After having watched and reviewed all five nominated performances, it's time to pick the winner!
5. Angelina Jolie in Changeling
In a performance of incredibly diverse qualities, Angelina Jolie both carries and harms the movie as she reaches heights and lows while she mixes honest emotions with fake over-the-top moments but she nonetheless creates a memorable character caught in a horrible situation and her bleak appearance and desperate performance fits to the dark and gloomy atmosphere of the story.
Melissa Leo gives an impressive performance that shows how the desperation and hopelessness of her life has turned her character into a bitter and pessimistic woman but while she succeeds in showing her constant determination and toughness, there are unfortunately a lot of missed opportunities to illustrate a different side.
Meryl Streep is obviously having fun with this part that gives her the opportunity to chew the scenery but at the same time she allows Sister Aloysius to be more than just a villainous stereotype and shows more layers behind the stern façade of this strict and unforgiving nun.
2. Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
With her performance, Anne Hathaway wisely took all the qualities she usually let shine in her comedies, like her charm, her loveable personality and her unique appearance and used it against type to create a memorable character, filled with sorrow and sadness that she mostly tries to hide behind a fake smile and a hyperactive personality.
Despite being trapped in a mediocre movie, Kate Winslet was able to bring her complex character wonderfully to live with a fascinating, memorable and layered performance that successfully turns Hannah into a three-dimensional and mysterious woman and makes her actions and thoughts always appear believable, as hard as they may be to understand.
26 comments:
Well, I knew it :)
A weak year overall it seems.
Well, the year is...okay, but certainly not the best.
What?! I was sure Leo would win! Ah well. I think this year isn't one of the best ever, but I still think it's a very strong year and much better then 2009, for example.
I know you were sure that Leo would win but sometimes surprises are nice! :-)
When I started this year, I thought that Hathaway or Leo would be my pick since they are generally the most praised but after having seen them all, I agree with the Academy. And Leo's performance belongs now in the group of those acclaimed performances I don't really get.
Was it hard to decide between Hathaway and Winslet or was Winslet always your clear winner? And what year is next?
After I saw Rachel Getting Married, I thought for a while about who I prefer but in the end, Kate is clear winner for me this year.
I am still thinking about what year will be next. I keep it a surprise like Sage! :-)
I totally understand the underwhelming quality of Melissa Leo.
But, I thought the fierceness and almost pathetic quality she brought to that role was great.
Another problem for me was also that I didn't think that Frozen River was a good movie and Melissa Leo's performance didn't improve that.
But I can see your points!
I actually liked Frozen River a lot, and I thought Leo was great in it! I'll eventually do this year, but not anytime soon.
To each his own! :-)
Ha ha. And speaking of that, why don't you really like Judy Garland?
Well, I have to see her again, it's been a long while but I remember that I just wasn't as overwhelmed by her as everybody else. So many people call this the greatest performance ever and I didn't see that and because of that, I think my opposition to the performance grew a bit too much. Plus, I am a big Grace-Kelly-fan but when I watch Judy again, I will be fair!
It might not be the greatest performance, but it's definitely one of my favorites! After seeing it, I've become a huge fan of Judy! I know you don't really like her in general, but would you have given her a nomination for The Wizard Of Oz?
Mmh, I don't think so. This is another classic I don't really care for. This movie is more an American phanomenon (but I love "Wicked").
Oh, I would! I love the movie! Even if it is a little weird, ha ha. And I like Wicked a lot too! The musical is much better then the book to me and I love both Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth!
I love Idina and Kristen, too, but for me, nobody beats the Stuttgart cast! (you can find clips from then on youtube).
I'll look it up! What would you say is your all time favorite musical?
Mmh, that constantly changes...once it was West Side Story, then Tanz der Vampire, then Les Miserables, then Wicked...
But I would say if I was forced to chose one, then Les Miserables.
I like Les Miserables a lot too! I think it was the best of the 80's musicals (Phantom, Cats, Miss Saigon) and I love the concert video! Chicago is my favorite, but I certainly like a lot!
I like Les Miserables too, I liked the concert film.
The Les Miserables concert is FANTASTIC!!! Ruthie Henshall alone is worth the price!
And Lea Solonga was great as well! What would you say is your favorite song from Les Miserables?
I have to say Phillip Quast made it for me, but His performance ruined me for other Javerts.
I thought he was great too! The best of the two male leads, in my opinion.
They were all fantastic!
I would say my favorite song is "One Day More"! Epic!
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