Best Actor 2021: Benedict Cumberbatch in The Power of the Dog

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Benedict Cumberbatch received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Phil Burbank in The Power of the Dog. 

The Power of the Dog tells of the conflict that develops when a rancher's brother brings home his new wife in early 20th century Montana. Watching the film for a third time, I remain fairly consistent in that I think it is a good film that gets occasionally a little stagnant essentially whenever the characters of Phil and Peter aren't onscreen. 

I have to say it is with great pleasure when I must admit that I am wrong about a performer. If a performer proves themselves at some point, Dev Patel and Robert Pattinson come to mind, I love to see that. Benedict Cumberbatch proved me wrong in less than a year's worth of time with this performance. After seeing his turn in the The Mauritanian I decried that Cumberbatch was simply incapable of playing an American, then came this film where he not only plays an American, he plays a western cowboy. Both aspects if they were only on paper I would've scoffed and thought "there is no chance that Cumberbatch can pull this off". Well I was wrong as Cumberbatch does what I thought was the impossible here, which is he is convincingly American in this film. Cumberbatch fashions a convincing accent of a man from Montana. For once while watching the film I actually forgot about Cumberbatch's rich English accent as he took on this harsher timbre here in crafting Phil's voice. A voice that becomes such an essential and natural part of this performance, and Cumberbatch delivers the strongest accent of any of his performances up until this point. Not only does he find a far greater consistency, it is also wholly effective in making you believe that this is a man of Montana from this period, and you just accept it. Cumberbatch forcefully cuts down my own criticism I long had for him, and proved the seemingly impossible possible, and that's established just from the first few minutes of his performance alone.  

It must be said at least one repeat viewing feels essential for this film to understand the film properly, but also to fully appreciate Cumberbatch's performance. This is notable though because Cumberbatch delivers a great performance upon initial viewing, but he almost seems to give another yet different great performance on watching the film again. I feel due to this it is best to look at this performance and as it plays both on my initial viewing on subsequent re watches. Cumberbatch on the initial viewing of course delivers on his accent, but he also delivers on his whole presence as this rough cowboy. Cumberbatch really is best known for his upper-crust English chaps, yet Cumberbatch cuts that image of him down with ease. It isn't the dirt, it is the way that Cumberbatch makes the dirt convincing on him. Cumberbatch's walk is deliberate as a man used to uneven ground and moving through the muck. Cumberbatch's eyes bear an innate intensity of a man who is as used to rocky ground as he is a soft bed. Cumberbatch's physical performance is perfection, as the years of this life exude from every inch of his Phil. The mastery in Cumberbatch's performance doesn't merely end with the way he carries himself, as impressive as that is on his own. 

 

There is so much more that he brings that speaks to his character as Cumberbatch fashions so much in just the way that Phil interacts in his space and with the other people around him. The most surface version of Phil we find is when he is with the rest of the cowboys from his ranch. Cumberbatch simply owns every scene where he basically portrays Phil as holding this kind of king's court among the men. Cumberbatch speaks with an unquestioned authority and just this simple sort of sense of power among the men. There is more to it than that though as he brings this kind of showman's quality to it as well. Every word he speaks has it with it this kind of grand statement as though Phil is speaking these blatant words of wisdom from the lord among men. Cumberbatch is magnetic as he so effortlessly articulates this sense of power that shows him both as the leader among these men but it seems to go even further as this man who just absolutely controls every second of his situation. Cumberbatch shows a man so innately in his element that there is just this force of will about him that is absolutely remarkable. What is most remarkable is that Cumberbatch does it in an entirely new way. Cumberbatch has controlled the screen before as the cold master like in Sherlock, but here he does so with this earthiness that is just as transfixing, but in an entirely new way. 

Cumberbatch in the early scene of the restaurant is brilliant work from the performer every moment he is onscreen. Whether he is standing up or leaning within his chair Cumberbatch demands attention, even kind of enforces it. Every ounce of him exudes the forcefulness of a man's man who is going to make sure you know he's that much of a man's man. Cumberbatch's delivery of the bawdy jokes is fascinating in itself as he delivers them in that aggressive way but with this sort of eyeing insurance that he's making sure he is hitting his marks almost. He's totally convincing but Cumberbatch also is performing as Phil is performing to his crowd of men that he's controlling in his way. Cumberbatch in this same scene shows both Phil's way through specific charisma with these particular men and especially the toxic ways this reveals itself. When commenting on some paper flowers in the restaurant Cumberbatch fashions this kind of almost pleasantry about it initially, playing up the cowboy who should be so happy to get a flower from a pretty lady. When he learns that it was in fact made by Peter Gordon (Kodi Smit-McPhee), their waiter and son of the restaurant owner Rose (Kirsten Dunst), that quickly changes to violent derision. This with the amount of venom Cumberbatch brings in mocking his way of saying "drips" with a lisp with this careful side eye that accentuates the way Phil is playing up to his "manly men" how unimpressed he is by this less traditionally masculine waiter. 

