The best acting performance ever committed to celluloid.
Christopher Lucas 
By an actress.
Which one is it?
(Inspired by the 'worst ever' thread)
| by Anonymous | reply 312 | June 3, 2020 5:51 AM |
NB: For Glenn I picked Fatal Attraction, even though it is popular to cite Dangerous Liaisons as her best performance. FA may be a shlocky film, but her performance is one of cinema's all-time best, eclipsing even DL.
She shows far more range as Alex Forrest, and literally burns a hole through the screen, all through the movie.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | July 11, 2015 7:31 PM |
Vivien Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara, now and forever
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 11, 2015 7:31 PM |
Maggie Smith, hands down.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 11, 2015 7:34 PM |
Um, Bette Davis for.... The Letter? What about All About Eve?
And why is Glenn Close on here for Fatal Attraction? If she had to be an option, it should have been for Dangerous Liaisons.
Out of these choices, the easy answer is Maria Falconetti. But Olivia de Havilland (The Heiress), Giulietta Masina (Nights of Cabiria), Gena Rowlands (A Woman Under the Influence AND Opening Night), Jessica Lange (Frances), Katharine Hepburn (Bringing Up Baby), Liv Ullman (for anything, but Scenes From a Marriage would be my pick), etc., should be included.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 11, 2015 7:34 PM |
Miss Susan Hayward in I WANT TO LIVE!
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 11, 2015 7:35 PM |
Gena Rowlands in OPENING NIGHT
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | July 11, 2015 7:36 PM |
r4, I've explained myself at r1.
Dangerous Liaisons is the more quality film, but her performance in Fatal Attraction easily trumps her brilliant work in DL. Much greater range, more subtletly, more complexity, and all this in a film that doesn't care for subtlety. At all.
For Bette, it is similar: All About Eve is more iconic than The Letter, more flashy, more fun. But she does all the heavy lifting in the latter, not the former.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | July 11, 2015 7:45 PM |
Elizabeth Taylor should at least be in the list for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | July 11, 2015 7:58 PM |
Bette's most accomplished performances were in The Letter, Dark Victory, Of Human Bondage, Little Foxes, and Now Voyager.
She doesn't have as much to do in All About Eve, even though the performance has become so iconic, due to the many great lines and scenes. In fact, even Baby Jane is more demanding material than AAE.
Neither of those two roles can trump her early performances at Warner, though.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | July 11, 2015 8:01 PM |
Though she doesn't get a lot of love here (there is a nostril troll), Sophia Loren gives a shattering performance in "Two Women".
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | July 11, 2015 8:06 PM |
r8: WAOVW is fun, flashy, and definitely an iconic performance.
But it's also a tad one-dimensional.
Naomi Watts completely transforms herself in Mulholland, and her role is far more challenging than what Taylor is given in her film. So I picked Naomi and left off ET, who was never considered an acting powerhouse anyway, was she.
r10: agreed, Loren is spectacular in Two Women.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | July 11, 2015 8:08 PM |
Gena Rowlands in 1) Woman Under the Influence 2) Gloria and 3) Opening Night
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | July 11, 2015 8:09 PM |
My vote goes for Viv Leigh!!!! Folks used to say we had a lot in common.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 13 | July 11, 2015 8:32 PM |
Delphine Seyrig in JEANNE DIEHLMAN, 23, QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | July 11, 2015 8:57 PM |
Ingrid Bergman in Autumn Sonata and Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction are terrible choices.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | July 11, 2015 9:00 PM |
r13, PLEASE stop posting pictures of that bitch.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | July 11, 2015 9:01 PM |
Jane Fonda in Klute or They Shoot Horses. Don't They?
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | July 11, 2015 9:03 PM |
I had to go with my second choice, Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice, because my first choice, Bette Davis in All About Eve, was not on the list. Granted, I get what others had said about Bette's 40s performances, particularly the ones that were directed by the great William Wyler but Margo Channing was vintage Bette Davis. Plus, to be such a tough character with yes, bitchy lines, there were some real shades of insecurity in that character that was superbly acted.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | July 11, 2015 9:12 PM |
Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 19 | July 11, 2015 9:37 PM |
^^^ Cue hissing from the Better Davis fans
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | July 11, 2015 9:39 PM |
I don't get the overrated love/praise for Falconetti in THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC. All she did was mug for the camera. Just tons of close-ups of her crying mug. There's more to acting than being able to produce tears.
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | July 11, 2015 9:41 PM |
Patty Duke in the miracle worker
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | July 11, 2015 9:47 PM |
Thanks for all your votes and for the votes for G too. I believe her performance in Fatal Attraction is very underated. It was one of the first main stream depictions of transgender. If it wasn't for G there would be no Kaitlyn. (although at least Kaitlyn has a better hair stylist.)
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | July 11, 2015 9:49 PM |
Joan Fontaine: "Rebecca" and Olivia de havilland: "The Heiress"
Love them both even though they didn't love each other.
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | July 11, 2015 9:55 PM |
R23 Close wasn't transgender in FATAL ATTRACTION. The movie didn't have anything to do with transgenderism. You're probably confusing it with her earlier film, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP, in which John Lithgow played a pre-/post-op trans woman. Both Close and Lithgow were nominated for supporting Oscars.
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | July 11, 2015 9:55 PM |
Frances McDormand in Fargo & Kathy Bates Misery
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | July 11, 2015 10:12 PM |
R27 Madonna (EVITA) beat McDormand (FARGO) for the Golden Globe.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | July 11, 2015 10:22 PM |
That's because it's mostly Eurotrash who vote, R28.
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | July 11, 2015 10:28 PM |
Elizabeth Berkley in Showgirls. Her imitation of an epileptic fish was brilliant!
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | July 11, 2015 10:33 PM |
Madonna probably sucked the right cock to get that GG.
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | July 11, 2015 10:36 PM |
Wait...out of all of Ingrid Bergman's performances, you picked Autumn Sonata??? That's like saying the parsley garnish is the best part of Beef Wellington.
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | July 11, 2015 10:39 PM |
Norma Shearer in The Women Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | July 11, 2015 10:52 PM |
Ugh. Glenn's gargoyle-like performance in FA borders on High Camp. Her work in DA is far superior - sheer malevolence shaded with resignation and desperation IS the film. Dozens of other actresses could have done Alexx Forrest. No one else could have been the Marquise de Merteuil.
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | July 11, 2015 10:59 PM |
Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction.
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | July 11, 2015 11:05 PM |
Paul Scofield in "A Man for All Seasons"
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | July 11, 2015 11:11 PM |
Margaret DuMont for "Bringing up Groucho"
| by Anonymous | reply 37 | July 11, 2015 11:18 PM |
Julianne Moore in Magnolia, seriously.
| by Anonymous | reply 38 | July 11, 2015 11:19 PM |
So G was playing a woman in Fatal Attraction? I have to rethink that film.
| by Anonymous | reply 39 | July 11, 2015 11:24 PM |
Ida Lupino in The Hard Way.
| by Anonymous | reply 40 | July 11, 2015 11:28 PM |
Diane Keaton in Looking for Mr. Goodbar! Come on DL!! I can't believe it took 40 replies.
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | July 11, 2015 11:31 PM |
Deborah Kerr in "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison"
| by Anonymous | reply 42 | July 11, 2015 11:40 PM |
Doh! I just now realized that I completely overlooked OP's specification "by an actress". Sorry.
| by Anonymous | reply 43 | July 11, 2015 11:48 PM |
Isabelle Adjani, "Camille Claudel"
Judy Garland, "A Star is Born"
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | July 12, 2015 12:01 AM |
Ronee Blakely, "Nashville"
Sissy Spacek, "3 Women"
Isabelle Adjani, "The Story of Adele H."
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | July 12, 2015 12:13 AM |
Some prententious foreign film snob ALWAYS mentions Falconetti in Joan of Arc. As if that gargoylish overacting could compare with the masterworks of American actresses in the first half of the 20th Century. Please go back to your subtitles and leave the true cineastes alone to discuss this topic.
| by Anonymous | reply 47 | July 12, 2015 12:14 AM |
Ellen Burstyn in "Requiem For A Dream". An absolutely shattering performance. THREAD CLOSED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED.
| by Anonymous | reply 48 | July 12, 2015 12:15 AM |
R47, not only subtitled, but it's a silent film, so how much of a performance can one give under those circumstances? It was mainly close-ups for Faclonetti's tear-stained mug.
| by Anonymous | reply 49 | July 12, 2015 12:25 AM |
Autumn Sonata is easily Ingrid Bergman's greatest performance, and one of the best acting of all time.
