Even though I haven't seen 3 of these performances yet, I'm not all
that excited by the choices. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised and
enjoy a banner year like the rest of the categories. However, I am
worried that this category might drag on if the films themselves turn
out to be boring - which I know isn't very fair to say - but none of
these stand out like in the other categories. I will keep an open mind,
though, since that's what this project is all about!
2006 Best Actress
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Even though she plays The Queen and is the main focus of the film, Mirren at times seems to try to purposefully lose herself in the background to show just how stoic and reserved Queen Elizabeth actually is. It's a remarkable way to present her character and while it's near impossible to achieve we can understand the idea that Mirren is going for. She's a woman that has years of expectations, policy, and breeding that forms her royal visage and outlook. It has not prepared her well for the modern world that confronts her when Diana dies and her nation and people expect her to treat Diana as one of her own. She is out of touch with the public and she comes off so cold. But eventually she realizes she must adapt to an ever changing world and not the other way around. Mirren keeps the reserved Queen Elizabeth as still being reserved in her performance and refrains from any over the top moments that most biopics seem to demand. I feel that Mirren's performance would have been easily lost if she went full Oscar bait-y, so the subtlety she exhibits is absolutely refreshing here. Mirren is methodical, deliberate, and fascinating to watch not only as Queen Elizabeth but as an Actress in general and her win here comes as no surprise.
Penelope Cruz - Volver
Here's a pro tip: don't try to watch a 2 hour, subtitled foreign film with an actress you generally don't care for after a night of drinking because it's going to be super confusing and the subtitles are going to seem to go by way too fast. On my second attempt, I was able to cogently follow the plot and subtitles and actually review Cruz's performance (amazing how that works out!). Cruz is actually pretty good in this film, much to my surprise. The film itself is a bit weird until the ending where all was revealed. I'm not sure how it would have played over here but it definitely felt like more of a Spanish concept than anything. Back to Cruz, who I wasn't rooting against by the way, she scales back the Spanish sass and big acting to deliver something more universal and calmer. A couple of the actresses in this film were on par with Cruz but they had more supporting roles so Cruz gets the nod here. It's not exactly a powerhouse performance and doesn't overly wow us but we can understand why exactly she's an international star besides her good looks. That's to say, for me, Cruz isn't the standout, just one of the key parts to a great ensemble. What I especially liked is that Cruz finally looked natural in a movie of hers that I've seen. Acting in her native tongue, in a film who's story probably connects a bit more personally than say her work with Woody Allen, really let's her shine - even if it's not as bright here as others seems to think. I look forward to seeing more of her earlier work outside of Hollywood to see just how good an actress she really is.
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Within the first few minutes of watching this movie, you can tell that Dench is pumping life into every scene. She does a very convincing job as the old, academic spinster who is super nosy about all the goings on in her school. She's a lesbian (we assume, anyway) and grows to like Cate Blanchett's character, almost obsessively so. What I do love is how she narrates like the history teacher she is. It might be missed by most but it's as if she's recounting the events for some history textbook. She's almost like a Hitchcockian character who sees a potential victim. She obsesses over Sheba to the point where she overlooks Sheba's indiscretion with a student in hopes that it will bring her closer to Dench. Dench turns into almost a horror figure by turning into the neighbor that peers through the blinds and knows everything about your secrets. She obsesses over women she meets that are friendly to her and begins these delusional relationships in her head, concocting absurd ways to trick them into being with her. You half expect Dench to kill Blanchett in the end to complete the character arc. The movie itself isn't very good and tries to be many different things that it most certainly is not. Dench is able to overcome that through her star power alone and delivers something interesting despite the missteps of the rest of the film.
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Another year, another iconic character created by Meryl Streep. This time we get Miranda Priestly, the head of a fashion magazine who is ice cold and razor sharp. She is the titular Devil in the film's title and she certainly plays her role as if she has sold her soul. Meryl is acting royalty and here she plays fashion royalty and is the complete opposite of her real world self. If Priestly was how Streep acted in real life, I don't think many people would bat an eyelash since she is widely considered the greatest living actress today. Streep is in absolute command of her craft here. Her calm, whispered speech belies her ruthless, relentless demeanor. Her performance is both loud and not loud at the same time. It's subdued but Streep has the natural gravitas to take over every scene she's in without overacting. It's quite wonderful to watch her work because it's so methodical and deliberate that it's like watching an acting class. I found myself wishing Anne Hathaway (Oscar winner! blech) would get off the screen so I could see more of Streep and Stanley Tucci. Streep is every adjective in the book that you can throw at her and this performance doesn't let us down whatsoever. That's all.
