A few days ago, I paid homage the the best known actors in Hollywood and picked some roles that you may not have seen. Now it's the women's turn. As with the men, I am keeping this limited to women who are still in their prime or have been recently. The big names only.
Sissy Spacek - Now many might not think of her as one of the top people in Hollywood right now, but consider this, but she's been nominated six times for best actress and won the thing four times. I could pick the cult classic, Terrence Mallick's Badlands, but I'm going to stick with one she was nominated but lost, In The Bedroom. The movie garnered tons of awards, yet even I didn't see it until a few years later at the urging of my parents. It's a sad tale and Spacek plays a grieving mother of a teenage boy who was killed, by a jealous lover of his "older" girl. What is so wonderful about her performance is it's proof that sometimes grief can not be overcome and while the end is not your fairy tale that is assumed with big name movies, it's painfully real. Tom Wilkinson and Marisa Tomei also put in incredible oscar nominated performances.
Meryl Streep - one can't speak about greatness without mentioning the Meryl Streep. She has been nominated 14 times for best actress (3 times for supporting winning once), only winning twice. Her performance in Sophie's Choice was magnificent and really made her the best around. She didn't follow up the Oscar until two years ago for The Iron Lady. I am partial to Doubt and believe her best overall role was her portrayal of Julia Child in Julie and Julia. The problem with Streep is everyone knows the movies she's in. Well try out Ironweed if you haven't seen it. And guess what, she's nominated. She lost to Cher that year, but I must admit, it was well deserved. Ironically, they both starred a few years earlier in the nuclear reactor meltdown (and true story) called Silkwood. So many to see from this actress if you haven't and nearly all Oscar worthy.
Sigourney Weaver - She will always be Ripley to most of us, but she's had great roles in Copycat, Working Girl, Death and the Maiden, but her best role, not involving a space alien was easily one of her earliest, The Year of Living Dangerously. Peter Weir's wonderful film put her in a position most Hollywood actress would have feared doing, playing the "older woman," especially with the hottest face in Hollywood, or as many knew him back then, Mad Max.
Jodie Foster - Taxi Driver, Silence of the Lambs, Nell, The Accused. The list goes on, but I'm going to keep this short and sweet. Bugsy Malone came out before she was even in Taxi Driver. It's a gang movie, but here's the twist. The gangsters are all kids. Now if you want your kids to stay away from violence, this one is great, because all the guns shoot whipped cream. Oh and did I mention it's a musical that won best score? Scott Baio is the lead male. Haven't seen it in years, but was a childhood favorite.
This is getting a little long winded, so I'm going to start shortening the list and getting a little more current.
Julia Roberts - her supporting role in Charlie Wilson's War might be her best performance, including Erin Brockevich. A must see for her, Tom Hanks and the incredible Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Helen Mirren - many of you know her as the classic Victorian piece actress who played the Queen, but check out her TV series Prime Suspect. Incredible drama and one bad ass woman.
There are many more, but it's nearing 2:30 in the AM and the eyes are thankfully dimming. I will leave you with one more. You know Ellen Page from Juno, but have you seen Hard Candy? Wow!
Sissy Spacek - Now many might not think of her as one of the top people in Hollywood right now, but consider this, but she's been nominated six times for best actress and won the thing four times. I could pick the cult classic, Terrence Mallick's Badlands, but I'm going to stick with one she was nominated but lost, In The Bedroom. The movie garnered tons of awards, yet even I didn't see it until a few years later at the urging of my parents. It's a sad tale and Spacek plays a grieving mother of a teenage boy who was killed, by a jealous lover of his "older" girl. What is so wonderful about her performance is it's proof that sometimes grief can not be overcome and while the end is not your fairy tale that is assumed with big name movies, it's painfully real. Tom Wilkinson and Marisa Tomei also put in incredible oscar nominated performances.
Meryl Streep - one can't speak about greatness without mentioning the Meryl Streep. She has been nominated 14 times for best actress (3 times for supporting winning once), only winning twice. Her performance in Sophie's Choice was magnificent and really made her the best around. She didn't follow up the Oscar until two years ago for The Iron Lady. I am partial to Doubt and believe her best overall role was her portrayal of Julia Child in Julie and Julia. The problem with Streep is everyone knows the movies she's in. Well try out Ironweed if you haven't seen it. And guess what, she's nominated. She lost to Cher that year, but I must admit, it was well deserved. Ironically, they both starred a few years earlier in the nuclear reactor meltdown (and true story) called Silkwood. So many to see from this actress if you haven't and nearly all Oscar worthy.
Sigourney Weaver - She will always be Ripley to most of us, but she's had great roles in Copycat, Working Girl, Death and the Maiden, but her best role, not involving a space alien was easily one of her earliest, The Year of Living Dangerously. Peter Weir's wonderful film put her in a position most Hollywood actress would have feared doing, playing the "older woman," especially with the hottest face in Hollywood, or as many knew him back then, Mad Max.
Jodie Foster - Taxi Driver, Silence of the Lambs, Nell, The Accused. The list goes on, but I'm going to keep this short and sweet. Bugsy Malone came out before she was even in Taxi Driver. It's a gang movie, but here's the twist. The gangsters are all kids. Now if you want your kids to stay away from violence, this one is great, because all the guns shoot whipped cream. Oh and did I mention it's a musical that won best score? Scott Baio is the lead male. Haven't seen it in years, but was a childhood favorite.
This is getting a little long winded, so I'm going to start shortening the list and getting a little more current.
Julia Roberts - her supporting role in Charlie Wilson's War might be her best performance, including Erin Brockevich. A must see for her, Tom Hanks and the incredible Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Helen Mirren - many of you know her as the classic Victorian piece actress who played the Queen, but check out her TV series Prime Suspect. Incredible drama and one bad ass woman.
There are many more, but it's nearing 2:30 in the AM and the eyes are thankfully dimming. I will leave you with one more. You know Ellen Page from Juno, but have you seen Hard Candy? Wow!
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