Karl Delossantos

Much Ado About Nothing (2012) Movie Review — Shakespeare like you’ve never seen before

Much Ado About Nothing finds Joss Whedon at his sharpest and most creative

I have something to admit. The 1993 film Much Ado About Nothing is one of the movies that made me fall in love with cinema. Partially because it was the first film adaptation of a Shakespeare play that I watched, and partially because of the performances of Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh. I’ve never seen two actors delve so passionately into Shakespeare. As incredible his prose is, it takes more than your high school English teacher to perform it properly. Branagh has such respect for the material. So, when I heard that another filmmaker was going attempt to adapt my favorite Shakespeare play, I was a bit skeptical. Who could possibly do the source material justice, while still making the film their own? Then, I heard Joss Whedon was directing, writing, and producing the film. Let me just say I was overly ecstatic.

For you uncultured folk, which is probably few of you since you’re on this website (obviously), the story of Much Ado About Nothing is a simple one that is actually more complex than it seems. The play follows two couples who are essentially tricked into thinking certain things about their feelings for their respective partners. Love or Hate. Faithfulness or Betrayal. It is, in my opinion, not only Shakespeare’s best comedy but also his best romance. I adore this play.

Joss Whedon produced the film with what could be seen as a micro-budget, which is basically free considering his other film in 2012 was Marvel’s The Avengers. With Whedon’s home supplying the residence, many of his friends and past collaborators making up the cast, and completing the film in a mere 12 days, the film could be one of the simplest films produced in years. Even the DP didn’t have a lighting budget, he used this crazy thing called the sun. Just reading up on the project made me completely happy.

Whedon made very small changes to the script and plot. In addition to the modern setting, the one obvious change was a small scene at the beginning of the film that more specifically defined the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick. The scene also did one other thing. It established the film’s offbeat comedic tone that you wouldn’t really expect from a play from Shakespeare. He may be 400 something years old, but the man was a riot. However, Whedon’s direction took the film from being a funny play to a hilarious love story. Small movements from the actors, their facial expressions, their delivery, coupled with Whedon’s slight visual humor made the entire film a joy to watch.

Speaking of his visual style, you would never guess that this was the man that brought you Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, or The Avengers. The humor could range from simple sight gags to something manic and in your face, but his decision to film in black and white gives the film a magic that keeps you excited throughout. However, that is partially due to the performances from the cast particularly those of Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof (Wesley!), Fran Kranz, and Nathan Fillion.

I have to say. Much Ado About Nothing could be one of my favorite adaptations of a Shakespeare play. It had everything you need to successfully adapt Shakespeare: (1) a competent director who knows the material and can visually match it; (2) actors that are passionate enough to play the material and talented enough to pull it off (I mean, it’s Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Nathan Fillion, and Clark Gregg, not much could go wrong); (3) enough unique style to keep viewers entertained. Whedon was able to make Shakespeare understandable, which is not always an easy feat, especially in this generation. If you’re looking for a great date night flick with a little culture, this one is for you.

7.5/10

Much Ado About Nothing is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital on Amazon!

August 1, 2014
11 Gifs Explaining Why Breaking Bad Should Win at the Emmys

SPOILERS AHEAD!
Breaking Bad‘s brilliant final season deserves all the accolades coming to it (see our Emmy predictions here), but why? Here are 11 reasons why Breaking Bad should win at the Emmys.

So Hanks finds out about Walt in the premiere, but instead of lashing out, in true Heisenberg style Walt says:

When Hank gets a little to close, Walt makes this little ditty.

After Jesse discovers that Saul stop the ricin from Jesse to give to Brock, we see a very angry Jesse.

Then when Meth Damon… I mean Creepy Todd… I mean Todd pays Andrea a visit to keep captive Jesse in line, we see sad Jesse.

But neither of those compare to happy Jesse in the finale. Emmy him, bitch!

In the instant classic “Ozymandias” we see the end of ASAC Schrader… I don’t have anything funny to say. That was just plain sad.

Poor Walt… not like you caused this or anything.

The Skyler becomes a BAMF when Walt tries to get them to leave.

However, there is some shred of the Walt we used to know when he protects Skyler with this phone call. Emmys for everyone!

Skyler: If I have to hear one more time that you did this for the family–
Walt: I did it for me.

Goodbye Heisenberg. We will remember your name.

Check out our Emmy Spotlight of the show here! What were your favorite moments of the final season of Breaking Bad?

