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In one of the weakest years in memory, not just for performances but for great films, 2001 saw Denzel Washington and Halle Berry knock “two birds out with one stone,” as the former declared on Oscar night, as two African Americans won the top acting prizes for the first time ever. And it was difficult to argue with either.
Washington was superb in “Training Day,” clearly loving his role as crooked cop Alonzo, walking the line without ever going over the top, blowing everyone off the screen. In many ways it was a make-up award for his having lost for “Malcolm X” in 1992 to Al Pacino’s ranting work in “Scent of a Woman” and perhaps, though lesser so, for his loss for “The Hurricane.”
Berry gave a raw, sexually charged performance in “Monster’s Ball,” one of such searing truth and rage you could never look away from the screen. Robert Duvall called her performance the finest by an American actress he had ever seen and was not the least bit surprised when she won the Oscar for Best Actress.
My question remains: Should Denzel Washington have won over the non-nominated performances of Gene Hackman in “The Royal Tanebaums” or the vastly under-appreciated Jack Nicholson in “The Pledge,” one of his finest recent performances? Don’t think so.
There was a lot of love shown to Tom Wilkinson for his heartbreaking work in “In the Bedroom” as well as Russell Crowe (again) for his performance in “A Beautiful Mind,” which eventually won the Best Picture Oscar. I was very surprised that Sean Penn was nominated for his performance in “I Am Sam” because though I consider Penn one of the greatest actors in the history of the cinema, his work in that film represents one of the very few times I could “see” him acting.
Will Smith got nominated for a muted though fine performance in Michael Mann’s “Ali,” but you have to wonder why so many other great performances were forgotten altogether. Beyond Hackman and Nicholson, where was Guy Pearce in “Memento” or Ryan Gosling in “The Believer?”
Billy Bob Thornton gave a pair of fine performances in the Coen brothers’ “The Man Who Wasn’t There” and opposite Berry in “Monster’s Ball,” yet no nomination. I personally felt that Haley Joel Osment deserved a nomination for his haunting work in “A.I.: Artificial Intelligence,” one of Steven Spielberg’s most undervalued works, destined to be appreciated in the future, I suspect.
The Best Actress category was marred by the absence of Audrey Tatou in “Amelie,” a marvelous French film that took the cinema world by storm. What happened?
Nicole Kidman was nominated for “Moulin Rouge!” but could also have just as easily made it in for “The Others,” a spooky, inventive ghost story. But how could they not nominate Thora Birch for “Ghost World,” one of the greatest teen angst films ever made?
I understand the nominations for Renee Zellweger in “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and the wonderful Sissy Spacek in “In the Bedroom,” but I struggle with Judi Dench in “Iris” over some of the women I have just mentioned.
Gwyneth Paltrow was sadly absent again for her fine work in “The Royal Tanenbaums,” one of the actress’s best performances. From the same film Anjelica Huston could also have been nominated. Scarlett Johansson was wonderful in “Ghost World” and again in “The Man Who Wasn’t There,” while Carrie Ann Moss deserved some attention for her performance in “Memento” just as Cate Blanchett should have for her terrifying abusive mother in “The Shipping News.”
Cameron Diaz was deserving for her nutty work in “Vanilla Sky,” leaving me wondering again how Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren were continually noticed for performances we have seen before (in Robert Altman’s “Gosford Park”).
Long before he was winning award after award for “The Wrestler,” Mickey Rourke reminded us what a fine actor he could be in “The Pledge” in a single scene that was absolutely powerful. That said there is little doubt that Ben Kingsley deserved to win Best Supporting Actor for his mobster-from-hell Don Logan in “Sexy Beast,” simply one of the most frightening characters ever put on film.
I was sad to see the critics’ darling Steve Buscemi in “Ghost World” snubbed by the Academy for weak work from, say, Jon Voight in “Ali” or Ethan Hawke in “Training Day.” I have no argument with the nomination for Ian McKellan in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” nor Jim Broadbent in “Iris,” but there are so many others more than deserving.
Finally, Jude Law brought some of Malcolm MacDowell merged with Gene Kelly to his Gigolo Joe in “A.I.: Artificial Intelligence,” while the great Peter Boyle was a vicious racist in “Monster’s Ball” and deserved attention.
That’s my perspective on the performances of 2001. What about you? Have your say in the comments section below!
58 responses so far
1 11-20-2009 at 8:13 pm
Robert Hamer said...
