5. Viola Davis- Doubt
Viola plays the mother of the boy at the center of the priest molestation scandal in the movie. Since he is the only African American student at the school, she only wants him to be able to stick it out for the year so he can transfer to a great high school. The anguish she goes through is evident, and her ability to put up with some things (possible pedophilia) in order to gain others (a higher education) is a weighty choice and hard to sympathize with. She is also only onscreen for twelve minutes. This gives her time to jolt the screen by giving the audience another perspective and more evidence to consider their doubt about the priest's in/actions, but it does not do nearly enough for me to consider awarding her the Oscar.4. Marisa Tomei- The Wrestler
Marisa plays Cassady, a stripper who Mickey Rourke's character Randy finds salvation in as an aging wrestler with no real family or friends. I really have never enjoyed Marisa as an actress, and the fact that she plays a stripper with a heart of gold is infuriating, though it technically is not her fault she is playing a stripper, it is the writer's fault (for the record, she could easily have played a waitress, or karaoke singer, or any other job and still have kept her clothes on). That being said, she was nowhere near as annoying as I thought she was going to be, and I totally believed that she was a single mom stripper from Jersey. However, she already has an Oscar and this part does not show enough (though it shows too much in other ways- she's a stripper) for me to place her higher on the list.3. Taraji P. Henson- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Taraji plays Queenie, the woman who works at a senior care home who takes on the mothering of poor Benjamin Button when he is left at her doorstep as an ew- and awe-inducing old infant. My top three from BSA are really hard to choose from; I would probably be happy if any of them won but there are slight reasons why I have stacked them as I have. Taraji really grounds the film with her constant kindness and giving, and she has a significant role in the film to develop her character. The difference between her and my top two are that while she lights a spark in the movie, my #2 makes that spark sizzle and my #1 sets it on fire. It really is a great role, and I'm glad she has received the attention she deserves from it, but I think another lady will walk away with the statuette come Oscar night.2. Amy Adams- Doubt
Amy Adams plays Sister James in Doubt, the naive nun who sees kindness in everyone as opposed to Meryl's Sister Aloysius's cynicism. All throughout the movie it is nearly impossible to imagine anyone else playing the part to such perfection without it bordering on cheesiness or cupcakiness (though it sounds delicious). Then, a scene comes along that jolts the character to its core where she confronts Meryl's character and musters the ability to yell at her with no fear and absolute conviction. It is mesmerizing to watch her character become more than just a sweet and good-natured nun and Amy's portrayal had me wishing she was onscreen more (though it was a meaty role for a 100-ish minute movie). Still, even though I loved her in the movie, she is just not enough for my #1...1. Penelope Cruz- Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Penelope plays Maria Elena, an artist and former lover of Javier Bardem in the movie who just explodes on the screen and keeps it smoldering every second she is on it. When I first saw the movie I thought it would be amazing luck if she were able to be nominated because it's an incredible role (Woody Allen has a great track record with women) and she is exquisite in it. Apparently he wrote the role for her, and thank god she accepted. She is at first the villain in the movie, as Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem are falling for each other and she bumrushes their happiness after a suicide attempt. But then the three begin to embark on a menage a trois and the results are glorious. Penelope gives Maria Elena so much life and spark that I think if I met the character I would know all about her and yet still want to talk to her for days. Penelope shows crazy, she shows amorous, she shows creativity, and she does it all while being (by far) the best and most interesting part of the movie, but still by only having the screen time of a supporting character. It's lucky I guess that Kate Winslet was nominated for The Reader in the lead actress category, because as luck would have it Penelope is now the frontrunner come February 22nd.All images found on Google Images.
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