August 1, 2014
Do the Shuffle (Vol. 9): The Lumineers, The Spring Standards, & Modest Mouse

In Do the Shuffle, one of our team members puts their iPod on shuffle and makes a playlist out of the first ten songs that play. It’s a great way to find new music or rediscover the old stuff. Enjoy!

http://open.spotify.com/user/smashcutreviews/playlist/3pbCQijWocfc5F1ub7NBbt

July 30, 2014
7 Reasons why “House of Cards” Season 2 was Awesome

SPOILERS!

It’s ridiculous, unrealistic, and wonderfully dark, but also so entertaining. It probably won’t win this year at the Emmys, but here are some reasons voters could cast their vote for House of Cards.

“One heartbeat away from the presidency and not a single vote cast in my name…”

Remember when Frank gave us this sterling piece of advice when dealing with Washington? Hopefully you listened to him, this season got messy.

Then, this one image basically summed up House of Cards. No matter what Frank and Claire do, just remember…

Remember when Claire got to be a total BAMF during this interview? Also, Robin Wright is a freaking goddess.

You know that prostitute from season one? She was freaking amazing this season.

How could you forget about this shocker. Admit it, you screamed a little when this happened. Goodbye Zoe Barnes and your wonderful hoodies.

And last, but not least…

How could we talk about House of Cards season 2 without mentioning the now infamous desk knock. All hail President Underwood!

Check out our Emmy Spotlight for the show here! What were your favorite moments from House of Cards season 2?

July 30, 2014
Masters of Sex Review: Kyrie Eleison (2×02)

I don’t want to say this was a filler episode of Masters of Sex, but this was a filler episode of Masters of Sex. That being said, it was a fairly good filler episode. Entitled “Kyrie Eleison”, the episode dealt with a new nanny, a new hospital, a film crew, and a nymphomaniac. Yep, you heard that right. Masters of Sex has always been a show that pushes the limits, and this episode is no exception.

First of all, I need to define what I see as a filler episode. Obviously it’s an episode that doesn’t have a clear effect on the series’ plot, but I also have to point out that it shouldn’t have a profound effect on any characters or our perception of those characters. While there is some development, like from Betty and Teddy, there isn’t anything that I would say changes too much of the course of the series. Mad Men is a rare show that I would way never had a filler episode. Every single episode and scene contributed to the education of the characters. Although Masters had to fill sometime, I am in no way faulting them for it.

Starting at his new job, Bill got a rude awakening to the way of the hospital. Unlike Washington University Hospital, politics and money speak a lot louder than the actual morality of medicine. It’s something that Bill isn’t used to. Obviously he’s experienced his fair share of hospital politics at WU, but at least the work always meant more. I mean, at least until he was fired because of it, but that’s besides the point. As Bill deals with a teenage nymphomaniac, who is now on her third lost pregnancy, he gets a taste of those politics. Her parents, benefactors to the hospital, were insistent that she has a hysterectomy to help counter her “whorish” ways. Bill was tepid to the idea and continues to be even when his new boss insisted that he perform the surgery.

Though this storyline is part of the reason I saw this episode as a filler, unlike Mad Men which arguably never had a filler episode, I found the storyline to be entertaining and quite emotional. Especially when the daughter begged Bill to perform the surgery after accepting her parent’s diagnosis of her as a whore. He was adamant that all perversion are medical illnesses. We got to see a softer side of Bill who was trying to uphold his oath of “do no harm” by introducing her to contraception and telling her that she’s “not what [her} problems are.”

I probably shouldn’t telling you this, but daddy thought the sun rises and sets with you.
-Vivian to Bill

Bill also finally discovered the secret of Barton’s suicide attempt by asking his daughter. After listening intently about the ordeal and offering Vivian some support, Bill went to his car and cries, offering us a rare glimpse of vulnerability that we haven’t seen since the episode “Catherine.”

Though Virginia spent much of the episode tending to other characters’ storylines, she did have a wonderful and hilarious scene with a throat doctor as she explained the functionality of Ulysses, which ended in quite a… splash. She also had a dance with Dr. Langham who explained to her that they’re “lone wolves, driven from the pack by [their] refusal to conform.”