Kate Winslet - Little Children
Sitting here trying to come up with what to write about Winslet's performance and all I can think of is that yup, this was a Kate Winslet performance. She just consistently pumps out these roles with a seeming effortlessness because they are never bad and always nominated. Maybe she gets nominated for her name at times more than for her efforts and maybe because she's so beloved that her work is trumpeted to be more amazing than it really is. So that's why I sit here trying to figure out what to write. Her role here as a bored mother and housewife longing for some adventure and excitement in all areas of her life doesn't seem too far fetched from what we might think the real Winslet could be like. Meaning her performance does indeed seem natural, if a little too easy. I'm sure the performance hit home for many of the women who watched it. What I really didn't like about her character was how she was in such a loveless marriage that instead of divorcing her husband and allowing herself to be free to have an actual life she enjoyed, she just maintained the status quo which is I guess more true to life. Yes, she had an affair and wanted to run away from her life with the guy, but it just seemed more like a mid life crisis than a real life changing event. That her character might have run away for 2 weeks or so before limping back to her boring life seemed likely. Winslet does a good enough job of showing the complexities of going after something forbidden while wrestling with the notion of whether to stay or go. For me, this is a typical Kate Winslet performance: above average and workman-like.
Best Actress continues it's (backwards for me) trend of being good, but not great. All of these women have been nominated multiple times (though Cruz would later score 2 more, winning 1 Oscar, after this her first nomination) and as such is an incredibly experienced group. All of them are also winners, which I imagine is somewhat of a rare feat in itself. Cruz was only the second Spanish woman to be nominated for this category which seems a little surprising to me. It almost feels as if during these few years, these women (minus Cruz) took turns winning Oscars and being nominated. Which I think says a lot about how strong they are as actresses but also that the Academy likes going back to the same few women and not leaving their comfort zones. Because there are certainly other great female performances that seem to get overlooked. There are no bad performances in this group. I think Winslet's is the weakest and probably could have been replaced with someone else since it just didn't do much for me. Then I think you could say the other 4 women are about equal in my estimation. Dench played a different character than I'm used to for her and was good. I'd give a slight edge to Cruz who absolutely convinced me there is more to her acting abilities. It's a toss up between Streep and Mirren so I'd go with the Academy here. I'm sure by the time I get through all of Streep's nominations, I'll have given her about 10 Oscars anyway. No one stood head and shoulders above the rest which hopefully becomes less and less true as I go back in time because I'm really wanting to be wowed by this category!
Oscar Winner: Helen Mirren - The Queen
My Winner: Helen Mirren - The Queen
Meryl Streep
Penelope Cruz
Judi Dench
Kate Winslet
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Supporting Actor 2006
This category always seems to be full of great performances. I'm excited to go back and watch a few of these, since it's been years since I've seen them. I remember them all being worthy of being included here so let's see how they stand up 7 years later.
2006 Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
This is one of those wins where after you watch the performance you have to wonder why exactly it won over the others, which isn't to put down what Arkin did at all. Arkin is pretty funny in his role of the wild and crass grandfather but it's also pretty short. He cracks some jokes, encourages his granddaughter to be herself, and then goes away. His character is important for helping to foster Breslin's character's independence and joie de vivre and after he's gone we miss his sarcastic, biting, caustic wit which probably would have made the ending even better. It's a good performance and fits the tone of the movie perfectly but I almost feel like Steve Carell (a mostly unknown at the time the film was made) gave a more satisfying performance and showed great range. I love that a comedic performance won but it also seems like maybe the Academy wanted to reward and honor Arkin's career thinking they wouldn't get another chance. Little did they know he would be nominated again for a very similar role in Argo at the 2013 Oscars - one where he was considered a front runner at times in a wide open race. I know many people wanted Eddie Murphy to win here but I have no issue with this win. Arkin does a solid job - I only wish we could have seen more from his character.
