5. Helen Mirren in The Madness of King George
Helen Mirren is limited by a rather standard part but she nonetheless does some impressive work, effectively portraying the Queen's anguish over her husband's condition as well as her determination to get him back.
Best scene: The King accuses Queen Charlotte of having an affair with her own son.
4. Jennifer Tilly in Bullets over Broadway
Jennifer Tilly delivers a wonderfully entertaining performance, perfectly showing the reasons why the character would be so annoying to the other characters without actually making her performance annoying. What is lacking in depth is completely made up for by her terrific comedic timing and delivery.
Best scene: Olive practises her "superior laugh" in the car.
3. Rosemary Harris in Tom & Viv
A quietly haunting piece of work. Harris delivers a masterclass in subtlety, poignantly conveying Rose' concern over her daughter's condition. She's the movie's heart and conscience and her final scenes are a knockout.
Best scene: Rose's final confrontation with Tom.
2. Dianne Wiest in Bullets over Broadway
Wiest manages to add some nuance and vulnerability to a potentially one-note character, but it's the comedy that makes her so unforgettable: she is the definition of scene-stealer and gives an over-the-top performance without ever becoming hammy. She gives an absolutely hilarious performance from start to finish.
Best scene: "Don't speak!"
1. Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction
Thurman delivers a unique performance that fits perfectly within Tarantino's vision: she is a captivating, magnetic presence and she shares a brilliant chemistry with John Travolta. It's a performance that is extremely funny at times and quietly heartbreaking in others. Amazing work.
Best scene: Mia tells the joke.
Honorable Omissions: Kirsten Dunst gives one of my favorite child performances ever in Interview with the Vampire: she is chilling when she reveals Claudia's ruthless side beneath her sweet looks and she is amazing at portraying the plight of her character later on in the movie, as she is a teenager, and then an adult, trapped inside a child's body. It's a phenomenal portrayal from a wonderful actress. Brooke Smith' performance in Vanya on 42nd Street is incredible as well: she is luminous and warm in the role of Sonya and she's absolutely devastating as she reveals her character's vulnerability and loneliness due to her plain appearence. Her final monologue is utter brilliance. I know many people find it a weak movie, but I personally enjoyed The Hudsucker Proxy very much and I thought Jennifer Jason Leigh's performance was wonderful: she is great at channeling the style of the 40s screwball comedies but past that she shares a poignant and entertaining chemistry with Tim Robbins and she does a beautiful job at conveying Amy's gradual loss of her cynism. Mia Kirshner is terrific in Exotica, bringing both the sensuality and the sensitivity needed for the role and gradually revealing the layers of her character. Arsinée Khanjian is also very effective in the same movie - she doesn't really have a developement but she's a calm, reassuring and warm presence and she's quite moving at portraying her character's sadness. Kristin Scott Thomas' performance as the sophisticated yet lonely friend of the main character in Four Weddings and a Funeral is just wonderful, and the scene in which she reveals her love for him is just heartbreaking. Alfre Woodard is fantastic in Crooklyn, effectively conveying her character's warmth, hidden behind her stern façade, as well as the exhaustion that comes from her hard life. Sally Field is both warm and touching in her limited role in Forrest Gump. Virna Lisi is outstanding as Caterina De Medici in Queen Margot, and I wish she was in the movie more: she is brilliant at portraying her character's manipulative nature making for an excellent villain but I particularly loved the small, isolated moments in which Lisi conveys a certain bitterness or even remorse.
The next year: As requested, 1969.
My Best Supporting Actress Ballot:
The next year: As requested, 1969.
My Best Supporting Actress Ballot:
- Kirsten Dunst, Interview with the Vampire - 5/5
- Brooke Smith, Vanya on 42nd Street - 5/5
- Uma Thurman, Pulp Fiction
- Dianne Wiest, Bullets over Broadway
- Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hudsucker Proxy - 4.5/5
- Virna Lisi, Queen Margot - 4.5/5
- Mia Kirshner, Exotica - 4.5/5
- Alfre Woodard, Crooklyn - 4.5/5
- Rosemary Harris, Tom & Viv
- Kristin Scott Thomas, Four Weddings and a Funeral - 4.5/5
Very happy with Brooke Smith rating. Ratings and thoughts on the cast of Vanya?
