So Sam Rockwell has finally earned his first Academy Award Nomination, in a film which I frankly have mixed feelings about. To be fair, it's a good performance but it's not even in the top 10 Sam Rockwell performances. I'm including Galaxy Quest in my definitive list. Obviously my opinion has very little bearing on how the world continues to conduct it's affairs.
I've wondered what makes Sam Rockwell such a compelling actor and in my mind it's that he will commit to a role with gusto and charisma. He will inevitably elevate flat scripts and worrisome characters with his charm and talent. Of course I'd be ever so slightly in love with him. Plus he dances very well, exceedingly well.
Over the past few days I've watched a few films, Charlie's Angels was one of them. Wow that film did not age well but there are some fun moments. People getting shot out of windows, Bill Murray, Sam Rockwell, Crispin Glover! All the girls! Hang on... Where was I?
The films I intended to talk about! Say When (across the pond known as Laggies which is such a better name, I can't imagine why British audiences wouldn't have loved that) and Mr Right.
Both featured Sam Rockwell utilising his specific charm in different scenarios. He gets to smooch women who are considerably younger than him and present himself as an ideal romantic partner for both. This gave me the opportunity to work through my unimaginative crush in a safe environment - hunting the man down with a butterfly net and gaffer tape seemed like too much effort.
Say When
Keira Knightley is suffering from the familiar ennui people close to 30 and still feel like they're closer to 17 go through. I certainly still feel like I have one leg trapped in my teen years as I limp towards what should be deemed adulthood. The lava is creeping forward but moving away seems too difficult when you have no plan or direction.
Keira's just a bit lost and sad but happy to vacillate waiting for someone to point her in the right direction, any direction. Her friends from high school are of the impression that they'll forever be in the same 'class' and follow the same route but Keira isn't all together fond of that but doesn't know what to do without those training wheels still attached. So like any kid, she acts out and ignores her problems.
Enter Chloe Moretz doing teenager very well and Sam Rockwell as her Dad. Keira imposes on their life and Sam does the whole 'cool' but a bit lonely single dad routine very well. He gets some decent jokes in here and there but is essentially there to fall passionately in love with Keira and give her something to jolt her out of her spiral.
Unfortunately in real life we can't all hide in Sam Rockwell's house and drunkenly fall onto his couch. I mean, it would be nice. I think she comes to the decision on her own but having someone like Sam around to cushion to fall certainly improves everything. But in the end it was a romantic comedy so that's how these things happen.
Mr Right
Now to the weirder one. Anna Kendrick plays a version of herself but slightly more deranged (I hope). Sam plays himself if he was an assassin (the universe is laughing at me). They fall in love and he tells her she is special and people get murdered. I can't really go much further into because... well that's the plot. Tim Roth is there too but I don't think even he cares what is going on.
I want to say something positive, the direction was well done, some of the wide shots were good (some were not so good...) and the fight sequences were stylish. Anna's cat ears and general attire was adorable in a student kind of way. Plus we will always have this....
I feel like I must ask, did anyone believe in the romance in this film? Did anyone actually notice that while both of these actors have some delightful charisma, this does not equate to any kind of believable chemistry. He's touching 50, she's touching 30 and looks and behaves like she's 21. Obviously if a weirdo assassin lavishes his attention on a young woman they will fall at his feet. If it were anyone but Sam Rockwell it would not work. I can't imagine anyone else succeeding in making that role not creepy and even with him there it's still pretty borderline.
So what have we learned?
Sam Rockwell, when placed with younger female leads does not make a compelling romantic comedy partner. It's just kind of uncomfortable. If they were closer to his age and he actually used tongue when kissing it might be different. (I have had way too much sugar.) What hurts most is that these women represent my age group. Does this make me fancy him any less? Well yeah, it kind of does. But the more you know about Hollywood, the less easy it is to fall in love with the people who are beholden to it. Well, the more you learn about the world at large.
Does the man deserve an Oscar? Of course he does. Three Billboards is the film the Academy has lavished it's attention on given the current cultural climate. This has finally given them the opportunity to award him to make up for his past performances which have been tragically overlooked. I'm not under any illusion that his previous performances were overlooked due to the lack of campaigning and buzz around his films but that is what makes him a fascinating and excellent actor. He certainly should have been recognised before this
Now perhaps he won't have to slum it kissing younger women in awkwardly conceived scripts. Or maybe that's what he's into. You never know.
And to finish
Sam Rockwell's Top 10 Performances (in my humblest of opinions)
10. Cowboys & Aliens (the only good thing in a terrible terrible film)
9. Green Mile (suitably sinister)
8. Gentlemen Broncos (especially the camp bits)
7. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy ( ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROX - rubbish second head...)
6. Choke (the less known Chuck Palahniuk film, saved it from being terrible)
5. Galaxy Quest (for sheer commitment)
4. Seven Psychopaths (the shit eating grin)
3. The Way, Way, Back (charisma personified)
2. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (the range, plus he was young!)
1. Moon (two for the price of one)
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