Jackie Earle Haley - Little Children
Jackie Earle Haley is perfect for this role just by looks alone. He's gaunt, creepy, and weird looking which suits a man who has been convicted of exposing himself to a minor. He's a man fighting his demons and who let's them win every now and then. The ending of this film is similar to Blanchett's ending yet we fully believe in Haley's version. His anguish and heartache is real. The boiling over of emotions is natural given the circumstances and we are saddened by the ending because Haley has made his character human no matter the fact that he's a convicted sex offender. We understand that he's a man struggling within the world and we openly root for him and hope he finds peace just like his mother does. Sure the director molds our perception of Haley's character with the way he and his mother are treated by their neighborhood but Haley deftly portrays all the subtleties necessary of a man at odds with his self. He wants to do right by his mother and not give in to his urges and try to live a normal life, but people won't let him move on so he's constantly aware of his past troubles. That would be draining on anyone and Haley wears that on his face without being over the top. The director does nothing to try and convince us that Haley is anything but a creep, Haley's acting is what makes us equivocate. It's a powerful performance that almost endears a sexual deviant to the audience - which is no small feat.
Djimon Hounsou - Blood Diamond
Hounsou plays a stock role of the noble, yet suffering African caught up in a civil war where more stock roles of vicious and violent Africans rape and pillage the land under the guise of rebellion/revolution while stock roles of white men take advantage of these other two for profit and, here, diamonds. You can't really fault Hounsou here for trying his best given what he has to work with. He can't write the role for himself so we are stuck with an action/adventure story where Hounsou can show off his muscles as he tries to rescue his son while running all over Sierra Leone with DiCaprio in tow. There are some dramatic moments where we can see bits and pieces of just how good Hounsou can act if only he were given the chance but those are very few and far between. He's more than capable in an action role and approaches it with plenty of aplomb. Ultimately, he's underused here and comes off as the token African along for the ride as the stale white relationship tries to convince us it's something more. Hounsou deserves better from the script but I don't think we would have gotten much more out of it to be honest.
Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Murphy was widely believed to be THE front runner in this category by many critics and Oscar pundits. A lot of people thought his win was merely a formality, as much for his amazing work in Dreamgirls as for his comedic past. That of course didn't happen. And looking back, that's kind of an unfortunate thing since Murphy owned this character. I couldn't get enough of his character and wanted more, more, more. I would have much preferred an entire film about his character's career, as it would have been way more interesting. His portrayal of fictional R&B star Jimmy Early is all at once sleazy, caustic, and raucous. Early is a true showman, to which Murphy brings tons of experience and it shows. When Murphy is on screen he just sizzles and feels real, bringing a much needed vitality to the film which can get bogged down in character tropes and cliches. Every time he's on screen you pay attention and don't want to look away - a true sign of a great performance.
Mark Walhberg - The Departed
This is just an enjoyable performance for me. I'm sure other people might wonder how Wahlberg was nominated here and I could understand their point that there's not a whole lot to his character, but I love it anyway. I think he represents the film well as all the acting was top notch, something that Scorsese is known for. Wahlberg was one of the funniest parts of this film and his jokes and putdowns were all fantastic. And that's about all he brought to the the film, but he didn't need to do anything more. His thick Boston accent with his devastating wit and comebacks were perfect for a police sergeant in an elite unit. It reminded me of some people I knew while in the Army, so it felt very true to life for me. I also liked Alec Baldwin's character and thought that you could almost switch the two for this nomination if you wanted. Wahlberg was just the flashier role and I fully support the Academy's choice.
This is by far my favorite category of the 5. It seems every year is just as strong as the one after it. I seem to have very few complaints about the 5 chosen, though I may differ in who the I think the winner should be. That stands true here. I don't dislike Arkin's role but I definitely prefer Murphy for the win. Walhberg and Arkin had very similar roles but for some reason I just loved Wahlberg's more. The two more serious roles are still pretty good and I'd give the edge to Haley over Arkin right now. Dropping Arkin to 4th might seem like I don't like him but I think this group was just that good. Can't wait to keep going back in time with this group to see if it stays my favorite.
