – All That Jazz
Peter Sellers – Being There
Enrique Sanchez
Sounds like it may have been a "sweeps-thing". I don't know if Hoffman won any precursor awards, always a good way to see what other associations thought
shareHoffman was a popular choice in a popular film. He had had a strong career throughout the 70's and part of the enormous success of KvK is attributed to Hoffman's performance. He also reigned supreme in pretty much most of the pre-Oscar awards.
This was a strong line up of names and I suppose a valid argument could have been made as to why anyone of these men should have won. I liked Peter Seller's in Being There, but I don't begrudge Hoffman's win.
Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪
Rascal, I guess I am crying over spilt milk. For my dollar, Sellers's was the crowning achievement that year. I have seen CS many times. I admired the performance in AJFA, but found not reason to revisit it. Yet, I have not once watched KVK, ATJ since those days, but I have re-watched BT, countless times. Each time is like a revelation. The reason: Peter Sellers.
Enrique Sanchez
Though not really what you'd call a fan, Sellers seemed somewhat overlooked in his career, with his range and comedic talent
shareINHERENTLY, I am not a super fan either. But it might just be that the cause was an exercise of the old pretext that 'comedy is rarely appreciated or lauded sufficiently'. His range was phenomenal - and I was fully expecting Hoffman to have AT LEAST mentioned Sellers in his thank you speech.
Strange how one probably unintentional act can blow one off. I have shied away from watching him since Tootsie.
Enrique Sanchez
I have not seen Being There, nor some of the other films. But, I'd like to check out the precursor awards. With Hoffman, I never even wanted to see him in Toosie whether he deserved an Oscar for it, or not. (everyone thinks a man in dress is instantly funny)
shareIY, if you haven't seen TOOTSIE, how would you know if it was funny or not? Hoffman dressing up in drag was the main selling point of the film, but there is also so much more to it than just that. The film is also an amusing and clever insight into the filming of soaps and a somewhat satirical look at blurring the line of gender confusion where relationships are concerned.
Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪
Tootsie was hilarious. I think that Tootsie, Midnight Cowboy, and The Graduate were Dustin Hoffman's finest moments as an actor.
shareStrange how one probably unintentional act can blow one off.
____________________
I like Hoffman and he has given some terrific performances. He did the same to Tom Cruise though when he won his second Oscar for Rain Man-88', which "was" a skilled but one-note performance. Cruise went un-nominated, who deserved the award more than Hoffman—who I would have regulated to the support category—and he forgot to mention his superb—in this film—co-star in his acceptance speech. He did redeem himself later on that night, when he and Cruise presented the best actress award; but it seems like a shocking oversight. Hoffman was so full of himself and his self-importance of an actor, that he was carrying on as though what he did was the most astonishing thing ever.
Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪
Rascal - point confirmed....egos like this really turn me off. :)
Enrique Sanchez
All actors have massive egos, they have to, otherwise they wouldn't be doing what they do. I don't begrudge Hoffman his talent or the manner in which he may have expressed himself on occasions; but it's like they lack a bit of humility at times, even though they can pretend to project this.
You have mentioned you have steered clear of Hoffman films since Tootsie. Give Rain Man-88' a chance if you get the opportunity, it is worth watching just for Cruise, a whirlpool of emotion, and Hoffman is still very good, even if overpraised.
Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪
Thanks Rascal I will try on your recommendation.
Enrique Sanchez
There are many things about Being There I find a revelation and it is not just because of Sellers, whom I am not normally a fan of. He gave something special here. While he was playing an idiot who inadvertently pulled the wool over the eyes of those supposedly so much more intelligent and erudite, and his performance could be considered one-note, he gave it a rich layered texture which was full of heart and soul. He was so 'real' that it was almost 'genius', and I rarely toss that one around. Douglas, MacLaine and Warden shine too. I have only seen about 4 or 5 times though and KvK many. Perhaps it is because I don't own a copy.
I like AJFA and have seen several times and Jazz, while not exactly my cup of tea, Scheider is fine if unlikable, and it has been decades since I have seen CS so I would have to reassess Lemmon.
Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪
Rascal:
You're right, Jerzy Kosinski's book was the real marvel of the thing to begin with. As another has said: " a satirical view of the absurd reality of America's media culture".
Indeed, brilliant and very timely, I might say.
And Sellers gave it his all.
Enrique Sanchez
Yes, and excellent satire is not always easy to pull off. Lumet also did it well with Network-76'. It can degenerate into parody instead if not on the mark.
Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪
Aside from Lemmon winning Cannes, Hoffman won every major precursor award that I know of, for what it's worth.
share