I’m always hesitant to praise Kingsley’s performance in Sexy Beast to the point of calling him a “snub.” He was memorable, to be sure, but the role itself was almost tailor-made for an Academy Award (big, raging, showy) and it was in the hands of one of the most distinguished actors of his generation. I’m more partial to McKellen’s work in The Lord of the Rings, which took a stock fantasy character and came to define the archetype for countless imitators to come.
What’s your opinion of Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive? She would have been my choice for Best Actress yet she’s curiously absent from your write-up.
2 11-20-2009 at 8:14 pm
Encore Entertainment said...
Wow. So you did not like Gosford Park. Well…Helen Mirren all the way for me, along with Maggie and Kristin Scott Thomas who was delightful. Even throw in Ryan Phillipe and Emily Watson.
I thought Ethan Hawke was good in Training Day. Category fraud, but still good. And Cate was AWESOME in Bandits. The movie was a kind of faulty, but she was awesome.
And you really thought 2001 was a bad year? Which was your favourite year of the decade?
3 11-20-2009 at 8:26 pm
Scott said...
I’m with the first two comments – how about some love for Naomi Watts and Emily Watson? I think Watts gave one of the performances of the decade in Mulholland Drive.
Nice calls though on Osment and Law for A.I., Paltrow for Tenenbaums, Kidman for The Others, and Pearce and Moss for Memento. Actually I’d have given Pearce the award over any of the men who were nominated for Best Actor (that was an underwhelming group).
4 11-20-2009 at 8:35 pm
Nigel Bridgeman said...
I wanted Tom Wilkinson to win Best Actor – by far my favourite of the nominees (although I haven’t seen Sean Penn yet). I thought Russell Crowe was very overrated, sometimes descending into Foghorn Leghorn territory with his accent. Denzel Washington was great – the fact that he made it look so easy probably goes against him in my opinion. I didn’t really care either way for Will Smith.
I don’t have much of an opinion re: Best Actress, although my personal favourite of the nominees was Renee Zellweger, even though I didn’t for a second think she would win. Wasn’t a big fan of Sissy Spacek that year, to be honest – apart from Wilkinson I thought the whole film was a tad overrated. I really liked Judi Davis. Halle Berry was fine and deserving of a win. My favourite performance of the year was actually Nicole Kidman in “The Others”.
There really was no way Jim Broadbent wasn’t going to win Best Supporting Actor that year – it was a lead performance and he was everywhere, even co-starring with three of the five Best Actress nominees (Hugh Bonneville should have been nominated as well). I would have been fine with Ian McKellen winning – I’ve always supported iconic performances winning, and it doesn’t happen enough these days.
Jennifer Connelly for Best Supporting Actress was ridiculous. That said, I wasn’t much of a fan of any of the nominees to be honest.
5 11-20-2009 at 8:44 pm
leonardo said...
For me, that’s was the year that Russel Crowe was robbed for his fine performance in A Beautiful Mind, just because of his bad behaviour and the BAFTA incident. I mean, you can be a bad boy or girl, but if you are a great actor, that shouldn’t influence to give you the recognition you deserve as an actor. That year, the Academy lost a lot of credibility in my opinion. I mean, is ridiculous that they gave the award to Jennifer Conelly, and not to Crowe.
On the other hand, i was very happy that Halle Berry won that year. The best of the five actresses that year.
6 11-20-2009 at 9:00 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
Watts should probably be mentioned, but Mirren and Smith were amazing in Gosford Park. Smith was my pick for the best of the category.
7 11-20-2009 at 9:20 pm
par3182 said...
Naomi Watts performance in ‘Mulholland Dr’ is the snub of the decade; shoulda been nominated, shoulda won
BEST ACTOR
Gene Hackman – The Royal Tenenbaums
Anthony LaPaglia – Lantana
Hayley Joel Osment – A.I. : Artificial Intelligence
Guy Pearce – Memento
Billy Bob Thornton – The Man Who Wasn’t There*
BEST ACTRESS
Kerry Armstrong – Lantana
Tilda Swinton – The Deep End
Audrey Tautou – Amelie
Naomi Watts – Mulholland Drive*
Renee Zellweger – Bridget Jones’s Diary
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Steve Buscemi – Ghost World
Brian Cox – L.I.E.
