Fantasy Acting League 2016 – Round One

And we’re back. 2016 begins here. The rest of January has been just us treading water until now. WordPress, the internet, life… has simply been wasting time until this Fantasy Acting League started off. We have been split into three categories this year. First, we have the newcomers: the bright and breezy bloggers entering our little fold out of a love of movies and healthy competition. The What About Movie girls, Views from the Sofa – welcome to the game and I hope you find the entertainment you are looking for. However, be careful of the second category of players: the oldies. Those of us that played last year and were humilating by a crushing defeat. This is no longer a game to us. This is a matter of pride. Cinema Parrot Disco has slept properly since last year’s final. Mark Walker talks to himself in foreign tongues. Abbi has turned to a crushed Darth Vader helmet for guidance. Then we have the third category: Mr. Movie. Just Mr. Movie. The winner of 2015, who has suddenly realised that he has become the target of every thought of hatred in the gang. This isn’t just about winning for Mr. Movie. It’s about survival.

This Round’s Movies

Spotlight
The 33
Bone Tomahawk
Concussion
Freeheld
The Finest Hours
Trumbo
Dirty Grandpa
Triple 9
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
Goosebumps
Youth
A Bigger Splash
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
The 5th Wave
Point Break

The Teams

What About Movies – Prudence – 0
Benedict Cumberbatch – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
Emory Cohen – 0
Cara Delevigne – 0
Alicia Vikander – 0
Rooney Mara – 0

Verbal Spew
Michael Fassbender – 0
Idris Elba – 0
Samuel L. Jackson – 0
Margot Robbie – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 0
Anna Kendrick – 0

Views From The Sofa – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
Ryan Gosling – 0
Idris Elba – 0
Margot Robbie – 0
Felicity Jones – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0

Slip/Through Movies – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
Tom Hanks – 0
Idris Elba – 0
Felicity Jones – 0
Maika Monroe – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 0

Rhyme And Reason – 0
Idris Elba – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
J. K Simmons – 0
Maika Monroe – 0
Felicity Jones – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 0

Ramblings of a Cinephile – 0
Idris Elba – 0
Ryan Reynolds – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
Emily Blunt – 0
Margot Robbie – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0

Oracle of Film – 0
Tom Hanks – 0
Seth Rogen – 0
Idris Elba – 0
Alicia Vikander – 0
Maika Monroe – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0

Debra Vega – 0
Tom Hanks – 0
Idris Elba – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
Marion Cotillard – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0
Felicity Jones – 0

Back To The Future – 0
Woody Harrelson – 0
Chris Pratt – 0
J.K Simmons – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 0
Margot Robbie – 0
Kristin Wiig – 0

What About the Twinkie – 3
Ryan Reynolds – 0
Chris Pine – 3
Tom Hiddlestone – 0
Margot Robbie – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 0

Vinnieh – 3
Chris Pratt – 0
Henry Cavill – 0
Channing Tatum – 0
Julia Roberts – 0
Diane Lane – 3
Jennifer Lawrence – 0

Where The Wild Things Are – 4
Idris Elba – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
Chris Pratt – 0
Tilda Swinton – 4
Scarlett Johannssen – 0
Alicia Vikander – 0

What About Movies – Lily – 5
Michael Shannon – 5
Michael Fassbender – 0
J. K Simmons – 0
Alicia Vikander – 0
Kristin Wiig – 0
Rooney Mara – 0

Sporadic Chronicles of a Beginner Blogger – 5
Michael Fassbender – 0
Michael Shannon – 5
Tom Hanks – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0
Anna Kendrick – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 0

Marked Movies – 5
Michael Shannon – 5
Tom Hanks – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
Naomi Watts – 0
Rooney Mara – 0
Alicia Vikander – 0

Fairytale Pictures – 7
Michael Fassbender – 0
Michael Shannon – 5
Dane DeHaan – 0
Teresa Palmer – 2
Alison Brie – 0
Felicity Jones – 0

Cinema Parrot Disco – 7
Michael Shannon – 5
J.K Simmons – 0
Woody Harrelson – 0
Rooney Mara – 0
Teresa Palmer – 2
Kristin Wiig – 0

Drew – 8
Michael Shannon – 5
Jason Sudekis – 0
J.K Simmons – 0
Natalie Portman – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 0
Chloe Grace Moretz – 3

Movie Rob – 10
Ben Affleck – 0
Casey Affleck – 7
Chris Pine – 3
Scarlett Johannssen – 0
Anna Kendrick – 0
Kristen Stewart – 0

Mr Movie – 11
Bryan Cranston – 6
Will Smith – 5
Michael Fassbender – 0
Kristin Wiig – 0
Margot Robbie – 0
Jessica Chastain – 0

How The Actors Scored

Chris Pine – 3 (The Finest Hours – Lead Actor: 3; Two Stars: 0)
Michael Shannon – 5 (Freeheld – Supporting Actor – 2; Three Stars – 1; Empire compliments performance – 2)
Diane Lane – 3 (Trumbo – Supporting Actor – 2; Three Stars – 1)
Tilda Swinton – 4 (A Bigger Splash – Lead Role – 3; Three Stars – 1)
Teresa Palmer – 2 (Point Break – Supporting Role – 2, Two Stars – 0)
Chloe Grace Moretz – 3 (The 5th Wave – Lead Role: 3; Two Stars: 0)
Casey Affleck – 7 (The Finest Hours – Lead Role: 3; Two Stars: 0/ Triple 9 – Lead Role: 3; Three Stars: 1)
Bryan Cranston – 6 (Lead Role: 3; Three Stars: 1; Empire compliments performance – 2)
Will Smith – 5 (Lead Role: 3; Two Stars – 0; Empire compliments performance – 2)

Round Analysis

BAM! And the race is on. Right off the bat, Michael Shannon has caused grief for half of the team. With everyone picking him as their MVP, almost everyone has crashed into a mid-table draw, all getting 5 points between them, with a few players breaking away from the stand-off, but failing to gain much distance on their competitiors. It promises an interesting, neck-and-neck year with Michael Shannon being the actor that keeps the race for the title tight until the very end.

There are two shock speedsters I have to comment on. Mr. Movie, the reigning champion, is using the fuel from his 2015 victory to put himself into the lead, before anyone can so much as bat an eyelid. With two great lead performances from Will Smith and Bryan Cranston, Mr. Movie has topped the first round. He might suffer from a case of ‘premature excitement’. Is Cranston going to impress again this year? Can Smith make himself heard in jam-packed ensemble piece, Suicide Squad? However, for right now, he is reaping the prize for thinking outside of the box and not picking Michael Shannon. However, while a victory from the champion might have been predicted, Movie Rob picking up 2nd place, one point from the top. Despite being the tortoise of 2015, Movie Rob is determined to be the hare.

But it is early days. The first round is always a bit of a dull affair. Empire seemed to be very criticial this time around, not really giving many films the justice they probably deserved. I am surprised Casey Affleck wasn’t complimented on at all, meaning his two film run in a single round came across as very underachieving. It seems a little unfair on him, as well as Tilda Swinton and Diane Lane. A few missing points came as a bit of a surprise to me. However, there is still plenty of time left. If you, like me, are still on zero, the race is far from over. We will let Mr. Movie potter about in the lead for the moment, but we will be back! With a vengeance. That’s a promise!!!