The winner this year - Renee Zellweger - is one of the most controversial wins this decade, people either love or hate her performance.
The nominees for this year in Best Supporting Actress were: Shohreh Aghdashloo in House of Sand and Fog as "Nadi" Patricia Clarkson in Pieces of April as "Joy Burns" Marcia Gay Harden in Mystic River as "Celeste Boyle" Holly Hunter in Thirteen as "Mel Freeland" Renee Zellweger in Cold Mountain as "Ruby Thewes"
My Ranking: 1. Clarkson - Occasionally the performance can become a bit cloying, but for the most part she's excellent as the acerbic mother dying of cancer. The film is close to my heart, being the only film ever to make me cry legitimately.
2. Zellweger - I know a lot of people hate the performance, but I thought she was the only spark of life, the only good performance (along with Portman) and the only interesting thing in this maudlin mess. Her emotional scenes at the end even managed to convince me, and I'm not usually a Renee Zellweger fan. It was ham acting but at least it livened up the dull proceedings of "Cold Mountain".
3. Aghdashloo - She's good and she gives her character a sad beauty, but there were points where I felt like she was going over-the-top in ways that didn't really fit with the film (her scream when she found Jennifer Connelly in the bathtub made me laugh).
-. Harden - haven't seen the film.
-. Hunter - haven't seen the film.
My Personal Ballot: 1. Anna Faris in May as "Polly" 2. Catherine O'Hara in A Mighty Wind as "Mickey Crabbe" 3. Patricia Clarkson in Pieces of April as "Joy Burns" 4. Natalie Portman in Cold Mountain as "Sara" 5. Renee Zellweger in Cold Mountain as "Ruby Thewes"
"Notorious was nice, but it’s not in the color purple range" "Angels and Demons may get nominated for cinematography the imagery was profound" "District Nine will definitely win for best foreign film it made money and everyone loved it" ~ 8movies
Posts: 2714 | Location: nz | Registered: January 12, 2009
01. Holly Hunter, Thirteen 02. Essie Davis, Girl with a Pearl Earring 03. Miranda Otto, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 04. Laura Linney, Mystic River 05. Natalie Portman, Cold Mountain
#1. Shohreh Agdashloo, House of Sand and Fog -In my opinion, she was the best thing about "House of Sand and Fog". Kingsley and Connelly were both good, and then you had Ron Eldard's weak performance, and the movie itself was solid, but Shohreh Aghdashloo just gave a very real performance that I enjoyed watching. BUT....I am basing this off of one viewing and my opinion from when I first saw it back in 2004.
#2. Patricia Clarkson, Pieces of April -Just like with Aghdashloo, I haven't seen "Pieces of April" since 2004 and I may feel entirely different about this race if I saw all of these performances back to back today. From what I remember, Clarkson was wonderful in this and with all of the other great work she has done, this could've been a great opportunity to have honored her not only for a great performance, but for her body of work as well.
#3. Renee Zellweger, Cold Mountain -I can completely understand why this performance is considered to be over-the-top and hammy, but I thought it was a good performance and I wasn't upset by her win....however, she was more worthy in other films like "Jerry Maguire", "One True Thing", "Bridget Jones' Diary", and "Chicago", and I also really loved Natalie Portman in this for giving a very beautiful performance that practically stole the entire movie despite its length.
#4. Holly Hunter, Thirteen -I don't know what to really say about her performance. It certainly wasn't a bad performance, but I wasn't wowed by her as many people were. She's a great actress with a lot of range ("Raising Arizona" to "Broadcast News" to "The Piano"), but I personally thought she was overshadowed by Evan Rachel Wood.
#5. Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River -Standing on its own, Harden's performance in Mystic River is a good performance but I personally thought that the best performance by a female in that movie was by Laura Linney, who deserved the spot over her.
Posts: 1293 | Location: WV | Registered: October 23, 2005
My Personal Ballot: 1. Anna Faris in May as "Polly"
Love it!!
In fact, Angela Bettis SHOULD have received a Best Actress nomination as well. She was better than about 4 of the women who actually received nominations. But, we can't be awarded Oscars to those brainless horror flicks, now can we?
Posts: 10040 | Location: Iowa | Registered: June 09, 2005
SUCH a genre bias. The reason why Anna Faris, talented as she is, will probably never be nominated for an Oscar.
"Notorious was nice, but it’s not in the color purple range" "Angels and Demons may get nominated for cinematography the imagery was profound" "District Nine will definitely win for best foreign film it made money and everyone loved it" ~ 8movies
Posts: 2714 | Location: nz | Registered: January 12, 2009
1) Hunter 2) Gay Harden 3) Clarkson 4) Shoreh 5) Zellweger --- This really is one of the very worst performances ever nominated for an Oscar. Right up there with Mary Pickford for "Coquette."
1. SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO - Though I'm pretty fine with Zellweger winning, Aghdashloo was my personal choice that year. She was phenomenal, and was effective. The first time I saw House of Sand and Fog, I said that this woman should be nominated for na Oscar, and I'm happy that she got it.
2. RENEE ZELLWEGER One of the best comedic performances in a drama film. She gave a refreshing turn with her over the top antics, and gave balance to a movie that has some boring parts.
3. PATRICIA CLARKSON Touching, and effective. Plus she turned in other good performances that year. But this one was a standout.
4. HOLLY HUNTER Good as well but not her best. Thoguh technically she really gave a supporting performance, not taking the cloud away from Evan Rachel Wood.
5. MARCIA GAY HARDEN Once again, Globe and SAG snubbed but Oscar nommed. I understand the love for Pollock, but I'm scratching my head with this nom.
I hope The Office wins as Best Comedy Series for this year's Emmy Awards.
Posts: 13057 | Location: Manila | Registered: August 19, 2006
That woman was such a hurricane ripping through that last scene. Alone worthy of a nom. Great catch!
I still have trouble deciding between Clarkson or Aghdashloo. Clarkson had such a banner year, each performance she gave was just as good as the one before it. Aghdashloo really did cast a spell on the whole audience, exactly what a fantastic supporting actress is supposed to do.
I'm one of the ones who thought Zellweger was totally hammy. Her Oscar expiration date was up the second she lost to Kidman in '02. I can't even remember her giving a good, honest performance since.
"Renee Zellweger just comes trotting in, asking, 'WHERE'S MY OSCAR?!'". Best thing Richard Roeper ever said.
Snaps to everyone who remembered Portman in Cold Mountain. Truly the best part of that film.
------------------------------------- Member on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Posts: 1181 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: May 08, 2003