In my review of last week’s episode (find the review here) I compared the series to Mad Men. This week, another comparison came in. Betty Draper… I mean, Libby Masters hired a nanny named Coral (played by Keke Palmer) to help with their daughter. When she was able to quiet down the baby after Libby was unable to, Libby decided to belittle her by correcting her grammar and telling her that they should be working as a team. The passive-aggression could be cut with a knife. She even had a cigarette in hand. If that wasn’t a Betty Draper move, then I don’t know what is. Thank god they’re finally giving Caitlin Fitzgerald something else to do.

Despite their separated storylines, Bill and Virginia both end up at their usual hotel just as the episode faded out. “Kyrie Eleison” was definitely a step down from the wonderful season premiere, but it proved to be an entertaining episode that offered some strong moments. However, I am nervous that the main plot of the series may not be thick enough to fill out a complete roster. This coupled with Showtime’s tendency to keep shows on past their expiration date (I’m looking at you Dexter), I can see this series going south very fast. But, I can only hope that it doesn’t.

July 29, 2014
2014 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy favorite Allison Janney (Mom) has been the presumed frontrunner of this race from the beginning of the season. However, I wasn’t totally buying that she could win based off name alone. However, the episode submissions have made it clear who this race comes down to. There are really only two viable contenders to win.

Janney is still out front with the hilarious menopause episode of Mom. It’s reminiscent of Patricia Heaton’s “Bad Moon Rising” episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, which won her an Emmy.

The other contender is Kate Mulgrew (Orange is the New Black). She has the benefit of having her episode focus on her character and allows her to show a lot of range. Although she doesn’t have any huge laugh out loud moments, it’s definitely the most unique tape in the bunch. She’s just behind Janney right now.

Two-time winner and supposed frontrunner last year Julie Bowen (Modern Family) either didn’t have any better episodes or just submitted poorly. She has one somewhat funny physical comedy scene where she tries to itch her lice infested hair without having someone noticing, but it’s short and definitely not enough.

If there is a Merritt Weaver situation like last year, it could be Anna Chlumsky (Veep) taking the trophy. Although her episode isn’t too impressive, I can see her being the alternative choice if voters can’t pick a winner, especially is Veep is a hit at this year’s Emmys.
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1. Allison Janney, Mom (“Estrogen and Hearty Breakfast”)
2. Kate Mulgrew, Orange is the New Black (“Tit Punch”)
3. Anna Chlumsky, Veep (“Detroit”)
4. Julie Bowen, Modern Family (“The Feud”)
5. Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live (“Host: Anna Kendrick”)
6. Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory (“The Indecision Amalmagation”)

July 28, 2014
“Once” Review (Revisit): Retains the title of Broadway’s Best Romance

Usually when I revisit a show, I begin to find flaws. It happens every time. Nearly every show feels perfect the first time around, but when you watch it again, you’re paying more attention to the details, good and bad. The first time I watched Once the musical, I was putty in their Irish hands. There’s a quality about the show that just draws you in.

For those of you that don’t know, Once is based of the film of the same name, which is one of my favorite films. It tells the story of a 5-day relationship between an unnamed Guy and Girl, who set off to make a demo for the Guy’s ex-girlfriend. The musical evolves to a complex love story that will make your heart swoon. However, that description doesn’t do this story justice. A cast of characters, from a group of Czechs, to a music shop owner, to a bank manager with a dream create one of the strongest ensembles on Broadway. Every member of the cast, save for the one child actor in the show, play an instrument to create the orchestra.

The entire cast is truly wonderful. Every performer on stage has multiple jobs, and they all excel in them. The best part about seeing a musical for the second time is watching all the small details you missed the first time. The choreography is so simple, yet speaks a lot. Small moments like those in “Sleeping,” when the Czechs had these small movements to portray their support of each other, supplied so much emotion on stage. While large group numbers like “Gold” and “If You Want Me” were simply just magical to look at. The lighting also made a huge impression. Natasha Katz was able to transport us to different times and locations with a single lighting change, all that worked so well with Bob Crowley’s set.

However, what continues to make Once so magical, in addition to John Tiffany’s outstanding direction, is Enda Walsh’s book. The dialogue is so natural, sometimes hilarious, others emotional, but it all just serves the story so well.

The performance that I watched had standby Ben Hope in playing Guy. Now, before I go any further I have to explain the character of Guy. To be honest, I think its one of the most underrated roles on Broadway. While original performer Steve Kazee did bring home the Tony, and rightfully so, I think most people don’t really see the performance involved. First of all, they have to portray a character that changes a lot over the course of the musical. He starts as a bitter lovelorn musician and eventually finds a meaning in life as he goes along. On top of that, he has to play the “straight” character to The Girl’s quirky, and has to do most of the singing throughout. On top of all of this, the actor has to portray a lot of understated emotion, which is a chore in theatre.

