I can't make up my mind about who should've won the Academy Award for best actor in 1973. Eventhough Pacino was superb in "Serpico", many consider "The last detail" to be Nicholson's best. And then there's Brando in "Last tango in Paris", praised by most film critics and intelectuals. Any comments on that difficult choice?
JUAN.
I believe the winner was Jack Lemmon (SAVE THE TIGER) who was excellent in that role. I'd probably rate Lemmon ahead of Pacino (SERPICO) and perhaps ahead of Nicholson (LAST DETAIL). I never saw LAST TANGO.
I guess you could debate it though.
Brando reigns supreme
shareYou wouldn't meet a bigger Pacino fan than me but Brando in Last Tango was just the Magnum Opus. He was of the charts.
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The public benefited from his actions more than Serpico did. So, if that is your goal, do as Serpico did.
shareThe Academy awards do not recognize 'excellence,' per se. They are about promotion.
In the case of Pacino and at that time, Nicholson, the feeling was they could do something better for their recognition, something even more deserving.
So this was the year to make Lemmon a 'major' star, which I rather suspect it didn't.
About the best thing he had afterward was China Syndrome, and after watching that movie thirty years later, I was bored out of my skull.
I just watched Serpico for only the second time in my life (same deal with China Syndrome) and I think Serpico holds up much better.
I've never cared for Brando or Nicholson, tho I do enjoy As Good As It Gets, and for that matter, The Shining.
To me Serpico is the best movie but Nicholson gave the best performance of the three.
shareBest performance of the year for me was Robert DeNiro in Mean Streets. But that is probably supporting role so for leading I would say Brando in Last tango in Paris.
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