Bob Hoskins – Last Orders
Ben Kingsley – Sexy Beast*
Jude Law – A.I. : Artificial Intelligence
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Daniella Farinacci – Lantana
Kelly MacDonald – Gosford Park
Helen Mirren – Last Orders
Maggie Smith – Gosford Park
Emily Watson – Gosford Park*
8 11-20-2009 at 9:58 pm
Mike said...
I thought Jennifer Connelly was amazing in A Beautiful Mind. Much deserved Oscar, in my opinion. She was also fantastic in Requiem for a Dream the year before, but was’t nominated.
9 11-20-2009 at 10:05 pm
Alex said...
Naomi Watts should have won Best Actress.
10 11-20-2009 at 10:25 pm
SHAAAARK said...
Wait, why isn’t Watts mentioned in the article?
11 11-20-2009 at 10:32 pm
the joker said...
“I was very surprised that Sean Penn was nominated for his performance in “I Am Sam” because though I consider Penn one of the greatest actors in the history of the cinema, his work in that film represents one of the very few times I could “see” him acting.”
Sean Penn one of the greatest actors? I see him as one of the overrated actors. Mystic River? c’mon people! He’s just playing himself. The award belong to Bill Murray whom was amazes me in any level. Harvey Milk? what’s so special about playing gay? Mickey Rourke delivered more memorable performance. To be considered as one of the greatest not only you can perform, the individual has to be versatile enough to play in every genre. Bottom line I don’t consider him as one of the greatest.
12 11-20-2009 at 10:34 pm
Speaking English said...
… wow. Simply wow.
13 11-20-2009 at 10:48 pm
Chris138 said...
Heath Ledger, along with the rest of those who were not nominated for Monster’s Ball, deserved Oscar nods. Not one bad performance in that film.
14 11-20-2009 at 10:52 pm
Amir said...
No Love for Gosford Park? and No Love for Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive?
Besides, I totally don’t agree that this was a weak year for films. It is in my top three years of the decade along with 2002 and 2007.
How can you say it wasn’t good with these names:
In the Mood for Love
Moulin Rouge!
THe Fellowship of the Ring
Gosford Park
Mulholland Drive
The Royal Tenenbaums
Memento
Amelie
In the Bedroom
Sexy Beast
15 11-20-2009 at 10:52 pm
Silencio said...
Yep, Naomi Watts. She’s been mentioned a few times but I want to underline her name.
As for Broadbent, I might actually like him more in “Moulin Rouge!” than “Iris” but only by a little.
Regarding Halle Berry, the moment for me when I decided she had the goods in that film was the end, when Thornton gave her the ice cream. The internal places she went in such little time felt perfect to me. That made the whole film.
16 11-20-2009 at 11:01 pm
Pablo (Col) said...
I agree, Monster’s Ball was amazing. Ledger and Boyle should at least have gotten some attention.
Watts, Tautou, Diaz… Where were they ?
I also agree with “the joker”, sean penn is a very good actor but one of the greatest ? Not really, although i love him as a director for Into The Wild. I didnt wanted him to win last time. I’m gay and i didnt bought his Harvey Milk.
17 11-20-2009 at 11:13 pm
John said...
Favorite movies? TRAINING DAY, MEMENTO, GHOST WORLD , A BEAUTIFUL MIND, LORD OF THE RINGS… looks like a good year to me!
Actors? Denzel rocked TRAINING DAY. One of my favorite wins ever in that category. Also great: Guy Pearce (Memento), Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind)
The ladies sure showed up this year: Nicole Kidman wasn’t exactly thought of as a brilliant actress before this, then she hits MOULIN ROUGE! and THE OTHERS out of the park. Halle Berry… hadn’t sen anything like MONSTER’S BALL from her before either. Thora Birch was hilarious and pathetic in GHOST WORLD.
Supporting Actor: Was someone complaining about Ethan Hawke in TRAINING DAY? You must be thinking of some other movie. He gave the moral balance to his show-stopping partner’s destructive antics. Now, it’s not such a surprise to se Ben Kingsley doing stuff like this, but back then seeing Gandhi do SEXY BEAST was insane. Ian made a good Gandalf, Buscemi should have been in here for GHOST WORLD. And Hayden Christensen somehow gave a wonderful performance in LIFE AS A HOUSE before George Lucas sucked all life and personality out of his body.
Supporting Actress: Jennifer Connelly gave the best long-suffering partner performance in film history and won of the greatest winning performances ever in this category. Apparently, nobody in the Academy went to see the OTHERS, because Fionnulla Flanaghan gave the best performance not nominated that year.
