The Ultimate Walt Disney Company Performances Bracket -- Round Two, Day Eleven
No capes!
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. Or, if you like, happy Tuesday! (Or, if I like, happy “pitchers and catchers report to spring training” day.) Whatever you’re celebrating, or not, it’s unquestionably time for us to start voting in some new matchups in the Ultimate Walt Disney Company Performances bracket.
You ready? I know I am. Let’s go!
(2) John Goodman, Monsters, Inc. vs. (31) Bruno Campos, The Princess and the Frog: Two co-stars from the same film go head to head! Yes, it’s true that John Goodman’s work in The Princess and the Frog is not up for a vote today, but…well, hey, he and Bruno Campos are both in that film. Anyway, this one’s a no-brainer for me, and I’m sure for many of you. I’ll give this one to John Goodman, who gets a great paternal arc in Monsters, Inc. and easily knocks it out of the park. An easy vote here.
(15) Robin Williams, Good Morning, Vietnam vs. (18) Brad Bird, The Incredibles: Honestly? I’m giving this one to Brad Bird. A couple reasons why: first of all, you’re all going to have a chance to vote for Robin Williams later in this round for a role that is essentially a no-doubter. Second, Bird gives himself a very funny and sly character to bring to life, establishing internal life for Edna Mode through his fierce work as through the character’s design. And it’s just a lot more fun than the entirety of Williams’ work as Adrian Cronauer (though he’s at least enjoyable in the first half of Barry Levinson’s film).
But that’s just me — what say you?
(7) Bruce Willis, The Sixth Sense vs. (26) Bill Farmer, A Goofy Movie: I will give this one to Bruce Willis, as I think his quiet work in M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout film is key to what makes the whole story succeed so much. But I won’t be surprised if the man synonymous with Goofy takes this one away from a retired A-Lister. Time for you to weigh in, though, so vote!
(10) Al Pacino, The Insider vs. (23) Nathan Lane, The Lion King: I know that Nathan Lane is going to win this one, and he’s very funny as Timon the meerkat in a film more widely seen than The Insider. But Al Pacino is excellent as Lowell Bergman, and not just in his great rage-fueled scene where he demands to know if his co-workers are businessmen or newsmen. He should move on.
But I don’t decide these things — you do. So weigh in now.
I kept hoping Scar would eat Timon as graphically as possible, so I definitely did NOT vote for my fellow Jersey City native, Nathan Lane. And Robin is no match for Edna Mode here.
With ya on GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM. Williams is great but the rest of the movie is just so...uninteresting.
Levinson got it right second time around with WAG THE DOG IMO.