2008 Woodie Awards
L.A. Confidential:
Shaun Mitchell
Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: A & E
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It's been a slow week in Hollywood, what with everyone still getting over the Oscars and taking time to relax after Tinseltown's biggest night.
Instead of sounding off on current Hollywood politics, considering there is little to sound off on, this week I have decided to rank the top five Best Actress winners of the past sixteen years excluding this past Oscar ceremony. I loved Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line" and I thought she was the perfect fit to win the award, so it goes without saying that I consider her one of the best winners, but for now, I'm taking a walk down memory lane, from 1990 to 2006.
Starting the countdown at number five is Julia Roberts in "Erin Brockovich." Julia Roberts is America's actress.
She is extremely likeable, sure, but is she a great actress? That question is a matter of opinion. To me, Julia Roberts is Julia Roberts in every movie, with one exception. That exception is "Erin Brockovich." Julia becomes the character and absorbs all that the character does - the true sign of an extraordinary actress.
Her vivacious remarks and vigorous actions allow the character of Erin Brockovich to come out in full force. She finally won the Academy Award for her work in this and thoroughly deserved it. While her work in "Pretty Woman" is delightful, playing Erin Brockovich was the turning point in her amazing acting career.
Number four, when Kathy Bates won her Oscar in 1991 for "Misery," she wasn't playing a sweet mother, but quite the opposite. Kathy Bate's performance as Annie Wilkes in "Misery" was such an intense portrayal of a fan gone crazy that people had to take note. Throwing a typewriter on James Caan's broken foot is just plain memorable, (I had nightmares). It was her first Oscar and she has been nominated twice since. Her Annie Wilkes is a wrought human being conflicted with so many issues and she shows that through the multiple layers she gives to the character and layers is what all great characters should have.
Instead of sounding off on current Hollywood politics, considering there is little to sound off on, this week I have decided to rank the top five Best Actress winners of the past sixteen years excluding this past Oscar ceremony. I loved Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line" and I thought she was the perfect fit to win the award, so it goes without saying that I consider her one of the best winners, but for now, I'm taking a walk down memory lane, from 1990 to 2006.
Starting the countdown at number five is Julia Roberts in "Erin Brockovich." Julia Roberts is America's actress.
She is extremely likeable, sure, but is she a great actress? That question is a matter of opinion. To me, Julia Roberts is Julia Roberts in every movie, with one exception. That exception is "Erin Brockovich." Julia becomes the character and absorbs all that the character does - the true sign of an extraordinary actress.
Her vivacious remarks and vigorous actions allow the character of Erin Brockovich to come out in full force. She finally won the Academy Award for her work in this and thoroughly deserved it. While her work in "Pretty Woman" is delightful, playing Erin Brockovich was the turning point in her amazing acting career.
Number four, when Kathy Bates won her Oscar in 1991 for "Misery," she wasn't playing a sweet mother, but quite the opposite. Kathy Bate's performance as Annie Wilkes in "Misery" was such an intense portrayal of a fan gone crazy that people had to take note. Throwing a typewriter on James Caan's broken foot is just plain memorable, (I had nightmares). It was her first Oscar and she has been nominated twice since. Her Annie Wilkes is a wrought human being conflicted with so many issues and she shows that through the multiple layers she gives to the character and layers is what all great characters should have.