If you're into histrionics, Liv is your girl. If you're into heartbreaking subtlety, Ingrid's turn in this film is the ultimate clinic in acting.
| by Anonymous | reply 50 | July 12, 2015 12:48 AM |
I'm so sorry, R16. I didn't mean to offend. I'm just a former star trying to find her way back into good graces. I apologize if your envious of me. I'm used to it. There's no need to be petty or jealous. I'm sure you have your good points.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 51 | July 12, 2015 12:54 AM |
Cavill is gorgeous, but so fucking bland.
| by Anonymous | reply 52 | July 12, 2015 1:16 AM |
Oops, CLEARLY wrong thread as Cavill can't act his way out of a paper bag.
| by Anonymous | reply 53 | July 12, 2015 1:17 AM |
R47 that film is one of the greatest most powerful films ever made. Many people who love film feel that way and if her performance were what you say it is it would be closer to a Ben Turpin comedy.
A performance that is NEVER mentioned and I think it is one of the greatest performances by a man or woman in an American film is May Robson in Lady For a Day.
The range of her going from a wretched miserable angry frightened old lady to practically queen in little over an hour and making it totally believable and moving is an amazing acting achievement.
| by Anonymous | reply 54 | July 12, 2015 1:52 AM |
How do you rate Bette Davis' performance in the same role in "Pocketful of Miracles", r54?
| by Anonymous | reply 55 | July 12, 2015 2:24 AM |
I rate Bette Davis performance in "Pocketful of Miracles" about the way I rate all her other performances, "Look who just showed up Bette Davis and she's "acting" again."
| by Anonymous | reply 56 | July 12, 2015 2:33 AM |
Barbara Stanwyck in Stella Dallas, bitches!
| by Anonymous | reply 57 | July 12, 2015 2:34 AM |
I've never seen it though from what I've heard I might not want to.
And Barbara in a lot of things.
| by Anonymous | reply 58 | July 12, 2015 2:54 AM |
oh, please... Agnes Moorehead in "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Mrs. Parkington" Katharine Hepburn in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" - her greatest performance Angela Lansbury in "The Manchurian Candidate" - she was pure evil. Emily Watson in "Breaking the Waves" and have any of you seen any films that were not in English?
Edith Clever in Syberberg's "Parsifal" - absolutely magnificent
| by Anonymous | reply 59 | July 12, 2015 3:25 AM |
Oh god if we go into foreign films this thread would never end.
| by Anonymous | reply 60 | July 12, 2015 3:27 AM |
I concur with Moorehead in Ambersons. And she rightfully won the NYFC Best Actress Award.
| by Anonymous | reply 61 | July 12, 2015 4:04 AM |
Judy: "A Star Is Born" and "A Child is Waiting" Barbra: "Funny Girl" Bette: "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" and "The Letter"
| by Anonymous | reply 62 | July 12, 2015 4:13 AM |
R50, it's fascinating to read Ingmar Bergman's account of working with Ingrid on Autumn Sonata. He said that she was a disaster in rehearsal-- full of phony actressy mannerisms, unwilling to take direction-- and the first days of shooting she was so bad he didn't know how he was going to be able to work with her. Finally he took Ingrid to see the dailies and asked her what she thought of her performance. When she admitted that it wasn't any good they started over and what you see in the film is the result.
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | July 12, 2015 4:20 AM |
R63, I wonder what Ingmar Bergman and Ingrid Bergman thought of their similar-sounding names. For the longest time, whenever I saw the name 'Ingmar Bergman' in passing in film books, my mind read it as 'Ingrid Bergman.' I think I mistook it for a typo and din't realize they were two different people... of different sexes, no less.
| by Anonymous | reply 64 | July 12, 2015 4:31 AM |
Marie Dressler in "Min and Bill," 1930.
| by Anonymous | reply 65 | July 12, 2015 6:55 AM |
Norma Shearer in "Marie Antoinette", the last scenes in the prison will melt any heart. She was also fantastic in "Private Lives" and her Juliet in the potion scene and the ball scene are simply magic. As Leslie Howard's Romeo says "She's like a jewel in an Ethiope's ear" indeed.
I like Bette's performance in "The Letter" but for me it doesn't match Jeanne Eagle's performance in the original.
| by Anonymous | reply 66 | July 12, 2015 7:12 AM |
Viv Leigh in Streetcar.
Faye in Mommy Dearest, seriously. It is a great performance.
People crapping on Falconetti are idiots.
| by Anonymous | reply 67 | July 12, 2015 8:13 AM |
Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper , Jake Gayllenhaal in any love scene with a woman.
| by Anonymous | reply 68 | July 12, 2015 8:35 AM |
Barbra streisand in Funny Hirl? Someone on DL once pointed out--correctly-- that whenever she wants to express emotional turmoil, she just arches her head back and rakes her fingernails lightly over her throat.
| by Anonymous | reply 69 | July 12, 2015 8:42 AM |
[quote]Norma Shearer in "Marie Antoinette", the last scenes in the prison will melt any heart. She was also fantastic in "Private Lives" and her Juliet in the potion scene and the ball scene are simply magic. As Leslie Howard's Romeo says "She's like a jewel in an Ethiope's ear" indeed.
Hi, Zak!
| by Anonymous | reply 70 | July 12, 2015 8:43 AM |
Gwyneth Paltrow in Country Strong
| by Anonymous | reply 71 | July 12, 2015 11:03 AM |
Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story would be on my shortlist. As would Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist, and Ingrid Bergman Notorious!
Kate Hepburn rules!
| by Anonymous | reply 72 | July 12, 2015 11:28 AM |
Gena Rowlands in Opening Night
Katrin Cartlidge in Claire Dolan
Sissy Spacek & Shelly Duval in 3 Women
| by Anonymous | reply 73 | July 12, 2015 11:28 AM |
Gong Li - Coming Home, Raise the Red Lantern
Liv Ullmann - Scenes from a Marriage
Another vote for Bergman (and Ullmann) in Autumn Sonata
Simone Signoret - Madame Rosa
Isabelle Huppert - 8 Women
Giulietta Masina - La Strada
Fernanda Montenegro - Central Station (Central do Brasil)
Katherine Hepburn - The African Queen
| by Anonymous | reply 74 | July 12, 2015 12:00 PM |
Isabelle Huppert -The Piano Teacher, Story of Women
| by Anonymous | reply 75 | July 12, 2015 12:06 PM |
No no no! Kate in Holiday! A much better film.
And in Alice Adams she gives a great performance as well. Really remarkable for a young actress. No young actress today can compare.
| by Anonymous | reply 77 | July 12, 2015 12:27 PM |
Garbo in "Anna Christie", "Queen Christina", "Camille" and "Ninotchka"
| by Anonymous | reply 78 | July 12, 2015 2:22 PM |
[R77] i agree, but TPS is my fave . I love her in The Lion in Winter too, and Woman of the Year. So glad you are a Hepburn fan too. She was so vulnerable in many films like Alice Adams, Summertime, and even Bringing up Baby, which is imbued with a real tangible insanity at times don't you think?
| by Anonymous | reply 79 | July 12, 2015 2:28 PM |
Woman of the Year is one of my favorites too. I think it's one of the most realistic portrayals of a male female relationship, the way it demonstrates the inequality, and comprimises via gender reversal is very interesting. And the acting holds up so well.
| by Anonymous | reply 80 | July 12, 2015 2:39 PM |
Not including Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard" was shockingly wrong.
| by Anonymous | reply 81 | July 12, 2015 2:50 PM |
Pia Zadora in "Butterfly"
| by Anonymous | reply 82 | July 12, 2015 2:51 PM |
No one has to vote for me.
I'm just glad I got the chance to play the part.
