For best actor? Toni Servillo, of course. Let’s see if Italians agree with me.
Giuseppe Battiston may be Italy’s most prolific actors, many times in a more supporting role, but sometimes it seems like he’s in everything. He has 56 acting credits since 1990 and he played Constantino the plumber/private detective in my official favorite, Pane e Tulipani. He’s nominated for best supporting actor for Zoran il Mio Nipote Scemo, a film that has already won some awards, including the Critics Week prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Although the movie is very enjoyable and seems little more than a buddy movie with a great cast, I won’t be too disappointed if Battiston wins. He’s great.
Lately I’ve been more impressed Fabrizio Bentivoglio, nominated for Paolo Virzì’s ‘Il Capitale Umano’, ever since he starred in the little known Scialla! In past movies like Gabriele Muccino’s ‘Riccordati Di Me’ he seemed like a classic old school over-actor, but he’s definitely improved with age.
Carlo Cecchi’s part in Miele seems more like a supporting role, that of an older man who wants to die. Cecchi is known for some English language films like The Red Violin.
I wish I knew more about Edoardo Leo, nominated for Smetto Quando Voglio. Leo’s young and handsome and he’s popping up in quite a few movies lately. I’ll get a chance to see this film at Open Roads: New Italian Cinema in June.
Toni Servillo seems the obvious winner to me, for La Grande Bellezza, and if I were in charge I’d just hand him the prize right now and save everyone else the price of the tuxedo rental. His role as Jep is career defining and a masterpiece, but we’ll soon see if Italy feels the same way.
I Love Italian Everything 