Richard Dreyfuss
It was the year Woody Allen gave the cinematic gem, Annie Hall, which still lingers around. Meanwhile, in 1977, Neil Simon produced a sweet, contradictory romantic comedy called The Goodbye Girl that seems painfully predictable and boring. Richard Dreyfuss’ performance as the neurotic want tobe-actor Elliot is painfully overacting and is not entirely understood even with some bright moments. The expression on Richard Burton’s face when he learned he lost his final Oscar attempt was painful.
Richard Dreyfuss
Paul Scofield
A Man for All Seasons was a favorite in 1966, collecting six Oscars. Scofield’s win isn’t troubling because of his performance, although he was incredibly restrained and subliminal even with stunningly bland film speeches, but because he beat one of Richard Burton’s most exceptional performances. Burton’s role in Virginia Woolf’s Who’s Afraid movie? That was even more memorable and influential in film history.
Paul Scofield
