20:10 "A Difficult Person?" Oscar Trivia!
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 1:57PM As we close out the film year, another couple of moments from the 20th minute & 10th second of 2010 cinema.
In this scene from Mother and Child, Karen (Annette Bening) has agreed to have coffee with an interested co-worker Paco (Jimmy Smits), who keeps asking her out. Having finally caved, she keeps stressing that it's not a date even though we sense that she likes him.
Paco: I just can't seem to say the right things around you. And I'm trying believe me.
Karen: What do you mean?
Paco: I just feel like I keep putting my foot in my mouth every time I talk to you. I... I just don't know why. Look I'm sorry forget I said that. I don't know what I'm talking about.
Karen: I'm not a difficult person.
Paco: No, I don't mean that.
Karen: You're not comfortable with me.
Paco: No, I am.
Karen: My words are too harsh for you.
And just like that she's out the door, their non-date barely begun. If Mother and Child, had been filmed with a different tone (for better and worse, it's stuck being emphatically sober throughout), this might have been a tragicomic scene. Karen IS a difficult person, her own worst enemy when it comes to her heart and what she needs from others. She likes the guy, but she's always ready to be hurt and therefore never ready to open up.
Do any of you remember when Mother and Child played in Toronto in 2009? There was briefly Oscar buzz suggesting that if it was released in time, Annette Bening would undoubtedly be one of the Best Actress nominees of 2009. Instead the film was held until 2010. It opened in the summer and in the shadow of The Kids Are All Right was quickly forgotten. I have one close friend to this day who swears she's way better in Mother and Child than she was in The Kids... (I don't agree but it's definitely fine work). Given that this performance has its champions, it makes you wonder. If Mother & Child won an Oscar qualifying release in 2009, would it have made a difference for her 2010 Oscar bid. So much of each Oscar competition is a complex set of factors including the very real power of "momentum". (Or was Natalie Portman in Black Swan one of those performances that was just going to win no matter what?)
Though my study suggesting that 50something actresses just don't win the big prize has gotten a lot of attention, I don't think it's impossible. It's just that the decks are stacked against them. Still, the ranks of actors with 4+ nominations and no wins is very slim.
Can Bening win if she follows up The Kids with another popular role right quick? Did any of Jeff Bridges' luck rub off on Bening at the Oscar nominee luncheon? It's been 21 years since her first nomination.
Very Frequently Nominated Actors Who Waited The Longest To Win
- Jeff Bridges (won on his 5th nomination, 38 years after his first)
- Geraldine Page (won on her 8th nomination, 32 years after her first)
- Paul Newman (won on his 7th acting nomination, 28 years after his first)
- Shirley Maclaine (won on her 5th acting nomination, 25 years after her first)
- Al Pacino (won on his 8th nomination, 20 years after his first)
- Gregory Peck (won on his 5th nomination, 17 years after his first)
- Susan Sarandon (won on her 5th nomination, 14 years after her first)
- Kate Winslet (won on her 6th nomination, 13 years after her first)
- Susan Hayward (won on her 5th nomination, 11 years after her first)
Waited The Longest Never Won Despite 4+ Nominations
- Richard Burton (7 nominations over a 25 year period) deceased
- Charles Boyer (4 nominations over a 24 year period) deceased
- Agnes Moorehead (4 nominations over a 22 year period) deceased
- Irene Dunne (4 nominations over an 18 year period) deceased
- Rosalind Russell (4 nominations over a 16 year period) deceased
- Thelma Ritter (6 nominations over a 12 year period) deceased
- Montgomery Clift (4 nominations over a 14 year period) deceased
- Deborah Kerr (6 nominations over an 11 year period) deceased
- Barbara Stanwyck (4 nominations over an 11 year period) deceased
- Arthur Kennedy (5 nominations over a 9 year period) deceased
- Claude Rains (4 nominations over a 7 year period) deceased
Only 10 Living Actors Have 4+ (Acting) Noms Without a Win
- Peter O'Toole (8 nominations over a 44 year period)
- Albert Finney (5 nominations over a 37 year period)
- Glenn Close (5 nominations over a 6 year period)
4. Seven other living actors have four (acting) nominations without a win: Warren Beatty ♥ Annette Bening though Beatty has a directing Oscar. Plus: Jane Alexander, Ed Harris, Marsha Mason, Julianne Moore and Mickey Rooney
Will any of them ever win?
