Leading Actress 2003

I tend to look forward to the Actress categories because they inevitably offer up movies I'd otherwise never see, for better or for worse. That will be even more true as I go back in time but I look forward to branching out. I'm always looking for that diamond in the rough and hopefully these lesser seen movies can offer something up.

2003 Best Actress

Charlize Theron - Monster

Ah yes, this is one of those stereotypes that people think of when it comes to winning an Oscar, especially for the women. That if you ugly-fy yourself, you stand a much greater chance at being nominated and winning because it's so brave and yadda yadda. Luckily for Theron, she gives a great performance on top of the whole looking ugly bit. The story itself is insanely compelling. A woman who has had a pretty tough life becomes a serial killer. Throw in a competent actress like Theron and you've got a stew cooking! She does a great job of making you feel for a serial killing hooker, which when you read that sentence again, is quite the feat. The good thing about Theron's acting here is that it goes well beyond just the ugly makeup and weight gain. She delivers a thoroughly detailed portrait of a crazy serial killer. It's not just ugly. It's not just crazy. It's a balanced mix of these different qualities that make her performance so, so good. This is one of those wins where you look back and say hot damn! the Academy got it right on the nose. Theron digs deep and delivers these great little touches like the nervous glances, the way she says "Yep", her stare - that fully define her character. It truly is a great performance and the best I've seen so far from the Best Actress bunch along with Marion Cotillard's Edith Piaf.

Keisha Castle-Hughes - Whale Rider

At the time she was nominated, she was the youngest Best Actress nominee ever. That was obviously beaten when Quvenzhane Wallis was nominated in 2013 for Beasts of the Southern Wild. So far, I haven't come across really young actresses getting nominated since I haven't reviewed 2013 yet. This is my first time for that type of nominee. That always brings up the question of if the actress is really acting or just being directed. I feel there is absolutely a difference. I know some people will argue vehemently that being directed is acting but I'll disagree just as vehemently! Being directed and told what to do is not the same as acting or creating a character and having input as to what the character's motivations are, how they would react to a situation, or how they can affect a story. KCH does a really good job in this movie. I think I was definitely surprised at how much I actually got into the movie which is about a girl in New Zealand who wants to please her grandfather who is hard on her because she's a girl. Does KCH deserve to be nominated here for Best Actress, though? I find it tough to really say. There are times where KCH is incredibly raw and looks overwhelmed in some scenes and other times where she is extremely confident and makes a scene better with her acting. It's obvious that she has talent and the role really suits her. I'll commend the Academy for going pretty far out of the box on this nomination. I like when they do this even if I'm not completely won over by the performance. It beats having Streep in her place for her 45th nomination. It's an enjoyable performance and one that I can't really judge too harshly. She plays tough extremely well and falters a bit with the more sappy moments. But overall I can't complain about KCH's inclusion here.

Diane Keaton - Something's Gotta Give

This is an adult comedy for old people. So I guess the whole issue with this movie was that Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson were basically playing versions of themselves. Well, yeah! If anyone can watch this movie and not think that about these two actors then they are crazy. It's obvious that that is what the movie is going for. I read some reviews who criticized people who felt that's all the movie offered. That all it offered was those two playing versions of themselves and if you didn't see the brilliance in that then you just didn't get adult comedies. I don't know Diane Keaton from a hole in the ground. I don't know her other films or her supposed contributions to cinema. All I know is what I've seen before and Keaton's role lives up to what I understand her to be. Nicholson's role is basically Nicholson at the end of his days (not really death's door, just end of his acting days kinda), though he is very funny with the material he's given. Nicholson is fabulous in this role, even if he's just playing a version of himself, extremely charming. Keaton plays a well liked older woman for the audience and everything is set up in her favor. It's every older woman's fantasy (I'm guessing). The young doctor (Keanu Reeves lol) likes her and Nicholson eventually falls for her. She wonders where all this attention has come from and reacts accordingly. She's full of giddy renewal and it's cute. Keaton and Nicholson share a wonderful chemistry. I kinda hate that she falls into the cliche tropes of a heartbroken woman, along with an unfortunate crying scene (that's a week long). I really wish the film would have turned that cliche on it's head and been more progressive but instead we get 60 year olds behaving like 20 year olds. Keaton is good in the role, however. You latch onto her and go for the ride. I imagine these notes hit harder if you're in the target demographic but we can all relate to being hurt. One thing I did really like about Keaton is that her eyes are so expressive. She's one of those actors that can act with talking and give a multitude of emotions with just a few movements of her eyes. It definitely has it's place in a film like this. Keaton is very likeable in this role, though I don't know if it lives up to a Best Actress win. A casually comedic performance like hers is nice for a nomination, just not sure about a win - no matter how heartfelt it is.

Samantha Morton - In America

This to me is more of a supporting role. Morton plays the wife/mother of an immigrant Irish family who has moved to New York City in the 1980s. We go through basically their first year or so living in a run down apartment and everything they experience along the way. But for me, the husband, the girls, and even Djimon Hounsou's character have more impact on the story and just a lot more to do overall. She is just attempting to get by with her family and keeps things together while also being pregnant. The film just isn't really about her so that's why this performance feels more Supporting than Lead. I think that the voters may have really liked this film and maybe in a year where more than 5 films could be nominated for Best Picture this may have slipped in. But in 2003, they aren't putting this in the BP race and are going to reward it with it's 2 acting nominations. I liked Morton's performance. It's not gonna wow you but it's just a steady, strong portrayal of an immigrant mother. It's something that people can connect with easily and it's a feel good film to boot. I like the nomination even if I feel it's in the wrong category. This probably would have competed a little bit with Zellweger in Supporting instead of being looked over in this category.

Naomi Watts - 21 Grams

I'm gonna state right off the bat that I just really hate Naomi Watts as an actress. She just supremely annoys me. A lot of that is due to stupid internet commenters who will champion any and every film she's in, no matter how bad it might be. It's annoying and also pertains to Winslet and Kidman as well. But I will say that Watts is good in this film. It's hard to piece everything together given the non-linear story which really does hamper a good critique of a performance. The story and acting bounces all over the place. But Watts gives a really honest performance. She plays a woman who is a recovering addict who then experiences an awful tragedy and then reverts back to her addictive ways. I'll admit that when I saw the title 21 Grams I thought of a drug movie, but it refers to the weight of the soul when a person dies. I think my liking her performance has more to due with I haven't really liked her in pretty much everything else I've seen her in. I read one review that said her acting was strained and stressful. I definitely see that in this performance but I think it works for me in a way. Maybe I was just in the right mood for this one but I did think it was an honest take. It easily could have been a lot worse since the character begs to be overacted. That's a testament to Watts, that she is able to keep it feeling authentic and real for me. Maybe if I watched it again I wouldn't like it as much. You can already see my wavering in support of it as I write this. It's not as bad as I anticipated, that's for sure.

Finally another great Best Actress performance! This time from Charlize Theron. It's the clear cut winner in a group that is really, really mediocre. There's an obvious drop off to second for me and even trying to rank them seems kinda pointless to me. Keaton gives an actual full fledged performance so she would be next. KCH is young and has some moments where that inexperience shows through. Morton is good but is more suited for Supporting Actress. Watts is alright but, yeah, just not a fan of hers at all. Luckily you have one of the best female performances of the last 10 years to buoy this group. Hopefully 2002 will be a bit more balanced.

Oscar Winner:  Charlize Theron - Monster
My Winner: Charlize Theron - Monster
Diane Keaton
Keisha Castle-Hughes
Samantha Morton
Naomi Watts