Favorite Supporting Actress's of the decade

Thoughts on double nominees (Supporting Actress nominees from the same film) Part 2

1994: Jenniffer Tilly in Bullets Over Broadway and Diane Wiest in Bullets Over Broadway. I thought Wiest was good, but I agree with Fritz when he said that she is playing a stock role. Or I mean that at times she came across as an imitation of a diva, like Norma Desmond. But she surpasses this in the end and adds a lot to the film. However, I loved Jennifer Tilly's performance! She was hysterical and is hands down the best thing in Bullets Over Broadway! So, Tilly is my choice so far.
2000: Kate Hudson in Almost Famous and Frances Mcdormand in Almost Famous: Mcdormand was very funny, and touching as well. I loved every moment she was onscreen! Hudson was radiant, very fun to watch, and also adds depth to Penny. I'm going to say Mcdormand.

2001: Helen Mirren in Gosford Park and Maggie Smith in Gosford Park: I just rewatched Gosford Park today and Mirren really impressed me. Very subtle, and layered performance, which is executed perfectly. Smith was very funny, but a bit underwhelming. I didn't mind her character is basically just a snob and that's it, but I wish there was more. Still, I liked her. I think that Mirren is better, but my vote goes to Marisa Tomei in In The Bedroom, followed by Kate Winslet in Iris.
2002: Queen Latifah in Chicago and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago: You should all know about my love for Zeta-Jones and how I think she's one of the best winners. I thought she really nailed it! But I also liked Latifah too. Her role is underwritten, but I felt she made it complete and was a lot of fun. Perhaps if they hadn't edited "Class" out of the final film then she would have gotten more praise.

2006: Adrianna Barraza in Babel and Rinko Kikuchi in Babel: I just did my 2006 ranking, but I'll just go over them again. Kikuchi was superb and Barazza was moving and very earthy.

2008: Amy Adams in Doubt and Viola Davis in Doubt: Sure, Adams played a similar role to her role in Junebug, but I thought she approached her role in Doubt differently and delivered a fantastic performance which was the best in Doubt. Davis was great as well. As I've said before, it's not a cameo but a major part in the film. Both the role and performance enrichen and add depth to the film. And Davis is gutwrenching. So, I felt Adams was superior, but I would have gone with Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler.

2009: Vera Farmiga in Up In The Air and Anna Kendrick in Up In The Air: Now, this is confusing for me. The first time I saw Up In The Air, I thought Farmiga was better and I thought Kendrick was good. But the second time, I was a bit underwhelmed by Farmiga and I really liked Kendrick. Now, looking back on it, Farmiga was great and Kendrick was too. I should see it again, but now Kendrick is ahead of Farmiga. But Monique, of course, is my choice.


What do you think?

Thoughts on double nominees (Supporting Actress nominees from the same film) Part 1

I thought I'd make a post like this, because I love double nominees, not only because it means you have to see three films instead of five to see all the nominees (It's an agonizing, if rewarding process seeing all these films), but because both nominees are usually great and it's fun to talk about them, so here it is:

1939: Olivia Dehavilland in Gone With The Wind and Hattie Mcdaniel in Gone With The Wind: Two excellent performances! Dehavilland nails the part of Melanie, making her as sweet as ever, but finding the hard edges in her character. McDaniel brought depth and was wonderful and had great chemistry with the entire cast! My vote goes to Olivia, but Hattie was deserving though!

1941: Patricia Collinge in The Little Foxes and Teresa Wright in The Little Foxes: This is a rare case in which both nominees disappointed me. Wright, to me, was just playing a stock role. I never saw any depth or dimension in it. Collinge was better, but her delivery and her role felt too abrupt.

1945: Eve Arden in Mildred Pierce and Anne Blyth in Mildred Pierce: Arden may have had an underwritten role, but her delivery was brilliant and she added a lot to the movie. Blyth seemed a little too young for the part at first, but she really nailed the character. I'd say Blyth gets my vote in the end.

1950: Celeste Holm in All About Eve and Thelma Ritter in All About Eve: Holm is great! She's somewhat the conscious of All About Eve and is quite good. But I'm going to say that Thelma Ritter was better because she, like Arden, had great delivery, but she also managed to make Birdie three dimensional. But my vote goes to Hope Emerson for Caged though.

1971: Ellen Burstyn in The Last Picture Show and Cloris Leachman in The Last Picture Show: Burstyn is terrific and wonderful to watch! Leachman is very subtle and her last scene! Wow, what a scene! So, I'll say that Leachman is my pick.

1975: Ronee Blakely in Nashville and Lily Tomlin in Nashville: Tomlin underwhelmed me the first time I saw Nashville, but Iwas very impressed by her when I watched her performance on Youtube: Subtle and very strong performance. But Ronee Blakely is my pick, because was so brilliant! You have to see it to believe it. It's so hard to describe her performance. One of the best nominees in this category.

1982: Teri Garr in Tootsie and Jessica Lange in Tootsie: I was disappointed by Lange. I thought she didn't hit her character as well as she could have. Garr, on the other hand, I loved! So funny and I was rooting for her all the way! My choice so far.

1985: Margaret Avery in The Color Purple and Oprah Winfrey in The Color Purple; I thought Avery was quite good, but I can't really remember much though. Winfrey stole every scene she was in and was fun to watch. I guess Avery is still my pick.


