Which other performances were nominated for Best Actress in a strong year? Become a Subscriber and join us for weekly videos and fun daily polls: ru-vid.com... @oscarman42
What an excellent assemblage of nominees! Agreeing that modern nominees are not as competitive as the classic ones (30s---70s), I think that Blethyn, outstanding as she was, did have formidable competition in Frances McDormand, Kristin Scott Thomas, and esp Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves. The Diane Keaton nomination is absurd. The comparison to the other four makes that perfectly clear. Scott Thomas is a treasure and the failure by the Academy to recognize a host of her performances frustrates me. Watch 2008's I Loved You So Long and tell me it doesn't deserve a nomination or indeed a win. McDormand is at the top of her form in Fargo and it's hard to take away her win. Nevertheless, Blethyn and Emily Watson are the finalists for me and by an edge Watson would win in one of the jaw dropping debuts of any actress anytime. Von Trier gives her an impossibly complex and enigmatic character whom she fills with reality and pathos.
Sometimes it's hard to pick between two, but three... McDormand, Blethyn, Watson, I will never dispute McDormand's win, but I also wouldn't dispute if it had been Blethyn or Watson (or any female lead from a Lars Von Trier film, for that matter... yes, including Bjork for Dancer in the Dark).
@@oscarman42 I think you are referring to Nomad here rather than Fargo. It's confusing as two Mc'Dormand films are up today with the two polls. That's a factor for Nomad certainly, but the film Promising Young Woman and Mulligan's performance were controversial with some people since it pushed some feminist issues to the brink. I think that may have been a big factor. I like Fennell's bold style. I think Fargo had all kinds of fans, as it should, and McDormand's Marge is a wonderful character, altogether sympathetic in the midst of the film's dark comic insaniity No one was going to beat her, Blethyn or Watson
@@Andre_edge Thanks, Andre. Trier has made some astounding films, like Melancholia, Breaking the Waves, Nymphomaniac, Dancer in the Dark. He takes incredible risks and, as will happen, some don't pay off, just like Bergman, Fellini, and Kurosawa. That I would compare him to those directors, among the greatest, pays him great respect.
Absolutely, A crime Frances McDormand has 3 Oscars for the same performance. Brenda Blethyn was robbed. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw and actresses would have won in other years.
@@joeburinskas8672 Fargo really grew on me over time it's not one I understood the love for .I thought Brenda was phenomenal .Frances was the moral center in Fargo I think it's why she was considered so key to the film.
@@oscarman42 For me that was such a strong year .I don't know who I would have voted for if I had a vote. Vanessa Kirby was amazing and didn't win any of the televised awards. Carey role was a tightrope another actress in the role is impossible to imagine.If Carey had won it would have been well deserved.
This year she faced really strong competition even though her work in Maestro was, to me, the film's best performance. And I think she should have been the winner for PYM.
@@oscarman42 oh absolutely. Not saying that Carey deserved to win over Emma, even over Sandra Huller. (Lily was so overhyped in my honest opinion) But the fact that - other than Carey being the only other actress other than Emma that was nominated literally everywhere - there was absolutely zero hype about her performance at all. That was crazy. I think it would’ve been fair to consider Carey a contender too bc she was #3, arguably #2 out of the five women for me And yes, thank you for saying she deserved for PYM. I thought it was nuts that Viola and Frances got all the attention when I thought it was Carey, Vanessa and Andra that were easily the top 3. Seems obvious when you watch all the movies, no?
I was hoping to see “Auntie Mame” here, and you included my favorite scans, where she confronts Patrick on the stairs. After losing to Susan Hayward, Russell told her husband that “no one deserved it more than Hayward.” Stockard Channing, Marsha Mason, and Olivia de Havilland are great choices, too.
Olivia De Havilland was just fantastic and gripping in 'The Snake Pit' . The film gave mental illness a real and mature perspective . I can also say the *the Three Faces of Eve' in 1957 had also a non gimmicky approach as well. As for Olivia, when you compete against someone who was a deaf mute ( Jane Wyman), well your chances are zilch to win!
