Leading Actress 1993

Honestly, I've been super unmotivated to write and watch anything lately. Lots going on in my life and work is all I do it seems. No fun intro just getting to the reviews.

1993 Best Actress

Holly Hunter - The Piano

Lots and lots of interesting things to talk about with Hunter's win here. First of all, this was one of two of Holly Hunter's nominations this year, the other being for her brief cameo in The Firm. That second one wasn't really necessary or well deserved but sometimes the Academy goes overboard on rewarding an actor if they've had a good year. Second, this was only the third Best Actress winner ever to feature a non speaking role after Marlee Matlin and Jane Wyman. And third, well okay, there is no third but let it be known that I'm not a huge fan of Hunter's, having disliked her other two nominations for various reasons. However, I thought Hunter was terrific here. She does so much without saying a single word. She's so expressive in her movements and her looks that her performance is a complete performance. Her hatred of being in New Zealand is quite obvious and Hunter makers her dislike obvious. She meets Harvey Keitel's character when she lands and he asks for piano lessens which she gives in to. Hunter plays the piano to Keitel's liking but they engage in a torrid affair and I can't help but wish she'd just up and run off with him because the two have some great sexual chemistry together. It still goes back to her being a mute and not saying a word and still saying a million things with her body language and piano playing and overall being. Her and her daughter are pretty fantastic together and it's obvious why Anna Paquin won an Oscar for her role. I love that Hunter doesn't give in to her future husband, actually never gives in. I never thought I would like this performance as much as I did, it definitely surprised me. I was worried this might be a weak winner but I'm glad to say it's not. I just like how Hunter is able to make her character so real and authentic without uttering a word. When she's doing her signing you can feel the contempt or frustration or nervousness or whatever emotion Hunter needs to get across. And she does that without overacting. At times it's subtle and at times it's demonstrative without going overboard. If you're going to have a silent character, you need to be convincing in your silence and Hunter definitely is.

Angela Bassett - What's Love Got to Do with It

I can't NOT sing the title of this film in my head (or out loud) any time I read it, it's like an automatic reaction. That said, Angela Bassett gives it her all here and it's quite awesome to see. Unfortunately, the film itself let's her down. Here's the thing: this is a Tina Turner biopic. If you don't like her music, then there goes about half the appeal of the film. I'm certainly not a fan of her music so the songs did nothing for me. I can't connect with any of that to possibly reach Tina on a deeper level.  Without the musical angle, you get the Tina as a battered woman angle. That's legitimately all that's left. Sure, we get told how Tina was discovered as Anna Mae Bullock and then used and abused by Ike Turner. The abuse continues for years as Tina becomes the breadwinner and Ike fades into the background which he hates. So Bassett starts off as this naive, young thang and does a good job communicating that. Her big smile and naivete make her endearing. Then the Ike abuse takes over and while Bassett looks absolutely the part (muscles and all), she doesn't embody the soul of Tina. We have no idea as to the motivations and all that of the characters because the film only ever scratches the surface and never, ever gets too deep. Not the fault of Bassett, who is supremely dedicated to Tina. She is the physical embodiment of Tina. It's remarkable. But there are scenes where the singing doesn't match up with Bassett's lip-synching. You can tell Bassett is putting in her all for the performance but the sound just doesn't match her actions. Which tells me that Bassett dedicated herself to the character but was let down by the film. She's so strong and beautiful in a couple scenes but unfortunately it's all window dressing. We never dive deep into Ike or Tina and the film suffers because of that. There are some quick tearjerker moments from Bassett, but they just feel like lip service really. Bassett is trying her hardest to give a great performance and the Academy recognized it as such, but I was really hoping for something that would tell me more about Tina Turner. I still don't really know who she is as a person and that's unfortunate. But Bassett is pretty great and I'm glad she got a nomination here.

Stockard Channing - Six Degrees of Separation

This is kind of a weirdly interesting film. It has a lot of famous people in it and focuses on a young Will Smith who scams his way into some really rich people's homes on the conceit that he knows their kids and is Sidney Poitier's son. The acting by Smith is pretty good but the whole film is based off a Tony nominated play so everything is largely theatrical. Stockard Channing was nominated for her role as the main woman who Smith encountered and duped for a Tony award for Best Actress so I guess the Academy liked it so much that they followed suit. I can see this as being the sole representation for a film with many famous actors that the Academy enjoyed and wanted to show it's appreciation in some way, so Channing became the choice. Now I honestly don't think her performance is anything special. She's obviously very comfortable as her character which makes sense when she portrayed the character for a long, long time on Broadway. She also has great chemistry with Donald Sutherland who is an actor that makes anything look easy. Their rapport is back and forth and quick and they are both great storytellers which is how this film is framed. The interaction with Smith gives these rich people fodder for their cute cocktail stories of being hoodwinked and links them to other couples that have been fooled the same way by Smith. This speaks to the notion of the whole six degrees of separation theory that we are linked by only six people in this world. Smith unites all these different couples and gives them a link to each other. Channing, though a victim, seems almost maternal and proud when talking about Smith, as if she wants to believe his lies because it makes her life more exciting. It's a sturdy, if unexciting, performance from Channing who is at ease as the duped socialite. In another year, this might have been bumped for a stronger performance but the Academy could have done much worse than this. It's actually grown on me a little the more I think about it which is always a good thing. Plus, I got to see a really interesting film that makes me wish I could have seen the play because I know it was probably way better than this. And I'm sure Channing was more impressive in the theatrical setting than in this film.

