MovieChat Forums > In the Line of Fire (1993) Discussion > John Malkovich Vs. Tommy Lee Jones

John Malkovich Vs. Tommy Lee Jones

posted 19 years ago by otaichi
51 replies | jump to latest

It was 1993. I was sixteen. It was the first time in my life I realised the Academy Awards were B.S. The best supporting actor role went to Jones in the Fugitive. The Fugitive was hugely popular and a great film. But Jones' acting was so one dimensional without any range.

Malkovich on the other hand was cool, angry, scary, justified, calm. He had range. I was sixteen and I knew this. I say Malkovich was robbed of the Oscar. I say Tommy Lee Jones should retroactively hand it over to John Malkovich.

What do you all think. The award goes to Jones (The Fugitive) or to Malkovich (In the Line of Fire)?

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 13 years ago

The only reason Tommy Lee Jones won was because they felt stupid about not giving the oscar to him for JFK. Instead they gave it to Jack Palence in City Slickers which I doubt is the favorite movie of any of Jack Palence's fans. The oscars are a joke. This, Al Pacino not winning for any of the Godfather movies, Morgan Freemen not winning for Driving Miss Daisy or Shawshank, and Sean Connery winning for the untouchables over Denzil Washington in Cry Freedom are some of the many stupid decisions by the academy.

"Time to die! Like a man!" Venom Spider-Man Web of Shadows

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] kylektm1998 12 years ago

In the Line of Fire is one of my favorite movies. If it weren't for John Malkovich's haunting performance it probably would go from a solid nine to a mediocre 6. Tommy Lee Jones on the other hand wasn't bad either. However, I see where you are going with his performance being two dimensional. If I had to pick between the two of them I would probably pick Malkovich. But, if I was picking out of all five nominees I would pick Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List. I think Tommy Lee Jones is a good actor but his performance was the least good compared to the other four. Hopefully Malkovich will one day receive the Oscar he deserves.

[–] Prismark10 12 years ago

Malkovich gave the better performance but Lee Jones had the Oscar momentum that year.

Its that man again!!

[–] everydayboredom1980 12 years ago

Jones got it because the Academy thought it was "his time" and for his overall body of work, I guess. He was good but in no way Oscar-worthy. Malkovich had a better performance.

It happens a lot, it's kind of annoying.

Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List)
Sean Penn (Carlito's Way)
Denzel Washington (Philadelphia)

All gave better performances than Jones. I haven't seen What's Eating Gilbert Grape, but people have said that Leo DiCaprio also gave a better performance.

[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 12 years ago

"It happens a lot, it's kind of annoying.

Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List)
Sean Penn (Carlito's Way)
Denzel Washington (Philadelphia)"
Not to mention Denzel Washington losing for Cry Freedom to Sean Connery in the Untouchables. Or a few years before 1993 when Jack Palence won an oscar for City Slickers over Ben Kingsley in Bugsy and Tommy Lee Jones in JFK.

"You want me to roll 6,000 of these!? What? Should I quit my job!?" George Seinfeld

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 11 years ago

No offence but to me there's no difference to me between Tommy Lee Jones' role in the fugitive and his roles in Men in Black and Volcano. John Malkovich and Ralph Fiennes were more deserving. Tommy Lee Jones should've won for JFK and it's ridiculous he lost to Jack Palance in City Slickers.

"You want me to roll 6,000 of these!? What? Should I quit my job!?" George, Seinfeld

[–] jaccowacco7 11 years ago

I think Tommy Lee Jones was arguably the least deserving person nominated for that particular year. Malkovich definately should of won. He was outstanding. One of Cinema's truly great modern villains. But for me Dicaprio for what's eating gilbert grape,ralph Fiennes for Schindler's list and Pete Posthlethwaite for in the name of the father were also more worthy of winning.

"It's the Law"
"Then the Laws Crazy!"

[–] niallh20 9 years ago

all i would say is that all the performers in the category were better than Jones. But it is hard to choose Dicaprio,Fiennes or Malkovich the most. They were all outstanding in their performances. Fiennes and Malkovich were cold and ruthless and creepy then Dicaprio just transformed and was heartfelt and endearing and entertaining to watch.