I know there are a lot of younger prettier actresses than me. And you've all got your favorites.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 83 | July 12, 2015 3:49 PM |
Vivien for STREETCAR
Sophia for TWO WOMEN + MARRIAGE ITALIAN STYLE
Miss Susan Hayward for I WANT TO LIVE + I'LL CRY TOMORROW
Kate Hepburn for SUMMERTIME
Audrey Hepburn for TWO FOR THE ROAD / THE NUN'S STORY
Lee Remick for DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES
Jeanne Moreau for BAY OF ANGELS
Ingrid for AUTUMN SONATA (heavy drama but her sense of fun still shines through).
| by Anonymous | reply 84 | July 12, 2015 4:05 PM |
Gloria Swanson - Sunset Boulevard
Isabelle Adjani - History of Adele H
Setsuko Hara - Tokyo Story (she is still here in her 90s)
Jane Fonda - Klute & They Shoot Horses
Miss Dunaway - Chinatown
Guiletta Masina - Nights of Cabiria
Edith Evans - The Whisperers
| by Anonymous | reply 85 | July 12, 2015 4:11 PM |
Judy in A Star is Born of course,
Olivia in The Heiress, though she is not plain enough (Eileen Atkins would have been terrific)
has Geraldine Page been mentioned? - for both Sweet Bird of Youth and Summer and Smoke.
| by Anonymous | reply 86 | July 12, 2015 4:16 PM |
Charlize Theron, Monster.
| by Anonymous | reply 87 | July 12, 2015 4:24 PM |
R86, trust me, Olivia was plenty "plain" for that role...no awards for make-up or special effects in "The Heiress"
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 88 | July 12, 2015 4:27 PM |
I agree, R86. The incomparable Geraldine Page has to be on the list. She was wonderful in every movie I've ever seen her in. And I'll never forget her in "Trip to Bountiful".
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 89 | July 12, 2015 4:30 PM |
Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity
| by Anonymous | reply 90 | July 12, 2015 5:03 PM |
Babs Stanwyck in Double indemnity, have you seen that performance lately? one of the most artificial ever committed to celluloid. Even for the time its campy. Davis and Stanwyck were both hams of the highest order.
| by Anonymous | reply 92 | July 12, 2015 5:29 PM |
Catherine Deneuve in Repulsion
Maria Casares in Les Dames du Bois De Boulogne
Norma Aleandro in La historia oficial
Jeanne Moreau in Jules et Jim
Dietrich in Devil is a Woman or Blonde Venus
Kyoko Kishida - Woman in the Dunes
etc
etc
etc
| by Anonymous | reply 93 | July 12, 2015 5:32 PM |
Jane Greer in Out of the Past is much better as a femme fatale than Stanwyck in DI. It's also a much better film too. Never understood the hype around DI at all.
| by Anonymous | reply 94 | July 12, 2015 5:32 PM |
But in the end the award should probably go to Gloria Swanson for Sunset Boulevard
Honourable mention to Bette Davis for Baby Jane
But its just my guttural viseral gothic taste, I suppose.
| by Anonymous | reply 95 | July 12, 2015 5:34 PM |
Maria Casares is one of the iciest bitches (who still incites desire) in the history of cinema, in Dames......
| by Anonymous | reply 96 | July 12, 2015 5:39 PM |
R78 thank you
Garbo!
Certainly CAMILLE. Her death scene has never been surpassed.
| by Anonymous | reply 97 | July 12, 2015 5:39 PM |
r79 No, I don't think. So begone.
Any way , who is afraid of Virginia Wolf and The sound of Music are the two greatest portrayals by actresses in the history of universe and mankind. Not just actress but also actors. No one can touch those two performances. No one. Nada. Meryl Streep;s and Daniel Day Lewis' are puke worthy compared to those two. Bye.
| by Anonymous | reply 98 | July 12, 2015 5:40 PM |
Yes I am a huge K Hepburn fan but for some strange reason today there is a backlash against her.
Alice Adams and Bringing up Baby within a few years of each other?
WTF?
| by Anonymous | reply 99 | July 12, 2015 5:50 PM |
Another vote for Charlize Theron, Monster.
| by Anonymous | reply 100 | July 12, 2015 5:54 PM |
[quote] Ellen Burstyn in "Requiem For A Dream". An absolutely shattering performance. THREAD CLOSED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED.
I have never understood the love for this performance. Not only is it a fat Easter ham, but it's accentuated by the ridiculous makeup. Faye in Mommie Dearest is restrained compared to this dreadful display of scenery chewing.
| by Anonymous | reply 101 | July 12, 2015 5:54 PM |
Oscar bait is never worthy. Too calculated. It's the Debbie Reynolds with dirt on her face ploy.
| by Anonymous | reply 102 | July 12, 2015 5:57 PM |
[R99] it's [79] here we must be the only KH fans on here. I think the problem people may have with her, especially oh here, is that she was from a wealthy background, which is unforgivable. I mean she was no more unpleasant than Davis or Crawford, but many gay men on here just have an aversion to what they see as 'mannish' women too. Very sad.
| by Anonymous | reply 103 | July 12, 2015 6:00 PM |
Time has not been kind to SOPHIE'S CHOICE. It's a pretty boring movie, and Streep's performance is overrated. I think her best was A CRY IN THE DARK.
| by Anonymous | reply 104 | July 12, 2015 6:02 PM |
Rena Owen in ONCE WERE WARRIORS
r66, I agree with Norma Shearer's performance in MARIE ANTIONETTE, my favorite from her. Those last scenes in the prison, especially the one she has with Tyrone Power, always gets me.
| by Anonymous | reply 105 | July 12, 2015 6:31 PM |
I mean you got to like Norma Shearer, respect!
| by Anonymous | reply 106 | July 12, 2015 6:59 PM |
R104 A Cry In The Dark is my favorite of her performances as well. Perfect accent and perfect mix of despair and defensiveness of what she's accused of. It's a really good performance. I like the movie too.
| by Anonymous | reply 107 | July 12, 2015 7:13 PM |
How about Audrey Hepburn in "Wait Until Dark?"
| by Anonymous | reply 108 | July 12, 2015 7:15 PM |
r74, those are some great suggestions.
Except Huppert in 8 Women - she's pretty cartoonish in that. Plenty of other great performances by Huppert, even if she rarely strays from the icy, imperious intellectual. Still, within that paradigm she is excellent.
As for Bergman in Autumn Sonata: two of the three most senior US critics associations named her best actress in 1979 (New York & NSFC); she was also runner-up with the LA critics that year (not to mention Oscar nominated). It's her most lauded performance by highbrow critics, and a far cry from her lesser (albeit enjoyable) work in, say, Orient Express or Cactus Flower.
Ingrid Bergman ended her exceptional career on a very high note, and definitely belongs in an all-time top ten of acting.
| by Anonymous | reply 109 | July 12, 2015 7:25 PM |
I liked Katharine Hepburn in Holiday as well, but that seems like such a fun movie - she and Cary Grant are loveable in it. In her other films she seems too modern and vibrant for the films she is in - and so many are about putting this spirited woman/character in her place.
| by Anonymous | reply 110 | July 12, 2015 9:46 PM |
I loved HOLIDAY! I like that whole upstairs/downstairs thing in movies, but in HOLIDAY it was the rich black sheep Hepburn preferring to spend New Year's Eve in the attic than to attend the stuffy party downstairs. It especially turned a delight when Grant and his foster parents and Hepburn's drunk, ne'er-do-well but lovable brother joined her. It was quite a contrast seeing how much loose and fun they were having in the attic as opposed to the formal black-tie event downstairs.
| by Anonymous | reply 111 | July 12, 2015 9:55 PM |
Not a lot of Charlize Theron votes for Monster. Huh.
| by Anonymous | reply 112 | July 12, 2015 10:05 PM |
Monster is such a dreary movie and that performance just wears you down, for not much insight or payoff. Gruelling does not add up to great for the history books.
| by Anonymous | reply 113 | July 12, 2015 10:14 PM |
Judy and Barbra are terrible actresses in A Star is Born and Funny Girl. They are incandescent performers and their song styling cannot be beat. But their acting? Phooey! Judy is just "emoti-pating" all over the place, heaving and gushing and hoping it sticks, and Barbra as an actress is nothing but a prop well-directed and edited. Barbra deserved the Oscar over Hepburn, however, who delivers a steaming pile of bad acting and great "movie-starring" in The Lion in Winter. Great acting should be lifelike, not larger-than-lifelike.
| by Anonymous | reply 114 | July 12, 2015 10:19 PM |
I am not a Barbra fan but I find Funny Girl very touching. Though not one of the great performances on celluloid.
| by Anonymous | reply 115 | July 12, 2015 10:21 PM |
Lynn Whitfield, Eye's Bayou.
| by Anonymous | reply 116 | July 12, 2015 10:22 PM |
falconetti was absolutely amazing, for having no training, no makeup and not even much as the ways of hair.
| by Anonymous | reply 117 | July 12, 2015 10:22 PM |
Halle Barry, Monster's Ball.
| by Anonymous | reply 118 | July 12, 2015 10:23 PM |
Halle Barry. hahahahahahhahhshahahhahhasldhfhashahslhfahahahahahahahlfahflh
| by Anonymous | reply 119 | July 12, 2015 10:26 PM |
R84, I love you and Ingrid loves you too.
| by Anonymous | reply 120 | July 12, 2015 10:26 PM |
Thank you, OP/R109. Ingrid's performance in Autumn Sonata definitely ends her film career on a very high note - she knew what she was doing.
