The Final Conclusion - Best Actress 2001

2001

So the much anticipated ranking is:

5. Judi Dench in Iris

Judi Dench gives an unspectacular but great performance as Iris Murdoch. Although this is definitely not her best work, there's nothing wrong about it. I liked it very much and I was quite moved occasionally, it's just that I feel that the part didn't require a talent like Dench's. As I said, there are no serious problems, I still feel slightly disappointed.

4. Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge!

This is a great performance. Although it lacks real depth or emotion, the wrapping is still beautiful and wonderful. If I look at that, I am fascinated. However, if I look inside, I can't find much there. She sings, she dances, she dies but forgets to create a truly deep and layered character. Still, very good job.

3. Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones's Diary

All in all, this gal, Renée Zellweger is really great as Bridget Jones, this crazy, pathetic and loveable spinster. This is not Sex and the City style "acting", she's truly great as Bridget and she gives a heart-warming portrayal of this lovely character. No wonder that she was nominated for an Oscar.

2. Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom

Sissy Spacek is just amazing as Ruth Fowler and she shows how much tension her grief causes in her life. Her performance is not huge, she doesn't sing, she doesn't dance, she doesn't die, we just see her being totally fantastic and unbelievable. This is an incredibly haunting and unforgettable peformance. Those small movements of hers, the outbursts, the tears. Everything is so real and haunting.

1. Halle Berry in Monster's Ball

There's nothing more appropriate word to describe Halle Berry's performance in Monster's Ball than mindblowing. She's saw raw and so incredible as Leticia Musgorve and she shows Leticia's inner demons so amazingly. She's unbelievably effective and although I might understand why some don't like her, I think that she's just fantastic and shows the mood swings and breakdowns of Leticia incredibly. Brutally raw, amazing work.

So I can proudly announce

the winner is...

Halle Berry

in

Monster's Ball

Oh my Goooood! XD

Final thoughts: A really great year, in my humble opinion. It's WAY better than some say. All of the performances seemed very interesting to me. Two of them didn't impress me that much and they were leaning towards 3,5 but my leninent heart stepped in. I'm always much stricter when I get a weak year (1975, but I don't want to remember). Renée was just fantastic as Bridget Jones and I loved her. Halle's win was a really worthy one and I am happy that it became an even more special one for her. Sissy is always brilliant and I feel sooooooooo bad about not choosing her. But I would feel even worse if I didn't pick Halle. It's possible that once I'll change my mind, not now. If I could, I would make this one a tie.

Omissions: 

• Nicole Kidman in The Others 
• Audrey Tautou in Amelie

About the next year: I don't have any idea. I'll be away next week, so I'll take my time. :) You'll know it next Saturday. :) Make some suggestions, I might like some of the ideas. :)

Note: I've just found the perfect year but I'll say nothing for sure, yet. :)

What do you think? Any thoughts on your mind?

Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge!

Nicole Kidman received her first Best Actress nomination for playing Satine, a courtesan, in the Best Picture nominated musical, Moulin Rouge!. Nicole Kidman's performance in this movie caused a real sensation. She won the Golden Globe, audiences fell in love with her all over the world and she received her Oscar nomination, at last. I guess she almost won (even though she wasn't nominated for the SAG, that might have been a major drawback) and if it hadn't been for Halle's performance, she would have got the Oscar. I think Sissy Spacek wasn't as much of a threat to them in the end.

Moulin Rouge! is a really great movie about love. Yes, it's incredibly colorful and weird and I used to resent it because of that but now I see the whole concept of it. I think it's a brilliantly made piece and in my opinion, the Best Art Direction and Costume Design win are one of the worthiest ones ever given out in the history of the Academy. I mean the movie has really stunning visuals. It's quite exaggerated and yet fascinating. I also believe that Baz Luhrmann should have received a nod for directing. Ewan McGregor gives a good but occasionally annoying performance though that might be the character's fault.

When Nicole Kidman's performance was contending for the Oscar, one of her taglines was "She sings, She dances. She dies." Yes, Satine's role is really one to kill for and Nicole used every opportunity to shine. Nicole was already a succesful actress but her success really peaked in 2001 when she starred in Moulin Rouge! and the chilling horror, The Others. I really like her acting style and I'm in love with her beauty. I believe that she represents everything that a star should be. She's like a modern day Ingrid Bergman, in my opinion. She's emotional, beautiful and has her share of haters.