Oscar Winner: Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
My Winner: Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Mark Walhberg
Jackie Earle Haley
Alan Arkin
Djimon Hounsou
2006 Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
This is one of those wins where after you watch the performance you have to wonder why exactly it won over the others, which isn't to put down what Arkin did at all. Arkin is pretty funny in his role of the wild and crass grandfather but it's also pretty short. He cracks some jokes, encourages his granddaughter to be herself, and then goes away. His character is important for helping to foster Breslin's character's independence and joie de vivre and after he's gone we miss his sarcastic, biting, caustic wit which probably would have made the ending even better. It's a good performance and fits the tone of the movie perfectly but I almost feel like Steve Carell (a mostly unknown at the time the film was made) gave a more satisfying performance and showed great range. I love that a comedic performance won but it also seems like maybe the Academy wanted to reward and honor Arkin's career thinking they wouldn't get another chance. Little did they know he would be nominated again for a very similar role in Argo at the 2013 Oscars - one where he was considered a front runner at times in a wide open race. I know many people wanted Eddie Murphy to win here but I have no issue with this win. Arkin does a solid job - I only wish we could have seen more from his character.
Jackie Earle Haley - Little Children
Jackie Earle Haley is perfect for this role just by looks alone. He's gaunt, creepy, and weird looking which suits a man who has been convicted of exposing himself to a minor. He's a man fighting his demons and who let's them win every now and then. The ending of this film is similar to Blanchett's ending yet we fully believe in Haley's version. His anguish and heartache is real. The boiling over of emotions is natural given the circumstances and we are saddened by the ending because Haley has made his character human no matter the fact that he's a convicted sex offender. We understand that he's a man struggling within the world and we openly root for him and hope he finds peace just like his mother does. Sure the director molds our perception of Haley's character with the way he and his mother are treated by their neighborhood but Haley deftly portrays all the subtleties necessary of a man at odds with his self. He wants to do right by his mother and not give in to his urges and try to live a normal life, but people won't let him move on so he's constantly aware of his past troubles. That would be draining on anyone and Haley wears that on his face without being over the top. The director does nothing to try and convince us that Haley is anything but a creep, Haley's acting is what makes us equivocate. It's a powerful performance that almost endears a sexual deviant to the audience - which is no small feat.
Djimon Hounsou - Blood Diamond
Hounsou plays a stock role of the noble, yet suffering African caught up in a civil war where more stock roles of vicious and violent Africans rape and pillage the land under the guise of rebellion/revolution while stock roles of white men take advantage of these other two for profit and, here, diamonds. You can't really fault Hounsou here for trying his best given what he has to work with. He can't write the role for himself so we are stuck with an action/adventure story where Hounsou can show off his muscles as he tries to rescue his son while running all over Sierra Leone with DiCaprio in tow. There are some dramatic moments where we can see bits and pieces of just how good Hounsou can act if only he were given the chance but those are very few and far between. He's more than capable in an action role and approaches it with plenty of aplomb. Ultimately, he's underused here and comes off as the token African along for the ride as the stale white relationship tries to convince us it's something more. Hounsou deserves better from the script but I don't think we would have gotten much more out of it to be honest.
Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Murphy was widely believed to be THE front runner in this category by many critics and Oscar pundits. A lot of people thought his win was merely a formality, as much for his amazing work in Dreamgirls as for his comedic past. That of course didn't happen. And looking back, that's kind of an unfortunate thing since Murphy owned this character. I couldn't get enough of his character and wanted more, more, more. I would have much preferred an entire film about his character's career, as it would have been way more interesting. His portrayal of fictional R&B star Jimmy Early is all at once sleazy, caustic, and raucous. Early is a true showman, to which Murphy brings tons of experience and it shows. When Murphy is on screen he just sizzles and feels real, bringing a much needed vitality to the film which can get bogged down in character tropes and cliches. Every time he's on screen you pay attention and don't want to look away - a true sign of a great performance.
Mark Walhberg - The Departed
This is just an enjoyable performance for me. I'm sure other people might wonder how Wahlberg was nominated here and I could understand their point that there's not a whole lot to his character, but I love it anyway. I think he represents the film well as all the acting was top notch, something that Scorsese is known for. Wahlberg was one of the funniest parts of this film and his jokes and putdowns were all fantastic. And that's about all he brought to the the film, but he didn't need to do anything more. His thick Boston accent with his devastating wit and comebacks were perfect for a police sergeant in an elite unit. It reminded me of some people I knew while in the Army, so it felt very true to life for me. I also liked Alec Baldwin's character and thought that you could almost switch the two for this nomination if you wanted. Wahlberg was just the flashier role and I fully support the Academy's choice.
