Fantasy Acting League 2016 – Round Two

So the first round got off to an expectedly sleepy start. It’s not unusual. When we pick our teams, I think half of us are a little bit unsure which films Empire is going to cover before the League starts or after. Last year, I know a few of you stumbled, because certain films were covered before we thought they would be. Therefore in 2016, we aimed our picks at the later part of the year. This does mean that from here on out, the league should get a lot more fun.

And it definitely has! Almost everyone scored this round with certain actors even grabbing two movies this time around. A few teams have soared right out into the lead, including one likely suspect that was always going to be the one to beat after coming so close last year. There were some shocks to be had. Trust Empire to be the one group of critics not to love Deadpool and once again, more praise has been aimed at the directors, rather than the actors, meaning some of our picks only got lip service points, rather than the score they deserve. But that is part and parcel with the game. I also should point out that I apparently missed a couple of points that should have been given last time around. Teresa Palmer and Woody Harrelson scored 3 points each for Triple 9. Maika Monroe got 2 points for 5th Wave. I will add them to your scores this round. Enough chat! Let’s see how the table stands.

This Round’s Movies

Hail Caesar
High-Rise
The Ones Below
Iona
The Witch
Norm of the North
Risen
How To Be Single
Rock the Kasbah
Deadpool
Dad’s Army
Time Out Of Mind
Kung Fu Panda 3
Disorder
Truth
Anomalisa
Zoolander 2

The Teams

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

What About Movies – Prudence – 2 (+0) = 2
Benedict Cumberbatch – 2
Michael Fassbender – 0
Emory Cohen – 0
Cara Delevigne – 0
Alicia Vikander – 0
Rooney Mara – 0

Views From The Sofa – 4 (+0) = 4
Michael Fassbender – 0
Ryan Gosling – 0
Idris Elba – 4
Margot Robbie – 0
Felicity Jones – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0

Debra Vega – 4 (+0) = 4
Tom Hanks – 0
Idris Elba – 4
Michael Fassbender – 0
Marion Cotillard – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0
Felicity Jones – 0

Vinnieh – 4 (+3) = 7
Chris Pratt – 0
Henry Cavill – 0
Channing Tatum – 4
Julia Roberts – 0
Diane Lane – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0

Verbal Spew – 8 (+0) = 8
Michael Fassbender – 0
Idris Elba – 4
Samuel L. Jackson – 0
Margot Robbie – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 4
Anna Kendrick – 0

Ramblings of a Cinephile – 8 (+0) = 8
Idris Elba – 4
Ryan Reynolds – 4
Michael Fassbender – 0
Emily Blunt – 0
Margot Robbie – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0

Sporadic Chronicles of a Beginner Blogger – 4 (+5) = 9
Michael Fassbender – 0
Michael Shannon – 0
Tom Hanks – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0
Anna Kendrick – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 4

Slip/Through Movies – 10 (+0) = 10
Michael Fassbender – 0
Tom Hanks – 0
Idris Elba – 4
Felicity Jones – 0
Maika Monroe – 2
Scarlett Johannssen – 4

Oracle of Film – 10 (+0) = 10
Tom Hanks – 0
Seth Rogen – 4
Idris Elba – 4
Alicia Vikander – 0
Maika Monroe – 2
Jennifer Lawrence – 0

Fairytale Pictures – 3 (+7) = 10
Michael Fassbender – 0
Michael Shannon – 0
Dane DeHaan – 0
Teresa Palmer – 3
Alison Brie – 0
Felicity Jones – 0

Movie Rob – 4 (+10) = 14
Ben Affleck – 0
Casey Affleck – 0
Chris Pine – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 4
Anna Kendrick – 0
Kristen Stewart – 0

Abbi Osbiston – 12 (+4) = 16
Idris Elba – 4
Michael Fassbender – 0
Chris Pratt – 0
Tilda Swinton – 4
Scarlett Johannssen – 4
Alicia Vikander – 0

What About the Twinkie – 15 (+3) = 18
Ryan Reynolds – 4
Chris Pine – 0
Tom Hiddlestone – 7
Margot Robbie – 0
Jennifer Lawrence – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 4

Rhyme And Reason – 18 (+0) = 18
Idris Elba – 4
Michael Fassbender – 0
J. K Simmons – 8
Maika Monroe – 2
Felicity Jones – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 4