18 11-20-2009 at 11:29 pm
James said...
How could you forget Stockard Channing in “The Business of Strangers.” Her best performance, and easily one of the 5 best that year.
19 11-21-2009 at 12:21 am
Maxim said...
““A.I.: Artificial Intelligence,” one of Steven Spielberg’s most undervalued works, destined to be appreciated in the future, I suspect.”
It’s already appreciated right here, to the extent that it’s my pick for decade’s best film.
20 11-21-2009 at 12:23 am
Maxim said...
By the way, Jude Law’s turn as Gigolo Joe was rather remarkable though it was the Teddy Bear that was the best supporting presence in the film.
21 11-21-2009 at 1:25 am
Rob said...
My picks for Actor and Actress would have been
Nicole Kidman in The Others
Billy Bob Thornton in The Man Who Wasn’t There
It was always kinda outrageous that Billy Bob didn’t make it in there.
22 11-21-2009 at 2:21 am
AmericanRequiem said...
calling it a weak year, way off
lord of the rings, the others, moulin rouge, and on and on, a simply fantastic year, for someone who loves movies I dont get your hate for them at the same time
23 11-21-2009 at 2:45 am
Markku said...
Naomi Watts, Charlotte Rampling (in Under the Sand) and Stockard Channing were all snubbed. Of the Best Actress lineup, Berry would be my choice and I’m fully behind her win.
Tom Wilkinson should have walked away with Best Actor, hands down. Denzel’s a good choice, though. Crowe was fine in the sense that his performance wasn’t quite as appallingly baity as Sean Penn’s. The non-nominated Gene Hackman and Haley Joel Osment would have been deserving inclusions.
Jennifer Connelly’s win makes sense only if you see it as a make-up win for snubbing her in Requiem for a Dream. Fine, understated work, but nothing to get excited about. What are we to think of a character that has no inner life beyond being the suffering, beautiful wife of a genius? Mirren and Smith would have been deserving winners. Also, Emily Watson in Gosford Park and Frances O’Connor in A.I. deserve to be remembered.
Supporting Actor belonged to Kingsley, whose angry, liberated work is still exhilarating to watch. I found Jim Broadbent a bit hammy in Iris (and was a lead performance anyway) and would have preferred the frontrunner McKellen over him. Alan Bates’ alcoholic butler and Jude Law’s robotic gigolo would have been deserving nominees, ditto Broadbent’s OTT musical performance in Moulin Rouge!, the best thing about that film, IMO.
24 11-21-2009 at 3:25 am
Guy Lodge said...
As others have said, Naomi Watts is a striking omission — is it an oversight, John, or is there something that displeases you about the performance? I’m curious.
And I know American cinema is your first love, but come on — Audrey Tautou gets love for “Amelie”, but you don’t even mention for Charlotte Rampling in “Under the Sand?” There’s no comparison!
I’d throw in noms for most of the “Lantana” ensemble too. And Cate Blanchett (in lead) for “Bandits,” which I actually think is one of her finest performances. She really should do more comedy.
And I must admit I find it very easy to argue with both Washington and Berry’s wins — both performances, for me, are far from the best in their respective categories, let alone of the year. (I happen to think Hawke is better in “Training Day,” and Berry goes badly off the rails in her improvised scenes, though she’s very good elsewhere.)
25 11-21-2009 at 3:28 am
Guy Lodge said...
By the way, I’m very surprised that you label 2001 a weak year in general — as I begin the process of compiling my Best of the Decade list, that year is rapidly looking like one of the strongest to me.
26 11-21-2009 at 3:43 am
mike said...
c/s Guy, i thought the writer was on crack stating that bs at the start of his article. Lord Of The Rings, Mulolland Drive,Training Day, Royal Tennaubams?
and i aint even a film conneseur yet i know that is factually wrong.
this article inspires me to create my own film website 2 battle y’all over here.
27 11-21-2009 at 4:07 am
Michael W. said...
That year I cheated a little bit and placed Gene Hackman as supporting, so I could find a spot for Jack Nicholson in lead. Hackman was nominated in the supporting category by the AFI though, so I’ll let it fly.