Although he didn’t reach the heights of Kazee’s performance, vocally or acting…ly, he was able to hit all the points the are needed in the performance. There’s a scene about midway through the second act where the Guy and Girl are talking on a hill above Dublin. He tells her a story about his mother. It’s a monologue that has always stuck with me, but it’s a difficult one to dish out. Well, Hope did it with all of the emotional impact that it needed.

Jessie Fisher was also wonderful as the Girl. Such a complicated character, but she was just as charming and funny as OBC member Christin Millioti.

Overall, my revisit to Once was an eye opening one. I am going to say something that’s going to be very controversial, but completely valid. Once is the best musical on Broadway right now. It’s so beautifully contracted and written. Playwrights would kill to write dialogue that natural. The show is so well realized, and every aspect comes together to serenade the audience. It’s a near perfect musical.

July 25, 2014
2014 Emmy Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

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There’s a tough two horse race in the works for the Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Although Mad Men has never won an Emmy for acting, after their surprising season finale it looks like Robert Morse is going to have a real shot at breaking that curse. His screen time is not huge, but he does get emotional during the moon landing and then has a musical number (I know, WTF). It’s going to stand out a bit among his competitors.

He is getting some strong competition from Beau Bridges (Masters of Sex) who gave an emotional performance where we see the lengths he goes to “cure” himself of his homosexuality. However, I think we are grossly underestimating Reg E. Cathey (House of Cards). Anyone who has watched his episode submission knows why I’m ranking him at number two. While his performance is extremely understated, his storyline has a lot of impact.

The Katy Perry dark horse contender here is Joe Morton (Scandal). Most of his submission is spent in flashback with a lot of yelling, and tears, and sadness. Perfect Emmy bait. It helps that the show won here last year as well.

1. Robert Morse, Mad Men (“Waterloo”)
2. Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards (“Chapter 22”)
3. Beau Bridges, Masters of Sex (“Manhigh”)
4. Joe Morton, Scandal (“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”)
5. Paul Giamatti, Downton Abbey (“Episode 4.8”)
6. Dylan Baker, The Good Wife (“Tying the Knot”)

July 24, 2014
Do the Shuffle (Vol. 8): The 1975, Foster the People, and Ghost Beach

In Do the Shuffle, one of our team members puts their iPod on shuffle and makes a playlist out of the first ten songs that play. It’s a great way to find new music or rediscover the old stuff. Enjoy!

http://open.spotify.com/user/smashcutreviews/playlist/7yF2Ow1Ko9j9KGONcXWRWF

July 23, 2014
Contenders for the Best Film of 2014 so far

It may be a bit early to write a definitive ranking of the best films of the year. Usually it takes a few viewings of the contenders before I can make a true decision on what should be on top. That’s a mistake I made last year. When I did my rankings last year, I added films to the list as I want along. That’s why American Hustle and Nebraska ended up closer to the top of my list. After re-watching the films, I moved the latter back in the list and the former off completely in addition to moving Gravity back and pushing Upstream Color off. Two films that at a certain point held the top spot on my list. I’m not going to have that debacle again. So, instead I’m going to talk about some of the contenders for the best film of the year.

I think the first film I watched that I had thought could make it to the top of the list was Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (check out Matt Flynn’s review here). Although I didn’t think it was his best work like many others (I still think Moonrise Kingdom surpassed it), it was clearly his most impressive work. The concept of having a story within a story within a story was brilliant and beautifully drawn out. As usual, the film was gorgeous to look at, however the underlying darkness was just as gorgeous.

Speaking of darkness (SEGUE!), the adaptation of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars (review here) was pretty much as dark as it could get. Josh Boone was so adroitly able to capture the characters of the book while making the film just as, if not more, affecting. Topped off with an Oscar worthy performance from Shailene Woodley (see why I think she’ll be nominated here) and Fault becomes one of the best adaptations of a novel since The Picture of Dorian Grey in 1945. Okay, maybe not that far back, but it’s the first one I could think of.

Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners made my list last year at number 7, and his latest collaboration with Jake Gyllenhaal is poised to make my list again. Enemy (check out Matt Flynn’s review here) is going to be a film that I have to watch a few times to place on my list. I was enamored by it, and not because I watched it during an insomnia ridden stormy night. It was a psychological thriller mixed with a character study, and it doesn’t really get much better than that. Throw in Villeneuve’s signature gloomy and beautifully color palleted style and you’ve got a film.

