Of those three, the only one I thought was the True Lead of his film was McAvoy -- and even there, I could accept the idea that Whitaker's Amin was so dominant a presence, he wasn't indefensible as lead. The problem with those other cases is not that Washington and Pitt shouldn't have been considered leads, but that it was ridiculous to nominate Hawke or Affleck in support, when they were without question co-leads. I'm baffled why you'd expect me to toss my hat in the air over what's to me a similar case of category fraud: Kaluuya being nominated in support, when he's clear co-lead, is laughable. I very much disagree that the film is Stanfield's story. The only argument for that is the maybe ten-minute stretch where Fred goes to jail and is off-screen. But this is offset by many scenes centered on Fred, with his girlfriend or the grieving mother, that have nothing to do with O'Neal's journey. This movie, as per the title, is about both characters, and they should both be contending for lead actor nominations. (The one who gets screwed by this is Jesse Plemons, who gives a truly fascinating, dimensional supporting performance that will now go unnoted.)Big Magilla wrote:Anyone who thinks that Ethan Hawke, James McAvoy and Casey Affleck were the true leads in Training Day, The Last King of Scotland and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford were the dominant leads in those and the showier Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Brad Pitt would have more fairly been considered in support, should be rejoicing over the placement of Stanfield and Kaluuya in their respective categories.
It happens, I've read that the initial cut of the film was more centered on O'Neal, but that several of the invited audience felt they needed Fred to be more co-equal a character, resulting in the recut version we see. So, it's possible the Oscar campaign was based on a version of the movie that no longer exists. (Just as, long ago, Diane Keaton might have been a supporting actress contender for the lengthy Anhedonia, but was clear lead in the heavily-edited Annie Hall.)
To get to the movie: I've been pretty cranky about most things I've seen this year (and, even here, I was aggravated I had to watch on TV -- as the film progressed, I got more and more frustrated I couldn't experience it in the more tunnel-vision format of a theatre). But I have to say this is the strongest, least-disappointing thing I've seen this year: a powerful drama with an unsparing point of view, well-written (and often surprising) scenes, and towering performances. Stanfield is a major actor, and he makes O'Neal a fascinatingly opaque figure -- I think he's probably honest in his early scene with Plemmons when he says he hasn't much thought about things like the King assassination, and it's fascinating to watch such a previously apolitical character both play-act revolutionary fervor and, in some ways, become wrapped up in it. His plight is painful to watch, even while we're disdaining him for his clear treachery. It's a great role for him, and he totally pulls it off.
When Stanfield was cast, he likely thought it was going to be his star-making role. But he may not have reckoned on Kaluuya showing up and, in many ways, blowing him off the screen. I've liked Kaluuya's prior work, but this is a level above -- exuding charisma and oratorical fervor, yet also displaying tenderness, slyness, and humor in the many scenes that flesh the character out. I didn't know much about Fred Hampton beyond the fact that he was murdered by authorities (the case was a major cause celebre while I was in college at NU); based on his film, he may have indeed been the formidable possible leader J. Edgar Hoover feared. If nothing else, the film enshrines his memory in a clear-eyed but celebratory way. And Kaluuya's performance is the best I've seen so far this year.
I will never not hate those "and here are the real-life people" epilogues, but I have to say it was fascinating watching the actual O'Neal squirm under that final interview. Had he really managed to stay in denial that long?