Upon initial viewing it seemed to me that a dominant aspect of Phil was his seeking dominance. And we get that early on with the men and his brother George (Jesse Plemons), with his casual put downs but even more so the ferocity that is shown when something is out of his control. When a player piano interrupts Phil's meal, it also disrupts his control of the situation. Cumberbatch immediate switch to such a powerful intensity is striking and truly menacing as he demands the piano stop playing. Cumberbatch in the moment shows that there is much to back up his swagger and the viciousness of the man is something he can call upon with such powerful ease. This becomes a central conflict when George decides to marry Rose despite Phil's protest to the idea. While Phil cannot dissuade George, we see what this results in as Phil loses control again. Bluntly as he attacks one of their horses noting it to be a female horse, where again Cumberbatch's portrayal captures the extent of the hate that fills Phil. It is incredible work from Cumberbatch as he is absolutely searing on screen in his portrayal of this. When Rose tries to reach out to him in any way, Cumberbatch's delivery couldn't be blunter or more impactful in showing just how little Phil thinks of Rose and sees her as an unwanted presence on the family ranch. Phil doing everything he can to mock and belittle her, and credit to Cumberbatch for simply through his sinister expression can he make banjo playing menacing, when Phil plays an articulate and extravagant tune against Rose's middling at attempt to play the piano. 

The eventual central relationship of the story realizes itself as Peter comes to the farm, and despite Phil initially terrorizing him as well, Phil eventually takes him under his wing to teach him how to ride a horse and work on the ranch. In my initial viewing I thought this relationship closer to something like Claggart and Billy Budd from Billy Budd. Where it speaks towards Phil's hidden homosexuality, but the relationship is built upon the idea of a dominant and submissive relationship. And I think one can be convinced of it in this sense as Cumberbatch certainly portrays this certain joy as he teaches Peter the ropes, and takes great satisfaction over essentially stealing Rose's son away from her. This to the point he's willing to unleash his own wrath against Rose when she sells away the ranch's hides, and Cumberbatch again shows the sheer extent of his hatred when any part of his authority is being questioned. Cumberbatch even still seemingly presenting the state as the proper man's man to Peter as they share a particularly intimate moment when Phil explains having been saved by his old mentor the deceased Bronco Henry and probable lover of Phil. There one could perhaps take it as Phil regaling the tale with whom he had been the submissive one to with George and speaking so with this kind of pride in the relationship as Phil believes he now has such a relationship with Peter. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for everyone who's not Phil, Phil is poisoned by anthrax and quickly dies. That is the end of my first viewing, and I thought a stunning portrayal of a hectoring villain. 

I was wrong though and as much as that already would've been a great performance there is so much more to be found in this performance that as there alone. Take his relationship with George where I took it initially as just him belittling his brother. Cumberbatch, even when brutally questioning his decision to want to marry Rose by basically belittling the concept of treating women as anything but a sex object, or plainly calling George names that lack seeming endearment like "Fatso" and "Old man", Cumberbatch actually does quietly suggest that Phil does love his brother in a strange way. Even in the cruel nick names it is with a smile and this odd warmth in Phil's eyes. What's brilliant is Cumberbatch makes it both about power but also genuine human desperation that one can see in the more subtle moments of this performance. In the scenes of Phil alone at night, while George is spending time with Rose, I thought I only saw anger, but no. There is a sense of jealousy, but also this palatable sense of loneliness that Cumberbatch conveys. A desperation that Cumberbatch evokes of a man who seems to believe that he cannot ever have that kind of companionship so he's both angry that his brother has found it, but also saddened by the fact that his brother has left him alone in this way. It's striking by how startling human Cumberbatch is in this moment and reveals so much nuance in Phil. 