Her performance in Crime on the Orient Express is great fun, but she didn't feel deserving of a major award for such a short performance. My favourite American performances of hers are Gaslight and Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde. But her finest work might indeed be Autumn Sonata, and her finest film, too. And I'm not even an Ingmar fan.
| by Anonymous | reply 121 | July 12, 2015 10:32 PM |
[quote]falconetti was absolutely amazing, for having no training, no makeup and not even much as the ways of hair.
No training? Falconetti was already a celebrated stage actress and had appeared in one film LA COMETESSE DE SOMERIVE (1917) when she was cast in THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC. She never made another film after that, but continued to work on the stage, especially in light stage comedies.
Anyway, she wasn't some amateur with no acting experience.
| by Anonymous | reply 122 | July 12, 2015 10:38 PM |
Ellen Burstyn's finest film performance was in "Resurrection".
| by Anonymous | reply 123 | July 12, 2015 10:45 PM |
No one offered Joan Crawford in "Mildred Pierce"?
| by Anonymous | reply 124 | July 12, 2015 10:46 PM |
Mildred Piece the character is a lot of fun and an intriguing picture, but it is a just a bit too campy to be great great. Mildred sort of starts in the middle range of mood and goes up and down and up and down, but she never really convincingly goes down down or desperate. I thought Todd Haynes' version was a bit more complex Mildred.
| by Anonymous | reply 125 | July 12, 2015 10:49 PM |
The 2011 MILDRED PIERCE was way better. Winslet was a better Mildred, and it was very faithful to its source. The Crawford version completely bowdlerized the story (changing the ending and motives) and turned it into a film noir campfest.
| by Anonymous | reply 126 | July 12, 2015 10:51 PM |
Anna Magnani - Mamma Roma Hanna Schygulla - Die Ehe Der Maria Braun Romy Schneider - Nachtblende Adele Exarchopoulos - Blue Is The Warmest Colour Sandy Dennis - Come Back To The Five And Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
AND GENA ROWLANDS IN "A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE"; "OPENING NIGHT" AND "GLORIA". She deserved Oscars for all the performances. She is a much better actress than Meryl will ever be and is so underrated and unknown by the general public, that it is infuriating. And i just had to write it in CAPS!
| by Anonymous | reply 127 | July 12, 2015 10:52 PM |
Everyone of a certain age knows Gena Rowlands, and all movie buffs do, isn't that all that counts, really?
I put up some other greats from world cinema like you did. Dudes who create these polls aren't so interested it seems.
| by Anonymous | reply 128 | July 12, 2015 10:55 PM |
My favorite Stanwyck film performance was in "My Reputation".
| by Anonymous | reply 129 | July 12, 2015 11:01 PM |
Nice to see Romy Schneider mentioned, r127 - she is terrific in DEATHWATCH in 1980, 2 years before she died tragically young.
| by Anonymous | reply 130 | July 12, 2015 11:06 PM |
I find Angelina Jolie absolutely riveting in Lara Croft. And ditto for Milla Jovovich in 5th Element. I know this must be my wanton appreciation of camp but there it is.
Sigourney Weaver in the first Alien.
| by Anonymous | reply 131 | July 12, 2015 11:16 PM |
Halle Berry is a great actress...even though most of you raciest pigs can not bare to recognize an African American actress...there are many great ones, who are working.
| by Anonymous | reply 132 | July 12, 2015 11:17 PM |
Geraldine Page: Summer & Smoke; Sweet Bird of Youth; the Trip to Bountiful Bette Davis: All About Eve Charlize Theron: Monster Cate Blanchett: Elizabeth Katharine Hepburn: A Long Day's Journey Into Night Meryl Streep: A Cry in the Dark Maggie Smith: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
| by Anonymous | reply 133 | July 12, 2015 11:36 PM |
[quote]No one offered Joan Crawford in "Mildred Pierce"?
She offered herself often enough.
| by Anonymous | reply 134 | July 12, 2015 11:46 PM |
I recently watched "Die Ehe der Maria Braun", r127, and found the film wooden and contrived. Schygulla is competent but a tad artificial in that role. Gisela Uhlen as her mother is much more natural and alive, and easily the best part of the film.
In any case, no way does Schygulla belong in a top ten poll.
| by Anonymous | reply 135 | July 13, 2015 12:14 AM |
Also the twisted performance of Angelica Houston in Grifters. Unforgettable.
Holly Woodlawn is mesmerising in Trash. But thats a man, right. So oops.
Sylvia Miles is stupendous in Heat.
| by Anonymous | reply 136 | July 13, 2015 12:17 AM |
Oh, and anyone who says Meryl's Sophie has aged badly: the film itself might have aged, but her performance certainly hasn't. Her scenes with MacNicol are as brilliant as ever, and by that I mean her part in those scenes, not his.
Some of the most soulful acting of all time, and an iconic performance for a reason.
A Cry in the Dark (as well as Silkwood) is a close second, though.
| by Anonymous | reply 137 | July 13, 2015 12:21 AM |
R130 Deathwatch was a great film! Damn shame people who've seen the Truman Show, have never seen it. It's quite disturbing. Great performance by Roy Schneider. It's believed her son's accidental death lead to her death, a possible suicide.
| by Anonymous | reply 138 | July 13, 2015 12:23 AM |
Pam Grier was very good in Jackie Brown.
| by Anonymous | reply 139 | July 13, 2015 12:32 AM |
Elke Sommer
in
THE WICKED WICKED DREAMS OF PAULA SCHULTZ
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 140 | July 13, 2015 12:33 AM |
I show Coffy to my students. Go to the source, dears.
| by Anonymous | reply 142 | July 13, 2015 12:49 AM |
Barbra delivered the comic aspect of her performance very refreshingly in "Funny Girl." Her lines had a great rhythm and light delivery, along with that inimitable Streisand vocal tone. Her mugging was sweet and laugh-out-loud at times - remember her face when Omar (R.I.P) pulled her out of the changing room? She was also young and able to project vulnerability convincingly. Of course her singing was monumental. The picture, to me, was perfect for its first half, but fell apart when the focus switched from Fanny to boring, tedious Nicky. So, she carried the first half and lit up the screen whenever she was on it. So I stand by my nomination :)
| by Anonymous | reply 143 | July 13, 2015 12:52 AM |
In my second Emmy acceptance speech I proclaimed Judy Davis' work in The Judy Garland Story the best work ever put on film.
