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The end is nigh, as the beginning is nigh. These are my retroactive film awards of 1961. Who gave the best performance? What movie is the best of the year? Here are my penultimate film awards, with the ‘60s almost over.
Best Performance: George C. Scott, The Hustler
Scott, were he alive, would be annoyed by this. It was his way. While he was given Best Actor at the Oscars for Patton, he declined to accept it. For The Hustler, though, he was able to convince the Academy to not even nominate him. Had they done so, there’s a good chance he would have won. Paul Newman is quite good in The Hustler. Jackie Gleason does a solid job in a dramatic role. Scott, though, leaps off the screen. Patton and Dr. Strangelove are fine examples of Scott’s acting skills, but The Hustler is his best work.
Best Film: Yojimbo
I thought about going with The Hustler here. The options were limited. West Side Story is one of my least-favorite Best Picture winners I’ve seen. Blue Hawaii is possibly the best Elvis movie, but it’s still an Elvis movie. Someday, I may actually watch Guns of Navarone. Instead of doubling up on The Hustler, though, I’m going with Yojimbo. It’s considered by many Akira Kurasowa’s best film. I’ve only seen a few of them, but Yojimbo is up there with Seven Samurai, and an easier watch since it moves with more propulsion. Toshiro Mifune is excellent, as often was the case. Also, this may be the first foreign film that has won in my retroactive awards. Well, better late than never!