This is by far my favorite category of the 5. It seems every year is just as strong as the one after it. I seem to have very few complaints about the 5 chosen, though I may differ in who the I think the winner should be. That stands true here. I don't dislike Arkin's role but I definitely prefer Murphy for the win. Walhberg and Arkin had very similar roles but for some reason I just loved Wahlberg's more. The two more serious roles are still pretty good and I'd give the edge to Haley over Arkin right now. Dropping Arkin to 4th might seem like I don't like him but I think this group was just that good. Can't wait to keep going back in time with this group to see if it stays my favorite.
Oscar Winner: Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
My Winner: Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Mark Walhberg
Jackie Earle Haley
Alan Arkin
Djimon Hounsou
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Supporting Actress 2006
I know it's been a long time since I last posted. Instead of listing my excuses, I'll just get right into it! One thing I love about the Supporting categories is that it seems to be very representative of the world of film and ahead of it's time. By that I mean, the Academy doesn't hesitate to nominate young actors with old, minorities and foreign actors and stars from minor movies. Maybe you could say these two are a dumping ground so as to avoid looking predominantly white and old and stuck in the "glory" years. But I love that I can be exposed to so many different performances from a wide variety of actors. I've seen 2 nominees in this group and look forward to finally having some films and performances I haven't seen for once.
2006 Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
She may not have won American Idol, but I'd imagine an Oscar and a financially sound singing career cures the sting. In Dreamgirls, she plays Effie White, a singer with lofty aspirations who is determined to be heard. I recognize that she sings well, but her singing is just not appealing to me at all. I don't like her style of singing, though I can understand why she was chosen for the role. There's no subtlety or nuance with Effie, everything is bombastic and over the top. She's not likeable and her character never really grows. She starts off as a selfish, temperamental, drama queen and continues down that path the entire movie without budging. I think we're supposed to be rooting for her to succeed after she gets bumped from The Dreams but throw away lines about her personal life like how she drank away her money for 2 years doesn't really endear her to the audience. I never connected with Effie in any meaningful way, she gets all these opportunities that don't feel deserved and certainly don't feel like someone that has worked hard to climb out of any kind of hole that the movie wants us to believe. I still don't understand how Effie became the cause de celebre within the film and I honestly didn't care if she made it back to the top because I was never given a reason to root for her. So I guess besides the singing part, I don't see what was so worthy for a win here.
Adriana Barraza - Babel
Honestly, this is a kind of ho-hum performance. Barraza plays a woman who runs a household for a well-off white couple and looks after their kids. Ho-hum might be a little harsh because it's definitely a capable performance but there is nothing that wows the viewer. There's nothing that endears us to Barraza's character and therefore we feel we are just watching from far, far away. We don't feel connected to her and only watch as if we're sitting in a theater and everything is happening on a big screen. The choices she made seem a bit far fetched, as if she couldn't find anyone at all to watch the kids for a bit and would actually take them into Mexico without the parents' ok. Her character is very caring for those kids but it comes at a cost to herself and for a woman who is an illegal alien, her actions just seem incredibly contradictory. It's obvious the story was meant to shock but Barraza's narrative was the weakest of the bunch. Let me be clear that I don't think it's a bad performance, I just don't think it's all that Oscar worthy. It seems that Barraza's nomination may have got swept in with the other Babel nominations because I don't think it could stand on its own.
Cate Blanchett - Notes on a Scandal
Blanchett is a way better actress than she shows here. She floats through most scenes and it's irritating knowing she could easily turn up the acting power and deliver something to rival Dench's performance in this overly ambitious film. What's equally sad is that at the end of the film she does turn up the volume only to give a laughable, highly overacted take on her character finally breaking down. I don't know if Dench makes Blanchett look worse than she really is or if Blanchett makes Dench look better but I'd venture it's a little of both at different times. Part of the blame can fall on the rest of the movie itself - the inappropriate score that is usually the opposite of what is needed for specific scenes and the lazy story/script which doesn't challenge the viewer or ask much from the characters. I never completely bought Blanchett falling for a young student even with the idea that she was bored in marriage being floated about. She just easily gives in and we never really see any moral doubts in her character or thoughts of the consequences of her action. Without Dench finding out and eventually telling on her, the film and script never was really concerned with painting the affair as illicit or morally reprehensible because it was all done in a matter of fact way. I would have hoped that Blanchett recognized this and brought it to the attention of the writer/director. Maybe that's expecting too much out of an actress but I felt like Blanchett was just along for the ride and didn't put enough into her role.