It was TV though.
| by Anonymous | reply 144 | July 13, 2015 1:11 AM |
Oh, Judy Davis in My Brilliant Career.
| by Anonymous | reply 145 | July 13, 2015 1:12 AM |
Barbara Stanwyck in Sorry, Wrong Number.
| by Anonymous | reply 146 | July 13, 2015 1:14 AM |
R144 it was called LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME AND MY SHADOWS.
| by Anonymous | reply 147 | July 13, 2015 1:16 AM |
[quote] Her performance in Crime on the Orient Express is great fun,
But it just does not compare to her performance in Autumn Music Composition.
| by Anonymous | reply 148 | July 13, 2015 1:17 AM |
A few that I don't think that have been mentioned that should have been nominated:
Lillian Gish, The Wind
Fernanda Montenegro, Central Station
Coral Browne, Dreamchild
Judy Davis, High Tide
Helen Mirren, The Queen
| by Anonymous | reply 149 | July 13, 2015 1:21 AM |
Lilian Gish was also fantastic in Broken Blossoms which is still very watchable.
| by Anonymous | reply 150 | July 13, 2015 1:28 AM |
Halle was camptasically horrific in Monter's Ball playing another over the top Lee Daniels film role who has over the top things happen to them to allow actors to play ultra grim colors. Thornton and Ledger put her to shame.
| by Anonymous | reply 153 | July 13, 2015 2:16 AM |
Bad performances do not rule out Academy Awards, sadly.
| by Anonymous | reply 154 | July 13, 2015 2:18 AM |
R153 Marc Forster directed MONSTER'S BALL.
| by Anonymous | reply 155 | July 13, 2015 2:19 AM |
R155 Lee Daniels produced it.
| by Anonymous | reply 156 | July 13, 2015 2:21 AM |
Halle Berry is pretty. Her TV series was a huge disappointment and a total snore. I like her though. She's pretty and elegant and doesn't seem dumb. She cray cray in life but her acting is flat.
| by Anonymous | reply 158 | July 13, 2015 2:23 AM |
No one will ever convince me Halle's wailing was better than Sissy Spacek 's devastating work in In The Bedroom. They weren't even acting in the same atmosphere.
| by Anonymous | reply 159 | July 13, 2015 2:25 AM |
The greatest black actress in Hollywood history is still Hattie McDaniel. Its sad to think the roles we never got to see her in: I know people say its problematic she had to play the N E G R O slave, servant, etc, but she was both dramatically and comically brilliant and substantial, and those were all performances, not the woman. People seem to forget that.
| by Anonymous | reply 160 | July 13, 2015 2:27 AM |
Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman.
| by Anonymous | reply 161 | July 13, 2015 2:36 AM |
I'm surprised there isn't more love here for Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire. It's impossible to take your eyes off of her as Blanche and considering she's up against Marlon Brando in his finest hour, that's really saying something.
As a matter of fact, I'd say those are the two best performances ever committed to celluloid and they're both in the same film.
| by Anonymous | reply 162 | July 13, 2015 2:36 AM |
Glenn Cose in Fatal Attraction OP? Are you trolling the M troll? Underrated maybe. Greatest of all time hardly.
| by Anonymous | reply 163 | July 13, 2015 2:39 AM |
The problem with Streetcar is that its a bit treacly as a story.
| by Anonymous | reply 164 | July 13, 2015 2:40 AM |
R162 Vivian Leigh was pretty much on the verge of crazy town. The film basically pushed her over the edge. It was less performance, and more reality.
| by Anonymous | reply 165 | July 13, 2015 2:50 AM |
Elia Kazan vs. Douglas Sirk.
Sirk's movies have such a lighter tough. Kazan just grinds me down. Sirk is like the naughty 2 hour cocktail party. Kazan is late night drinking.
| by Anonymous | reply 166 | July 13, 2015 3:05 AM |
Miss Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard
| by Anonymous | reply 167 | July 13, 2015 3:08 AM |
I love so many Kazan movies. Agree with another poster of Vivian's performance. She was teetering between real life and make believe. She was full swing into her mental illness my Streetcar. She was absolutely stunning though. The performance holds up too.
| by Anonymous | reply 168 | July 13, 2015 3:11 AM |
Crus, de Palma, Paredes, Maura
| by Anonymous | reply 170 | July 13, 2015 3:21 AM |
Halle was great in Monster's Ball...your fucking racism is showing...just shut up, pig.
| by Anonymous | reply 172 | July 13, 2015 3:32 AM |
[quote]Coral Browne, Dreamchild
You mean, "My wife, the actress Coral Browne" in Dreamchild
| by Anonymous | reply 173 | July 13, 2015 3:35 AM |
Fernanda Montenegro in Central Station. She lost the Oscar to Gwynnie for Shakespeare In Love. When she went back to Brazil she went on a talk show and said "I lost the Oscar for Best Actress to a little girl crying for her grandfather."
Norma Aleandro in Argentina's The Official Story was also one of the best ever. The moment when she finds out that her husband adopted a little girl after having knowledge that her parents had been murdered by his evil government cronies was incredible.
Meryl Streep's performances in Sophie's Choice and A Cry In The Dark have to be ranked among the very best.
And then there's Marion Cotillard in La Vie En Rose-"Marcel. Marcel. MARCEL. MARCEL!!!!"
| by Anonymous | reply 174 | July 13, 2015 3:39 AM |
I'm a racist not to herald a competent performance in a hack film as "great", and yet I love love love Hattie McDaniel. I like Halle but don't think she's great in anything.
OK, I see your point, but counter I am entirely too mondain for you, dear.
| by Anonymous | reply 175 | July 13, 2015 3:39 AM |
R174 I nominated Aleandro above. Perhaps we 2 are the only ones to have seen this film. :( Its just VIVIEN, KATHARINE, and INGRID around these parts. Where's the Liv Ullmann troll.
| by Anonymous | reply 176 | July 13, 2015 3:43 AM |
No one mentioned Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose?" Kim Stanley in "The Goddess" Anna Magnani "Fugitive Kind, Rose Tattoo, Mamma Roma"
| by Anonymous | reply 177 | July 13, 2015 3:45 AM |
I just did, R177. And yes, I was the Marion Cotillard Troll some years back and wear that with pride.
R176, The Official Story is a great film. I didn't like the ending but I guess it was never going to end well.
I must agree with the one above who mentioned Setsuko Hara. She was unforgettable in all the films she did, not just Tokyo Story.
| by Anonymous | reply 179 | July 13, 2015 3:50 AM |
I thought she was a bit much in the shitshow too.
| by Anonymous | reply 180 | July 13, 2015 3:53 AM |
Hattie was the best black actress in Hollywood history. Halle's a snore.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 181 | July 13, 2015 3:58 AM |
Diana Ross for "Lady Sings The Blues". Isabel Hupert for "The Story Of Women". Dame Edith Evans for "The Importance Of Being Ernest". Glenda Jackson you fill in the blank. Jennifer Jones for "Madam Bovary". Diana Sands for "A Raison In The Sun". Norma Shearer for "The Barrets Of Wimple Street".
| by Anonymous | reply 182 | July 13, 2015 4:27 AM |
LOVING friend, the gift of one,
Who, her own true faith, hath run,
Forsooth, Norma played a nun?
| by Anonymous | reply 183 | July 13, 2015 4:44 AM |
Lady Sings the Blues was pretty good but you gotta admit she gives a much HUGER performance in Me, Mahogany!
| by Anonymous | reply 184 | July 13, 2015 4:44 AM |
She is phenomenal in "Mahogany" and she designed her clothes too.
| by Anonymous | reply 185 | July 13, 2015 6:06 AM |
Yes Miss Ross's ravishing costumes in Mahogany rise to the surreal sumptuous heights of Eiko Ishioka and Milena Canonero.
| by Anonymous | reply 186 | July 13, 2015 6:17 AM |
Miss Ross walks with daughter Tracee and the Super Models, Thierry Mugler 1991
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 188 | July 13, 2015 6:25 AM |
P.S. Remember Naomi didn't know she was playing a double life when she shot all that Betty stuff; it hadn't been invented yet. She was just "the good girl" in a TV series pilot. All that other stuff including the lesbian relationship was created out of the footage once the pilot was passed on. So she can't really be credited with some multi-layer performance; a lot of that was a happy accident.
| by Anonymous | reply 190 | July 13, 2015 6:34 AM |
Judi Dench in NOTES ON A SCANDAL is at least Top 20.