RispondiEliminaBrooke Smith was absolutely breathtaking, she was so good I was even tempted to give her the win over Dunst. I've actually liked Smith in everything else I've seen her (Grey's Anatomy, The Silence of the Lambs) and I'd say it's a pity she rarely gets decent roles.
EliminaAs for the cast of Vanya:
Shawn - 4 (I thought his big emotional scenes were a bit of a mixed bag, as I felt he managed to find some impressive moments in his portrayal of his character's intense despair but often went too much overboard. I think his performance works best in the quieter moments, where I felt he did a very remarkable jobs, making the viewer sympathize with his character's plight while still presenting his flaws. I think that there is a great understanding of the character by Shawn, although the execution of his ideas isn't always quite perfect)
Moore - 4.5 (Very effective job from her as I felt she too had a great understanding of her character. She brings the right amount of allure to her role and makes the fact that every man in the play would fall in love with her never in question. Past that I thought she was great at portraying a woman suffocated by her own loneliness and boredom but unwilling to give up her lifestyle)
Pine - 4 (Pine is very good as he makes for quite a charismatic presence and it's easy to see in his performances the qualities that draws Sonya to him. He too is very good at conveying his character's own plight and bitterness due to his alcoholism. He's actually verging on a 4.5 but I have to admit I found him to be a bit overshadowed by Moore and especially Smith)
Gaynes - 3 (I thought he was completely fine but I thought the role allowed for far more than what he did. His portrayal just sort of pales within the stronger work of Smith, Moore, Shawn and Pine and I found him to be often overshadowed by all of them, even if he works well in the movie)
Brand - 2.5 (I thought she was a welcome presence whenever she was on screen but she can't overcome just how thankless the role is)
Cohen - 2.5 (I thought she was fine at portraying her character's admiration towards Gaynes' character and contempt towards Shawn's but I never felt she left that much of an impact)
Ratings and Thoughts on the Queen Margot cast.
RispondiEliminaAdjani - 4.5 (Bordering on a 5. Another great performance from a great actress and she's utterly compelling to watch every step of the way. In the beginning, she brings the needed charm and allure to the role while still portraying her character as rather vain. Then I think she is excellent in the rest of the movie at portraying Margot' growing respect and affection towards her husband and she powerfully conveys her character's inner turmoil as she is torn between her family and her husband. I have to admit I was not particularly invested in Margot's affair with La Mole as I never felt the two actors had the amazing chemistry the movie seemed to want, but Adjani is still completely solid as she effectively shows a more passionate side of her character and she brings the needed emotional weight in the final scenes)
EliminaPerez - 3.5 (He brought the needed energy and charm to his performance and I think he effectively conveys his character's devotion towards his cause. As I mentioned above though I never cared much for his love scenes with Adjani as I felt the chemistry between the two was okay but hardly groundbreaking)
Auteil - 4.5 (I really liked the emotional honesty of his performance and he makes Henri one of the most touching characters in the movie. I really liked the quiet dignity and strength he brought to his role and I thought his chemistry with Adjani was amazing: both actors are excellent as they show their characters' initial disdain of one another and then eventually show a mutual understanding and affection. Auteil is effective at suggesting later on in the movie that he might have developed a true love towards his wife and he is moving at portraying his acceptance of her love for La Mole)
Anglade - 5 (His César win was incredibly deserved and I found him to be the movie's MVP. In the first half of the movie I thought he was very good at portraying his character's weak willed nature both physically and mentally. He is purposefully over-the-top at it but he never becomes hammy and effectively makes the King an unpredictable presence. In the second half, I thought he managed to make the King's friendship with Henri extremely moving: in their scenes together, Anglade shows a quieter, warmer side of his character and the scene in which he admits that Henri is his only friend was extremely touching. His final scenes are absolutely amazing as Anglade is heartbreaking at portraying his character's reaction to his imminent demise and he makes the King's rapid physical decay truly terrifying to watch)