Drew – 12 (+8) = 20
Michael Shannon – 0
Jason Sudekis – 0
J.K Simmons – 8
Natalie Portman – 0
Scarlett Johannssen – 4
Chloe Grace Moretz – 0

What About Movies – Lily – 19 (+5) = 24
Michael Shannon – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
J. K Simmons – 8
Alicia Vikander – 0
Kristin Wiig – 11
Rooney Mara – 0

Mr Movie – 15 (+11) = 26
Bryan Cranston – 4
Will Smith – 0
Michael Fassbender – 0
Kristin Wiig – 11
Margot Robbie – 0
Jessica Chastain – 0

Back To The Future – 26 (+0) = 26
Woody Harrelson – 3
Chris Pratt – 0
J.K Simmons – 8
Scarlett Johannssen – 4
Margot Robbie – 0
Kristin Wiig – 11

Cinema Parrot Disco– 25 (+7) = 32
Michael Shannon – 0
J.K Simmons – 8
Woody Harrelson – 3
Rooney Mara – 0
Teresa Palmer – 3
Kristin Wiig – 11

How The Actors Scored
Bryan Cranston – 4 (Kung Fu Panda 3 – Supporting Actor: 2; Four Stars – 2)
Seth Rogen – 4 (Kung Fu Panda 3 – Supporting Actor: 2; Four Stars – 2)
J.K Simmons – 8 (Kung Fu Panda 3 – Supporting Actor: 2; Four Stars – 2/ Zootropolis – Supporting Actor: 2; Four Stars – 2)
Idris Elba – 4 (Zootropolis – Supporting Actor: 2; Four Stars – 2)
Maika Monroe – 2 (The 5th Wave – Supporting Actor: 2; Two Stars – 0)
Teresa Palmer – 3 (Triple 9 – Supporting Actor: 2; Three Stars – 1)
Woody Harrelson – 3 (Triple 9 – Supporting Actor: 2; Three Stars – 1)
Scarlett Johannssen – 4 (Hail Caesar – Supporting Actor: 2; Four Stars – 2)
Tilda Swinton – 4 (Hail Caesar – Supporting Actor: 2; Four Stars – 2)
Channing Tatum – 4 (Hail Caesar – Supporting Actor: 2; Four Stars – 2)
Kristen Wiig – 11 (Welcome To Me – Lead Actor: 3; Three Stars – 1; Empire compliments performance – 2/ Zoolander 2 – Supporting Actor – 2; Three Stars – 1; Empire compliments performance – 2)
Benedict Cumberbatch – 2 (Zoolander 2 – Cameo: 1; Three Stars – 1)
Ryan Reynolds – 4 (Deadpool – Lead Role: 3; Three Stars: 1)
Tom Hiddlestone – 7 (High Rise – Lead Role: 3; Four Stars: 2; Empire compliments performance – 2)

Round Analysis

She’s only gone and done it again. Cinema Parrot Disco, who I am beginning to suspect could rival Daisy Ridley when it comes to hidden Force powers, has managed to nab the two top scorers for her team. J.K Simmons and Kristen Wiig both had two movies apiece this round and Wiig totally nailed both films, Empire having endless amounts of compliments for her, which is saying a lot, seeing as other teams were let down by the critics not sparing poor Ryan Reynolds a thought, despite being the very embodiment of Deadpool. Wiig’s success has catapulted some teams right into the top of the pack. Cinema Parrot Disco might have had an almost full team, when it came to point-scorers, but there are other players who aren’t prepared to let her have the lead all to herself. Mr. Movie and Back to the Future are joint second and there are a handful of teams who are still looking like threats.

Again, it is early days here with the Fantasy League. A lot of teams merely had filler points today. Cumberbatch nabbed a neat, little cameo in Zoolander 2, giving Prudence two points she probably wasn’t expecting. Hail Caesar, Zootropolis and Kung Fu Panda 3 saw several actors playing lip service, which we can also view as bonus points. While a few players under-delivered, most of us have our eyes set further down the year. The Jungle Book is bound to be a points extraganza and Michael Shannon is only just warming up. Cinema Parrot Disco might be showing off her Jedi mind tricks this month, but we will catch her! It’s that or another long year of her taunts. I don’t think any of us are prepared to stomach that!