comment #1

The Movie Man says ...

Nighy is wonderful in Pirates, as he generally tends to be just about anything he chooses to do. Love his sad sack in "The Girl in the Cafe." Too bad Verbinski or the screenwriters couldn't be bothered to tell a story that makes even the remotest bit of sense.

comment #2

Larry says ...

I hardly think his performance was "under-valued" in Pirates. He was bad like everything else in that movie.

If you want to see him do great work in a weak film, I'd suggest The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, or better yet, Love Actually.

comment #3

Josh Massey says ...

If Depp couldn't win for the first "Pirates" (which he should have), Nighy never had a chance.

comment #4

Wrecktum says ...

5 million Pirates DVDs sold the first day. How come the American public hasn't gotten the memo yet that the movie sucks? Maybe because it doesn't?

comment #5

storymark says ...

Interesting that such a "despised" film keeps breaking records...

comment #6

dre says ...

I was actually talking about this to some people the last few days. I never caught Dead Man's Chest in the theatres and was really impressed by his performance on DVD. His movements, sometimes subtle, his expressions and delivery are all aces. I don't know about best supporting actor, but he would definitely be a fun choice if this year is as weak as it seems.

comment #7

Breedlove says ...

jeff, what did you think of the play? i saw it the night before you did and was a tad underwhelmed, considering the talent involved. nighy was certainly the high point though.

comment #8

The Movie Man says ...

There's just so much old fashioned old school adevnture movie chew the scenery joy in Nighy's performance, just like Depp's in the first film. I neither hate nor love the film, but the movie irritated me in a way that alot of the tentpoles do nowadays, too much, too much, too much. Why have one McGuffin when you can have three and spend at least a third of the running time explaining the convoluted relationship between them? Why can't they all be going after the chest and leave at that? If Raiders of the Lost Ark were remade today, Indy would be going after the Ark, Marion would be lose the Staff of Ra and spend half the film going after it, and Sallah would be tracing a long lost heirloom that somehow links them. Guys, try economy, it might work sometime.

comment #9

Joel says ...

An Oscar? No way.

comment #10

Ju-osh says ...

You said it perfectly, Larry.

comment #11

Ju-osh says ...

Woops!
Sorry, I meant to second Josh Massey's emotions.

comment #12

Mike K says ...

If Andy Serkis couldn't nab a nom with his all-digital Gollum performance, with all the Oscar momentum "Return of the King" generated, then Nighy has no chance.

Seeing "Dead Man's Chest" with diminished expectations was a pleasant surprise. Far more pleasant than, say, everyone telling me "Casino Royale" was so great when it hit every single item on the Action Movie Cliche Checklist, in strict order.

comment #13

jeffmcm says ...

And yet, Casino Royale is a better movie than Pirates 2. So expectations matter.

comment #14

quizkid82 says ...

Oh yes, this film which was "otherwise despised" to the tune of more than $400 million.

comment #15

goldliondragon says ...

I agree...Bill Nighy should be recognized for Pirates. The best performance in a bloated film. And let us not forget another great British thespian, Ian McKellan for The Da Vinci Code. Let's take Brad Pitt and Michael Sheen out of the supporting actor race, and give their spots to these two deserving and unsung performances. And the nominees are: Jack Nicholson, Eddie Murphy, Bill Nighy, Ian McKellan, and Djimon Hounsou. Wild card: Alan Arkin.

comment #16

sandekat says ...

Listen to the writer's commentary, Jeff, if you have any real interest in appreciating the process. You may still dislike the film, but you'd at least be able to give up the hate. What the writers are trying here is rarely done and is hard to pull off. If they were only interested in milking this cow, this is the would not have been the easy way to do it.

There are so many wonderful ideas, moments, performances in this film. Nighy's Davy Jones is indeed superb. Its just a real pleasure.

comment #17

T. S. Idiot says ...

Oscar voters always seem to take past snubs into consideration. Many thought Nighy should have been nominated for Love, Actually (the worst movie of the century). Most of those who praise his fine work there seem unaware that he plays essentially the same character in the much-better Still Crazy.