Plus, Johnny Belinda was also about a controversial (at the time) subject, and Wyman had not previously won. In another year, de Havilland would likely have gotten it.
Always a champion for Gene Tierney's sole nomination in 1945 "Leave Her to Heaven." The intentional lake drowning scene of her crippled brother-in-law is still chilling by today's standards.
I personally think she makes co-star Jeanne Crain less lovely...a tough feat since she's also regarded as one of the most beautiful screen actresses.@@crabstick250
I still feel Carey mulligan was robbed from promising young woman I feel they gave it to Frances mcdormand bc she’s a darling to the academy as well as they loved nomadland. I think she did a good job but I thought Carey and the 3 other nominees were better, For some strange reason there’s a wave of people touting Meryl Streep overrated but she’s legit the only person I know that should’ve broken Katharine Hepburn record for the most acting Oscar wins, especially in the 2000s which rivals her time in the 1980s as her best and most iconic era. I would’ve given her back to back Oscar’s for both the The French Lieutenant's Woman and Sophie’s choice and then again in the 2000s for doubt and the devil wears Prada. Hopefully cate Blanchett gets the chance for, I don’t see how and why Frances has to be the closest one to accomplish this
I agree. Mulligan deserved to win. Because that year was so crazy with all that was happening, I think Nomadland struck a chord with many who felt isolated and alone. In another year, the film (and McDormand) would not have won. I see both Streep and Blanchett as having the opportunity to add another Oscar to their resumes.
@@oscarman42they were massive snubbed from Radha Black from The Forty Year Old Version, Aubrey Plaza in Black Bear, Sidney Flanagan in Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Carrie Coon in The Nest, Nicole Beharie in Miss Juneteenth, Sophia Loren in The Life Ahead, and Michelle Pfeiffer in French Exit.
Ellen Burstyn deserves a Oscar for her performance in "Requiem for a Dream" , but the Academy chooses Julia Roberts, I never can't understood! Oscar 1999 Gwyneth Paltrow best actress? Meryl Streep or Fernanda Montenegro deserved absolutely!
I'd add 2015 to this list too. We'll ignore Jennifer Lawrence but Cate Blanchett in Carol and Charlotte Rampling in 45 Years were superb performances. Brie Larson in Room was an unstoppable juggernaut and I understand and can't fault her victory. However, Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn was MAGICAL. I wish that there could have been a tie that year as both Larson and Ronan were incredibly deserving of the win.
@@oscarman42 I also would have voted for Ronan too as that's my favourite performance from her 4 nominations but I get why Larson won when you take into consideration her performance and also her narrative (young ingénue finally proves herself as a leading lady in a very layered and tricky role after years of playing supporting parts and also after previously being snubbed for Short Term 12).
Marsha Mason seemed to be one of those actresses that people may respect but not really like. There always seemed to be a coldness about her and perhaps some resentment that she used her then husband Neil Simon to give her roles. Just an observation...
Movie fans look at the 1962 Best Actress race as a race between Anne Bancroft (The Miracle Worker) vs. Bette Davis (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?) vs. Katharine Hepburn (Long Day's Journey In To Night) vs. Geraldine Page (Sweet Bird of Youth). Had I been an Oscar voter, I would have voted for Lee Remick for The Days of Wine and Roses. As for 1958 Best Actress race between Susan Hayward and Rosalind Russell, I would include Deborah Kerr for Separate Tables.
You know one year that’s undeniably stacked that no one strangely talks about it? The 2017 best actress Oscars when Frances mcdormand won for three billboards the other nominees had a chance given anytime specifically sally Hawkins for the shape of water, Margot Robbie for I Tonya, Saoirse Ronan for lady bird and Meryl Streep for the post. Even more stacked were the woman lead performances that weren’t nominated like Emma stone in the battle of the sexes, Brooklynn Prince for the Florida project, Judi dench for Victoria & Abdul, Annette Bening for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool, Selma Hayek for Beatriz for dinner, Shinobu Terajima for oh Lucy, Regina Williams in life and nothing more and Jessica chastian in Molly’s game talk about so stacked you can only 5 slots left lol
I didn't think of 2017 as particularly strong, but I appreciate and respect your comments, especially your deep dive into the non-nominated performances that year.
