Thursday
Mar072019
One Last Round of Applause for the Year's Great Actresses!
Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 7:06PM 
Last year's performances by leading ladies were so rich, that I could have filled up three Best Actress lists and not once felt of any of the choices as "filler". In fact, 2018's leading actresses were so strong that I'd chuck out all but one of last year's nominees (I'm keeping Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird) if I had 10 spots to give for the two years combined. Check out the chart for more...
Reader Comments (53)
Glad to see Toni and Carey show up on someone’s ballot! I can’t wait for your Top 10!
Please tell me Mulligan gets the gold
Your ballot almost moved me to tears. What a quintet! Glenn Close is particularly sublime in that scene.
Could've done without the overrated Stoleman, but otherwise, a wonderful list!
Colman was brillant. PLEASE! She is always sublime and her win is for the ages! Still sad for Glenn, but the academy has the chance for dangerious liasons fatal attraction and maybe albert nobbs (meryl performances was NOT the Best, for me its between Tilda Swinton and Olivia Colman (Trannosaur), but Glenn for Noobs would e okay)
Seeing you lost and the overlap, this was a rare year where the academy really got the nominations right.
Gold predictions:
Coleman/Cooper/Debecki/Grant
Out of this world fantastic year for female performances. I have no idea who's in my top five because there's so many I love. I'm so happy to see Carey Mulligan mentioned here.
Great write ups, Nathaniel!
I'd like to stab everyone responsible for Close's loss.
Nathaniel and I need closure so the Glenn gets the gold.
A posterized edition devoted to Colman wouldn't hurt. Her filmography is so obscure.
Another terrific year (as always) for the category...
1. Charlotte Rampling, HANNAH
2. Juliette Binoche, LET THE SUNSHINE IN
3. Melissa McCarthy, CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
4. Olivia Colman, THE FAVOURITE
5. Rachel Weisz, THE FAVOURITE
6. Isabelle Huppert, MRS. HYDE
7. Kim Min-hee, THE DAY AFTER
8. Glenn Close, THE WIFE
9. Emma Stone, THE FAVOURITE
10. Nicole Kidman, DESTROYER
11. Thomasin McKenzie, LEAVE NO TRACE
12. Regina Hall, SUPPORT THE GIRLS
13. Michelle Pfeiffer, WHERE IS KYRA?
14. Joanna Kulig, COLD WAR
15. Yalitza Aparicio, ROMA
The way people on the internet spoke of Toni Collette in HEREDITARY is how I feel about Charlotte Rampling in HANNAH. It was a lonely year being one of the few it seemed who witnessed such a miraculous performance. I’m glad she won Best Actress at Venice, so at least it’s forever in the history books. Hope it gets a Criterion release or something someday.
OMG Stoleman ya guys, better late than never on the fetch train for me!
I’ll figure out how to stab the concept of a better performance one of these days.
Colman snubbed, no nom for Tyrannosaur deserves the justice of a gold more than 7 times nominated, cited and praised as at minimum fifth favourite of the year, Close. Occasionally the universe is just, plus as many have pointed out, Close clearly has 1-2 competitive nominations left before she has to settle for the honorary.
I reckon Nat will surprise and give Melissa the gold this year
Too chicken to watch Hereditary but finally caught up with Wildlife. This was Mulligan’s best performance in a long time, including in that dreadful show, Collateral. And for Colman naysayers, just watch S2 E1 of Fleabag that aired this week on the BBC in the UK ( and available on some, cough, other sites) to see more of her comic brilliance. All hail Queen Olivia; still my number one.
Eva Melander, BORDER. Best of the year.
I think I predicted your 5, tho started to wonder about Theron. Have yet to see Hereditary and Wildlife (so mad I missed it that last day). The other 3 I also nominated.
McKenzie needs an honorable mention!
My Nathaniel Gold predictions:
Collette / Cooper / Debicki / Grant
Lovely lovely write-ups of twenty very exciting performances, always saving the very best category for last. I can't imagine how tough it must've been to narrow down Best Actress in this year of all years but I'm excited to see who you'll give it to. Close isn't in my five but your sincere admiration for her performance amidst so much nonsense surrounding her has been one of the brightest spots all season.
