This was a strong year for supporting performances, both male and female.
The nominees for this year were: Kathy Bates in Primary Colors as "Libby Holden" Brenda Blethyn in Little Voice as "Mari Hoff" Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love as "Queen Elizabeth" Rachel Griffiths in Hilary and Jackie as "Hilary du Pre" Lynn Redgrave in Gods and Monsters as "Hanna"
My Ranking: 1. Griffiths - A quiet, sympathetic performance that stands out through its simplicity and calm because the movie around it is so frenzied and obnoxious. Even without this contrast, Griffiths is worthy of praise for making a character we care about with small, light strokes.
2. Blethyn - She starts off a bit too theatrical for my tastes, but eventually she really gets into the character and the result is funny, scary and sad. Her final showdown with LV is very powerful.
3. Redgrave - It is a delicious little character part reminiscent of Ritter, O'Connor and Ouspenskaya. She gives it her all and shows that she's one of the more underappreciated character actresses in the business.
4. Bates - She's funny, I guess, but she does this kind of role all the time and this is one of her least interesting versions of it. The role AND the film are both pretty gimmicky and her final scenes show that she really isn't capable of emoting convincingly.
-.Dench
My Personal Ballot: 1. Patricia Clarkson in High Art as "Greta" 2. Lisa Kudrow in The Opposite of Sex as "Lucia" 3. Marisa Tomei in Slums of Beverly Hills as "Rita Abromowitz" 4. Jane Adams in Happiness as "Joy Jordan" 5. Rachel Griffiths in Hilary and Jackie as "Hilary du Pre"
"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. Joan Allen, Pleasantville 02. Patricia Clarkson, High Art 03. Lisa Kudrow, The Opposite of Sex 04. Parker Posey, Clockwatchers 05. Fiona Loewi, Love and Death on Long Island
1) Joan Allen- "High Art" 2) Jane Adams- "Happiness" 3) Rachel Griffiths- "Hilary and Jackie"- I have some reservations about whether she is lead or supporting though. 4) Marisa Tomei- "The Slums of Beverly Hills" 5) Laura Linney- "The Truman Show"
This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,
Posts: 27158 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: February 02, 2003
This category is missing the 5 great performances that should've gotten nominations: Joan Allen in "Pleasantville", Patricia Clarkson in "High Art", Laura Linney in "The Truman Show", Lisa Kudrow in "The Opposite of Sex, and Marisa Tomei in "The Slums of Beverly Hills".
#1. Lynn Redgrave, Gods and Monsters -Gods and Monsters was one of the movies I felt was snubbed in the BP/BD race and on Oscar night, it should've won Redgrave and McKellan Oscars (along with the Adapted Screenplay award it won). Lynn Redgrave is overshadowed by her sister Vanessa and this was finally Lynn's moment in the sun (which she never really had since "Georgy Girl"). I enjoyed her performance as the snooty maid and she was my choice that year.
#2. Kathy Bates, Primary Colors -I still stand beside her win for "Misery", and I also wouldn't have objected to a win from her here. "Primary Colors" wasn't the greatest movie but she was easily one of the better things about it. I would like for Kathy Bates to get another Oscar someday, but hopefully it'll be for a role that was as good as hers in "Misery" (although not as cartoon-y).
#3. Rachel Griffiths, Hilary and Jackie -First of all, this is definitely more of a LEAD performance than a Supporting one....this was around the time where the the co-lead with the lesser amount of screentime got bumped to Supporting even though they are still a lead, and while I can't deny the fact that Rachel Griffiths was great in the movie, this was a leading performance.
#4. Judi Dench, Shakespeare in Love -A TRUE SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE THROUGH AND THROUGH!! Being onscreen for around 8 minutes, Judi Dench mananges to do wonders with what she is given in that small amount of time (although not as grand as other triumphs in this area like Beatrice Straight and Ned Beatty in "Network", Cynthia Nixon in "Amadeus", or this year's Viola Davis in "Doubt"). I don't object her Oscar because she deserves one (which should've been for "Mrs. Brown" the year prior to this), but she wasn't my choice.