You didn't include the most obvious year, 1950, when TWO legendary performances, Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard AND Bette Davis in All About Eve, didn't win. (I actually feel that Judy Holliday's win for Born Yesterday, which is a great performance, too, is sometimes unappreciated and thought of as some kind of fluke just because the Swanson and Davis losses are so unbelievable.)
I purposely omitted 1950 because it has been discussed multiple times on this channel. Plus, I really couldn't single out one performance because all 5 were deserving. 1950 is unofficially the strongest year for the category (1962 is a close second).
Olivia de Havilland was the unanimous choice of the New York Film Critics, in one of their rare unanimous votes. Her Oscar loss to Jane Wyman doesn't make any sense.
I just read that it is the only time that ever happened with the NYFC. Wyman did win the GG, and Johnny Belinda, also about a controversial subject, had 10 nominations that year, so was there a lot of support for her film.
FYI... a number of people here like Irene Dunne's performance in I Remember Mama (1948). Greta Garbo was offered the part and gave serious consideration to taking the role. Rumor has it that she was asked to do or did a screen test. For some reason, she decided not to take the role. It would have been interesting to see her in the role.
IMDB states that both she and Ginger Rogers turned down the role, but no references are cited. I thought that de Havilland had purchased the rights to the book.
@@oscarman42 …. It was on a talk show that I watched on RU-vid. it might’ve been the dick Cavett show, and the question was what are the roles that you turned down and Ingrid Bergman stated that she had turned down the snake pit. (Then Bergman incorrectly stated that Olivia de Havilland won an Oscar for that role, but of course de Havilland did not.)
@@Jasper7182009 Interesting. These narratives are sometimes muddled because the players are no longer with us to confirm or refute things. That said, I think de Havilland was the right choice.
What a great selection. Such difficult choices!!! Frances is a fantastic, oscar-worthy actor. However, while she was great in Nomadland, Cary M really deserved the Oscar. Her performance was brilliant.
Agnes Moorehead was robbed of the role in Sorry, Wrong Number. She had originated it on radio, and thought she'd be cast in the movie, but the studio wanted a bigger star. Had she gotten the role, I have no doubt her performance would have been Oscar worthy. Also, I thought Susan Sarandon should have won for Atlantic City.q
Emily Watson for Breaking waves should have won and that was the only time when a leading lady of Lars von Trier movie got nominated which I've always found sad since his movies have the most amazing leading ladies ever....(Melancholia, Antichrist, Dancer in the dark...)
Tell me that Rosalind Russell as “Auntie Mame” isn’t one of the best performances EVER seen on the screen, female or male, of ANY genre, comedy or drama. Stockard Channing was nothing short of a revelation as Ouisa in “SDOS”. But we’ve always known she was (is) an amazing actress. Remember, too, that Marsha Mason racked up 4 Oscar nominations; go back and watch “The Goodbye Girl” after you re-watch “OWIL” and tell me that woman isn’t superbly talented. Susan Hayward, Holly Hunter and Katharine Hepburn notwithstanding.
Russell remains iconic with that performance. No one could have done it better than her! Channing is, to me, a vastly underrated actress, who is capable of much more than she what has been given thus far in her film career. And I am delighted to learn that others think that Mason's work in OWIL stands with her best.
I didn't agree with Blethyn at first view mainly because her teary-sounding accent of wimpers wore on my nerves, but multiple after-views showed a very compelling performance when I ignored her accent. Although Olivia was outstanding in TSP, Jane as the mute "Johnny Berlinda" gave us one of the first non-speaking roles to win BA. It was so deserving because she had to act with her eyes, mannerisms and gestures. Carey will get an Oscar some day, her diverse resume of roles is getting her there.
