Because Rolling Stone is a long lead kind of thing, Peter Travers wanted the info out there that he was blown away by two performances worthy of Oscar attention. Vanessa Redgrave in Coriolanus and Woody Harrelson in Rampart (thanks to Jordan):
Rampart
Woody Harrelson
Directed by Oren MovermanAs Dave Brown (Harrelson), a sexist, racist, trigger-tempered police officer carving out his own definition of justice on the mean streets of 1999 Los Angeles, Woody Harrelson climbs to the top of the acting mountain. It’s a monumental portrayal of a cop in meltdown — bruisingly brilliant and coiled to spring. Listen up, Oscar. Director Oren Moverman (The Messenger), who co-wrote the script with James Ellroy, is a filmmaker with rare skills. He can let us inhale the toxic atmosphere of crime and corruption and then startle us with unexpected feeling. No chance you’ll forget Rampart. Thanks to Harrelson and Moverman, it sizzles and stings.
Coriolanus
Vanessa Redgrave
Directed by Ralph FiennesAs a first-time film director, actor Ralph Fiennes updates Shakespeare’s Coriolanus into a brutal tale of modern warfare (think The Hurt Locker) with no damage to the Bard’s muscular poetry. Neat trick. Fiennes, as star and commander, pulls off a triumph. But the MVP prize goes to Vanessa Redgrave as Coriolanus’ mother, Volumnia. Redgrave outdoes even her legendary herself, which is saying something. Her towering performance is a tour de force that carries the film to glory. Take note Oscar voters: this is as good as acting gets.
