The Ultimate Walt Disney Company Performances Bracket -- Round Two, Day Thirteen

Pfft. Toons.

Good morning, friends. I hope you’re doing well, and I hope you’re ready for some tough matchups in today’s post. Of course, for all I know, you will find absolutely none of these to be tough matchups, but I know I sure do. So on one hand, I’m happy to tell you how I would vote, but I’m kind of glad I don’t have to.

Ready? Let’s go!

(1) Bob Hoskins, Who Framed Roger Rabbit vs. (32) Heath Ledger, 10 Things I Hate About You: Yes, the challenges start here. I kind of get why Bob Hoskins is going to win this one — we have all thought enough about the impossible balance he has to strike in his performance as Eddie Valiant. But Heath Ledger’s work in 10 Things I Hate About You is incredible in ways that continue to show themselves years after his passing. (I realize he has other marquee roles, but outside of his performance as the Joker, this is probably my favorite of Ledger’s career.) It’s a toughie. I suppose I have to vote for Hoskins, but I don’t begrudge you for leaning towards Ledger.

(16) Bill Nighy, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest vs. (17) Jonathan Freeman, Aladdin: I put the GIF above here for one reason, primarily. It’s worth remembering how some of the terrifying grandeur of Davy Jones belongs to special-effects artists as much to Bill Nighy himself. He’s an excellent actor, he’s suitably creepy, but it’s not all just him. And the same, of course, can be said for Jonathan Freeman as Jafar — the voice is all him, but the look is not. So with that in mind, I…kind of want to vote for Jonathan Freeman. A pair of excellent performances aided by lots of behind-the-scenes talent, but only one person gets to be as funny as Freeman when he says “Prince Abooboo”.

But it’s another tough one. How do you vote?

(8) Bill Murray, Rushmore vs. (25) Timothy Spall, Enchanted: I know Bill Murray will win this one, but I tell you, Timothy Spall in Enchanted is a very underrated piece of work. Murray’s great in Rushmore (I like him more than I like Jason Schwartzman in the film), and I don’t blame you for voting for him. Don’t forget Spall, though!

(9) Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins vs. (24) Auli’i Cravalho, Moana: At some point, I’m going to stop voting for Dick Van Dyke in these matchups, because his goofy fake British accent will be enough to pass on. This is not that point. While I do enjoy Moana very much, and Cravalho’s performance is solid, Van Dyke throws himself into the role of Bert with such brio that I can’t help but love it.