The Oscars: Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role

Well, it is Oscar time and now that the writers are back, let the hilarity ensue. I will be going over the four major acting categories and the Best Picture Nominees this week before making my predictions in the top 8 categories (I am 12/16 in the last two years!).

And the nominees are:

Cate Blanchett - Jude Quinn in I'm Not There

I have yet to see this but it is the one that is the most facinating to me. The movie is six different stories revolving around characters based on the life or the legend of Bob Dylan. Blanchett plays Jude Quinn, a version of Dylan at the height of his fame in the 1960s, when his original fan base was rejecting him as a sell-out. Blanchett's scenes are in black and white, and use surreal imagery based on those in Federico Fellini's 8½. Blanchett is also nominated for Best Actress as she was 9 years ago for playing Queen Elizabeth in Elizabteh: The Golden Age. I think she has a better chance with this one.

Ruby Dee - Mama Lucas in American Gangster

I haven't seen this one either. It is a movie about a heroin kingpin from Harlem who smuggled heroin into the US on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War. Ruby Dee plays the mother of the main character Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington. At 83 years old, she is the second oldest nominee ever behind Gloria Stuart from Titanic.

Saoirse Ronan - Briony Tallis in Atonement

Ahh, finally we get to a film I have seen. Saoirse plays Briony younger sister in this tale of misunderstanding and regret. Saoirse plays 13 year old Briony who has a very vivid imagination and a crush on Robbie Turner (played by James McAvoy) son of the family housekeeper in World War II era England. Robbie on the other hand is infatuated with her sister Cecilia. Briony is portrayed at three different stages in life by three different actresses (by Saoirse at 13, by Romola Garai at 18, and by Vanessa Redgrave at 77). Saoirse out acts Romola by a long shot. Redgrave was only in the movie for a very short time. At 12, Saoirse is 71 year younger then Ruby Dee.

Amy Ryan - Helene McCready in Gone Baby Gone

This movie is about two Boston area private detectives investigating a little girl's kidnapping, which ultimately turns into a crisis both professionally and personally. Ryan plays Helene McCready, a drug-addicted mother whose child has been abducted, that's recently brought her national attention. Ryan is good in the part but it isn't very long. I just don't see her chances as being very high (of course short performances have won before. Dame Judy Dench won for a role that was on the screen for 8 minutes.)

Tilda Swinton - Karen Crowder in Michael Clayton

This one puzzles me. Tilda Swinton plays the lead counsel for a company that is being sued for releasing cancer-causing chemicals. She is nervious and neurotic and sweats a lot. Basically she is losing it, but she is just someone for George Clooney to beat up on at the end. I guess she does play a great neurotic person. Who sweats a lot.

Well, there you go, tune in tomorrow for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.