Supporting Actress 1995

I took a little break so I could work my local film festival like I do every year and it's always a blast for me. I end up working so much that I haven't watched an actual film there in 3 years but the new friends I make and the cool people I meet balance that all out. It also reinvigorates my love of film and I wish I had a steady job working in the industry because that would be the dream. I'm excited to get back into this after a little time off, though.

1995 Best Supporting Actress

Mira Sorvino - Mighty Aphrodite

When it comes to Woody Allen movies, I'm always a little apprehensive. The last few weeks, I spent time watching all of his movies up until this one in reverse chronological order (which seems to be my thing). There are a lot of stinkers and some that others love and I either hate (Vicky Crisitina Barcelona) or don't care as effusively for the performance (Blue Jasmine). I know that Allen is known for writing great female parts in his movies and that as I go further back in his oeuvre that I'll come across more good/great movies instead of the stinkers from his later years. So I wasn't sure what kind of movie I'd get or if I would think the performance was overrated or what. Thankfully, I really liked Sorvino's performance and the movie as a whole. Sorvino is very funny with great comedic timing that's actually kinda subtle even though she's playing a prostitute who is super dumb. It would be easy to overdo that kind of character but Sorvino avoids that pitfall and displays great talent at making the jokes land without waiting for the laugh track if that makes sense. Basically I just love that Sorvino is such a hoot and makes it look effortless. She also has this high pitched voice that is at first jarring but then you get used to it and it adds to the comedic effect. There is no underlying subtext for the performance but it's not necessary. It's a straightforward Woody Allen female character who is exceptionally funny and that's all there is to it. One could argue that maybe Sorvino is really the female lead of this movie but that would be a wasted argument as I think Sorvino is fine as the supporting nod. It just goes to show that a winning performance doesn't have to be some super serious, mind blowing thing (though that does help) - just be an enjoyable, likable, really funny performance like Sorvino's.

Joan Allen - Nixon

While I was blown away by Joan Allen's turn the following year in The Crucible, I was not blown away by her portrayal of Pat Nixon. That's not Allen's fault however since she isn't given a whole lot to do with her character. She has a handful of scenes that all serve to either try and humanize Nixon or act as a catalyst for some other event or Nixon doing something. So she is that supporting role that doesn't get to have a life of it's own, merely acting as a way to have the main character do something by interacting with the supporting player. I'm not sure a nomination was needed her as there really isn't anything I can point to that really stands out to me. Sure, Allen is capable and is a good Pat Nixon for what the character is but she gets no chance to rise above the supporting role. Obviously Nixon is all about the 37th President and Hopkins' character dominates the film, but maybe a little more human interaction with his wife would have been a good thing. The film shows Nixon as a man that needed to be more loved as a kid which is why he was so paranoid later in life because he wanted everyone to like him and couldn't deal with not having power and control and not being liked. As it is, I would have liked to see more of Joan Allen because I know she's a really gifted actress and could have really done something special with the role if given an opportunity. Instead, we get a collection of random scenes where she supports Hopkins and is pissed off in most of them. Nothing that really screams Oscar to me which is a shame because Allen is a very good actress.

Kathleen Quinlan - Apollo 13

Go ahead and tell me who Kathleen Quinlan is in Apollo 13. I'll wait. You have no idea and neither did I. I had to wikipedia it to know who I needed to pay attention to. I knew she was an astronaut wife, but didn't know which one. Turns out she was Tom Hanks' wife and I'll say right now, got swept up in the love for the film. You couldn't pick her out of a lineup and probably couldn't figure out who she is in the film so did she deserve this nomination? No. Quinlan does absolutely nothing of note. There is no big scene for her. There's no big moment where she can show off her acting chops. I actually don't know if she has any acting chops because her performance is reduced to nothing but reactionary shots while the guys are having trouble in space. So best reactionary shot woman, sure. But Best Supporting Actress? For what?! She could be any number of Tom Hanks wife, which seems like a whole other story on it's own because he seems to have such nondescript wives in lots of his films. The fact that I bring that up when watching this one should tell you all you need to know. It's unfortunately a nothing nomination, one done because of the popularity of the film. Watch the film without looking anything up and then tell me who Quinlan was. You may say Hanks' wife but I bet you'll not be that sure. Maybe it's because she's the only female actor in the whole film that does anything? Which is a sad reason to nominate. It's a meh nomination.