Agree that 2018 was an embarrassment of riches for this category.
I loved all the following performances:
Laia Artigas, Summer 1993
Glenn Close, The Wife
Toni Collette, Hereditary
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Kindergarten Teacher
Kathryn Hahn, Private Life
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Thomasin McKenzie, Leave No Trace
Michelle Pfeiffer, Where Is Kyra?
Charlize Theron, Tully
Rachel Weisz, Disobedience
I predict the golden winners will be:
Collette, Hawke, Debicki and Grant
What an INSANE year! Everyone in my top 30 is so fantastic.
1. Eva Melander, Border
2. Olivia Colman, The Favourite
3. Emma Stone, The Favourite
4. Julia Roberts, Ben is Back
5. Ando Sakura, Shoplifters
6. Regina Hall, Support the Girls
7. Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
8. Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade
9. Toni Collette, Hereditary
10. Cynthia Erivo, Bad Times at the El Royal
11. Charlize Theron, Tully
12. Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
13. Nicole Kidman, Destroyer
14. Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Kindergarten Teacher
15. Joanna Kulig, Cold War
16. Carey Mulligan, Wildlife
17. Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
18. Anna Kendrick, A Simple Favor
19. Kathryn Hahn, Private Life
20. Rachel McAdams, Game Night
21. Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns
22. Michelle Pfeiffer, Where Is Kyra?
23. Viola Davis, Widows
24. Rosamund Pike, A Private War
25. Rachel McAdams, Disobedience
26. Rachel Weisz, Disobedience
27. Lady Gaga, A Star is Born
28. Zhao Tao, Ash Is Purest White
29. Saoirse Ronan, Mary Queen of Scot
30. Thomasin McKenzie, Leave No Trace
This is simply you best Best Actress line up ever.
My choices are the same but Roberts in place of Mulligan.
Great choices as always. I need to rewatch Wildlife. It felt so poorly directed, but Mulligan is very good in it.
My best actress was
1. Olivia Colman
2. Toni Collette
3. Emma Stone
4. Melissa McCarthy
5. Joanna Kulig
I had Rachel Weisz as supporting in The Favourite
My Picks, in order:
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Glenn Close, The Wife
Kathryn Hahn, Private Life
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Toni Collette, Hereditary
So very close to yours!
Did you ever seen Private Life, Nathaniel? I'm realizing that I don't remember you mentioning it!
Loved theses, absolute powerhouse acting
Tara, get some help love
It's such a competitive year that I'm just glad my girl, Melissa, made the top 5.
I also want to give a shout to Natalie Portman in Vox Lux. I know this is a divisive performance, and I do not usually go in for big performances, but I loved every second she was on screen. She may be the most interesting American actress.
Guessing Close wins it.
"so are those sharp stabs of fear and self-pity in her voice when she's ranting"
Nailed. It. Melissa FTW!
Remembering that, when The Wife premiered at TIFF in the fall of 2017, 2017 already was stacked with Best Actress hopefuls that it seemed wise for Sony Pictures Classics to hold The Wife’s release date till 2018 on the hopes of a “less competitive” film year. Little did we know that 2018 would be even *more* competitive/rich, so the fact that Glenn Close made it at all (in Nathaniel’s and Oscars’ top five) is a total blessing. My personal pick is Melissa McCarthy, although each of these actresses is incredible, and each would be a worthy winner on her own. Brava.
Spoiled for choice:
1. Cloae
2. Mulligan
3. Aparicio
4. Lady Gaga
5. Colman (basically tied with about a dozen more)
Nathaniel - you have Ethan Hawke's character as "Peter Turner" in your ballot but I believe the name was actually Rev. Ernst Toller.
Nicole Holofcener fired Julianne Moore from Can You Ever Forgive Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU0difbGdN8
I can't imagine anyone but Melissa McCarthy in that movie, but now I am curious about the alternate universe where Julianne Moore played Lee Israel.
