Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Best Supporting Actress 1988: The (long awaited) Results!

Here it FINALLY is guys!




"Pfeiffer's performance simply never hooks onto the essence of Mme Tourvel's journey of vast feelings and complexities, and communicates false emotions; illuminating nothing about her character's inner or outer life. Her's is a major misreading, that becomes a muddled mess of contrived feeling and little understanding."



★ ★ ★ ★ ★
 
"From very little on her plate, McDormand finds a human in this sketchy, neglected role of a cliched housewife. She layers just enough subtlety and nuance into Mrs. Pell, and she lends the role quiet touches of sadness and pain buried beneath. But - the character as a used as a device and given no development, thus hurting the overall performance."
 
 
  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
 
"Davis bursts on the screen with verve and energy which almost immediately jump starts the dour atmosphere of the film, and effectively infuses the role with charm, sweetness, and warmth. However, her performance begins to drag in the film's second half, and she somehow loses the character, which by then becomes a creepy caricature of overflowing quirks; rendering Muriel of both appeal and demension."
 

★ ★ ★ ★
 
"Going back and taking another look was a whole new experience: Weaver puts a fresh and interesting spin on the "boss from hell" routine, and with humor both subtle and broad, makes her Katherine a genuinely hilarious treat. Her comic timing sparkles, she remarkably avoids cliched pitfalls, and maintains control of the character without ever coming off as stiff or overly staid. Witty, unique, and delightful."
 
  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
 
The role: to simply be the funny, second-banana sidekick to the lead. The outcome: so much more than the role required. Rather than just playing the role as a one-dimensional ditz (which many actress' would have) , Cusack crafts a complete characterization and provides Cyn with a compelling character arc - one that's utterly essential to Working Girl. She provides the film with a funny, yet emotional anchor, and in doing so shades the role with gentle luminous strokes. She conveys that she truly does care about Tess, but at the same time she's scared to be deserted by her best friend as she moves on up. Cusack projects true emotional clarity and finds a three-dimensional human in a role which could have ended up as a cornball caricature. Joan Cusack is truly supportive, elevating the film (and the role) and is totally real; hitting notes both poignant and humerous that resonate with ease. Simply wonderful.


 
My 1988 Nominees:
 
My Pick: Joan Cusack in Working Girl
 
 
                               Agree? Disagree? Tell me!

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