Blanc - 3 (The César nomination might have been a bit too much but she gives a good performance. Her character goes through the same developement Adjani's character does, but she has much less screen-time and much less focus than her co-star: she portrays her character's transition quite well even if I never felt she left that much of an impact. I liked the genuine warmth in her performance in her scenes with Adjani and the two actresses portray their friendship convincingly and to Blanc's credit she is also quite moving in their final scenes together. It's a completely fine supporting performance overall, just not particularly memorable)
Greggory - 3 (He was properly smug in the role and his few scenes with Lisi were particularly effective as they portrayed extremely well their characters' deranged relationship. I never felt he was amazing, but he was completely fine)
Bosè - 3 (He was supposed to be smug and rather unlikeable, and he did it well. That's about it)
Argento - 1.5 (She didn't do all that much but I felt she was pretty terrible in her limited screen-time. I felt she was rather awkward and stilted instead of being charming, and she completely undercuts the impact of her character's fate with her dull portrayal)
I still have to see Interview with the Vampire and Vanya. I'm glad to see Mia Kirshner in your list, what did you think of the movie?
RispondiEliminaI thought Exotica was a terrific movie. Egoyan's direction was absolutely terrific as he makes the movie so atmospheric and gripping from start to finish. His screenplay is even better: I loved how every single character started off as somewhat one dimensional and then as the movie progressed new layers of each characters were slowly and carefully revealed. I loved the relationships between the characters as each feels interesting and poignant in its own way, also thanks to the terrific cast (Greenwood, Koteas, Kirshner, Khanjian and Polley are all very good). The cinematography is also quite stunning and I thought the editing was excellent, with the flashbacks adding to depth to the story instead of slowing down the movie's pace. I thought it was just a beautifully sad and quietly haunting movie.
EliminaI love Exotica too :)
EliminaWhat is your top 10 for this year? (I hope you've seen Chungking Express)
I have not seen Chungking Express yet :(
Elimina1. Pulp Fiction
2. Ed Wood
3. Exotica
4. Four Weddings and a Funeral
5. Vanya on 42nd Street
6. Interview with the Vampire
7. The Hudsucker Proxy
8. Queen Margot
9. Bullets over Broadway
10. Forrest Gump (I guess, don't care for it that much)
I hope you like it. You really have to see Shawshank as well (assuming you haven't) :D
EliminaNope, I haven't seen Shawshank yet either, but I can't wait to see both (and Leon as well).
EliminaSo happy to see Jennifer Jason Leigh in your top 5, i'm a big fan of her and i think she's a very underrated actress.
RispondiEliminaHave you seen Georgia? The movie is not that great but Leigh is fantastic.
What Are your top 5 or even a top 10 performances from Leigh?
And ratings and thoughts on Cruise and Pitt in Interview with The vampire?
1. The Hateful Eight
Elimina2. The Hudsucker Proxy
3. Anomalisa
4. Margot at the Wedding
5. The Spectacular Now (Don't remember her that much there though)
I really like her as an actress from what I've seen. Can't wait to see Georgia, Miami Blues, Dolores Claiborne and Last Exit to Brooklyn.
Cruise - 4.5 (I thought he brought the needed charisma to his role making his influence over Louis utterly believable while still portraying very well Lestat's sadistic, ruthless nature. I thought he gave a compelling and convincing portrayal of his character every step of the way and I found him particularly impressive in the scenes in which Lestat is at his lowest state: in those moments I particularly like how Cruise never tries to make the character more likeable but still presents his character as selfish even as he's desperate)
Pitt - 4 (His role is kind of thankless and I could easily see why someone would find him bland. I personally thought that while he was overshadowed by Cruise and especially Dunst he still managed to give quite an effective reactionary performance, portraying well his character's inner turmoil and quietly carrying the movie)