I totally get it re: Blethyn. The character is rather pitiful and her various whines throughout the film can grate. But at the end of the day I would have voted for her. I recently saw JB again on TCM, and Wyman was very moving in a most sympathetic role.
Olivia and Brenda were amazing I think Irene Dunne in I Remember Mama would’ve been a strong choice too. 2002 was a strong lineup my choice Salma Hayek for Frida Other nominees Julianne Moore Far From Heaven, Nicole Kidman ( The Hours) Renee Zellweger (Chicago) Diane Lane ( Unfaithful) 1985 Whoopi Goldberg in the Color Purple) Anne Bancroft Agnes of God ) Jessica Lange (Sweet Dreams) Meryl Streep ( Out of Africa) 1983 Shirley MacLaine ( Terms of Endearment ( winner) Debra Winger ( Terms of Endearment) Meryl Streep ( Silkwood) Jane Alexander ( Testament) Julie Walter’s ( Educating Rita ) Meryl just won so it wasn’t going to be her but it was one of her best performances. Alexander and Winger were strong too. 2004 Kate Winslet (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ) Imelda Staunton ( Vera Drake) Hilary Swank ( Million Dollar Baby) Annette Bening ( Being Julia) Catalina Sandino Moreno ( Fall from Grace) My choice Kate or Imelda The year Sandra Bullock won anyone else but particularly Gabourey.
@@oscarman42 I should add the year Hepburn won for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner could have gone to one othe others. I haven't seen Edith Evans in The Whispers but the others I thought were strong competition. Katharine does have a few scenes you could argue put her over the top coupled with Spencer's death .I do think with Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde as a villian and Anne Bancroft in The Graduate was a semi villian didn't help their chances .Audrey played a more sympathetic character and could have taken it in another year. Marsha Mason,Diane Keaton (Reds and Susan Sarnadon (Atlantic City) for me are stronger than Hepburn in On Golden Pond. That's one I don't understand I do love Sandra but not for that.
@@kellie-nd1yp Sentiment aside, Hepburn's win for GWCTD is a head-scratcher. Good year for performances, but not a good year for the Academy's choice. And sentiment appears to have repeated for her in 1981. Given that she didn't even care about the Oscars, I wish others would have won.
Great job Michael, these truly are some of the best nominated performances (and some should be winners), it really does make you think "in another year, perhaps?" 1937 shocks me more than any other. How did four of the best performances of the golden era, they are: Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth, Greta Garbo in Camille, Janet Gaynor in A Star Is Born & Barbara Stanwyk in Stella Dallas, lose out to Luise Rainer in The Good Earth???
I would've gone for Garbo, Sarah backs Stanwyk for this year, but we honestly both agree that any of the four nominees are deservers here, it a case of favourite. Rainer won because of aggressive MGM campaigning, they didn't want there other nominee, Garbo, to win because of her stubbornness and pay check (it's why she never won) and others were freelancers and just didn't have the campaign power or studio execs backing them. This is why it never happened for Stanwyk and Dunne, no important friends, just raw talent.
@@oscarman42 It's a shame, because she was a great actress but The Good Earth was just flat and so were all films that followed. The end of her Hollywood career came shortly after the second win, her marriage collapsed, her films flopped, she hated being in the public eye, Louis. B Mayor was awful to her, good friend Irving Thalberg died. After just 8 films she ran away (made 2 more films in later years but mostly did theatre and a little TV).
McDormand is SO over-rewarded. I don’t understand the obsession with handing her trophies for unspectacular performances. Mulligan deserved it that year. And Hepburn? That was a joke. Mason and Streep much better that year.
I think McDormand's recent win has confounded many here, based on the comments so far. It baffles me as well - I really thought Mulligan deserved it too. i think most of know that Hepburn's last win was heavily influenced by sentiment.
