Seed NewsvineThe Year That Was Sam Rockwell
But there was some stellar acting. And Sam Rockwell was a big part of that.
The front end of the year was headlined with the great David Gordon Green's "Snow Angels" (read more about it here) a grossly underrated drama that will surely find its place on my year end best list. Rockwell shined brightly in a story that is supremely grim among an exceptional ensemble (Kate Beckinsale and the priceless Nicky Katt included) and the result is simply great.
In "Snow Angels" Rockwell's persona--a simulation of that sneaky and guilty fun con artist he played in "Matchstick Men"--is at a pronounced constraint in every scene he's in. Though his character of Glenn Marchand is a deeply depressed recovering alcoholic, there's a wild spark in his eyes that hints back to an earlier, probably more jovial Glenn. It adds an additional layer of pathos to the dark and disturbing decisions Glenn makes by the film's end.
I'm not saying "Choke" is the next "Fight Club." It's not profound. Many agree, this Palahniuk adaptation is far from perfect but it's a film that solely exists on the effectiveness of its lead performance.
And Rockwell delivers the goods.
Whether he's having "ring around the world" sex on the grimy bathroom floor or feeding his mentally sick mother at her bed, Rockwell gives Victor Mancini a Holden Caulfield spin in that he runs away from his phony family unit to find genuine fulfillment. Only instead of a 1950s New York City, Victor Mancini has to divide his time in between sex addict meetings and shady strip clubs.
Some of the year's biggest laughs come from this destined to be cult classic.
As with the end of any year in film, the holidays are packed with Oscar bait flicks. Sugarcoat Director Ron Howard and his "Frost/Nixon" are no different. "Frost" offers some potent and valid performances from its two lead actors, but audiences will find the supporting players like Rebecca Hall, Oliver Platt and Sam Rockwell as the real treasure.
Rockwell's James Reston, Jr. has the film's best (in this reviewer's opinion) scene: Desperate to articulate his enthusiasm and rationale for assisting with the soon to be taped interview, Rockwell delivers his passionate soliloqouy on the importance of "justice."
He's just great.
Wait til' next year.