Emma Thompson - The Remains of the Day

This is not a Leading Actress performance. She never once takes over the film or any scene and is never more than just a side character working behind the scenes. Not a Lead Actress at all. No. I get that Thompson won the year previous but this is absolutely Supporting. Okay, she plays a housekeeper but factors into none of the big moments of the film, or at least is on the periphery of all the big moments. She is a new hire that speaks her mind and feels like more of a modern day person which is part of her appeal. It's the typical Emma Thompson role where she uses her trademark wit, her sort of deadpan delivery of biting remarks, and her warm humanity to create a character we can all love. My main thing is that this is more of a Supporting role even though yes, she is the only real strong female character in the film. I guess that's part of why she gets a nomination in this category but let's be real - it feels really Supporting to me. And this isn't to say it's not a great performance because I do feel that Thompson adds another dimension to the film that without her would turn it into something completely different. She makes the film better, no doubt. I was just waiting and waiting for her role to broaden and become more important but it never did. After an hour of watching I figured okay, now she'll factor into the story a great deal more but, no, she didn't. But like I said, it's a good performance and the chemistry between Thompson and Hopkins is quite something to watch. Two great actors that know what they are doing and doing it so well just as two actors and as the two characters in the story. They have such a faintly flirty romance that you are for sure rooting for them to get involved but nothing ever really happens with their relationship and that's okay. Thompson is a strong character in the film, even if on the sides, and she makes the film more enjoyable to watch. I don't know if she really needed two nominations this year because you could maybe put this in Supporting instead, though I guess I see why it nominated for Lead. I'm glad she was represented in some capacity because her year was a pretty good one.

Debra Winger - Shadowlands

Okay, so I sat on this review for a little bit. If you've followed this blog at all you know I do that from time to time when I'm not very motivated. That's only natural. Not every performance is going to elicit a passionate response one way or another. Sometimes I'm going to watch a film and performance and go okay, that was alright. Winger somewhat fits into that category. She's good. Better than I anticipated because I wasn't sure of what to expect really. I had heard the name and knew she was popular for a bit and supposedly a pretty great actress. I see why all of those were true when it comes to her performance here. She plays an American woman who goes over to London to meet up with C.S. Lewis of the Narnia fame and ends up marrying him. She's a gruff American lady who instead of being demure and classical, shouts in a crowded restaurant if anyone is named Lewis. That's the kind of woman she is. She never backs down from Lewis (played by Anthony Hopkins) and they enjoy a good, friendly argument. She's a woman who isn't afraid to say what she thinks. Now Winger is kinda perfect for this role, portraying the New York woman with gusto. She also comes off very motherly/wifely, even from the very beginning that nurturing aspect is quite evident. She's frank and quite straight with Lewis at times and it's enjoyable to watch her and Hopkins nicely play out the relationship. But that's why I'm a little tepid towards her performance because yes, it is good, but it certainly isn't going to wow you. The relationship is average and one of convenience at first but then it delves into coming to terms with accepting the inevitability of death and dealing with loss and grief as Winger's character finds out she has a terminal disease. What I like about Winger in this part is that she doesn't play the weepy woman at all. She's strong for her son and for Hopkins and, really, for herself. What could have turned into a real awful Oscar bait tearjerker but Winger keeps it from flying off the handle. It's a good performance, just not one that's going to inspire many people to check it out and champion it for a win.


Another shitty Best Actress group. I'm completely uninspired by every woman here. Debra Winger is my least favorite simply because the film and character and performance are all so blah. She's okay but really doesn't stand out. Channing is next and actually really interesting and a pretty different choice for a Best Actress nod. She played the role on Broadway and was nominated there so might as well nominate her here right? It's decent but definitely not must see. Bassett is 3rd because, well, the other two suck more or are at least not as inspiring. Bassett has the fact that she plays Tina Turner in her corner. Gets to sing and be feisty, so that works well. It's not bad, just not great. Thompson is my second because it really doesn't fit the whole Lead Actress thing but whatever I guess. Can't quite vote for her to win for the second year in a row so that means Holly Hunter is my defacto winner. And that's it - defacto winner. Don't care to change the result because she's good and no one else can really claim the throne. Just an overall really meh year that should be better than it is.

Oscar Winner: Holly Hunter - The Piano
My Winner:  Holly Hunter - The Piano
Emma Thompson
Angela Bassett
Stockard Channing
Debra Winger