Even the scenes of Phil seemingly at his most braggadocios and real the purposeful performance has shadings to them that Cumberbatch so naturally, and brilliantly brings to the character. When Cumberbatch is with all of the other men he rarely glances a look at any of the men. They are essentially this group to be entertained in order for them to fawn over Phil, however there is no a moment in which Cumberbatch conveys genuine connection. They are always merely a crowd for his ego no more and perhaps a lot less. Even the scene of the paper flower misconception Cumberbatch delivers this glint of contemplation towards the beauty of the flower even after having denounced it with such intensity by insulting Peter. There is an appreciation that Cumberbatch suggests albeit so quietly speaking towards the truth of the man while still showing to everyone else the man who would be theoretically disgusted to have praised the pretty flower made by a man. The lack of connection, even with that odd warmth he does show, extends towards George partially from Rose but more so the class separation when George asks that Phil cleanup for a fancy dinner. Honestly a scene I didn't pay that much attention to on initial viewing, in fact thought it was due to Rose's attendance that Phil hated the idea, however it goes deeper than that. Cumberbatch speaks each response dismissively and aggressively as the man who likes "his stink". In that though it isn't just hate it is vulnerability that Cumberbatch conveys as the man who cannot be himself more ways than one. In turn only recapturing his pride in a way by forcefully unleashing his power as he steps in on the dinner. Even with the way Cumberbatch delivers Phil's purposeful mispronunciation of piano, is a man to purposefully play the role of the uncultured, however to do so as an attack in order to defend. 

The aspect of the film that most expanded for me in terms of Cumberbatch's performance was the relationship between Phil and Peter. Although the power dynamic still is there, and likely is motivation for part of Phil's decision to take Peter under his wing, it is not at all the truth of it. Cumberbatch's performance rather reveals that this connection with Peter does go deeper. There are moments even as Peter is initially failing to ride where there are this brief seconds of pride that come across Cumberbatch's face as Phil. Cumberbatch looks directly at Smit-McPhee in their scenes together, and shows the man who is ready and willing to connect in a way he has not been able to for some long. Cumberbatch successfully shows that Phil's intent might not even be wholly the desire for physical companionship rather for mental companionship as well. When Peter says he sees something in the distance as Phil claims to, Cumberbatch's reaction is one of revelation and hope, as though Phil sees the chance for something he thought might've been impossible. The scenes then are colored differently as Phil speaks with some real love, not just to hold dominance, but rather companionship as they work the grounds together. The scene where Peter tells Phil about his father's death is sheer dynamite. The moment where Peter says his father thought him too strong, Cumberbatch delivers the initial insult that Peter's father was "wrong" as he does for George as this reflective instinctual action, however subtly Cumberbatch's expression changes to suggest actual regret for the insult, and even more striking his eyes pierce of a man genuinely trying to listen to Peter in the moment. 

 

The scene of Phil's rage after Rose sold his hides takes on new meaning in particular, as both the motivation that Phil is genuinely upset that he will not be able to finish making a rope for Peter without the hides, but also the reaction to Peter offering him additional hides to finish the rope. Cumberbatch's speaks every word towards Peter, which are words of support and comfort, with absolute earnestness. In the moment he shows the companionship Phil feels is absolutely true and more than just a power play. Even his rage speaks both to his hatred for Rose and his desperation to finish this gift for Peter. The final scene between Peter and Phil then takes on new meaning. Phil telling his story of Bronco Henry and himself Cumberbatch colors with the man reaching out and speaking generously to the connection he once felt. When he shares the cigarette Cumberbatch subtly reveals the eagerness to fully realize this same type of connection with Peter as though Phil has finally found someone he can share life with again. As much as Phil is a horrible person, on re-watch I have to admit I found this moment kind of oddly heartbreaking as Cumberbatch revealed the real vulnerability in Phil, right down to the moment where Phil is dying from Anthrax and wants to give the finished rope (which Peter used to poison Phil) to Peter. Cumberbatch shows the man honestly wanting to give the gift to the man who ended up being his murderer not his companion. This is an extraordinary turn by Benedict Cumberbatch. As on the surface it is an effortlessly compelling and domineering portrayal of a man attempting to control all aspects of his life, but as you look closer Cumberbatch reveals an even more potent portrayal of a man wrestling with the loneliness of his idiosyncratic self. Cumberbatch realizes such complexity here and crafts an astonishing portrait of Phil Burbank where the more you peel away the more there is.

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