-Best actor:
Russel Crowe – A Beautiful Mind
Jack Nicholson – The Pledge
Billy Bob Thornton – The Man Who Wasn’t There & Monster’s Ball
Denzel Washington – Training Day
Tom Wilkinson – In the Bedroom
-Best actress:
Halle Berry – Monster’s Ball
Nicole Kidman – Moulin Rouge! & The Others
Sissy Spacek – In the Bedroom
Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones’s Diary
Naomi Watts – Mulholland Dr.
-Best sup. actor:
Steve Buscemi – Ghost World
Ben Kingsley – Sexy Beast
Gene Hackman – The Royal Tenenbaums
Ian McKellen – TLotR: The Fellowship of the Ring
Tony Shalhoub – The Man Who Wasn’t There
-Best sup. actress:
Jennifer Connelly – A Beautiful Mind
Gwyneth Paltrow – The Royal Tenenbaums
Maggie Smith – Gosford Park
Marisa Tomei – In the Bedroom
Kate Winslet – Iris
28 11-21-2009 at 4:10 am
Leona Lewis is Here said...
Yay, agree! The weakest year of the decade. Only 3 films, Memento, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Moulin Rouge were my faves.
29 11-21-2009 at 4:37 am
mark said...
I liked 2001 so may good but a lot of bad too
my nods * winner
actor
russell crowe
will smith
billy bob thornton – m/ball
tom wilkinson*
gene hackman
actress
tilda swinton
sissy spacek*
nicole kidman – moulin/r
halle berry
stockard channing
supp actor
tony shalhoub
ben kingsley
jim broadbent*
peter boyle
steve buscemi
supp actress
cate blanchett – the s news
kate winslet
marisa tomei*
helen mirren
cameron diaz
30 11-21-2009 at 5:15 am
red_wine said...
Naomi Watts: Performance of the year. Even if you don’t get the film on the first viewing, you know you have seen a staggering performance.
Special mention to Nicole Kidman who made such a deep impression on me in Moulin Rouge. I was very small then but till date I think Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge is probably the most beautiful any actress has ever looked in a movie. And very good performance too.
Maggie Smith was glorious too in Gosford Park.
31 11-21-2009 at 5:28 am
Chris said...
I think 2001 was a great year for cinema. I was 14 at the time and saw “Amelie”, “The Royal Tenenbaums”, “The Lord of the Rings”, “Gosford Park”, “Monsters, Inc.” in cinemas, and this bunch of films still dominates much of my thought about cinema.
As much as I love “Amélie” I wouldn’t call Audrey Tautou a glaring omission – her performance was very good, but she’s doing the same kind of acting you hate so much about Roberto Benigni, John. The performances I remember loving most at the time are Cate Blanchett in “Bandits”, Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith in “Gosford Park”, Gene Hackman and Luke Wilson in “Tenenbaums”. I also really liked Will Smith in “Ali”. Later I came to appreciate how great Naomi Watts was in “Mulholland Dr.”.
Also, I’m sure they’re typos but you’re misspelling “The Royal Tenenbaums” and Ian McKellen.
32 11-21-2009 at 6:43 am
Jack said...
Am I the only one who thought that the Fellowship of the Ring should’ve showed up in another acting category? I thought Cate Blanchett was excellent in her small but crucial role in that movie, very very underrated.
33 11-21-2009 at 6:50 am
geha714 said...
par3182, thanks for mentioning Lantana. A very underrated movie. I would add the work of Rachael Blake and Vince Colossimo as supporting actress and actor.
34 11-21-2009 at 7:06 am
Gustavo H.R. said...
Great recap, agree with most opinions.
35 11-21-2009 at 7:36 am
BurmaShave said...
Praise on the boards for a performance like LaPaglia in LANTANA is why I love this place. Hey, at least he got a successful TV gig out of it.
36 11-21-2009 at 8:37 am
geha714 said...
BurmaShave: LaPaglia killed in Lantana.
I wonder why Kerry Armstrong didn’t get more attention. She was great and looked amazing.
37 11-21-2009 at 8:58 am
Paul Outlaw said...
Sean Penn is “one of the greatest actors in the history of the cinema,” hyperbolic as that sounds.
38 11-21-2009 at 12:53 pm
John H. Foote said...
You know what?…some good calls, I should have included Watts and Tautou for sure, not a fan of “Gosford Park” but the acting was sublime — my mistakes…
39 11-21-2009 at 1:24 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
These deserve a mention as well-
Jamie Foxx – Ali
Michael Pitt – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Dakota Fanning – I Am Sam
Isabelle Huppert – The Piano Teacher
Billy Crystal – Monsters, Inc.