One thing that I realised about her work as Satine is that it's so grand and spectacular. I wouldn't say that her acting is amazing or fantastic but there's something so huge about this performance. I guess she's really the heart and soul of Moulin Rouge! and that's probably she was intended to be. That was the goal of the director, for sure but I never felt that Nicole was too pushy or obvious. Although it's true that she's at the centre of attention, Nicole is not desperate about that (unlike, say, Renée Zellweger in Chicago).

Satine is the weirder musical version of Greta Garbo's character in Camille. We basically see the same story in Moulin Rouge! in a much more modern way. The signs of Satine's illness are more dramatic here and Nicole handles them properly and she never becomes too over-the-top. Some may argue about that but I feel she was just fine at showing Satine's suffering.

The chemistry between the two leads is crucial in this case because if there had been no fire and music around them, the whole movie would have failed. Thankfulyy, the make up a great couple and I truly believed that they would do everything for each other. Although sometimes their scenes are a bit soappy, it's not really annoying. They are incredibly effective, especially when Satine is dying or when they have to face with the possible dangers of their relationship.

Moreover, Nicole's singing is really wonderful. She has a very firm singing voice and she puts all the necessary emotions into the songs. It's a really memorable scene where she sings "One Day I'll Fly Away).

However, something very striking came to me. Although I was incredibly affected by her performance while I was watching her, all the effect is gone at this point and I realised how depthless this performance and the whole movie really is. On the outside, everything is brilliant and beautiful but inside, there's nothing. It's like making a beautiful wrapping but forgetting to ut the present inside it. That's basically how I feel about Nicole's performance and Moulin Rouge! in general.

Still, this is a great performance. Although it lacks real depth or emotion, the wrapping is still beautiful and wonderful. If I look at that, I am fascinated. However, if I look inside, I can't find much there. She sings, she dances, she dies but forgets to create a truly deep and layered character. Still, very good job.

What do you think?

The Next Year

2001

So the nominees were:

• Halle Berry in Monster's Ball
• Judi Dench in Iris
• Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge!
• Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom
• Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones's Diary

A requested year and a great one, I think. Any normal, usual year would be a relief after 1975.

What do you think? What's your ranking? What do you predict for my ranking?

The Final Conclusion - Best Actress 2010

2010

The much anticipated ranking:

5. Annette Bening in The Kids Are All right

I would be quite upset if Annette won in a shocker. Not because I hate her, I just don't feel that this is something that is worthy of an Oscar with such a competition. It's true that Bening has her great and memorable scenes, but this is not an amazing performance by any means. It's just very good, proper acting in a fine movie.

4. Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole

I can say that Nicole Kidman gave a very heartbreaking and beautiful performance as Rebecca Corbett. Although it did not blow my socks off, it was a very emotional and wonderful experience for me. Nicole approached this character very subtly and as a result, we got an excellent performance by her.

3. Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone

This was a very exceptional performance by a young actress, which may not be amazing or mindblowing for the first time but it's very intense and memorable work. Lawrence took the character of Ree Dolly and created a real character. I really appreciated this achievement because of its fierce nature.

2. Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine

This is a terrific, very unusual performance that is extremely memorable and haunting. Michelle Williams took a very ordinary character and made her something very interesting. It may not be for everyone, but it's surely breathtaking breathtaking once in a while. A real treat for Best Actress fans.

1. Natalie Portman in Black Swan

I can say that Natalie Portman, an actress whom a did not consider a real talent, kicks ass as Nina and gives a performance that has the strength of Mo'Nique in Precious, Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose. If she wins, it will be hard for the next winner to live up to the standard she showed. A terrifying, brilliant performance after which you feel being hit by a full-guided tour bus.

So I can proudly announce

that my winner is...

