Kerry Fox shined as author Janet Frame in Jane Campion's masterpiece An Angel at My Table. If you have never seen this beautiful movie, Fox's performance is certainly reason enough to do so as soon as possible.
OK, seriously, has Sissy ever given a bad performance? Badlands, Terrence Malick's 1973 American crime drama, showcased a very young Spacek alongside Martin Sheen. Sissy has described the film as the most incredible experience of her career. It is definitely one of her greatest performances.
I have gushed about Geraldine Page here on the blog before -- so you already know I think she does no wrong. One of my favorite performances from Page was in Woody Allen's underrated Interiors. Page played Eve, a very troubled interior decorator. This homage to Ingmar Bergman is one of Allen's best.
Yes, it is a documentary. And yes, it is a performance. Little Edie. Grey Gardens. Enough said.
One of the most beautiful films I have ever seen has to be Jane Campion's The Piano. Holly Hunter proved she was more than a cute Southern accent as the mute pianist Ada.
I think Aurora Greenway is Shirley MacLaine's career defining role. All you have to do is mention the hospital scene in Terms of Endearment and everyone knows what you are talking about. "Give my daughter the shot!"
Junebug — great movie. Ashley — one of Amy Adams best performances. Talk about a tear-jerker!
Here's Holly again. I have watched Broadcast News so many times I can nearly recite the dialogue along with the actors. One of the best screenplays ever!
September Issue belonged to Grace Coddington! I fell in love.
The Shining is one of my all-time favorite films. Shelley Duvall is brilliant!
Shortly before her death, Geraldine Page won the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal as Carrie Watts in Horton Foote's The Trip To Bountiful. Watch Page literally become the character. It is amazing.
I love Diane Ladd — her choices, her fearlessness. Marietta Fortune, Ladd's character in David Lynch's Wild at Heart, is a doozy! Watch for this scene in particular!
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What are your favorites?
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Honorable mentions: Jennifer Jason Leigh in Washington Square, Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Viola Davis in Doubt, Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal, Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry...
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Wow those are all great choices, I agree with every single one! I have never seen An Angel at My Table, however, but I will look for it now. Geraldine Page in A Trip to Bountiful...an all time favorite.
ReplyDeleteOh yes Yve. That is a good one! I love when she says somethig like...The reason I chose to never remarry, despite a quite bewildering range of offers, was the determination never again to be ordered around.
ReplyDeleteYour right about Geraldine Page in A Trip to Bountiful. I thought Horton Foote Script was perfection and Page was a tour de force. I was surprised you did not select Diane Ladd in Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More. Flo was inspired. To say nothing of the great Ellen Bursten. Have you see Resurrection--Bursten and the immortal Eva La Gallienne in her last role( I think she was in her 90s)
ReplyDeleteGreat choices -- my favorite - Jessica Lange in Frances -- heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteFollow your blog regularly - a great place to visit!
Ellen Burstyn indeed -- amazing in Requiem for a Dream.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff_bIv4ZK2E
ReplyDeleteThree wonderful ladies and a masterpiece...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWZapP8b11s
(The gentleman wasn't bad either :-))
What was the Shelley Duvall film? You don't seem to have mentioned the name.
ReplyDeleteI love each of these films, but for myself it has to be Kerry Fox's performance of Janet Frame. After this film I read everything Janet Frame had ever written. She was still alive when the film was released. I'm always excited when someone has seen this movie, as few did at the time it came out.
ReplyDeleteI stop by your blog daily... One of my favorites.
~G~
Meryl Streep in Kramer vs. Kramer and just about anything else! Enjoying your blog
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