And the nominees are...
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams in Doubt
Penélope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis in Doubt
Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler
In Doubt, Amy Adams portrays Sister James, a young and naïve nun whose confession gets the movie rolling along. Although she gives the least emotional punch out of the Doubt quartet, Adams pulls her weight. After all, she was Oscar-nominated for a similar role in Junebug and should have made it for Enchanted. What she does, she does well, so no complaining here. However, this is not an award-winning role, especially when you put her up against Viola Davis, who gives a more memorable performance in the same film.
Penélope Cruz thoroughly shines in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. For me, she was the saving grace of the film. Whenever she’s on the screen, the movie is one thousand times better. Her Maria Elena is so fiery, passionate, and entirely crazy. There’s some heavy scenery chewing for sure, but it’s very calculated, smart, and, above all, hilarious. Cruz gives an entertaining performance through-and-through.
Viola Davis’s Mrs. Miller (wasn’t it “Mrs. Muller” on Broadway?) is as messy and sloppy as anything, but she doesn’t care as long as her son gets through school. It is Doubt’s pivotal role and Davis doesn’t back away from it. You know you’re seeing something special when someone actually upstages Meryl Streep. She has the shortest role of all the nominees in this category, but who can forget the image of Viola Davis with tears streaming down her eyes, snot dripping down her nose, quietly but relentlessly fighting for her son, even if it means trading one type of abuse for another? Sure, a lot of it comes from John Patrick Shanley’s writing, but the movie would fall flat if you don’t have a great actress in this role. And no, the movie doesn’t fall flat.
Taraji P. Henson’s Queenie ages normally in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but she probably has the biggest heart out of the nominated roles. She takes care of the elderly, mothers a computer-generated (and Oscar-nominated) Brad Pitt, and never thinks twice about what she believes is right. Yes, she probably leaves the least impact out of all the nominees in this category, but it doesn’t mean that you don’t want her for your own mama. While I thought the standout supporting performance in Benjamin Button was Tilda Swinton’s, Henson has done a fine job as well.
And that leaves us with Marisa Tomei and her performance as Cassidy and/or Pam in The Wrestler. Tomei is nude for probably one-half of her performance, and even though she plays an aging stripper, I don’t think anyone would complain about watching her gyrate and lap-dance in this film. Who knew she still has a rockin’ body? Marisa Tomei is so raw and so real in The Wrestler; she lives and breathes in this role. It’s an unbelievable performance from start to finish. Tomei’s first Oscar was not a fluke. She is a wonderful actress, and this performance would convert any of the non-believers. Although she won an Oscar for a flashy role, Tomei proves that a great, subtle performance reads just as strong.My pick: Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler
Other thoughts: All five ladies and performances are strong, so I wouldn’t be upset with any of them winning. Tomei is probably the dark horse to win with Cruz and Davis grabbing what was once Kate Winslet’s award for the taking (her supporting performance in The Reader was nominated in the leading category). So if any of those three win, I’d be happy.
Soon to come: The other acting races and, of course, Best Picture!
Thoughts? Comments? Debates? Threats? Let me know!
~Steven
