Best Actress in a Supporting Role 1992: Ranking

5. Joan Plowright in Enchanted April

The role isn't too much of a stretch for Plowright and admittedly I found her early scenes to be standard at best. But she gets points for her killer voice-over and her delicate, heartfelt poignancy in the latter stages of the movie.

Best scene: Lottie promises Mrs. Fisher she will always be her friend.

4. Miranda Richardson in Damage

It's quite frustrating to see such a talented actress being wasted for such a great chunk of the movie, but when she finally gets the spotlight she shines and her last two scenes are groundbreaking. Still, she was better in The Crying Game.

Best scene: "You should have killed yourself"

3. Judy Davis in Husband and Wives

She goes far overboard in that date scene near the beginning, but otherwise she's pretty much terrific, effectively portraying all the facets of the character without ever turning her into a one-note, neurotic cipher. It's a performance that is both touching and fun, though I don't quite love it as some do.

Best scene: Sally opens up to Michael.

2. Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny

Mona Lisa might not be the most complex character ever, but Marisa Tomei's performance in My Cousin Vinny is the definition of delightful: she steals every scene she's thanks to her brilliant comedic timing and delivery and brings a great deal of energy whenever she turns up. Hilarious work.

Best scene: Mona Lisa on the witness stand.

1. Vanessa Redgrave in Howards End

Redgrave only appears in the first act of the movie but her performance haunts the whole movie. It's such an excitingly vivid characterization for a screen-time this limited, and her chemistry with Emma Thompson is incredible. It's a graceful, delicate portrayal of a dying woman.

Best scene: The chestnut tree.

Honorable Omissions: Michelle Pfeiffer gives an absolutely marvelous performance as Catwoman in Batman Returns: she gives a properly over-the-top performance yet she never goes far too much, never turning into a joke or an overly grotesque presence - she is a perfect fit for Tim Burton's bizzare vision and she's a charismatic, menacing and unpredictable villain. But also finds the broken soul within her character both in her scenes as the meek Selina she is in the first scenes (her breakdown is a particularly mesmerizing sequence) and the stylish but melancholic Selina she becomes later on: her ball scene with Michael Keaton is a surprisingly intimate, heartfelt and toching moment. Helena Bonham Carter excels in Howards End beautifully and convincingly portraying Helen's development over the years bringing such passionate life to the character's actions. Miranda Richardson is a scene-stealing treat in The Crying Game, making for an incredibly entertaining yet threatening, unnerving and chilling figure as the cold-blooded killer. Rosie Perez delivers a rather wonderful turn in White Men Can't Jump: she delivers an exceptionally funny performance transcending the potential stereotype her character could have been while also creating such a realistic and engaging dynamic with Woody Harrelson bringing the right emotional weight to their character's relationship. Susan Sarandon is pretty great in Light Sleeper, bringing the right sort of wit and sass to the character of Ann while sharing such a powerful, warm chemistry with Willem Defoe: it's an intentionally light-hearted performance for the most part, but Sarandon effectively conveys the character's grit and loyalty and bringing the right sort of impact to her scenes towards the movie's end. Peter's Friends has a pretty excellent ensemble full of remarkable performances: Emma Thompson is, as usual, a hoot as the meek, lovelorn friend, effectively grounding the character without compromising the comedic nature of her performance; Rita Rudner starts off as entertainingly annoying and then touchingly reveals the character's desperation that motives her behavior; Imelda Staunton delivers a very harrowing portrayal of her character's struggle to cope with her grief, sharing an especially effective chemistry with Hugh Laurie; Alphonsia Emmanuel delivers a very convincing portrayal of her character's incapability of committing herself to someone and Phyllida Law delivers a very moving performance as the hard-tongued but wise, caring housekeeper. Sherilyn Fenn doesn't have too much screen-time in Of Mice and Men but she makes the most out of it effectively portraying Curley's wife as both a careless seductress and a sympathetic victim: her final scene with John Malkovich is especially memorable. Maggie Smith also delivers a very solid supporting performance in Sister Act, paying off impressively Whoopi Goldberg's leading performance and nicely portraying the Mother Reverend's development over the course of the movie, gradually revealing a softer side of hers.

The next year: 1940.

My Best Supporting Actress Ballot:

1. Michelle Pfeiffer, Batman Returns - 5/5
2. Vanessa Redgrave, Howards End
3. Marisa Tomei, My Cousin Vinny
4. Helena Bonham Carter, Howards End - 5/5
5. Miranda Richardson, The Crying Game - 4.5/5
6. Rosie Perez, White Men Can't Jump - 4.5/5
7. Susan Sarandon, Light Sleeper - 4/5
8. Sherilyn Fenn, Of Mice and Men - 4/5
9. Emma Thompson, Peter's Friends - 4/5
10. Judy Davis, Husband and Wives