Best Actress 1996: 1st week

[Woolfville]

Let's vote, rate, rank and comment each nominee. We start today and end the official voting in two weeks and a half if it's enough time for re-watching all nominees.

Brenda Blethyn, Secrets & Lies
1st nomination
Precursors: Golden Globe, BAFTA, Boston, Cannes, Chicago, Florida, Los Angeles, National Society, Satellite and SAG.

Diane Keaton, Marvin's Room
3rd nomination
Precursors: BFCA and SAG.



Frances McDormand, Fargo
2nd nomination
Precursors: GG, BAFTA, SAG, BFCA, Chicago, Florida, ISA, Kansas, London, Los Angeles, NBR, National Society, New York, San Diego, Satellite and Southeastern

Kristin Scott Thomas, The English Patient
1st nomination
Precursors: GG, BAFTA, SAG, NBR (as Supporting), National Society and Satellite.

Emily Watson, Breaking the Waves
1st nomination
Precursors: GG, BAFTA, Boston, Chicago, London, National Society, New York and Satellite.

[Liron]

Yay, finally one where I've seen all of them!

1. Emily Watson, Breaking The Waves
No doubt here -- one of the best female performances of the decade. I cannot believe she didn't win.

2. Kristin Scott Thomas
Divisive elsewhere for some reason, but moves me every time I watch it. Beautiful and subtle. I'd give her the win any other year.

3. Brenda Blethyn, Secrets & Lies

4. Frances McDormand, Fargo

5. Diane Keaton, Marvin's Room

[Dr.ciski77]

I'll get my thoughts in later, but I find it kind of amazing that McDormand lost the comedy Globe to Madonna and then got nominated over her and actually won. It might never happen again. SAG really told the truth that year.

[Woolfville]

I have yet to see Diane Keaton, but any of the other four could have taken it and I would be excited. Awesome set of nominees.

[tonygoldenemmy]

I'll do comments at some point but for now...

1. Brenda Blethyn, Secrets & Lies - *****
2. Emily Watson, Breaking the Waves - ****1/2
3. Frances McDormand, Fargo - ****
4. Kristin Scott Thomas, The English Patient - ****
5. Diane Keaton, Marvin's Room - ***

Bump Keaton for Gina Gershon in Bound or Debbie Reynolds in Mother.

[Dr.ciski77]

1 - McDormand
2 - Blethyn
3 - Watson

This is just personal preference, because I find all three awesome and equally deserving. Blethyn's infamous 6-minute long take with the equally incredible Marianne Jean-Baptiste is a masterclass in acting, and Watson gave herself up to the role completely. That said, McDormand essentially created a real person out of Marge, to the point that there was basically no acting in and of itself - it was like watching an actual human being in a documentary. And that's astonishing.

4 - Keaton
5 - British woman in vegetative state

I love Diane Keaton, but she had no business getting nominated for that performance, even if it kept her streak going. 'The English Patient', save for La Binoche, is the most shapeless and lifeless thing ever, and Scott Thomas was as sensual as a lamp.

[Raybee]

Kiiiind of agree with ciski about The English Patient, however I still can't help but like it. The two leads are rather dull and lifeless (even Fiennes), but it is Binoche who single-handedly saves the movie with her radiant presense. I'm always torn between La Bincohe and La Jean-Baptiste as my choice for the Oscar. Throw in Hershey and Allen and it was a strong category as well. Of course like Keaton in lead, supporting had Becall as a weak link. But overall, both female categories were good.

1. Emily Watson
2. Frances McDormand
3. Brenda Blethyn
4. Kristin Scott-Thomas
5. Diane Keaton

And while we're on the subject:

1. Marianne Jean-Baptiste
2. Juliette Binoche
3. Barbara Hershey
4. Joan Allen
5. Lauren Becall

[NUguy514]

I hate Breaking the Waves so much that it affects my admiration for Watson's performance.

[Culturegeek]

1. Emily Watson
2. Kristin Scott-Thomas
3. Brenda Blethyn
4. Diane Keaton
5. Frances McDormand

Though frankly, after Watson, any order works. I find Fargo so painfully mediocre that I haven't even watched the TV series and I don't think McDormand rises above it, plus she's borderline supporting. Keaton, Blethyn and Scott-Thomas do terrific work (I think she and Fiennes have chemistry for days and really sell a remarkable story). But Emily Watson gives one of the greatest performances ever.

[Woolfville]

I think it's better if we wait more than two weeks. I'd say we make it three to four. It takes more time than before (which is understandable).

My ranking, without Diane because I haven't seen it:

1. Brenda Blethyn *****
2. Emily Watson ****
3. Frances McDormand *****
4. Kristin Scott-Thomas **** 1/2

It is such a powerful lineup in different ways. I like what ciski says about McDormand. It's supposed to be a comedic role, but she delivers a layered performance. Blethyn is simply heartbreaking as is Watson (though the nature of the role gets tiresome when you come around the rest of von Trier's work).