Random Noise

Oscar Time: Best Supporting Actress

[Originally posted on MySpace]

Next up, best supporting actress… I know everyone thinks Jennifer Hudson is going to win it this year, but what do I think? Read on… Here are my picks, in reverse order:

#5: Cate Blanchett – Notes on a Scandal

Cate Blanchett plays a young teacher (Sheba) who befriends a fellow teacher (Barbara) played by Judi Dench. After becoming close, she confesses that she’s been having an affair with a student. Barbara, being an old woman who lives alone tries to use the affair to get “close” to Sheba (in an old woman who’s desperate for the love and attention of another woman type of way). You know where this is headed…

Anyway, I wasn’t impressed by Cate’s performance in this film. I think she had better performances in other films (The Aviator & Talented Mr. Ripley spring to mind). There’s the potential for greatness in this role. Her situation at home (dull husband, mentally challenged son) pushes her towards the affair with the student… There’s also a reverse situation at play between the older woman who wants to have an affair with her. But in the end it was the dialog (not the delivery) that provided the most drama in these two dilemmas. Partially I fault the direction because I know Cate can do better, but with constant narration (in the form of reading Barbara’s diary) we get Barbara’s perspective forced down upon us at times, rather than Cate’s performance leading the way.

#4: Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine

Abigail plays Olive, the adorable, naive little girl who’s the center of Little Miss Sunshine. After qualifying for the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant, her family drives to California so she can participate. In many ways, she’s what holds the family together, because along the way they all experience individual tragedies. But they pull through these tough times together, because collectively they can’t give up – they all want Olive to succeed.

Abigail’s performance is amazing, especially for her age. I mean she’s 10! Born in 1996! (Damn I feel old…) What I especially like about her performance is the blend of naiveté and conviction she brings to the role. She doesn’t realize that her big glasses, tubby stomach and general lack of on-stage personality mean she’s unlikely to win the beauty pageant. She’s convinced that if she tries hard enough she’ll succeed. In some way, everyone in the family is envious of this conviction – they wish the world around them functioned as Olive see’s it. Even the audience is behind her, we’re rooting her on and we’re charmed by her personality. Making this type of impact is no easy feat, and Abigail plays the role brilliantly.

#3: Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls

Jennifer Hudson plays Effie White, the lead singer of the Dreamettes. Spotted at a talent competition, they are hired as backup singers for James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy). They have limited success themselves, but then break into the mainstream when Deena (Beyoncé) takes over as lead singer. This creates rift between Effie and the group, and later she’s replaced (behind her back) and the Dreamettes break into the mainstream.

Now, I didn’t really like Dreamgirls, but I have to give Jennifer Hudson some credit here. This is her first movie role, and it was damn good. She’s nominated for a fucking Oscar in her first film?… Clearly she did something right in this role. So what was it?… Personally, I think it was the sheer range of her performance. We see practically every emotion from her in this film, happiness, sorrow, anger, desperation, confusion, exhaustion, rejection, longing, thankfulness, and more. What’s amazing is that she’s able to blend this all into a believable character, with a strong willed personality complete with her own set of principles and drive. Everyone who watches this movie can identify with her at one point or another and we all feel sympathy for her. Coupled with the fact that she sings much of the soundtrack, it’s no wonder that the press thinks she’s guaranteed to go home with Oscar.

#2: Adriana Barraza - Babel

Adriana plays Amelia, housekeeper/nanny for Richard & Susan (Brad Pitt & Cate Blanchett). She’s watching over their two children while they travel through Morocco. However, when Richard & Susan are delayed in Morocco, she’s forced to take the two children to her son’s wedding in Mexico because she can’t find anyone else to care for them. But on the way back into the United States, border guards suspect her nephew (who’s driving) is intoxicated. He flees into the desert, leaving Amelia and the two kids stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Adriana is excellent. Her character is good natured, selfless, and cares tremendously about those around her, especially the two children. Throughout the movie, it’s clear she’s dedicated to their wellbeing. The strength in her performance is “underneath” her interactions with the children. It’s how she tucks them in at night. It’s how she reassures them about the strange things they see in Mexico. It’s how she goes above and beyond to rescue them after being stranded in the desert. But in the end, there’s one scene (where she’s talking with a border agent about being deported) that really irritates me. That scene in particular “feels” scripted, forced and unnatural compared to the rest of her performance. This scene reminded me that I was watching a movie and as a result I can’t pick Adriana for the award.

#1: Rinko Kikuchi - Babel

That leaves Rinko Kikuchi. She plays Chieko, a deaf Japanese teenage girl who desperately wants the attention of the world around her. She’s distant from her father and desperate to be desired by the opposite sex. She tries to interest boys but is constantly rebuffed. Even explicit attempts are met with failure, further contributing to her feelings of isolation.

I picked Rinko because of the emotion her performance extracts from viewers. We’ve all had situations in our past where we didn’t exactly fit in with those around us. But for Chieko it’s a never ending saga. She constantly struggles to fit into the world around her. I thought there were also two exceptionally powerful moments in her performance. In the middle of her story, there’s the possibility that a boy finds her interesting. They hang out, have fun, and end up at a club where they start dancing. Chieko finally has a moment where she seems to fit in with everyone else – enjoying a club like a normal teenager and with a boy who seems interested in her. But then her dreams are crushed in a really powerful moment that blends how she experiences the world with how the world looks upon her.

The movie ends with another powerful scene, in which after being rejected by a boy she stands naked on a skyscraper balcony. The movie ends when her father finds & comforts her. It’s unclear what she said in the note she leaves with the detective, if she was going to jump, or if her nakedness a symbol of desperation to be desired. The entire performance was really powerful and she gets my pick for best supporting actress.

Next up, Best Actor, Actress, Film & Director. =)