Natalie Portman

in

Black Swan

You won at least this one, Natalie! :D

Final thoughts: Wow, ranking is rarely so easy. I must say that this year is not THAT fantastic. Only Natalie and Michelle fall into that category. Nicole is very great, so is Jennifer, Annette is very good. I hope that if anyone upsets that will be Michelle or Nicole though that's almost impossible. Personally, I would hate a Bening win and her chances are getting bigger and bigger (please tell in the comments that Natalie will win). Sorry fans, I don't want to offend anyone but that performance was not something I would call the best. I really enjoyed this year anyhow.

Omissions: I can't think of any. Maybe Julianna Margulies in City Island though I would consider her supporting. Many say she's leading. I don't really mind the Moore snub. I feel, though, that the comparisions between Annette and Julianne are inevitable and that will take a lot of votes away from Annette.

And there's also a winner of the predicting contest: Malcolm, congratulations on your great predictions! :)

The ranking of the already reviewed years:

1. 1969
2. 1974
3. 1989
4. 1959
5. 1939
6. 2010
7. 2009
8. 1980
9. 1941
10. 1963
11. 1966
12. 1973
13. 1990
14. 1978
15. 1954
16. 1948
17. 2002
18. 1940
19. 1998

About the next year: Wow, again, I couldn't decide so I let you decide, which should be my 20th reviewed year (I was thinking about 1968 as it's so historical, but I'd really like to do the other two, too). There's a poll on your right. Happy voting!

Note: Unfortunately I will have to create a new poll as I won't be able to do 1971, because Sunday, Bloody Sunday was removed from Youtube. Sorry to everyone who voted for that year. I included 1977 instead and there's a brand new poll.

Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole

Nicole Kidman received her third Best Actress nomination for playing Rebecca Corbett, a grieving mother in the movie Rabbit Hole. Nicole is already an Oscar winner and she did not win any precursor awards for this performance (though she could have, I think), so she doesn't have much chance of winning that Oscar on 27th February. Actually, she doesn't seem to be very obsessed with winning. She's now very relaxed at the award shows and I think she is totally aware that she's not going to win. I admire her for this.

Rabbit Hole is an excellent, excellent movie. It might seem to be boring for the first time, but in fact, it's one of the best movies that I've seen in 2010. It's a very tough and heartbreaking experience though there's stil so many beauty in it. It's based on a very successful Broadway play and the screenplay is simply brilliant and should have received an Oscar nomination. The actors all give excellent performances, especially Aaron Eckhart, Sandra Oh and Dianne Wiest. It was especially delightful to see the return of Wiest to movies. I think she's such a great talent and we should see more of her.

Nicole Kidman (I dare say) gives one of her finest performances here. I always loved her as an actress as she has that special radiation that comes from the stars of the good old days (I think she's very much like Ingrid Bergman, my favorite actress). I love that Nicole's performances are always so subtle, gracious and dignified. She never plays the traditional Oscar baity roles and yet she's obvously someone whose performances are loved by the Academy. Quite probably because she reminds them of the golden days of Hollywood.

When I think of Nicole's work as Rebecca Corbett in Rabbit Hole, one word comes to my mind: dedication. In fact, Nicole was so dedicated to this film and character that it deserves some credit in itself. In every second of the movie, I feel that Kidman believes what she's doing and she's doing this not becuase of the possibility of acclaim and awards. She acts the way she does because she believes in this movie and believes in its message and I can so respect that.

Most of Nicole's performance as Becca is very quiet and subtle but there's so much force inside her and Rebecca's pain is so excellently portrayed by her. This tension throughout the movie is so obvious and it's so captivating. There are some huge outbursts and they are so wonderfully placed in the movie. Whenever the pain becomes undbearable, there's some shouting and it's so comforting for the viewer, I think. This makes the suffering and grief of Rebecca so understandable and real. I bet this wasn't a very easy role for Nicole emotionally and technically.

Although I preferred the more quiet moments to the loud ones, the loud ones are not bad either. Her fight scene with Aaron Eckhart over that video is so heartbreaking. We see a more sensitive side of Rebecca and her emotions are erupting just like a volcano and it gives the scene some really heart-wrenching weight.

