Finally continuing to move back in time as I move on to 2007. As I've said before, I'm super excited for this year due to the extraordinary amount of great nominees and hopeful that the few I haven't seen can be on the same level. For what has typically been the category I dislike the most, I know this year upends that notion with some great performances. I've already seen 4 of the 5 and the last one is the inimitable Cate Blanchett - she of the TWO acting nominations this year. So you know it's a strong year when the category I usually love to hate ends up being easy to love.
2007 Best Supporting Actress
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
Swinton is a stalwart, no nonsense, company woman trying to appease the big bosses of the agrochemical company she is a lawyer for. She is almost like an assassin in her somewhat cold, uncompromising, yet ruthless demeanor. She rehearses answers to an interviewer's questions to perfection so she comes off as strong and a leader during the actual interview. She values her career and works diligently at it no matter what. She wants to quickly put an end to the class action lawsuit against her company which would surely result in being put in a favorable position for promotion and increased responsibility later on down the line. She has a much smaller role than I remember from my first watch years ago which says a lot about her performance. It's intense and incredibly believable. One could easily picture Swinton walking around in a power suit doling out legal advice. Her performance was memorable enough to stand out in my mind when thinking of this film even though she doesn't get a ton of screen time. However, she is but one cog in the machine that is Michael Clayton. Without her costars, her performance would feel out of place or too serious since everyone else delivers career defining performances and this only serves to help buoy Swinton's portrayal along with the rest of the film. Not to say she would sink without the others but she would definitely look out of place, most likely as the lone bright spot. So this is definitely a moment where the actors fed off each other's energy and challenged everyone else to up their game. What we got as a result was one of Swinton's best performances in her career.
Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There
Blanchett encapsulates the persona of Dylan more so than the other big names in this film and she does it with relative ease -- but that could be because she seems to have the easiest role. It's one that is a little more fun and less brooding. She represents the controversial years of Dylan's life as she plays the character Jude Quinn and thus isn't completely pigeonholed into being simply a one note version of Dylan. The looks, mannerisms, and voice are unnervingly accurate and highlights his vulnerability as a person. The carefree demeanor she exudes adds to Dylan's notion at the time that not one person can change the world and being at peace with that. It's almost a comical portrayal that treads ever so lightly around devolving into a caricature. But this is a film where the subject really has to connect with the viewer to make an impact and I just am not a fan of Dylan even if I did like a few songs in the movie (though sung by other people which is probably why). So while the performance obviously shines in the scope of the narrative it doesn't really stay with me after it's over. It was like an appetizer for something that could have been a lot greater than it was. I'd be interested in a film of only Blanchett as Dylan.
Ruby Dee - American Gangster
This is a token nomination and nothing else. One of those nominations where the Academy rewards a body of work and long history in film instead of the actual acting being any good. Of note is Dee being the second oldest nominee ever for Best Supporting Actress -- with one of the shortest screen times ever, just over 5 minutes. That alone should tell you all you need to know about this nomination. The majority of critic's online don't even mention her in their reviews. So how is her actual performance? To me, the performance is a bit labored. It has the air of acting which is never a good sign. Her delivery is hurried and the only real moment is when she slaps Denzel, but that role could have been filled by anyone. From my mom to my grandmas to any woman over 30. Unfortunately, what we are left with is maybe a one minute scene at most, but none of which ever leave their mark or leave you riveted to your seat while she is on screen. Did her 3% of the film leave an indelible mark? Simply...no.
Saoirse Ronan - Atonement
This is the role that brought Ronan to international prominence and began her as to date impressive film career. She plays Briony Tallis, a young privileged English girl during WWII who enjoys writing plays for her family. She is intense and mature beyond her years at times but naive and juvenile at others. Her precociousness can be easily read on her face alone, which is impressive that she can emote a sense of wonderment so willfully at such a young age. You can see the wheels turning in her head as she surveys the grown-up world around her and tries to figure out what's going on and what to do about it. She definitely has a writer's sense of understanding of the world and the people around her, even if it initially is the wrong impression. Briony's childish crush on Robbie, a son of their housekeeper who is in love with her older sister sets in motion the whole plot based on the confusing notions of her budding sexuality and fervor for petty revenge. It's all a misunderstanding because she doesn't understand what she sees (and reads) between her sister and Robbie. Ronan is able to expertly display all of these conflicting emotions with reserve and subtlety, especially during some of the more serious moments. And while she is the forefront of a lot of scenes - hell, most of the movie - she never really takes over and overacts. I actually find it nice that she can be as young as she is here and resist the urge to show off her acting "ability" as many young actors would. This role really demonstrates how ahead of her time Ronan is and why she is an emerging young movie star.
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Amy Ryan is authentic. She is incredibly convincing as a drug addled mother who has lost her daughter. Ryan's Southie accent is on point and the viewer can't help but look at her with disdain and sympathy. I don't agree with those that view this as a movie to not like because there is no happy ending and it's grim. It seems immensely real because of this, so the non happy ending feels legit. It's raw and a slice of Boston life that grabs the viewer and doesn't let them go. While all of the other characters in Gone Baby Gone suffer from being too literary (Affleck becomes a super detective, Ed Harris is too stereotypical), Ryan is the only one who feels fully realized and much of that is because of her powerhouse acting. In between her drugged out phases, Ryan's Helene McCready plays up her grieving mother role for the cameras and to get away with her illicit behavior. It's impressive that she can be so manipulative even when high but when one thinks about it, it's obvious that she would have to be to stay alive and never own up to her actions. At times, she almost seems glad for the tragedy to have occurred, but the greater tragedy is knowing that if the child is found she would be returned to her junkie mom. And this makes it hard to hope for the little girl's survival and demonstrates just how utterly disgusting Helene can be, an attribute to Ryan portraying both sides of the woman with equal fervor.
Probably the best Supporting Actress categories I've yet to cover and it's a nice feeling not having to slog through awful films to watch borderline performances. Of note is that Cate Blanchett was nominated for both Supporting and Lead Actress in 2007. That makes her the 11th actor to have two acting nominations in the same year. Minus Ruby Dee, watching the remaining 4 was a lot fun and I'd rank them all close together. Right now my winner would be Ryan but I have a feeling I could put Swinton or Ronan in that spot when I look back at this in 6 months. And that is part of what makes doing this project and blog so much fun. Swinton's win was actually a bit of a shock back in 2008, both to the audience and to Tilda herself (though not a huge shock by any means). Ruby Dee won the SAG Award (gag) and Blanchett had the buzz and the Golden Globe, so even back then it was up in the air.
Oscar Winner: Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
My Winner: Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton
Saoirse Ronan
Cate Blanchett
Ruby Dee