Tim Roth – Planet of the Apes
Ethan Hawke – Tape
Paul Rudd – Wet Hot American Summer
Gael Garcia Bernal & Diego Luna – Y tu Mama Tambien
40 11-21-2009 at 2:01 pm
tc said...
“Ethan Hawke – Tape
Isabelle Huppert – The Piano Teacher”
Fine choices.
41 11-21-2009 at 2:09 pm
Edward L. said...
I agree about Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive – she was terrific. And I think the same of Laura Elena Harring in the same movie – excellent work, and arguably also a leading role. Justin Theroux was excellent (supporting?) in Mulholland Drive as well. The look he and Watts exchange as their eyes meet on the film set is one of my favourite shot-reverse-shots of all time!!
Other excellent pereformances which weren’t nominated: Isabelle Huppert in The Piano Teacher (which was ineligible, so not strictly speaking an Academy snub), Charlotte Rampling in Under the Sand, Richard Roxburgh in Moulin Rouge! And I thought Ray Winstone did brilliant work in Sexy Beast.
My favourites from among the nominated performances are probably Marisa Tomei in In the Bedroom and Ethan Hawke in Training Day (although he was in the wrong category).
42 11-21-2009 at 3:17 pm
Adam M. said...
I don’t understand how you can consider 2001 a weak year. I think it’s one of the strongest of the last 10 years for sure.
And to add to the previous sentiments: Naomi Watts was stunning in ‘Mulholland Dr.’ Hers is without hesitation one of the best performances of the decade.
43 11-21-2009 at 6:00 pm
Chris said...
Denzel Washington is one of the finest actors alive, which is why it saddens me that his Best Actor win was for a hammy, over-the-top performance in a generic cop film. The man could do that role in his sleep and he was at least enjoyable to watch, but “blow everyone off the screen”? Bah.
Actor
Russell Crowe – A Beautiful Mind
Gene Hackman – The Royal Tenenbaums ***
Ewan McGregor – Moulin Rouge
John Cameron Mitchell – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Sean Penn – I Am Sam
Actress
Nicole Kidman – Moulin Rouge
Audrey Tautao – Amelie ***
Maribel Verdu – Y Tu Mama Tambien
Naomi Watts – Mulholland Dr.
Renee Zellweger – Bridget Jones Diary
Supporting Actor
Jim Broadbent – Moulin Rouge
Steve Buscemi – Ghost World
Ben Kingsley – Sexy Beast ***
Ian McKellen – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Luke Wilson – The Royal Tenenbaums
Supporting Actress
Jennifer Connelly – A Beautiful Mind ***
Cameron Diaz – Vanilla Sky
Scarlett Johansson – Ghost World
Gwenyth Paltrow – The Royal Tenenbaums
Miram Shor – Hedwig and the Angry Inch
I have not seen Monster’s Ball, Gosford Park, Iri, or Ali.
44 11-21-2009 at 6:03 pm
Guy Lodge said...
Isabelle Huppert would obviously be near the top of any rational Best Actress list for “The Piano Teacher,” but since the film came to light for me (and, I think, most Americans) in 2002, I personally classify it in that year.
45 11-21-2009 at 8:33 pm
Marshall1 said...
Personally, my favourite of that year is Ghost World. It’s just so personal, emotional, and funny, and it’s a sin that Thora Birch is totally ignored and Steve Buscemi (where is she now btw?).
However, I think all of you forgot to mention a certain HBO movie which featured one of the greatest performances and actresses of all time. Emma Thompson in “Wit” is amazing and stunning without a lot of sentimentalism in it. I remembered every time I watch it, I cried like a baby. Especially in that scene where her college professor is reading Peter Rabbit to her and she reverts back to an infant state……too bad it wasn’t a theatrical release, otherwise I think she will be nominated and proably win for sure. Too bad also she lost the Emmy to Judi Davis (who’s equally amazing as Judy Garland).
46 11-21-2009 at 11:43 pm
Andrew R. said...
I’m really surprised no one has mentioned Maggie Cheung or Tony Leung for In the Mood for Love. One of the most heartbreaking moments i’ve ever seen is when Maggie is looking out the window while visiting her neighbors for dinner, longing for Tony.
47 11-22-2009 at 12:21 am
Douglas said...
John, what did you mean when you said this when referring to Sean Penn in “I Am Sam”:
“his work in that film represents one of the very few times I could “see” him acting”
48 11-22-2009 at 2:20 am
Simon Warrasch said...