First place still goes to Gena Rowlands.
| by Anonymous | reply 191 | July 13, 2015 6:56 AM |
Dame Judi was mind blowing in My Week With Marilyn. You can pick extraordinary talented actors out of a bunch of very talented actors when they make an impression with just a 30 scene in a movie that has already brilliant performances. She is the real deal when it comes to acting.
| by Anonymous | reply 192 | July 13, 2015 7:13 AM |
Julia Roberts -Pretty Woman, most iconic performance ever.
| by Anonymous | reply 193 | July 13, 2015 10:05 AM |
Anna Magnani in Mamma Roma
| by Anonymous | reply 194 | July 13, 2015 10:29 AM |
Michelle Williams - Wendy And Lucy Tilda Swinton- Julia, We Need To Talk About Kevin Lubna Azabal - Incendies
| by Anonymous | reply 195 | July 13, 2015 10:51 AM |
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman is right up there with Carroll Baker in Harlow. Yeah.
| by Anonymous | reply 196 | July 13, 2015 2:00 PM |
Carol Channing in Thoroughly Modern Milly
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 197 | July 13, 2015 2:04 PM |
She would have redeemed "Hello Dolly" though Barbra sang the hell out of the score.
| by Anonymous | reply 198 | July 13, 2015 4:42 PM |
Plus she's black so we could add more color to this list.
| by Anonymous | reply 199 | July 13, 2015 4:43 PM |
Shirley MacLaine "Terms of Endearment" regardless of her other work, here she was laugh out loud funny. Huge roars and then heartbreaking.
| by Anonymous | reply 200 | July 13, 2015 5:36 PM |
Oh God, R191, yes, Judi Dench gives one of the greatest performances ever in Notes on a Scandal. She should have won all the awards that year instead of Helen Mirren. That role was insanely difficult and she was fantastic.
| by Anonymous | reply 201 | July 13, 2015 5:56 PM |
MacLaine is good in the film, r200, except for the completely overacted & soapy scene at the hospital where she yells at the nurse ("give my daughter the shoooot!"). Awful, misguided moment in an otherwise great film.
That alone disqualifies her from inclusion in the list.
Also, Debra Winger is just as good in TOE.
| by Anonymous | reply 203 | July 13, 2015 9:01 PM |
I personally preferred Shirley in Postcards from the Edge.
| by Anonymous | reply 204 | July 13, 2015 10:25 PM |
Annette Benning was riveting in Bugsy.
| by Anonymous | reply 205 | July 14, 2015 12:48 AM |
I thought Sally Field in Norma Rae was great.
| by Anonymous | reply 206 | July 14, 2015 12:50 AM |
What was so fascinating about Vivian Leigh's performance as the mentally fragile aging Southern belle Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire was that it was like a continuation of the Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind; Scarlett gone to shit. I'm always thinking that when I watch her as Blanche and that mesmerizes the hell out of me. A British woman playing two of the best Southern female roles ever, and the Southern accents in both films were always impeccable.
| by Anonymous | reply 207 | July 14, 2015 1:29 AM |
Dionne Warwitch in Slaves.
| by Anonymous | reply 209 | July 14, 2015 3:52 AM |
Judy Davis in "My Brilliant Career".
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 210 | July 14, 2015 10:03 AM |
Another vote for Hepburn in The Nun's Story, Page in Sweet Bird, Hepburn in Long Day's Journey, and Bancroft in Miracle Worker.
| by Anonymous | reply 211 | July 14, 2015 10:32 AM |
Wendy Hughes - Lonely Hearts; Careful, He Might Hear You
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom
| by Anonymous | reply 212 | July 14, 2015 10:55 AM |
Agreed about Jacki Weaver, r212.
I wish Hollywood would give her a big, meaty role. She was completely wasted in Woody Allen's Magic in the Moonlight.
| by Anonymous | reply 213 | July 14, 2015 11:00 AM |
I don't understand the derision for Halle Berry in Monster's Ball, either. It probably is racial... all I can say is; she's definitely an uneven actress, but she was fucking incandescent in Monster's Ball, and rightfully clutches that oscar. I won't ever forget the performance. However, I'm throwing in abother vote for Charlize Theron in Monster. There are no words.
| by Anonymous | reply 214 | July 14, 2015 11:22 AM |
I have to throw Liv Ullmann, Scenes from a Marriage into the ring. I've also been haunted by Marie-Joseé Croze I'm the barbarian invasions ever since I saw it. Huppert in The Piano Teacher, Montenegro in Central Station, and adjani in Adele h. Are also nothing to shake a stick at. there's a reason Streep is Streep and it's Sophie's Choice, a cry in the dark wasn't too shabby either. I was devastated by Mirren in the cook, the thief..., I'm still going with Theron in Monster though, I believe time will tell on that one.
| by Anonymous | reply 215 | July 14, 2015 11:31 AM |
I know Swank is quite gauche, but she's stunning in Boys Don't Cry. Also, there isn't an actress more supple on screen than Kate Winslet (that's why I still think she's our best), Eternal Sunshine is probably her best. Abbie Cornish is everything in Bright Star.
| by Anonymous | reply 216 | July 14, 2015 11:37 AM |
MacLaine is everything I'm Terms... and all the jealous queens will scream, but J. Law is also everything in Silver Linings.
| by Anonymous | reply 217 | July 14, 2015 11:39 AM |
Hepburn has too many great performances to choose from. Or we'd have to split by decades, etc..
So APART from Hepburn :
- Garbo in Ninotchka
- Leigh in GWTW
- Crawford in Mildred
- Davis in Eve
- Signoret in Madame Rosa
- Lange in Frances
- Burstyn in Requiem For A Dream
- Dench in Mrs Brown
- Riva in Amour
These I can watch forever.
| by Anonymous | reply 218 | July 14, 2015 11:40 AM |
Marion Cotillard in Rust and Bone. Mo'Nique in Precious. Laura Linney in You Can Count on Me.
| by Anonymous | reply 219 | July 14, 2015 11:42 AM |
I was literally in tears the entire time Cotillard was on screen in Rust and Bone.
| by Anonymous | reply 220 | July 14, 2015 11:46 AM |
Thanx R218 for reminding me about Riva in Amour. I knew I left someone off my list.
| by Anonymous | reply 221 | July 14, 2015 11:49 AM |
You're welcome r74, we seem to have the same (exquisite) tastes.
| by Anonymous | reply 222 | July 14, 2015 11:52 AM |
R213 I don't think Aussie actors translate well to Yank or Pom films. Weaver was wonderful in Animal Kingdom, but I agree wasted in the US films she's appeared in. I enjoyed Cate Blanchette in Little Fish but can't say the same about her other films with the exception of Elizabeth. Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce are consummate Aussie actors who haven't had the opportunity to show off their talents in the US. The last film I enjoyed Judy Davis in was High Tide.
| by Anonymous | reply 223 | July 14, 2015 12:02 PM |
r202 You forgot to add the word "BLOWS."
| by Anonymous | reply 224 | July 14, 2015 12:59 PM |
Lainie Kazan's best performance was as Belle in MY FAVORITE YEAR.
Has no one mentioned Dianne Wiest in Bullets Over Broadway?
| by Anonymous | reply 225 | July 14, 2015 1:18 PM |
The range shown by Anne Bancroft in just The Miracle Worker and The Graduate is phenomenal.
| by Anonymous | reply 226 | July 14, 2015 2:07 PM |
Olivia de Havilland in The Heiress matched by her ill-begotten suitor Montgomery Clift.
| by Anonymous | reply 227 | July 14, 2015 2:10 PM |
Not to mention the range show by Shirley Booth in Come Back, Little Sheba and The Matchmaker.
| by Anonymous | reply 228 | July 14, 2015 2:10 PM |
Shirley Temple in Curly Top
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 229 | July 14, 2015 2:17 PM |
Snow White by Disney and Adriana Caselotti
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 230 | July 14, 2015 2:21 PM |
Karen Black in Trilogy of Terror
| by Anonymous | reply 231 | July 14, 2015 2:23 PM |
Dolores Taylor
in
BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON D.C.
"......[I]shed a tear , running deer[/I]................"
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 232 | July 14, 2015 2:25 PM |
Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon an d Tony Curtis in Some Like it Hot. Jack Lemmon is amazing but all three are really.
| by Anonymous | reply 233 | July 14, 2015 2:26 PM |
Signoret in Room at the Top.
| by Anonymous | reply 234 | July 14, 2015 2:31 PM |
That's ViviEn, r207. With an "e."
| by Anonymous | reply 235 | July 14, 2015 3:01 PM |
Jacki Weaver? Are you people fucking high? She's horrible. She's an overbite with an accent. Both of those nominations were a joke.
And everyone calling people racist for not liking Halle Berry as an actress needs to shut the fuck up. Berry has zero command of what she's doing in that film and the director isn't doing a thing to help her. A good actress would have been able to know (and show) the reasons for her behavior. Halle had no idea who that character was and why she did what she did, she was a living, breathing Speak n Spell of acting tics.
