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| a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
Now that we have left February and romance behind, we are back on track with Oscar-themed Thursdays. This week, as we are asked to pick actors who won the Oscar for a leading role, I'm going theme-within-theme and I'm picking three films, specifically three performances, that made me fall in love with the actor.
Natalie Portman, Black Swan (2010)
In Aronofsky's brilliant psychological thriller, Natalie Portman plays a committed ballerina who starts losing her grip on reality as she's forced to compete for a role with another dancer (Mila Kunis). While I loved everything about the film the first time I watched it, Portman's mesmerizing was my favourite bit, and it started my obsession with her.
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Lining Playbook (2012)
In this sweet, funny and emotional film, Jennifer Lawrence plays a widow who offers to help a man (Bradley Cooper) just released from a psychiatric hospital to get back his wife if he enters a dance competition with her. While it's not her best performance — Mother! and Winter's Bone share the first place —, she delivers a powerful performance that put her on my radar.
Brie Larson, Room (2015)
In this heartbreaking and yet beautiful film, Brie Larson plays a young mother who, kidnapped as a teen, is now raising her child (Jacob Tremblay) in a small, windowless room. Larson's performance here is so layered and emotional. It arguably deserved the Oscar and it is easily one of my favourite performances ever.
I haven't seen Room but I love Brie Larson. Also really loved JLaw (who I chose for mine!) and Natalie Portman too. I think Natalie Portman was one of the best performances in several decades.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend Room. It is hard to watch but Larson is terrific, and Tremblay also gives a great performance.
DeleteI agree that Natalie Portman is electric in Black Swan, matched by Barbara Hershey as her loon of a mother, and despite stiff competition from Jennifer Lawrence was the correct winner that year. I doubt I'll ever watch the film again but it was a memorable experience.
ReplyDeleteCan't say the same for Silver Linings Playbook. I watched it, it was okay, I forgot about it as soon as I left the theatre. Lawrence didn't deserve to win, if she'd been competing with Winter's Bone she would have been my choice. Emmanuelle Riva was robbed...and on her birthday no less!
Larson was strong in Room, she seemed supporting to me however, but the showpiece performance in that film was the Jacob Tremblay. Charlotte Rampling would have been my pick in that lineup, had Larson been nominated in Supporting though I would have been happy to see her pick up the statue.
You know me I reached back for mine and did a theme around an actress who should be discussed more-Greer Garson. I chose her winning performances and two actors who have a strong affiliation with her.
Mrs. Miniver (Greer Garson-Best Actress) (1942)-Kay Miniver (Greer), her architect husband Clem (Walter Pidgeon-also Oscar nominated) and their three children are living a comfortable life in a small village outside of London until war is declared. Eldest son Vin (Richard Ney-who shortly after the film’s completion married Greer!) leaves college to join the Royal Air Force while also falling for and marrying local girl Carol Beldon (Teresa Wright-winner for Best Supporting Actress). As the war arrives on their doorstep they must endure bombing raids and many other hardships and tragedies meeting them with perseverance and fortitude.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (Robert Donat-Best Actor) (1939)-1n 1870 schoolteacher Charles Chipping “Mr. Chips” (Donat) fresh from university is a strict disciplinarian to his young students at his new public-school post making him unpopular. However, on holiday he meets and impulsively marries the feisty suffragette Katherine Ellis (Greer Garson-Oscar nominated) whose love softens and humanizes Chips until he becomes a beloved institution on campus and a source of inspiration through the tough years of World War I onward into the 20th Century.
A Double Life (Ronald Colman-Best Actor) (1947)-Legendary stage star Anthony John’s (Colman) method is to totally immerse himself in the parts he plays. This is fine when he appears in comedic roles but with more serious roles, he becomes unpredictably volatile as his real-life self slowly ebbs away leading to the end of his marriage to Brita (Signe Hasso) his frequent costar. Now despite all warning signs he has undertaken Othello partnered again with Brita, though having a young mistress, Pat Kroll (an incredibly young, very thin Shelley Winters in her first important role), and as the part overtakes him, he descends into madness. Though Greer isn’t in this film she and Colman costarred (the year she won for Mrs. Miniver) in another big success for both “Random Harvest” where Colman was again nominated for Best Actor.
I'm sorry you felt that way about Silver Linings Playbook as I adore that film.
DeleteI haven't seen any of your picks but A Double Life sounds very compelling.
We share a pick with Jennifer Lawrence but really it's for different reasons as I think the Oscars got it completely wrong as it should've gone to Emmanuelle Riva, Naomi Watts, or Jessica Chastain. Brie Larson and PO'TMAN MOTHAFUCKA! are the right choices.
ReplyDeleteI see your point as Riva and Chastain were both terrific, but Lawrence still is my favourite from that year.
DeleteNice picks! I thought JLaw was a little too young and green for Silver Linings Playbook, but she still gave a great performance. Love your pick of Natalie and Brie too.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI truly could not stand Psycho Swan and Silver Linings was ok but nothing earth shattering and I honestly forgot about that film as soon as I watched it I still have to see Room because of the plot. It upsets me and makes me feel uncomfortable ...I have not found the strength to see it yet but I can easily see the reason why she won.
ReplyDeleteRoom is definitely not easy to watch, and it's far from being enjoyable, but it's a very well-made film and the performances are great.
DeleteI couldn't possibly agree more with all of your choices! I only watched Black Swan for the first time last year and I was blown away!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that! Black Swan is hands down my favourite film from Aronofsky as well as one of my favourite films.
DeleteOf your three I like Portman in Black Swan best.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like JLaw in SLP. I think I prefer her in Winter's Bone.
Lawrence gives a stronger performance in Winter's Bone but I prefer her in Silver Linings Playbook because it's a film I've rewatched many times. Winter's Bone I will never rewatch.
DeleteI also picked Brie Larson. Room is a heartbreaking film and her performance really got to me.
ReplyDeleteThat film broke me so much I've been meaning to read the novel since seeing it and yet it's still on my to-read list.
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