1988: Joan Cusack in Working Girl and Signourney Weaver in Working Girl: Weaver added a lot of life to the film, but looking back, it felt kind of like a caricature. Cusack had a nothing role, but was still very fun. I can't say who gets my vote. Could you try to upload Weaver and Cusack's performances on Youtube Sage?

So, that's all for now. Part 2 will be up soon. What do you think of the nominees I've discussed? Your thoughts on them? Any double nominees you want me to see? What do you think of double nominees in general?

Best Supporting Actress 2006

1. . Rinko Kikuchi as Chieko in Babel: It's always impressive when an actress gives a good performance without saying a word, but Kikuchi takes it to a whole other level. She is heartbreaking and haunting as a girl shattered by the death of her mother and unable to communicate either verbally or emotionally with anyone. Great performance in an excellent film.
2. Cate Blanchett as Sheba Hart in Notes On A Scandal: Of course, Judi Dench delivers one of the best performances of the last decade, but Cate Blanchett is able to more then hold her own as Sheba. She conveys Sheba's fears, passions, and guilt brilliantly and it's my favorite performance by Blanchett so far.
3. Adriana Barraza as Amelia in Babel: Bararzza is very effective and heartbreaking as Amelia. Her last scenes are the highlight of her performance of course, but she is very earthy and really impressive. She, like Kikuchi, adds a lot to Babel.
4. Abigal Breslin as Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine: What a wonderful performance! Many people have said it, but she is the heart of Little Miss Sunshine! Very funny, but also surprisingly sad at times. And that dance number! Hilarious!
5. Jenniffer Hudson as Effie White in Dreamgirls: I guess I should rewatch Dreamgirls, but on the first time I was impressed by Hudson, but when I watched some of it on TV, I was unimpressed. I understand that Effie is a stage diva, but it seems like Hudson only plays her like a bitch. And it's seems pretty one note. Her "And I'm telling you I'm not going" is great (Even though I think Jeniffer Holliday's version is better), but it doesn't save her.

What do you think of the nominees? Who is your choice? How would you rank them?

Best Supporting Actress 2003

1. Holly Hunter as Melanie 'mel' Freeland in Thirteen: Holly Hunter is a great actress and she is outstanding as a woman who is trying to cope with her daughter's (who is played by Evan Rachel Wood who should have gotten a Best Actress nomination) descent into adolescence. Very real performance that, as Nick of Nick's Flick picks said in his review of the film, keeps the film grounded.
2. Shohreh Aghdashloo as Nadi Behrani in House Of Sand And Fog: Aghdashloo is heartbreaking and, like Hunter, anchors her film. Both she and Kingsly work great together and it's a very beautiful, and powerful performance.
3. Patricia Clarkson as Joy Burns in Pieces Of April: Fabulous work. Clarkson is funny, warm, and sad as a woman who is dying of cancer and is the best thing about Pieces Of April.
4. Marcia Gay-Harden as Celeste Boyle in Mystic River: Even better then her work in Pollock, in my opinion. The subtle intensity of her performance is haunting and she's able to really knock this role out of the park, which in the hands of other actress's, could have been bland or over the top.
5. Renee Zellweger as Ruby Thewes in Cold Mountain: Oh, Renee. You were so much better in Bridget Jones's Diary and Chicago. Zellweger's horribly over mannered performance is just too much and although she gives some life to the film, it just comes across as bad.
What do you think?

Best Supporting Actress 2007

1. Amy Ryan as Helene McCready in Gone Baby Gone; Ryan delivers a fantastic, completely realistic performance that adds a lot to this film. She is unlikeable, but Ryan is able to make us feel sympathy for her and understand her situation. Excellent work!

2. Saoirse Ronan as Briony Tallis in Atonement: The second half of Atonement is a mess, but the first half works and much of that is due to Ronan's performance. It's complex and layered work which is a remarkable feat especially for someone so young.

3. Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder in Michael Clayton: Swinton is fascinating as Karen, and just brilliant. She humanizes the character extremely well and she and George Clooney work great together!

4. Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan in I'm Not There: I watched her performance on Youtube and since her performance is one whole section of the film, I think it counts. Anyway, Blanchett is very good as Dylan and its very well done. I just don't find it as good as some people think and I liked her better in The Aviator and especially in Notes On A Scandal.

5. Ruby Dee as Mama Lucas in American Gangster: I also watched this performance on Youtube since it's so short and I was unimpressed. I mean, all she has is that slap scene and what else? Also, I could anyone play that part since its so undemanding.

What do you think?

Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married (Performance review)

2008 was a pretty strong year for Best Actress in my opinion, and originally my vote went to Winslet. But after seeing Rachel Getting Married for the fourth time about three weeks ago (?) Anne Hathaway is now my choice for Best Actress. She plays Kym, a recovering drug addict who goes home to see her family for her sister's wedding. Kym is a selfish person who immediately causes trouble because she is used to being the center of attention due to her addiction. During the first half of the film, Hathaway is flawless. Certainly the realism of the movie helps, but I felt that she completely embraced herself in the role. We see glimpses of the girl Kym used to be before (spoiler alert!) the accident and we see that she is trying to connect with her family again. In the scene when Kym reveals what the accident was, Hathaway is devastatingly real and honest. She and Rosemarie Dewitt work brilliantly together, especially the big argument scene in the middle of the film. And the looks on her face during the wedding reception! Just heartbreaking and breathtaking! Hathaway succeeds in showing Kym's bad selfish side and showing how she wants to change herself and her life. Overall, a brilliant performance in my opinion and definitely should have won. So, what do you think?