The only reason she won was because it had been decided the Oscars were going to make history that year by honoring three AA actors, both in LEAD roles and the honorary award for another of the most overrated actors of his time, Sidney Poitier. And the less said about giving Denzel an award for that dreadful performance the better (though he did deserve it for Malcolm X, which was taken by Pacino's just as terrible performance in Scent of a Woman, so I suppose that was Washington's revenge.)
| by Anonymous | reply 238 | July 14, 2015 4:27 PM |
r236 You stopped short. The rest of the line goes " ..... !!!!!, one of the worst actresses ever foisted on the public."
Gee, I'm helpin' out so MANY people today. What a good boy am I.
| by Anonymous | reply 239 | July 14, 2015 4:39 PM |
Shirley Booth - Come Back, Little Sheba.
HANDS DOWN!!!!!
| by Anonymous | reply 240 | July 14, 2015 4:56 PM |
Riva's performance in Amour is so fucking overrated. All the bitch did was suffer until she croaked. Jean-Louis Trintignant had a much more difficult role and he was fantastic.
| by Anonymous | reply 241 | July 14, 2015 5:29 PM |
Hattie Mcdaniels characters are too offensive for me to ever appreciate her acting.
| by Anonymous | reply 242 | July 14, 2015 6:33 PM |
Why are people going into foreign films? If you are going there and considering that there are over 240 responses and only one person mentioned Setsuko Hara(who might be the greatest actress I've ever seen on film) it means that the rest of you aren't even qualified to have an opinion. Your film viewing has been too limited. And I'm not saying that my viewing is all that vast either. It's just that if you want to include European, Middle Eastern, Asian and Indian films the mind reels so to speak.
| by Anonymous | reply 243 | July 14, 2015 6:51 PM |
I seconded the inclusion of Setsuko Hara. She was incredible. Did she ever play any villainesses, R243? She seemed to only play "good people." And what made her one of the greatest screen actresses ever is that she made "goodness" so compelling to watch.
| by Anonymous | reply 244 | July 14, 2015 6:55 PM |
Any role by Anna Magnani. "The Rose Tattoo."
| by Anonymous | reply 245 | July 14, 2015 6:56 PM |
Have you recently watched Sophia Loren in her Oscar-winning role in Two Women?
I have, and she is anything but great....or surprising. Very much just Sophia Loren as we always saw her in her 1950s roles. The quality/style of film is very b&w Italian neo-realist grainy so it fools some of you into thinking there's something extraordinary in her performance but there simply isn't.
| by Anonymous | reply 246 | July 14, 2015 8:55 PM |
Spencer Tracy in "Father of the Bride".
| by Anonymous | reply 247 | July 14, 2015 9:32 PM |
Tom Cruise as a heterosexual physician who's a major pussy hound in EYES WIDE SHUT.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 248 | July 14, 2015 9:41 PM |
Frances McDormand is pretty fucking spectacular in Olive Kitteredge.
| by Anonymous | reply 249 | July 14, 2015 10:01 PM |
Let's not forget Edith Evans in The Whisperers.
| by Anonymous | reply 250 | July 14, 2015 10:06 PM |
I've just learned that Holly Woodlawn is terminal ill. It wasn't a joke to nominate her, above. Trash is a searing performance. Maybe accidental but so what.
| by Anonymous | reply 251 | July 14, 2015 10:20 PM |
Olive Kitteredge. is not a movie, not "celluloid" per se.
| by Anonymous | reply 252 | July 14, 2015 10:20 PM |
R246 I can think of a dozen or two more memorable performances by Italian actresses including Loren herself.
| by Anonymous | reply 253 | July 14, 2015 10:21 PM |
Miss Clifton Webb in Laura
Not E. Taylor in Who's--Never washed a dish in her life. Got to do a little research.
| by Anonymous | reply 254 | July 14, 2015 10:22 PM |
For instance Magnani, as R245 nonimates
| by Anonymous | reply 255 | July 14, 2015 10:22 PM |
For instance Magnani, as R245 nonimates
| by Anonymous | reply 256 | July 14, 2015 10:23 PM |
Penny Arcade started a gofundme campaign for Woodlawn which has reached its goal (which was 50k).
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 257 | July 14, 2015 10:25 PM |
R245 yes the mind reels. Deal with it. The OP put 2 so-called foreign films in the poll. Most of the viewers in the world spend most of their time watching "foreign" films except: India, USA, and somewhat China, Korea and Japan. The French saved their production but even the French gobble up Anglophone productions.
You do realise that in film history, the US companies were extremely predatory. It was a battle for market. Many consider the american "capitalists" to have colonised and destroyed dozens of so called "national" cinemas. This all happened decades ago.
| by Anonymous | reply 258 | July 14, 2015 10:36 PM |
r243 is too pretentious for his own good.
And r241 needs to re-watch Amour. Riva does a whole lot more in the film. The scene where she practically begs Trintignant to kill her -- all done with her eyes and facial expressions, no dialogue -- is all-time best acting. Trintignant is good, but in no scene does he even come close to that kind of acting.
In any case, the Academy is forever shamed for giving JLaw that Oscar over Riva!
If there had been another slot, I would have given it to Riva or Cotillard.
| by Anonymous | reply 259 | July 14, 2015 11:45 PM |
Streisand was amazing in Funny Girl!
| by Anonymous | reply 260 | July 14, 2015 11:47 PM |
[quote]MacLaine is good in the film, [R200], except for the completely overacted & soapy scene at the hospital where she yells at the nurse ("give my daughter the shoooot!"). Awful, misguided moment in an otherwise great film.
I disagree, that scene showed how she truly loved her daughter which she never had the ability to express. She couldn't bare the thought of Emma in pain and realizing she was actually helpless and losing her. I was a theater manager, I watched audience after another roaring and that scene sucked the air out of the room, like a big scare in a horror movie, You could hear gasps, people were so on her side. Then she topped it with a simple "thank you" that gave the audience permission to relax with laughter.
| by Anonymous | reply 261 | July 14, 2015 11:54 PM |
R251 - Two frenchie poos nominated in the same year. Quel scandale! What kind of pretentious frog worship is that?
| by Anonymous | reply 262 | July 15, 2015 12:01 AM |
Yes, the motivation of her character is quite clear, r261. I wasn't talking about that, though.
The scene is done badly, scripted badly (very cliched), and MacLaine is abolutely awful in it. Over-the-top in a way a tv movie would have the main character behave. In short, the film is becoming a cartoon in this brief moment; quite in contrast to the rest of the film, which is intelligent, realistic, and well-paced.
I have no doubt the audience was cheering for her. But what does that even say? It says the film is manipulative here, and it shouldn't be.
| by Anonymous | reply 263 | July 15, 2015 12:17 AM |
Joan in Mildred Pierce is a career defining performance. And it solidified her reputation as a great dramatic actress. She should most definitely be up there.
| by Anonymous | reply 264 | July 15, 2015 12:21 AM |
I'm not pretentious. I'm just appalled that every post has not included at least one of Setsuko's performances.
A lot of wonderful performances are included here but she effortlessly topples everyone of them in just about anything she's done.
| by Anonymous | reply 265 | July 15, 2015 1:07 AM |
Gena Rowlands > Setsuko Hara > Meryl Streep
| by Anonymous | reply 266 | July 15, 2015 1:10 AM |
Comedic performances are so often overlooked. Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday is brilliant acting.
None of these are lead performances, nevertheless:
Jean Hagen in Singin' in the Rain
Judy Holliday in Adam's Rib
Madeline Kahn in What's Up Doc? and Paper Moon
Mercedes Ruehl in Married to the Mob
Diane Ladd in Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More
Thelma Ritter in anything
| by Anonymous | reply 268 | July 15, 2015 1:39 PM |
Patricia Neal in HUD, hands down.
| by Anonymous | reply 269 | July 15, 2015 2:01 PM |
r266 Gena Rowlands isn't as versatile as Streep. Neither is Hara.
Their roles are all very similar, in both cases. Woman-on-the-edge for Rowlands, and radiant good girl in Hara's case.
Streep is wildly different from character to character, so she's the far superior actress.
| by Anonymous | reply 270 | July 15, 2015 2:04 PM |
I liked Gena Rowlands in Another Woman but the films she made with her husband directing are unwatchable.
| by Anonymous | reply 271 | July 15, 2015 2:05 PM |
Patricia Neal in The Subject was Roses. And she gets the sympathy vote for coming back after the stroke.
| by Anonymous | reply 272 | July 15, 2015 2:07 PM |
Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 273 | July 15, 2015 2:30 PM |
Barbara Stanwyck was much beloved (and still is by many) but she could be a perfectly dreadful actress.