1. Glenn Close
2. Melissa McCarthy
3. Olivia Coleman
4. Rachel Weisz
5. Kelly MacDonald
6. Thomasin McKenzie
7. Regina Hall
8. Emma Stone
9. Emily Blunt
10. Eva Melander
One could argue for Andô and both Clarkson and Thomas as leads in their respective films (more so for Andô).
9 and 10 interchangeable.
Upset that I haven't yet seen Wildlife, Destroyer, Hereditary, A Quiet Place, Tully, Ben Is Back, Mary, Queen of Scots, Private Life, Where is Kyra? or Widows...too many to have missed.
McKenzie's last scene with Foster makes me wanna push a few out of her way. Dap up the terrific performance by Fisher but McKenzie is far neyond.
Great choices! My top 5 would be:
1. Olivia Coleman--The Favourite
2. Melissa McCarthy--Can You Ever Forgive Me?
3. Toni Collette--Hereditary
4. Nicole Kidman--Destroyer (I know this is a divisive one)
5. Charlize Theron--Tully
What an exceptional year. My runners up would be Carey Mulligan for Wildlife and then Glenn Close in The Wife. I wouldn't have put Close in my top 5, so I'm among those that is not upset about her losing.
Re: Julianne Moore being fired from Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Moore is my favorite actress, but McCarthy was perfect and I couldn't imagine anyone else. I think it's awesome that Moore admitted that she was fired--that takes some guts and is a hard thing for an actor (or anyone) to admit. She could have given the whole "creative differences" song and dance.
1. Lady Gaga
2. Toni Collette
3. Melissa McCarthy
4. Glenn Close
5. Nicole Kidman
I haven't seen Wildlife, Support the Girls, Private Life or A Private War. I consider the three leading ladies of The Favourite to be a single performance since they are so interlocked in what they are doing.
Nat, what did you think of Lady Gaga? And where would she place in your list?
My choices for Best Actress:
1. Olivia Colman
2. Melissa McCarthy
3. Toni Collette
4. Elsie Fisher
5. Julia Roberts
My prediction for Nat’s awards: Close/Cooper/King/Grant.
FYC: Melissa McCarthy - "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Yes. I'll be advocating for this performance until the end of time! #SorryNotReally
I feel there's going to be a tie. Do you do those? Will it be a first?
FYC: A McCarthy/Collette/Colman tie
1. Julia Roberts
2. Toni Collette
3. Regina Hall
4. Olivia Colman
5. Rachel Weisz
1. Julia Roberts
2. Toni Collette
3. Regina Hall
4. Olivia Colman
5. Rachel Weisz
Excellent roster and, yes, this year offered us an embarrassment of riches. I was somewhat less taken with Glenn Close this year. She was compelling but didn't even crack my top 10 for this category. Still need to catch up with Wildlife, which never came to a theater near me.
Love these picks, Nathaniel!
My personal list:
Toni Collette, Hereditary
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Charlize Theron, Tully
Runners Up: Thomasin McKenzie, Leave No Trace, Amandla Stenberg, The Hate U Give, Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Kindegarten Teacher, Kathryn Hahn, Private Life, Mahour Jabbari, Ava, Glenn Close, The Wife, Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born, Rachel Weisz, Disobedience, Rachel McAdams, Disobedience, Kiki Layne, If Beale Street Could Talk, Michelle Pfeiffer, Where Is Kyra?
BVR -- oops. that was a holdover name from last year's chart. fixing.
Bhuray --- I thought Lady Gaga was really good in A STAR IS BORN but my love for the movie apart from her amazing vocals/songwriting, is, oddly enough for me, very focused on the men.
Glenn Close is my winner.
Runner up: Julia Roberts.
I love these two performances!
McCarthy, Theron, Pfeiffer, Fisher & Melander.
What is your opinion about Julianne Moore being fired form Can You Ever Forgive Me? I just red about it. I prefer Melissa myself.