Honorable Mention: 1951 Judy Holliday - Born Yesterday 🏆 Anne Baxter - All About Eve Bette Davis - All About Eve Eleanor Parker - Caged Gloria Swanson - Sunset Blvd. Btw, Do you think De Havilland losing in for 'The Snake Pit' helped her the year later for The Heiress'?
As you know, 1950 has been oft-discussed here, so I purposely omitted it from the list (plus, I couldn't single out a performance since all 5 of them were worthy!). As for de Havilland, I think she easily won on her performance alone, even if there was some residual thought of her work the year prior. Great question!
The Heiress was her best work and a well deserved win, as great as she was in The Snake Pit, my favourite for that year was her sister, Joan Fontaine in Letter from An Unknown Woman (no nomination).
1996 Blethyn for me the best amongst the 1996 nominees,i'll have to go against the grain and say Frances in Fargo never wows me,I watched it again recently and I find her character unbelievable,the others in the cast are great but something with Marge never clicks with me and yes I do have a funny bone. 1993 Channing,i was annoyed Pfeiffer didn't get a nomination but even she is not a fan of her own work in the film so Hunter wins but it's a very very strong line up,i'd rank Channing 4th. 1981 Hepburn was fine but a sentimental choice,I always pick Keaton in Reds mainly because i've seen it more times than Only When I Laugh which is forgotten now but it inc the great Joan Hackett as Mason's friend and would be my winner for supporting actress that year,poor Mason 4 noms no wins and seemingly forgotten now,she's my 2nd choice but on another day could win. 2020 Mulligan is my runner up and my current favourite of the new generation of actresses,I pick Frances's best performance as my winner,she's wonderful in Nomadland but 2020 is a very strong slate of nominees. My 40's and 50's knowledge is very limited so can't comment on Dame Olivia. I don't know if the nominees are weaker now,there are some very good years 2010,2013,2015,2017,2020 and just this year
I agree about McDormand in Fargo. Quirky yes, but Blethyn deserved it. Mason seems to have pretty much been forgotten these days. Channing is underrated - her performance is better than the film. I think the category from the past decade has had too many "filler" nominations which could have been replaced by stronger performances that were overlooked.
@@craigrm74 I think it's a mixed bag. Depends on the timing, the other nominated performances, and (sorry to say) the actor's popularity. As you know, Thompson did win a second Oscar (for Screenwriting).
I agree on each of these except for 1996 and 1993. I'd have gone with Emily Watson and Angela Bassett instead. It is an absolute shame Roz Russell and Marsha Mason never won. Mason should be pushed for an honorary award while we still have her.
The year Vivien Leigh won for Gone With the Wind had a great line up. We know she would have won regardless but the other nominees were iconic. The year Sophia Loren was a great line up as well.
Yes! It was said (without proof, of course), that Leigh got 93% of the vote that year, even with Bette Davis' formidable work in Dark Victory. And in 1961, many thought Page or Wood might win.
As for Rosalind Russell, she lost the Oscar to Susan Hayward in the movie I want to live. I think Susan Hayward got the Oscar because she was ably supported by the soundtrack, the jazz music - The soundtrack was her supporting player. And you cannot think of the movie I want to live without hearing the jazz soundtrack by Mandel and Mulligan. But Rosalind Russell stood alone and she should’ve gotten the Oscar.
This was Hayward's 5th nomination, so some may have felt it was her time to win. That said, she did win most of the awards that year. And yes, the soundtrack was great. But Russell was iconic.
I always thought 1969 was a tough one; I agree Maggie Smith gave a good performance, but I thought Jane Fonda and Liza Minnelli were outstanding as well.
Frances won that year because 3 yrs before when she won her second oscar for TBOEM, her oscar was stolen. It happened the first time and she later got that back but was angry with the academy. You can see when she came the next year to hand over best actress, she wasn't enjoying that. Hence as a compensation to that incident the academy gave her the third one. 😢
Marsha Mason...Criminally underrated in some Neil Simon kinda way! But she had her time...Mulligan? That movie was weak and completely overrated. Like EEAAO, I was scratching my head, saying "People like this???" But that's movies~