Have you seen Stella Dallas recently? Saw it on TCM and was shocked at how bad she was but then so was the entire movie. Stanwyck could easily tip over into Crawford camp and often did without a really strong director.
| by Anonymous | reply 274 | July 15, 2015 5:35 PM |
Motion for R268 to start a new thread on comedy. And, yes, Mercedes Ruehl in Married to the Mob. That part is insane!
| by Anonymous | reply 275 | July 15, 2015 9:46 PM |
R223, add to your list of unforgettable Aussie performances, Abbie Cornish's breakout role in "Somersault."
| by Anonymous | reply 278 | July 19, 2015 9:25 AM |
My favorite overall performance is Dianne Wiest in Bullets Over Broadway. My favorite line is Janet Gaynor's..."Hello Everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine."
| by Anonymous | reply 279 | July 19, 2015 12:55 PM |
There's a scene in "Executive Suite" where Stanwyck becomes emotional/hysterical and she's so bad I laugh out loud every time I see it.
| by Anonymous | reply 280 | July 19, 2015 1:24 PM |
The scene in "The Thornbirds" where Stanwyck wants Richard Chamberlain to kiss her on the mouth is another knee slapper, yet she won an Emmy that should have gone to Ann-Margret that year.
| by Anonymous | reply 281 | July 19, 2015 1:28 PM |
Seconding the Kim Stanley props
| by Anonymous | reply 282 | July 20, 2015 11:54 AM |
Bette Davis in WEHT Baby Jane?
| by Anonymous | reply 284 | July 20, 2015 4:57 PM |
Someone earlier mentioned Kim Stanley in the Goddess which I agree with.If you saw the movie you would see there's a10 minute scene with Patty Duke as Kim Stanley as a child,The scene is breathtaking
| by Anonymous | reply 285 | July 21, 2015 5:37 AM |
[quote]Hattie Mcdaniels characters are too offensive for me to ever appreciate her acting.
You know, her characters did in fact have real life counterparts. Millions of black women worked as maids and servants. Some were smiling and cheerful. Her Mammy was based on ten thousand or more women who were Mammy-like in their own way. the stereotype existed because the women existed. Not all maids, servants, or even slaves live entirely in a state of abject misery or seething anger. It is possible to be cheerful, kind, and caring even in servitude.
| by Anonymous | reply 286 | July 21, 2015 5:50 AM |
Just watched My Brilliant Career for the first time in many years. Judy Davis undoubtedly gives one of the greatest perfornances ever on film.
| by Anonymous | reply 287 | July 21, 2015 5:28 PM |
Adele exarchopolous (or whatever) in Blue warmest color? Wtf for? For eating with her mouth open and running her nose with her palm? Looking like a mildly retarded true dyke?
| by Anonymous | reply 288 | July 22, 2015 10:36 AM |
Funny, R281, and Chamberlain couldn't convince anyone, either. What a farce! In this "making of" video, Chamberlain never hints at how much he would have loved being Bryan Brown's bitch. Meanwhile, Rachel Ward practically admits she never had the talent for her part (apparently, all she had was good hair), came to Hollywood to nab a husband and went off to have kids.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 289 | July 22, 2015 3:36 PM |
Thank you, R228. I could agree more. Shirley Booth was not a glamorous star - she was an actor's actor. She had not only depth and range, but she made her mark in all the mediums - theater, movies, and TV.
She's not a Kardashian and she hasn't gotten much Hollywood PR for the last 50 years or so. But her performances unforgettable - at her best, she was golden.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 290 | July 22, 2015 8:57 PM |
Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby and The Purple Rose of Cairo
Ruth Gordon in Rosemary's Baby
Mary Pickford in Sparrows
Tatum O'Neal in Paper Moon (along with Madeline Kahn too!)
| by Anonymous | reply 291 | July 23, 2015 12:08 AM |
Good job, R291. That's a pretty original list and I have to agree with you - those are all (with the exception of Mary Pickford in Sparrows, which I've never seen) phenomenal performances and they don't get a lot of credit in recent years.
| by Anonymous | reply 292 | July 23, 2015 3:54 AM |
Madeline Kahn's performance in What's Up, Doc? was more iconic than Paper Moon. Why would you pick Paper Moon over Doc?
| by Anonymous | reply 293 | July 23, 2015 3:57 AM |
Mary Astor in Palm Beach Story.
How she makes a selfish rich nympho hilarious and lovable I'll never know.
And yes Stanwyck could be awful but at her best there was no one better. The Lady Eve and No Man of Her Own are astounding.
| by Anonymous | reply 294 | July 23, 2015 4:03 AM |
R 291 here.
R 293, purely personal preference. Love her in Doc and Young Frankenstein as well but I think she gets to display a little more vulnerability and pathos in Paper Moon. That scene with Tatum on the hill. She also reminds me of some of my southern relatives (winky tinky!).
R 292, Mary Pickford's films weren't all sweetness and light. In "Sparrows" she plays a plucky tween who rescues a bunch of younger children who have been kidnapped to be sold into slave labor on remote farms. She leads them on a daring and harrowing escape through swamps and forests. It was based on an actual case! Also check out "Stella Maris" (dual role) and "My Best Girl" a sweet comedy and her last silent film.
Yes to Mary Astor in "The Palm Beach Story"!
| by Anonymous | reply 295 | July 23, 2015 4:13 AM |
I KNOW you bitches haven't forgotten the cold, domineering, vaguely incestuous Mrs. Iselin.
| by Anonymous | reply 296 | July 23, 2015 4:14 AM |
My favourite, Emily Watson in Breaking The Waves was the highest ranked female performance in this list, but I'm not sure about the credibility of the site or their choice for #1, which doesn't even seem to be Nicholson's best. Makes for interesting reading though, many ridiculous choices and shocking omissions.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 297 | July 23, 2015 4:42 AM |
A 1986 Canadian movie called Dancing in the Dark has a brilliant performance by Martha Henry about a housewife turned murderess.
| by Anonymous | reply 299 | July 23, 2015 10:53 AM |
Yes, Emily Watson was good in Breaking the Waves.
| by Anonymous | reply 300 | July 23, 2015 11:37 AM |
Saw My Best Girl not that long ago at the Loew's Jersey with organ accompaniment. The scene where Buddy Rogers brings her to the boss's house is very wonderful.
| by Anonymous | reply 302 | July 23, 2015 10:42 PM |
Kim Stanley is a force of nature in The Goddess: one of the most amazing performances ever. it's a shame the movie is not more well known.
| by Anonymous | reply 303 | July 23, 2015 11:02 PM |
R297. I did not like Heath Ledger in his role as Joker.
| by Anonymous | reply 304 | July 24, 2015 3:04 AM |
[quote]Sally Field in Lincoln
She was terrible. And I usually love her.
| by Anonymous | reply 305 | July 24, 2015 3:06 AM |
Sally was the worst part about Lincoln. She was doing M'Lynn as Mary Todd. There were times I was expecting Olympia Dukakis to appear and grab DDL and ask her to hit him.
| by Anonymous | reply 306 | July 24, 2015 3:29 AM |
Vivien Leigh and Meryl Streep are winning this.
So much for Streep being overrated. DL disagrees!
| by Anonymous | reply 307 | July 25, 2015 1:49 PM |
I agree with everyone that Sally Field in "Lincoln" took you out of the movie because all you could see (or at least some of us older gays) was Gidget, The Flying Nun, Norma Rae and Forrest Gump's mother in a period costume. You could tell she worked hard to bring gravitas to the role, but mostly, it was just poor casting.
| by Anonymous | reply 308 | July 25, 2015 6:03 PM |
R1 I love that performance too. There is something so haunting about it. Alex just felt so real to me. I felt so sad when I learned how much it pained Glenn to re-shoot the ending. She really loved Alex too, and it showed.
| by Anonymous | reply 309 | June 3, 2020 5:16 AM |
5 years later and it's still May Robson in Lady for a Day.
Or is it Lillian Gish in Broken Blossoms?
| by Anonymous | reply 311 | June 3, 2020 5:34 AM |
Brenda Blethyn was great in "Secrets and Lies."
| by Anonymous | reply 312 | June 3, 2020 5:51 AM |