Speaking of signature styles (I am a segue machine today!), Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive relies on it’s gothic style and simple plot to portray a century old love story. Or you could just look at it as Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddelston playing hipster vampires. Whichever works for you. Anyway, this was a divisive film for me when I watched it. It’s far from perfect. Really far from perfect. However, it is damn fun to watch and damn fun to look at. I’m going to have to watch a few more times to decide if I’m gonna throw it in the top ten, but chances are looking pretty good.

Another divisive film for me was definitely the little watched (thanks Harvey Weinstein) Korean/American co-production Snowpiercer. The only way I could put it is that it’s a perfect action flick. It had a great post-apocolyptic concept, strong characters that you could root for, an impeccable visual style, and most importantly (and what most action movies forget) a clear end goal. Plus, Chris Evans plays a superhero who’s not Captain America, Jamie Bell plays the comic relief, and Octavia Spencer plays a sassy black woman, which is absolutely wonderful.

I’m not totally sure if Stranger By the Lake counts for this list since it technically premiered at Cannes last year, but had its American premiere in January. Either way, it has a great chance to make my top ten list this year or last year. Not only is it a smart, thought provoking drama, it is also dark, sexy, surprisingly funny, engrossing, sexy, entertaining, and did I mention sexy? Despite its full frontal nudity and erotic sex scenes, the film is a masterful work of thrills and suspense.

Lastly, the film that I am confident will end up in at least my top 5… of the decade… is Richard Linklater’s brilliant 12-year masterpiece Boyhood (check out my review here). I know I’ve made it clear that I’m not picking a top film of the year yet, but I’m adamant that this film is most likely, probably, almost certainly, will be at the top of my list. It’s not hard to say why the film will take my best picture slot because it’s just perfect. Plain and simple and perfect. It so gorgeously captures the magic and tragedy of growing up. Framed against an adroitly put together 12 year production, Linklater was able to give an honest look at life.

So that’s all I’ve got, what films are going to make your end of the year list?

July 22, 2014
2014 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series is a category with a lot of great performances, but one is pretty much a lock to win. With the episode submission “Ozymandias” and the buzz of the final season, last year’s winner Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad) is a near shoe-in for a win.

However, the dark horse in this category is a surprising one. Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) was a surprise nominee for some, but others (those who still watch Downton Abbey) were sure that she would get in, and I see why. Her episode submission (Episode 4.2 in the U.S. and Episode 4.3 in the U.K.) involves a controversial rape scene that gives her some really strong and heartbreaking material.

While Christine Baranski has a watershed episode dealing with the death of Will, I think she should have instead submitted the less emotional “Outside the Bubble”, which offers her more screen time and a great storyline.

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1. Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (“Ozymandias”)
2. Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey (“Episode 4.2”)
3. Christine Baranski, The Good Wife (“The Last Call”)
4. Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey (“Episode 4.8”)
5. Christina Hendricks, Mad Men (“The Strategy”)
6. Lena Headey, Game of Thrones (“The Lion and the Rose”)

July 21, 2014
Trending This Week on Smash Cut: “Don Jon”, “Veep”, & More

The following are the top 5 most viewed posts on Smash Cut this week:

Trending This Week

10 Drama Actors that Deserve, but won’t get, Emmy… by Karl Delossantos June 12, 2014 It’s no secret that most award shows don’t get it…2014 Emmy Predictions: Miniseries by Karl Delossantos July 13, 2014 Miniseries is one of the few categories I can call…2014 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series by Karl Delossantos July 18, 2014 Supporting Actor in a Comedy series is very close to…Emmy Episode Submission Analysis: Veep by Karl Delossantos July 19, 2014 For those of you that don’t know, at the Emmys…2014 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Miniseries/TV… by Karl Delossantos July 14, 2014 The race for Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV…

Trending This Month

10 Drama Actors that Deserve, but won’t get, Emmy… by Karl Delossantos June 12, 2014 It’s no secret that most award shows don’t get it…2014 Emmy Predictions: Miniseries by Karl Delossantos July 13, 2014 Miniseries is one of the few categories I can call…2014 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series by Karl Delossantos July 18, 2014 Supporting Actor in a Comedy series is very close to…Emmy Episode Submission Analysis: Veep by Karl Delossantos July 19, 2014 For those of you that don’t know, at the Emmys…2014 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Miniseries/TV… by Karl Delossantos July 14, 2014 The race for Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV…

July 20, 2014
Emmy Episode Submission Analysis: Veep

For those of you that don’t know, at the Emmys contenders must submit sample episodes to be judged by voters. Series submit six episodes that are paired up into three “tapes” that are handed off to three sections of judges. Actors submit one episode.