Abigail Breslin - Little Miss Sunshine
Quite a feat to be 10 years old and nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Breslin plays a spunky young girl who enjoys performing in beauty pageants even though she's a bit of an ugly duckling. Her character is the motor that drives the film and it never feels like it drags because of her. Her performance is natural and not obnoxious like most child actors. You almost wish she was your daughter/niece/etc. because she's so pleasant and has such an unfettered sense of adventure and has yet to be corrupted and jaded by society. You root for her which ultimately makes the film better because at times it can be a little too satirical and cliche but her natural joy keeps you emotionally invested. Breslin is great in the ending scene where she performs her routine she practiced with her grandfather. It's a great moment of be who you are and don't worry about anything else type attitude and Breslin absolutely shines in that moment. You can't really say anything bad about her performance and I think any other actor would have floundered in the role, a testament to Breslin.
Rinko Kikuchi - Babel
Kikuchi plays a girl dealing with being deaf, her mother's suicide prior to the film taking place, her father who is emotionally and physically absent, and the typical complexities of being a teenager. Her desperation at belonging and fitting in in a world where she thinks she doesn't, is very palpable and convincing. She is hyper sexual due to wanting attention from boys her age and ends up licking her dentist, flashes random guys, and tries to seduce a detective who comes to her home. All of this shows the vulnerability of Kikuchi's character. She's been traumatized by the death of her mother and acts out in rebellion as her form of grieving. Though her character is Japanese, it's a form of coping that transcends cultures and nations. That behavior could easily be found here in the States and her frustration rings as universal. Her best scene is when she goes to a nightclub with a group of her friends and the guys they just met and we see the club from her perspective. There's no sound but the pulsing lights and the moving bodies and Kinkuchi looks like she feels both free and restricted. Kinkuchi does a god job of building a character we can all understand.
Another year of Best Supporting Actress nominees, another year of being extremely underwhelmed by the choices. I don't know why it is that I seem to always have issues with this group but 2006 didn't really offer any that wowed me and honestly none of them was head and shoulders above the others. I was irritated with Blanchett because I know she could have been way better. Barraza was an able performance but just that - it didn't really grab me at all. Hudson was too over the top for me and lacked any real subtlety and at times it looked like it was her first time acting. Kikuchi does a great job of building an interesting character that I wasn't expecting to like. Breslin gave the most fun performance and I'd say had the easiest one of the group, as well. Right now, I give the slight edge to Kikuchi but my opinion could change at any moment if asked to rank them again. I really do like the diversity in this group, though. Black, white, Hispanic, Japanese, old, young. That's the one plus I'll take from this group and be happy with the Academy these last few years for getting out of their comfort zones.
Oscar Winner: Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
My Winner: Rinko Kikuchi - Babel
Abigail Breslin
Jennifer Hudson
Adriana Barraza
Cate Blanchett
2006 Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
She may not have won American Idol, but I'd imagine an Oscar and a financially sound singing career cures the sting. In Dreamgirls, she plays Effie White, a singer with lofty aspirations who is determined to be heard. I recognize that she sings well, but her singing is just not appealing to me at all. I don't like her style of singing, though I can understand why she was chosen for the role. There's no subtlety or nuance with Effie, everything is bombastic and over the top. She's not likeable and her character never really grows. She starts off as a selfish, temperamental, drama queen and continues down that path the entire movie without budging. I think we're supposed to be rooting for her to succeed after she gets bumped from The Dreams but throw away lines about her personal life like how she drank away her money for 2 years doesn't really endear her to the audience. I never connected with Effie in any meaningful way, she gets all these opportunities that don't feel deserved and certainly don't feel like someone that has worked hard to climb out of any kind of hole that the movie wants us to believe. I still don't understand how Effie became the cause de celebre within the film and I honestly didn't care if she made it back to the top because I was never given a reason to root for her. So I guess besides the singing part, I don't see what was so worthy for a win here.
Adriana Barraza - Babel
Honestly, this is a kind of ho-hum performance. Barraza plays a woman who runs a household for a well-off white couple and looks after their kids. Ho-hum might be a little harsh because it's definitely a capable performance but there is nothing that wows the viewer. There's nothing that endears us to Barraza's character and therefore we feel we are just watching from far, far away. We don't feel connected to her and only watch as if we're sitting in a theater and everything is happening on a big screen. The choices she made seem a bit far fetched, as if she couldn't find anyone at all to watch the kids for a bit and would actually take them into Mexico without the parents' ok. Her character is very caring for those kids but it comes at a cost to herself and for a woman who is an illegal alien, her actions just seem incredibly contradictory. It's obvious the story was meant to shock but Barraza's narrative was the weakest of the bunch. Let me be clear that I don't think it's a bad performance, I just don't think it's all that Oscar worthy. It seems that Barraza's nomination may have got swept in with the other Babel nominations because I don't think it could stand on its own.