I think that the movies “The Piano Teacher” is in 2002 and “Donnie Darko” is in 2001.
So if that is true, my nominations would have been:
Picture:
Donnie Darko
Moulin Rouge
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
In the Bedroom
Gosford Park
Director:
Baz Luhrman – Moulin Rouge!
Peter Jackson – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Ron Howard – A Beautiful Mind
David Lynch – Mulholland Dr.
Robert Altman – Gosford Park
Leading Actor:
Billy Bob Thornton – Monster’s Ball
Ewan McGregor – Moulin Rouge!
Russel Crowe – A Beautiful Mind
Gene Hackman – The Royal Tenenbaums
Jake Gyllenhaal – Donnie Darko
Runner up:
Denzel Washington – Training Day
Guy Pearce – Memento
Leading Actress:
Naomi Watts – Mulholland Dr.
Tilda Swinton – The Deep End
Sissy Spacek – In the Bedroom
Nicole Kidman – Moulin Rouge!
Nicole Kidman – The Others
Supporting Actor:
Ben Kingsley – Sexy Beast
Ian McKellen – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Ben Stiller – The Royal Tenenbaums
Jim Broadbent – Moulin Rouge!
Jim Broadbent – Iris
Supporting Actress:
Jennifer Connelly – A Beautiful Mind
Marisa Tomei – In the Bedroom
Fionulla Flanagan – The Others
Anjelica Houston – The Royal Tenenbaums
Dakota Fanning – I Am Sam
Runner up:
Gwyneth Paltrowe – The Royal Tenenbaums
Michelle Pfeiffer – I Am Sam
But i have to say, that i haven’t seen the movies:
In the Mood for Love & Hedwig and the Angry Inch! So…
49 11-22-2009 at 12:15 pm
David Giancarlo said...
@ Andrew R.
I compleetly agree with your mention of Maggie Cheung in In the Mood for Love; she is my personal winner.
And, I am in the minority who thinks that Laura Harring was even better than Naomi Watts in Mulholland Dr.
50 11-22-2009 at 1:40 pm
John H. Foote said...
Douglas – there was a lack of honesty in that performance, I feel, I could see him “trying” to be the character rather than being the character as he has always been — great acting is not seeing the effort, and with that performance I saw the effort.
51 11-23-2009 at 12:06 am
Marshall1 said...
no one saw Wit? what do you guys and gals think?
52 11-23-2009 at 4:44 am
Matt said...
Surprised that no one mentioned more of the Rings cast besides Blanchett. McKellan was the obvious choice, but Sean Bean was his equal imo.
53 11-23-2009 at 6:32 am
John H. Foote said...
Saw Wit — loved it but was HBO film and not able to be nominated for Oscars — she won the Emmy though as did the film I believe.
54 11-23-2009 at 8:51 am
Ivan said...
BEST MOTION PICTURE
Amelie
Memento*
Moulin Rouge
Mulholland Drive
The Princess and the Warrior
BEST DIRECTOR
Wes Anderson/The Royal Tenenbaums
Baz Luhrmann/Moulin Rouge
David Lynch/Mulholland Drive*
Christopher Nolan/Memento
Tom Twyker/The Princess and the Warrior
BEST ACTOR
Lior Ashkenazi/Late Marriage
John Cameron Mitchell/Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Guy Pearce/Memento
Billy Bob Thornton/The Man Who Wasn´t There*
Tom Wilkinson/In the Bedroom
BEST ACTRESS
Halle Berry/Monster´s Ball
Isabelle Huppert/The Piano Teacher
Nicole Kidman/The Others
Naomi Watts/Mulholland Drive*
Renee Zellweger/Bridget Jones´ Diary
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jim Broadbent/Iris
Steve Buscemi/Ghost World
Brian Cox/L.I.E.