Mare Winningham - Georgia

Okay so I decided to start out with this film because it was a singular nomination and because it was available on Netflix. I watched like 20 minutes and stopped, not because I hated it but because it never grabbed me. I stopped watching it and eventually moved on to Joan Allen because I knew I'd languish for a month debating whether to pick up where I left off and delaying this blog more. I hate to say it wasn't inspiring but it really wasn't. The thing is I kind of enjoyed Mare Winningham's performance even though she was super serious in the role. She plays the eponymous Georgia, who is the successful singer-songwriter sister of main character Sadie, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. It was actually interesting to see JJL in this and compare it to her Oscar nominated performance from this year in The Hateful Eight. She's definitely grown as an actress even though some of the same traits are still present. This is about Winningham, though, who essentially plays the sisterly/motherly figure to JJL. She has a family, a successful career, owns the family house/farm, and generally has her life together. Her sister Sadie envies everything she has and wants to be a successful singer, too, even though she lacks the talent and is mixed up with booze and drugs and is unreliable and flighty. Winningham's performance is fine, it's good - but it won't knock you over the head. It's a simple supporting role that she takes seriously without much movement from her disconcerting, exhausted, exasperated, disapproving expressions. The main draw for the performance is when Winningham is singing onstage. All the singing is real and Winningham has a great voice and easily fits in as a folk artist. I would have guessed that was her real life talent instead of acting, though the acting isn't awful or anything. This nomination is clearly a nod to the film itself which I think the Academy wanted to reward and this was the easiest way they could do that.

Kate Winslet - Sense and Sensibility

This is a pretty good performance by Winslet, a woman I've had issues with in the past for skating by on her legacy alone instead of her talent. But in this film, she is green as can be though her talent is very obvious. It is fun seeing the young Winslet in action knowing what she would become later in her career. In this film she plays Marianne, the middle sister of three that is courted by Colonel Brandon yet has her heart set on the charismatic John Willoughby. Winslet has it easy as Marianne is such a fiery, rambunctious, and atypical character for the late 18th Century Britain. She's allowed a little more freedom in expressing her character and her presence is more fun than perfunctory. It helps that Winslet has considerable talent because it's a role that could quickly turn bad if in the hand's of someone less skilled because there is that fine line between fun and over the top. Winslet still has the air of an 18th Century woman, she just also has the added bonus of not having to be so stuffy. But as I said earlier, she is still green and it's not a perfect performance. Her melancholy scenes are not as good or alluring as her scenes where she's interacting with Willoughby or Brandon. That's merely a minor quibble as Winslet is very good in the hopelessly romantic and idealistic role of Marianne. It's easy to see that her star was beginning to shine and that she would be a huge name in the coming years and an Oscar darling. Her Marianne set all that into motion and Winslet deserved a nomination here.



What an underwhelming group! Especially compared to 1996 which had a bunch of intense performances. This year's category has some easily forgettable ones unfortunately. The bottom is basically a grab bag of which one you want less. Quinlan does nothing in her film but be a wife. Joan Allen also plays a wife and doesn't get to do a whole lot with her character. Winningham at least has the luxury of singing well to make her stand out a little. So I think that would be my bottom three in order. At least the top two stand out for good performances and not just being there. Winslet is runner up as I really did like her in her film, though she is young and still finding her way. I agree with the Academy this year seeing as I think Sorvino is quite wonderful in her little role. You could give it to Winslet if you really wanted to and I don't think many people would be upset but I found Sorvino to be a lot more enjoyable to watch even with the different types of films. It's not the strongest win and isn't an all-timer but at least it was a good performance. Hopefully the category gets back on track for 1994.

Oscar Winner: Mira Sorvino - Mighty Aphrodite
My Winner:  Mira Sorvino - Mighty Aphrodite
Kate Winslet
Mare Winningham
Joan Allen
Kathleen Quinlan