Cate Blanchett - Notes on a Scandal
Blanchett is a way better actress than she shows here. She floats through most scenes and it's irritating knowing she could easily turn up the acting power and deliver something to rival Dench's performance in this overly ambitious film. What's equally sad is that at the end of the film she does turn up the volume only to give a laughable, highly overacted take on her character finally breaking down. I don't know if Dench makes Blanchett look worse than she really is or if Blanchett makes Dench look better but I'd venture it's a little of both at different times. Part of the blame can fall on the rest of the movie itself - the inappropriate score that is usually the opposite of what is needed for specific scenes and the lazy story/script which doesn't challenge the viewer or ask much from the characters. I never completely bought Blanchett falling for a young student even with the idea that she was bored in marriage being floated about. She just easily gives in and we never really see any moral doubts in her character or thoughts of the consequences of her action. Without Dench finding out and eventually telling on her, the film and script never was really concerned with painting the affair as illicit or morally reprehensible because it was all done in a matter of fact way. I would have hoped that Blanchett recognized this and brought it to the attention of the writer/director. Maybe that's expecting too much out of an actress but I felt like Blanchett was just along for the ride and didn't put enough into her role.
Abigail Breslin - Little Miss Sunshine
Quite a feat to be 10 years old and nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Breslin plays a spunky young girl who enjoys performing in beauty pageants even though she's a bit of an ugly duckling. Her character is the motor that drives the film and it never feels like it drags because of her. Her performance is natural and not obnoxious like most child actors. You almost wish she was your daughter/niece/etc. because she's so pleasant and has such an unfettered sense of adventure and has yet to be corrupted and jaded by society. You root for her which ultimately makes the film better because at times it can be a little too satirical and cliche but her natural joy keeps you emotionally invested. Breslin is great in the ending scene where she performs her routine she practiced with her grandfather. It's a great moment of be who you are and don't worry about anything else type attitude and Breslin absolutely shines in that moment. You can't really say anything bad about her performance and I think any other actor would have floundered in the role, a testament to Breslin.
Rinko Kikuchi - Babel
Kikuchi plays a girl dealing with being deaf, her mother's suicide prior to the film taking place, her father who is emotionally and physically absent, and the typical complexities of being a teenager. Her desperation at belonging and fitting in in a world where she thinks she doesn't, is very palpable and convincing. She is hyper sexual due to wanting attention from boys her age and ends up licking her dentist, flashes random guys, and tries to seduce a detective who comes to her home. All of this shows the vulnerability of Kikuchi's character. She's been traumatized by the death of her mother and acts out in rebellion as her form of grieving. Though her character is Japanese, it's a form of coping that transcends cultures and nations. That behavior could easily be found here in the States and her frustration rings as universal. Her best scene is when she goes to a nightclub with a group of her friends and the guys they just met and we see the club from her perspective. There's no sound but the pulsing lights and the moving bodies and Kinkuchi looks like she feels both free and restricted. Kinkuchi does a god job of building a character we can all understand.
Another year of Best Supporting Actress nominees, another year of being extremely underwhelmed by the choices. I don't know why it is that I seem to always have issues with this group but 2006 didn't really offer any that wowed me and honestly none of them was head and shoulders above the others. I was irritated with Blanchett because I know she could have been way better. Barraza was an able performance but just that - it didn't really grab me at all. Hudson was too over the top for me and lacked any real subtlety and at times it looked like it was her first time acting. Kikuchi does a great job of building an interesting character that I wasn't expecting to like. Breslin gave the most fun performance and I'd say had the easiest one of the group, as well. Right now, I give the slight edge to Kikuchi but my opinion could change at any moment if asked to rank them again. I really do like the diversity in this group, though. Black, white, Hispanic, Japanese, old, young. That's the one plus I'll take from this group and be happy with the Academy these last few years for getting out of their comfort zones.
Oscar Winner: Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
My Winner: Rinko Kikuchi - Babel
Abigail Breslin
Jennifer Hudson
Adriana Barraza
Cate Blanchett
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