Veep

Comedy Series
Tape A: “Some New Beginnings” and “The Choice”
Tape B: “Alicia” and “Fishing”
Tape C: “Special Relationship” and “Debate”

The first tape is a strong one, although I wasn’t a huge fan of the season premiere, a lot of people were. The second episode on the tape is a great take on a current debate placed into the hilarity of the show. The second tape is similarly strong. In all, they submitted some of the best they had. They missed opportunities like “Detroit” and “New Hampshire”, but in all they submitted a strong set of tapes.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | “Crate”
With the penultimate episode of the series, Dreyfus doesn’t get much to do. It’s somewhat funny watching her lug around her crate and eventually trying to prevent the reporter to find his phone, however her money scene comes toward the end when she discovers that the President intends to resign at that she is taking his place. I think the reason she chose the episode was because of the bathroom scene with Tony Hale, which is great. She’s proved in her last two submissions that she doesn’t need a great episode to win, but overall it’s an underwhelming choice.

Tony Hale | Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | “Crate”
Most of the episode, Hale is lugging Selina’s crate around. However, his money scene is the same as Dreyfus’. The bathroom scene where he also finds out that Selina is going to be POTUS is also his strongest scene. He does have another fun moment when he’s trying to stop the repeater from finding his phone. Although this submission was better than his from last year, I don’t think it’s going to be enough for a second win.

Anna Chlumsky | Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | “Detroit”
Chlumsky plays the “straight” character of the series. Although Bowen won two Emmys for the same type of role, I don’t think Chlumsky has enough in this episode to do it. She has small scenes scattered throughout, but I don’t really see why she submitted it. I think she would have been better off submitting “Special Relationship” or even “Debate.”

Check out what I thought of Breaking Bad‘s submissions here.

July 19, 2014
2014 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actor in a Miniseries/TV Movie

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The race for Lead Actor in a Miniseries/TV Movie is a tough one to hash out. Manu pundits have Oscar-winner Billy Bob Thornton (Fargo) leading to win by a large margin, but I don’t think it’s a slam dunk like many think. Mark Ruffalo (The Normal Heart) gave a phenomenal and passionate performance, while Martin Freeman (Fargo) had a more comedic performance that was more focused towards the beginning of the miniseries. Voters are expected to watch the miniseries and movies in their entirety, however it is quite known that voters focus more on the beginning of the miniseries. So, in this case Freeman leads the race. Right now, I think Thornton still wins, but I’m going to do a bunch of switching in the coming weeks.

1. Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo
2. Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart
3. Martin Freeman, Fargo
4. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge
5. Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow
6. Idris Elba, Luther

July 19, 2014
2014 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

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Supporting Actor in a Comedy series is very close to being a done race. There is one episode submission that stands out from the pack and stuck with me throughout my viewing of the tapes. Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) submitted the episode “Message Received” where he tries to get money for his wedding and ends with an emotional argument with his father over the disapproval of his wedding. It had range, impact, he had funny moments. It’s really a fantastic tape. Even better for him, his screen time clocks in at just under 8 minutes excluding the final “monologue,” which in this episode is an answering machine recording. It’s really a fantastic tape.

Ty Burrell (Modern Family) really screwed up his submission. I can see why he chose the episode, but he only had around 4.5 minutes of screen time and Ferguson has a more prominent storyline. Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) also submitted poorly. While he is part of the main storyline and has a good amount of screen time, he doesn’t have any material to show for it.

Saying Ferguson is a lock might be presumptuous, but you can’t deny he’s the frontrunner here. If anyone takes him down, it’s Braugher for lazy name ticking, but I think he has it right now.

1. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family (“Message Received”)
2. Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (“Christmas”)
3. Fred Armisen, Portlandia (“Pull-Out King”)
4. Ty Burrell, Modern Family (“Spring-A-Ding Fling”)
5. Tony Hale, Veep (“Crate”)
6. Adam Driver, Girls (“Two Plane Rides”)

July 18, 2014