As I said, those quiet moments are just brilliant. First of all, Nicole works so well together with Miles Teller (the guy playing Jason). Their scenes at the park are so great in their subtlety and calmness. Those subtle emotions and faces they give us are just remarkable. It's so interesting that Becca is full of rage and anger but she still has some kind of a relationship with the person who caused her son's death. Also, Nicole's scenes with Dianne Wiest are just excellent. That laugh between them was so incredibly natural and deeply human. I loved when Becca asks her mother if the pain will ever disappear. That moment is one of the most emotional scenes in this movie.

Still, the scene that absolutely kills me is the one in the car where Becca recalls the death of her son and starts sobbing and crying. Nicole's chilling there and it's an extremely heartbreaking moment. Although I wouldn't say that the whole performance blew me away, that scene most certainly did.

So, I can say that Nicole Kidman gave a very heartbreaking and beautiful performance as Rebecca Corbett. Although it did not blow my socks off, it was a very emotional and wonderful experience for me. Nicole approached this character very subtly and as a result, we got an excellent performance by her, which is not only for her fans. Exceptional work.

This is the best rating for her.

What do you think?

The Next Year

2010

So the nominees are:

• Annette Bening in The Kids Are All Right
• Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole
• Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone
• Natalie Portman in Black Swan
• Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine

Seems to be a great year. We'll see. What are your predictions for my ranking and for Oscar's preference (Natalie seems to be a shoo-in, but Annette might surprise)? The predicting contest is on.

I'm saying right now that Natalie's review comes on 19th February.

The Final Conclusion - Best Actress 2002

About the field: Well. If I think about it, this year wasn't as bad as I originally thought. It could have been much stronger, but I think my #1 and #2 were really the highlights and they killed the rest of the competition. They gave performances for the ages and both deserved to win. My #3 has in fact grown on me in these last few days and therefore I give her a half extra Meryl. I was thinking about what would have happened had Tilda Swintion played Virginia Woolf. But that's a different story. I can definitely say that this year turned out to be much different from than I imagined, but I like it this way and it was way more interesting than 1998. OK, so now it's time we got to the ranking.

5. Salma Hayek in Frida
This performance that did not disappoint me as I did not expect much, but I may even say that it is worth watching because of the very strong early scenes. But don't really expect a very towering achievement.

4. Renée Zellweger in Chicago
I am not saying that Zellweger gives a bad performance in Chicago, because occasionally she is actually good. But again, damn it I was so dissatisfied. I was soooo hoping that I would like her, but I did not eventually.

3. Nicole Kidman in The Hours
She has quite grown on me as she is extremely haunting in some of the scenes. I understand both the criticsm and love towards her. This is a beautiful and haunting performance by a great actress that keeps growing on me.

2. Diane Lane in Unfaithful
A dynamite performance to say the least. She really gets your guts and doesn't even let you go for a long time (even after watching the film). Lane gave one of the most intimate, credible and unforgettable performances ever. Now I'm really satisfied.

1. Julianne Moore in Far from Heaven
I must say that Julianne Moore gives one of the greatest, most moving and beautiful performances that I have ever seen. She's totally heart- and gutwrenching, moving and will haunt you for a long time.I don't really like the world revelation as I think sometimes it's used without a reason, but here Moore's achievement in this movie is worthy of that term.

So I can proudly announce
that my winner is...
Julianne Moore in Far from Heaven
Beauty.
 

Omissions:

• Isabelle Huppert in The Piano Teacher *My Pick*
• Nia Vardalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding

So it's time to give clues about my next year, to which I'm really looking forward to. It's often referred to as one of the strongest years ever. Gosh I'm sooo excited, I give you my very easy clues.

• If you don't like deers, instead of going away, think about...
• Mommie Dearest
• Sex and the City: The Origin

So what do you think? Any opinions, observations or off-topic subjects you want to talk about? Don't be shy. BTW has anyone seen The Kids are All Right? I'm so damn curious! Do you think that Moore or Bening can win for it? I'm mostly rooting for Julianne as I'm not a big Bening fan (though she seems to be the more praised one).

Nicole Kidman in The Hours

Nicole Kidman received her second nomination and won her only Oscar to date for playing Virginia Woolf, the tragic author in Stephen Daldry's movie The Hours. I think Kidman had the most chance during the time (along with Renée Zellweger) to get the award, which she did beating Zellweger (gosh, her face in that video is so hilarious), Salma Hayek, comeback star Diane Lane and critical darling Julianne Moore ( lso her co-star in The Hours).

