Davison's work as John should have won him an Oscar. What a portrait of commitment and unselfishness, and each time I see him in his last scene with Sean, I cry. Of course, the end of this movie always has me in a puddle on the floor...what a stunner.
This movie never got the respect and recognition it deserved.
Davison played David, didn't he?
Yes, he played David. And remarkably well I must say.
Some men are wise; the rest remain otherwise.
That he lost the Oscar to Joe Pesci is one of the most shameful snubs in Oscar history. Watch the scene where he tells his lover to 'let go' to understand what I mean.
shareI agree, a truly incredible scene.
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Typical example of why saying one performance is "best" is silly. How can you even compare Davison's work in this vs. Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas? Completely different styles and objectives, though if I had to vote I'd have voted for Pesci.
shareI don't even have to re-watch Mr. Davison's scene with Mark Lamos's character (as his lover) on his deathbed...I just think about it and remember the scene and break down in tears. What a powerful performance.
shareWell - as wonderful as Bruce Davison is in this film, and trust me , he would have won if he had not been up against Joe Pesci , who simply showed why they have awards for performances like this. I can see why you thought Bruce deserved to win , but don't call it a snub when a great performance won that year.
shareYeah....Davison just had a case of rotten luck in who he had to be up against. Goodfellas was a HUGE favorite that year, and Pesci's performance was the standout in the film.
I can totally agree that Davison's work was far superior in terms of emotional punch. But, given he was slotted against Pesci in what is arguably the role most identified with Goodfellas, I can see how he didn't win. ( I refuse to say he 'lost', because he didn't lose...it was a matter of Davison not winning, and there is a difference.)
But anyone who sees LT still takes away the emotional juggernaut that was Davison's breathtaking performance.
I wouldhave loved to see Bruce Davison win an oscar for this,but I really do believe that Joe Pesci was pretty unforgettable in 'Goodfella's' and the oscar to Joe Pesci was well deserved...damn close race.
shareWell, it's all down to personal taste, of course, but I would have voted for Bruce Davison. Joe Pesci was loud and colourful, and certainly caught everyone's attention, in "Goodfellas", but he was also basically playing the same character he pretty much always plays.
For actual acting and breadth of characterisation, I would have liked to see Davison get the gong, no question.
You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.
Davison was great and emotional in his ONE big scene telling his lover to let go. But other then that, he doesn't have much to do in this movie. I kept waiting and waiting for his big moment and kept asking myself "What did he do to get nominated?" Then the scene happened. It also was bad editing to jump from that scene to a year later at DAVID's funeral, who by the looks of it wasn't sick at all and hadn't contracted AIDS. Also, how did his lover get it? When he questioned him about sleeping around, David's partner denied it. So how did he get sick?
Also, Pesci was the only Oscar GoodFellas won. So the academy had to award it somehow, and it was very deserved. Dances with Wolves won everything else in 1990, though Scorsese should have taken Director.
puirt-a-beul^
"Well, it's all down to personal taste, of course, but I would have voted for Bruce Davison. Joe Pesci was loud and colourful, and certainly caught everyone's attention, in "Goodfellas", but he was also basically playing the same character he pretty much always plays."
So agree.
Bruce Davison, IMHO, is one of the most under-rated actors of his generation.
His performance in this film is so good that it hurts.
"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois
Sorry Bruce Davison. Joe Pesci's performance in Goodfellas is one of the greatest of all-time.
Everytime Joe Pesci exited the screen, I wanted him to come back.
Joe Pesci MADE that movie.
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awesome acting by him. The scene mentioned, "Let go", good grief, what a good actor.
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I luvd Bruce Davison's character David in this film and I wouldve voted for Bruce not Pesci
shareHe was on a recent doc about character actors, I had forgotten how down to earth he comes across as.
I've had friends like David, the type to always crack jokes in the worst of times, but held a deep worry in check. I always think of the scene when he's sitting in the waiting room making small talk about a skin problem he had as a kid and he hits his breaking point when the TV is featuring some old movie about a head. His reaction to the stress of waiting, being nervous for his friend, the noise, etc is just perfect. Even when he asks about the possibility of something being wrong with Willie's immune system is spot on.