Gene Hackman/The Royal Tenenbaums*
Ben Kingsley/Sexy Beast
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Anjelica Huston/The Royal Tenenbaums
Helen Mirren/Gosford Park
Gwyneth Paltrow/The Royal Tenenbaums*
Marisa Tomei/In the Bedroom
Kate Winslet/Iris
BEST ENSEMBLE
Amelie
Gosford Park
Lantana*
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Royal Tenenbaums
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Amelie
Donnie Darko
Memento*
The Princess and the Warrior
The Royal Tenenbaums
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Bridget Jones´ Diary*
Ghost World
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Lantana
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
BEST FOREIGN FILM
Amelie/France
No Man´s Land/Bosnia and Hersegovina
The Princess and the Warrior/Germany*
Sex and Lucia/Spain
Y Tu Mama Tambien/Mexico
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ali
Amelie
The Man Who Wasn´t There*
Moulin Rouge
The Princess and the Warrior
BEST FILM EDITING
Amelie
Memento*
Moulin Rouge
The Princess and the Warrior
The Royal Tenenbaums
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Amelie
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Moulin Rouge*
The Royal Tenenbaums
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Gosford Park
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Legally Blonde
Moulin Rouge*
The Royal Tenenbaums
BEST MAKE UP
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Hedwig and the Angry Inch*
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Moulin Rouge
The Pledge
BEST SOUND MIXING
Black Hawk Down
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Moulin Rouge
Mulholland Drive
The Princess and the Warrior*
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*
Pearl Harbor
Shrek
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Ali
Amelie
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*
Mulholland Drive
The Others
BEST SONG
“Come What May”/Moulin Rouge
“May It Be”/The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*
“Si No Te Hubieras Ido”/Y Tu Mama Tambien
“Sugar Daddy”/Hedwig and the Angry Inch
“Vanilla Sky”/Vanilla Sky
BEST SOUNDTRACK
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Memento
Moulin Rouge
The Royal Tenenbaums*
Y Tu Mama Tambien
55 11-23-2009 at 10:04 am
Marshall1 said...
Hey John,
Wit didn’t win best movie or actress in the Emmy:(
Judy Davis won (I would’ve give them a tie), don’t remember best movie
56 11-23-2009 at 12:21 pm
AdamL said...
Kristen Scott Thomas in Gosford Park was the best female performance of the year.
And clearly the film was not to everyone’s liking but for me Hannibal features two stunning performances: Gary Oldman and, particularly, Giancarlo Giannini.
I’d have also definitely nominated Ray Winstone for lead actor for Sexy Beast as well as Kinglsey in supporting.
And as for Washington and Berry – worst Oscar wins of the century. Such a ridiculous 2 for 1 deal where they clearly tried to atone for past errors but did so in the most obvious, pathetic, let’s reward some really average performances kind of way.
57 11-27-2009 at 4:04 pm
Xavi Rodriguez said...
Lead Actor:
1. Billy Bob Thornton, The Man Who Wasn’t There & Monster’s Ball -WINNER-
2. Tom Wilkinson, In the Bedroom -Runner-up-
3. Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge!
4. Ryan Gosling, The Believer
5. Russell Crowe, A Beautiful Mind
Alt: Tony Leung, In the Mood of Love & Will Smith, Ali
Lead Actress:
1. Naomi Watts, Mulholland Dr. -WINNER-
2. Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge! & The Others -Runner up-
3. Sissy Spacey, In the Bedroom
4. Audrey Tautou, Amelie
5. Halle Berry, Monster’s Ball
Alt: Maggie Cheung, In the Mood of Love & Thora Birch, Ghost World
Supporting Actor:
1. Ben Kingsley, Sexy Beast -WINNER-
2. Steve Buscemi, Ghost World -Runner up-
3. Tony Shalhoub, The Man Who Wasn’t There
4. Jim Broadbent, Moulin Rouge!
5. Heath Ledger, Monster’s Ball
Alt: Ethan Hawke, Training Day
Supporting Actress:
1. Helen Mirren, Gosford Park -WINNER-
2. Marisa Tomei, In the Bedroom -Runner-up-
3. Laura Harring, Mulholand Dr.
4. Frances McDormand, The Man Who Wasn’t There
5. Cate Blanchett, Bandits & The Lord of the Rings.
Alt: Cameron Diaz, Vanilla Sky
58 11-27-2009 at 5:54 pm
Zodiac said...
Very good performances NOT NOMINATED THAT YEAR:
Naomi Watts – Mulholland Drive
Charlotte Rampling – Under The Sand
Maggie Cheung – In the mood for Love
Tony Lieung – In the mood for Love
Heath Ledger – Monsters Ball
Cate Blanchett – Bandits or The Shipping News
Cameron Diaz – Vanilla Sky
Audrey Tautou – Amelie
Ryan Gosling – The Believer
Nicole Kidman – The Others
Reese Witherspoon – Legally Blonde
Guy Pearce – Memento