As we can see from the lists above, it's pretty rare not to be a winner if you're in the 5+ nomination club. Only 7 actors in Oscar's 83 year history have ever won 5 nominations without winning the gold. Chances seem good that if Close, Bening, Harris or Moore are ever nominated again, they'll win. The problem is being nominated again. It gets harder and harder to find good roles as an actor ages.
Reader Comments (37)
What I really don't want any of these overdue actresses nominated against with each other when the next nominations come... thats worries me that the overdue cards get cancelled out.
But no matter what they need to be top performances too. But i know that Julianne & Annette are brilliant every time so like you said they need to be given the right role. Although looking at the movies they have signed on for next, its probably not going to be in the next few years.
I love this article, though one has to wonder about Peter O'Toole on it. I often wonder if he would have won the Oscar for Venus had he not won the Honorary Award four years earlier (the sentiment would have been very much on his side). The man was Lawrence of Arabia for crying out loud, the Academy wanted him to have an Oscar. It also seems sad that if one of these actors does pick up an Honorary Award, we won't have the joy of seeing them accept it like we did Mr. O'Toole.
I have to agree that if Close, Moore, or especially Bening/Harris get in, they win a trophy. Close may test that theory this year with Albert Nobbs.
Looking at the list of the actors who lost, you sort of have to wonder how many came close-I'm sure that Russell, Burton, Stanwyck, and Moorehead all had a close second at one point in their careers (probably 1947, 1977, 1944, and 1942, respectively), but did Thelma Ritter or Arthur Kennedy? I can't think of any time where they would have been an obvious second place.
And I have to say, there is definitely a part of me that wishes that Angela Lansbury would have one last, fantastic role that wins her a trophy and smashes that Bridges record to smithereens (and basically makes it impossible for anyone to ever break it). 65+ years and counting.
Kristen Stewart is Snow White. Sorry.
They REALLY screw it up the year that Glenn Close (Dangerous Liaisons-all around "Chef d'Oeuvre")) lost to Jodie Foster (The Acused (tv movie not even good enough for an emmy)). To me it is THE biggest mistake (and they've made quite A LOT...Nathalie Portman (just saying)) they ever made.
I agree with your friend that she was better in Mother & Child than in The Kids Are All Right. And I think Close and Bening are likelier than Harris and Moore - but as you say, it really depends on the roles.
I also have to say, considering that we are on the subject of long-suffering actors, that after over 60 years of making movies, I'm really hoping that Christopher Lee somehow makes it in this year for Hugo Cabret. In the category of still-working actors without an Oscar nomination, he has to be at the top of the longevity list.
I agree on 1988, though I don't know if I would have gone with Close quite yet (I still have to finish the year-still have Weaver left). It is a shame, though I wonder if Close was even second, Griffith being Hollywood royalty and the new young thing at the time.
The Bening has the narrative. Twice defeated by Hilary Swank, a double Oscar winner, Hollywood loses money on. Maybe they assumed Swank was the new Jodie Foster, a singular personality that plays on our sympathies for her not being a Barbie doll, and having intelligence to outwit patriarchal order. Or she’s closer to Sally Field without the likeability. Whoever she’s comparable to, her lack of bank-ability, Hollywood royalty status, not being underrated, and way overdue – ala The Bening – means that Swank becomes a frustrating, walking buddle of buyer’s remorse.
