The titles for these Thursday Movie Picks seem to get longer and longer but I’m not really complaining. It’s just a little ironic. Ironic because yet again I’m only going to talk about two performances. One for Best Supporting Actor and one for Best Supporting Actress. Both these wins are pretty recent so I can easily talk about them. As per usual I left my post writing to the very last minute (add some work scheduling mishap on top of that) and it’s an hour until deadline. I guess I just like to live on the edge.
2. SAM ROCKWELL in THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (2017)
You really thought I’d mention anyone else here? After this? And THIS? AND THIS?? There was no way. Sam Rockwell is forever going to be one of my favourite actors and his Oscar win is iconic to me. He has some bad movies and he doesn’t always go for the heavy roles but oh boy, the range this man has. Sam can be funny, he can be scary and he can be a total asshole. Yet he always has that charm that’s unmistakably Sam Rockwell.
His role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was definitely polarising. Sam wasn’t playing a nice guy but honestly, it was impossible not to root for him by the end. And I think only Sam fucking Rockwell could have pulled off the complexities of Dixon so well. His Oscar was well deserved and much overdo! But I’m grateful that it wasn’t a career Oscar, it felt more true to his craft that some other wins we’ve seen in the past years. This was truly a well deserved win! And now, bring on some more because Sam for sure deserves a few more.
1. JENNIFER HUDSON in DREAMIRLS (2006)
Alright, it’s not that recent but I was going through the list and this one sparkled. When I did the Best Actor/Actress post I mentioned that Halle Berry is the only Black woman to win Best Actress… ever. Thankfully Best Supporting Actress is a different matter and there have been many winners these past year, Regina King, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Octavia Spencer and Mo’Nique all won since 2010. So half!
THIS SERIES IS CREATED BY WANDERING THROUGH THE SHELVES
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I’m a Sam Rockwell fan and I’m glad he’s finally won an Oscar but I didn’t love the performance he won it for. I think he’s been better elsewhere, but then most performers don’t win for their best roles but when the Academy thinks it’s their “time”. I think that’s the case with Sam.
I didn’t think Jennifer Hudson’s was an especially strong “acting” performance but her overall impact and talent was immense. I can’t fault her win she just wouldn’t have been my choice.
I love these acting themes and couldn’t decide between categories so I chose three from each that I love.
The Razor’s Edge (1946)-Anne Baxter-Larry Darrell (Tyrone Power) disillusioned by WWI drifts through Europe looking for life’s meaning. In Paris he becomes reacquainted with childhood friend Sophie MacDonald (Baxter) who he remembers as a happy wife and mother. Having lost her family when a drunk smashed into their car Larry finds her a broken, drug addicted prostitute and tries to help her but her sorrows run too deep.
The Last Picture Show (1971)-Cloris Leachman-In the slowly dying North Texas town of Anarene high school senior Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms) drifts into an affair with the coach’s wife Ruth Popper (the recently departed Cloris Leachman). Though it commences more out of ennui than true feeling their involvement soon causes profound changes to both.
The Year of Living Dangerously-Linda Hunt-Well connected photographer Billy Kwan (Linda Hunt) takes inexperienced correspondent Guy Hamilton (Mel Gibson) under his wing upon Guy’s arrival in Jakarta. As political tension roils and then escalates to the boiling point both their lives as well as that of diplomat Jill Bryant (Sigourney Weaver) hang by a thread.
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)-Harold Russell-At the end of WWII three servicemen return to their hometown to find their way of life radically changed. One of the men Homer Parrish has lost his hands in an explosion, while he has adjusted to living with the hooks that replaced them, he finds the world is a vastly different place for him. Russell, who had suffered the same sort of injury, wasn’t a professional actor but his performance is naturalistic and immensely impactful.
All About Eve (1950)-George Sanders-In the Broadway world of stage star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) urbane, venomously acerbic and powerful theatre critic Addison DeWitt (Sanders) is tolerated but not liked. Still when Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) insinuates herself into Margo’s good graces it’s Addison who sees through her sweetness to the vicious climber underneath. My favorite Supporting Actor winner, a perfect meeting of actor and role.
They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969)-Gig Young-In the soul crushing world of Depression era marathon dances resides opportunistic promoter and emcee Rocky Gravo (Young) a man devoid of scruple or compassion. He sees the contestants-including hard bitten Gloria (Actress nominee Jane Fonda), glamour girl wannabe Alice (Supporting Actress nominee Susannah York), broken down Sailor (Red Buttons) and audience surrogate Robert (Michael Sarrazin)-as so much fodder to be made money off until they lose their usefulness and are thrown away. The deeply troubled Young (he ultimately killed himself and his fifth wife in a murder/suicide) was a preeminent comic actor for years before this revelatory performance.
I love both of these performances. I can’t believe Eddie Murphy lost for Dreamgirls, I wish he would’ve won along with Jennifer.
I honestly didn’t remember his performance… 😀
Nice picks! I wasn’t crazy about Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, but Sam’s performance was good. And Dreamgirls is one of my favorite musicals. Jennifer’s performance was wonderful, and I wish some of the other actors had been nominated too.
Yeah I can see that. I think my fav is either Moulin Rogue or Chicago but Dreamgirls is a close second.
I enjoy Rockwell’s performance a lot, but I haven’t seen this movie yet. It appears to be very popular this week, so I’m very curious!
I didn’t really know much about the movie when I saw Dreamgirls back in 2006 and I ended up really liking it. I love the period backdrop and the songs were so catchy and musical performances were great of course since I think all the main stars either have or had a musical career.
Yeah, I feel like they did a great job at casting. It worked out so well.