I'm so blown away... by Julianne Moore. Boy, she gives one of her greatest performances in The Hours as the unhappy housewife in the 1950s (and probably even should have won that Supporting Actress Oscar). Except for her, The Hours is a rather average, meaningless, pointless movie, which so desperately tries to be artistic but never manages to reach its goal. However, I must say (as a fan of Philip Glass) that the score absolutely should have won the Oscar. There are great actors in this movie, but none of them makes such a huge impression as Ms. Moore.

And that includes Nicole Kidman. It's such a common thing to hate this win and performance, but I cannot really agree with the haters as she definitely has her moments, so her win is not as disappointing as, say, Sandra Bullock's (coping with this win will not be easy for me, it still hurts). her whole character and material is rather thin. Sure on the outside she gets very much to do, mental illness, tragic heroine, real-life person and so on, but this role is not as baity as it seems. It doesn't reveal how horrible Woolf's illness really is (though that might also be Kidman's fault).

It's not only her material which is thin, though. Actually, her whole performance is not substantial enough to be called a lead performance. You see, I never had problems with the screentime (I mean Patricia Neal won my vote with only 20 minutes), no it's the lack of true and deep impression which really bothers me. I know it's very unfair to compare her to her co-star, but I'm not fair: quite simply put, Julianne Moore totally outacts her and overshadows all the other storylines (yes, including marvellous Meryl Streep who gives another one of her teary-eyed performances I honestly cannot stand). Kidman never actually becomes the centre of the movie, even though it starts and ends with her.

As I said, her material is rather thin, but she gets some very artistic stuff, which are rather pointless. For example, here's her famous scene with the dead bird. I mean, come on! It was one of the lamest and cheapest scenes of this movie and totally pointless, though Kidman is able to inject some emotion into it. And her infamous nose: that's really not Kidman's fault. She's in my opinion a terrific actress and that nose looks weird simply because the make-up is awful.

Probably Nicole's best moments come towards the end, where she says goodbye to her sister, Vanessa. Her hysterical, over-the-top behaviour totally suited that scene and had some kind of an emotional effect on me. She showed so much desperation and anger deep inside her character, that I felt very releaved that finally I can get to know this woman. Again there comes a brilliant scene (which had an enourmous impact on my opinion of her work here) on the train station where she argues with her husband about her mental health. She's far from gut-wrenching, but her dexterity with the emotions there is remarkable. I was quite satisfied there.

Again there comes another question: whose fault is it, that this performance is not as good as it could have been. In my humble opinion, it's definitely not due to Nicole Kidman, who could have been much more interesting and complex than she was in this one.

So, to sum up, I saw a rather disappointing performance by a very good actress who could have done more, I think. If I'm totally honest with myself I'm dissatisfied, but only to a degree because as I said Kidman has her moments, but the overall achievement was not enough to get me. I like heavy stuff, but this is a bit far from it. The grade is fine I think.

Sorry, you had to wait this much, but school just started and everything's crazy here. Who should be the next (I'll review her tomorrow or Sunday at least)?So what do you think about Kidman? What do you predict for my ranking now?

The Next Year

So we have come to our much anticipated 2002. I've been putting it off for like eternity, but now it's finally time to terminate your suspense. This is a very often talked about year, mostly due to the enourmous fanbase of Julianne Moore's performance in Far from Heaven. But we'll see who will get my vote. Will it be the nose, the moustache or the pearls? Or will I prefer dancing or adultery? This doesn't seem to be a very exciting year, but we'll see.


So the nominees were:

• Salma Hayek in Frida
• Nicole Kidman in The Hours*
• Diane Lane in Unfaithful
• Julianne Moore in Far from Heaven
• Renée Zellweger in Chicago

So what are your predictions for my ranking?

P.S. : From now on I will not be really able to do write as frequently as I did, but I will do my best. Thanks for your understanding.
Also, we can also talk a bit about the Emmys in your comments. Were you just as pissed as I was that Julianna Margulies lost? Or any other thoughts?