The Bening has the narrative. Twice defeated by Hilary Swank, a double Oscar winner, Hollywood loses money on. Maybe they assumed Swank was the new Jodie Foster, a singular personality that plays on our sympathies for her not being a Barbie doll, and having intelligence to outwit patriarchal order. Or she’s closer to Sally Field without the likeability. Whoever she’s comparable to, her lack of bank-ability, Hollywood royalty status, not being underrated, and way overdue – ala The Bening – means that Swank becomes a frustrating, walking buddle of buyer’s remorse.
They wasted an Oscar on deaf woman for playing someone hard of hearing. That statuette belonged to Weaver because there was no heavy competition in the category but that one-hit wonder.
(1986, Best Actress Race)
I hope Benning Close and Moore all win oscars one day. What a dream, if I have to choose one though it would be Moore, so many awesome, all time worthy work and she's been ignored again and again.
Nathaniel a little off topic, as you been smitten by Kidman again, and to celebrate her well deserved gold medal why don't you check out Margot At The Wedding again? I saw it again after two years the other day and while the film hasn't aged that well Kidman performance seemed even more brilliant to me.
Close has a shot this year finally but Meryl has The Iron Lady plus will they nom Close a 6th time and not give her the win,Julianne's A single man nomination was an easy get but seemed to fade and I don't buy the screen time argument.
@3rt: it was actually Turner, not Weaver who was Matlin's closest competition.
The good thing about Julianne Moore is she definitely doesn't appear as old as she is.
You bring up a good point, Nate. Bening stood a good chance at taking Helen Mirren's slot in 2009. And considering there was "talk" Bening might upset, a previous nomination the year before could have made the difference.
Still, the deal seemed to be sealed with Portman.
John T > My thoughts are that Melanie Griffith finished dead last in 1988. Glenn Close and Meryl Streep seemed to be tin the front with Foster. And Weaver shared the Drama GG with Foster, so she was also competitive.
3rtfu11> Great post, but Swank does have some bankability. P.S. I Love You almost did as well as Million Dollar Baby at the box office. Freedom Writers also did okay.
Great job! A slightly correction though, Irene Dunne was nominated 5 times.
Man, I hated "Mother and Child". It' realy bad directed, over the top, looks like a mexican soap opera. Thanks God Benning didn't get nominated for that!
Interesting that three (Beatty, Rooney, O'Toole) of the 0-for-4+ Club have honorary Oscars, and you've gotta imagine Finney and Close will get an honorary one if they don't win. That's half.
I do worry though that both Bening and Moore will not get an honorary Oscar unless they have more recognized performances. Their work so far still seems not quite the grand, important crap the Oscars reward late w/ honorary ones.
But what about YOU Marsha. You made that 10 most nominated losers list!
It's not gracious to complain, dear.
Seriously-why has there never been a resurgence of love for Marsha Mason? Four nominations in the course of eight years, and then nothing. Not even a plum supporting role that the Satellites noticed. Not even a Tony Award nomination for poor Marsha.
I think it was somewhat mutual. The ancient Marshlands withdrew from showbiz to focus on organic farming, teaching, etc. She did have that funny Emmy-nommed role on "Frasier."
OT: Streep’s eventual 3rd statuette overall and 2nd for Best Actress is coming this decade. No ifs, ands, or maybes, having said that: Does anyone believe the Academy will actually back off rewarding previous Best Actress winners the prize twice?
The future for double actress Academy Award winners are category splits. I don’t see Academy being comfortable leaving the legacy of Blanchett and Jolie at Supporting Actress. Obviously these women can Meryl Streep and Jessica Lange to the top prize – however the resurgence of older veterans (Bening, Close, etc) and emerging ingénues could prevent voters from going there – especially with Blanchett (who like Streep will likely never lose favor with nominations). Jolie will come down to a (we give in) I hope the nomination is topnotch.