#5. Brenda Blethyn, Little Voice -Two things: After giving an AMAZING performance in "Secrets & Lies" that was worthy of an Oscar, we get Brenda Blethyn in a very hammy performance in "Little Voice". Also, out of all the people in this movie (two examples: Michael Caine and Jane Harrocks), Blethyn is the one who gets recognition?!?! Really?!?! And over the 5 people I listed above.....okay, whatever.
Posts: 1293 | Location: WV | Registered: October 23, 2005
Originally posted by AJ: This category is missing the 5 great performances that should've gotten nominations: Joan Allen in "Pleasantville", Patricia Clarkson in "High Art", Laura Linney in "The Truman Show", Lisa Kudrow in "The Opposite of Sex, and Marisa Tomei in "The Slums of Beverly Hills".
#1. Lynn Redgrave, Gods and Monsters -Gods and Monsters was one of the movies I felt was snubbed in the BP/BD race and on Oscar night, it should've won Redgrave and McKellan Oscars (along with the Adapted Screenplay award it won). Lynn Redgrave is overshadowed by her sister Vanessa and this was finally Lynn's moment in the sun (which she never really had since "Georgy Girl"). I enjoyed her performance as the snooty maid and she was my choice that year.
#2. Kathy Bates, Primary Colors -I still stand beside her win for "Misery", and I also wouldn't have objected to a win from her here. "Primary Colors" wasn't the greatest movie but she was easily one of the better things about it. I would like for Kathy Bates to get another Oscar someday, but hopefully it'll be for a role that was as good as hers in "Misery" (although not as cartoon-y).
#3. Rachel Griffiths, Hilary and Jackie -First of all, this is definitely more of a LEAD performance than a Supporting one....this was around the time where the the co-lead with the lesser amount of screentime got bumped to Supporting even though they are still a lead, and while I can't deny the fact that Rachel Griffiths was great in the movie, this was a leading performance.
#4. Judi Dench, Shakespeare in Love -A TRUE SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE THROUGH AND THROUGH!! Being onscreen for around 8 minutes, Judi Dench mananges to do wonders with what she is given in that small amount of time (although not as grand as other triumphs in this area like Beatrice Straight and Ned Beatty in "Network", Cynthia Nixon in "Amadeus", or this year's Viola Davis in "Doubt"). I don't object her Oscar because she deserves one (which should've been for "Mrs. Brown" the year prior to this), but she wasn't my choice.
#5. Brenda Blethyn, Little Voice -Two things: After giving an AMAZING performance in "Secrets & Lies" that was worthy of an Oscar, we get Brenda Blethyn in a very hammy performance in "Little Voice". Also, out of all the people in this movie (two examples: Michael Caine and Jane Harrocks), Blethyn is the one who gets recognition?!?! Really?!?! And over the 5 people I listed above.....okay, whatever.
Whoops. Forgot about Laura Linney. Sorry Kudrow but I no longer have space for you in my line-up.
I totally agree that how could anyone seeing "Little Voice" think Blethyn was the performance to nominate.
Posts: 27158 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: February 02, 2003
1. Kathy Bates - loved every second of this performance... 2. Judi Dench - master class of acting...not a moment wasted. 3. Rachel Griffith - nicely subtle...
4. Lynn Redgrave - a nice moment or two...but kinda hammy.
5. Brenda Blethyn - completely over the top...new meaning of hammy.
I would've been totally fine with Dench winning because she was fantastic in her role. Comedic, insightful, scene-stealing characters winning in the supporting categories are always fine by me. However, and this is a HUGE however, it reeked of being a make up win for her losing out for Mrs. Brown the year before. She should've won then so either Redgrave or Griffiths would've won in '98. Preferably Redgrave. I agree with whomever said she and McKellan should've both gone home with awards that night.
Allen for Pleasantville and Kudrow for The Opposite of Sex where the best among the snubbed and some of the best of the year.
------------------------------------- Member on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Posts: 1181 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: May 08, 2003