I do think Annette Bening will get an Oscar eventually, and Glenn Close could win for Albert Nobbs unless it's a Michelle Pfeiffer/Cheri situation. Julianne Moore, I don't think so. She's had critically-acclaimed, Golden Globe-nominated performances these past two years and Oscar still didn't bite. I also get the impression that the industry doesn't see her as particularly overdue. It's telling that she was relegated to also-ran status by the end of the '02 Best Actress race, despite it being her 4th nomination and being head and shoulders above the competition.
Oh well. Gena Rowlands and Liv Ullman never won, and Mia Farrow was never nominated, so they're all in good company. And to quote the wise and also Oscar-snubbed Helena Bonham Carter, "people like you better if you lose."
I think Bening should have won with Being Julia. I just saw that movie on the IFC channel, and still believe she gave the best performance of 2004.
Bening was good in Mother and Child, and if it had been released during the right time with right campaigning in the Fall of 2009, it may have made a stronger narrative for her to win for The Kids Are All Right this year. I'm not too upset with Natalie's win, though as she was good, but ofterntimes, I wonder if voters regret giving certain actors Oscars over other worthy actors. Sure, Hilary Swank has two Oscars, but she seems to be typecast, and when she tries some other different role, she always fails. I'm interested to see what becomes of Portman's career. Nevertheless, Bening and Moore have proven that they are two of the longest-lasting best actresses around and they act circles around their younger competition.
I think that had "Mother and Child" been released in 2009, the Bening narrative would have trumped the Sandra Bullock narrative and she'd have had an Oscar this time last year. And she'd still have been nominated for "The Kids Are All Right," riding the train with Jeff Bridges and Jeremy Renner.
The best nominated performance (2004) is Kate Winslet. The fact that she’ll likely never use that acting muscle again in the future makes it all the more tragic that all other nominees took so much attention away.
I loved "Mother and Child" but even with a 2009 release and a nomination, I think Natalie would still have been the winner. You know, the pounds lost and the long hours rehearsing, and the sweat and bla bla bla
/3rtfu11 Miss Turner was second. The Weaver thing is an Internet fantasy of these days. Thanks John T!
I'm pretty much even on Bening's two performances from 2010. I really liked "Mother & Child" actually, I just wish it hadn't played emotional hockey at the end. Like, I probably would have respected it even more if Garcia had just given us the ending he knows all want.
As usual, great research. I think Julianne Moore and Ed Harris have a great chance of winning eventually for the right roles. They're young enough (and versatile enough) that age shouldn't prevent them from bringing the goods. Both have matured SO gracefully.
Here's hoping for Goddess Julianne within this decade. People LOVE her, let's never discount that.
Also, and I know I'll probably get crucified for saying this but I'm really starting to seen The Bening as the new Deborah Kerr. Always somewhat close but no slam dunk in the end; random performances that were great but snubbed. I just don't ever really see her getting THERE with the little golden man. Something in the pit of my cinema stomach just calls out and I don't have this feeling for Moore, Harris and Close though. Close and Harris just need the right roles, Moore the right set of circumstances of which '02 (Kidman coronation), '09 (Mo'nique juggernaut) and '10 (Portman deafening buzz) were not.
peggy -- yeah, that's right. Weaver, for as astounding and iconic as that performance is, it was considered a "happy to be nominated" thing given the genre and such. It was really only Turner vs. Matlin that year. the rest weren't in it.
Thank you dear :)
Oh God! I MUST move on. I'm becoming Julieta Serrano in Women on the Verge...
They all need Oscars. Period. Would love to see Marsha Mason in something again!
Clearly Jennifer Aniston will win an Oscar before any of these people. I'm half-joking, of course, but isn't it scary how possible this could be?
Jackson - actually I FULLY agree. Jennifer Aniston is the exact type of actress Oscar gets excited about rewarding as soon as she stumbles into something they'd feel okay about rewarding.
I think Annette Bening was perfect in American Beauty and Being Julia...she should have the Oscar statue already.