The Smackdown Returns. Which Years Next?
Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 9:31AM The Smackdowns will return. Updated October 10th, 2020
Happy Smackdown to you Happy Smackdown to you
Happy Smackdown you actressexuals,
Happy Smackdown to youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
After StinkyLulu graciously let us continue/revive the series here seven years ago (eep!) we've done 34 episodes: 1938, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, and concurrently with Oscar races as they happened 2016, 2017, and 2018.
THE REMAINING YEARS
1937- Brady (In Old Chicago) | Leeds (Stage Door) | Shirley (Stella Dallas) | Trevor (Dead End) | Whitty (Night Must Fall)
1946 - Baxter (The Razor's Edge) | Barrymore (The Spiral Staircase) | Gish (Duel in the Sun) | Robson (Saratoga Trunk) | Sondegaard (Anna and the King of Siam)
1951 Blondell (The Blue Veil) | Dunnock (Death of a Salesman) | Grant (Detective Story) | Hunter (A Streetcar Named Desire) | Ritter (The Mating Season)
1986 - Harper (Crimes of the Heart) | Laurie (Children of a Lesser God) | Mastrantonio (The Color of Money) | Smith (A Room With a View) | Weist (Hannah and Her Sisters)
1987- Aleandro (Gaby: A True Story) | Archer (Fatal Attraction) | Dukakis (Moonstruck) | Ramsey (Throw Momma From the Train) | Sothern (The Whales of August)
1997 - Basinger (LA Confidential) | Cusack (In & Out) | Driver (Good Will Hunting) | Moore (Boogie Nights) | Stuart (Titanic)
1998- Bates (Primary Colors) | Dench (Shakespeare in Love) | Blethyn (Little Voice) | Griffiths (Hilary and Jackie) | Redgrave (Gods and Monsters)
2000 - Dench (Chocolat) | Harden (Pollock) | Hudson (Almost Famous) | McDormand (Almost Famous) | Walters (Billy Elliott)
2004 - Blanchett (Aviator) | Linney (Kinsey) | Madsen (Sideways) | Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda) | Portman (Closer)
TOO RECENT TO REVISIT
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2019
Reader Comments (85)
I look forward to ALL of these years but I'll vote for 1991 and 2002!
47, 97 and 02 for me :)
I just spend the time in my in quarentine rewatching all the 1981 lineup.
It's a interesting year, i would love to hear more about it.
1957
Time to revisit the only Asian actress who won an Oscar
Wow, everybody loves the smackdown !
and everybody loves 1987 - "Moonstruck". Perhaps we should do a virtual rewatch of this romantic treasure during this lockdown period. (hint)
If not 1987, please choose 1986 or 2002. but really I love any smackdown. Thanks.
I'd be interested in 91 mostly for Tandy and Lewis. We already know who will take it for 97. A fun fact is that Jennifer Jason Leigh turned down Amber Waves. She still got a Thank you in the final credits, though.
"The role of "Amber Waves" was offered to her by her friend, the writer-director, but she didn't want to be typecast as an actress who often plays addicted characters or women who make their living in the sex industry."
And another not do fun fact is that Leigh also turned down Kim Basinger's role..
"Jennifer Jason Leigh turned down the lead role of Lynn."
1981
1947
2000
@Goodbar
Marisa Tomei also turned down Amber Waves because she didn't want to do nudity. That changed immediately after the fact with Slums of Beverly Hills.
Tomei would have been equal to more at a minimum as Amber Waves.
91 would be good, but to see Tandy get robbed for a perfect performamce, and some panellists holding subconscious bias against her for perceived Pffeifer robbery, put it lower on my list of wants. Although if that Smackdown were to occur in one of Nathaniel's biannual poor immume health months, then we sbould expedite it in that circumstance.
@ Raven
That's a little harsh. We all have our biases for whatever reason. But to mention someone's health (albeit in a jokingly way) at this moment is a bit insensitive. I know you didn't mean to hurt Nathaniel's feelings, but you might have. This is just people talking about supporting actresses. No need to get personal. It'd be fun to read things we'll disagree on; otherwise, what's the point? Don't mean to start a fight here.
Peace!
Goodbar -- thank you. I've found it beyond creepy -- like seriously stalker vibes creepy -- that there are one or two commenters now who like to make assumptions /statements about my life / health / friendships that often come with pretty obvious homophobic undercurrents.
(ftr I have met a few people who read the site over the years but the only ones I am "tight" with are the ones that also contribute to the site and even some of them I've never met in real life -lol. I'm also totally healthy other than my stupid bad back. I just had the flu or possibly covid19 for two weeks)
But ppl are gonna ppl and I'm trying to cut people slack because everyone is going through a really rough patch right now given the pandemic. The crazy will only get crazier the more people are cooped up.
Goodbar -- that's so weird. I had always heard that Amber Waves was written for Julianne and I belieeved it because at the time she was the kind of actress that only cool people really understood (since only cinephiles saw things like SAFE and VANYA)
LadyEdith i would love to revisit MOONSTRUCK. I saw it again a few years ago and it was just perfect perfect perfect. Even more perfect than I had remembered.
Fadhil we are definitely doing '57.
1957, please!
Fly away Raven, Nathaniel doesn't have to disclose his status to any of us and his frequent sicknesses could be caused by any condition, even excess stress you fool!
Yeah Raven, just because what you insinuate is quite plausible by what you've observed from a long period of Nathaniel's health complaints doesn't mean it is true. It could be so many conditions, and if Nathaniel ever wanted to disclose his status to us all he would do it in his own time. Don't force an outing on someone, that's low.
And so what if he has favorites and gives them a longer leash because of personal relationships or being long term commenters? If they're bitter you can comment the exact same vibe, you'll just get reprimanded. It ain't fair, but it is what it is. Accept it.
1957 - Umeki's historical win deserves to be talked about more than it usually is.
1965 - I've owned an Inside Daisy Clover DVD for years and need a reason to finally watch it.
1987 - One of the weirdest line-ups ever!
1998 - It would be interesting to see what performance wins the smackdown - this seems like a race with no consensus pick for the victor.
1987, 1997 (to explain how Basinger won over the rest), and 1981, which could go any which way.
Nathaniel, you are much better than the haters. It's your site. *hugs*
If Nathaniel is ‘walking the streets of Philadelphia’ it’s his business. Just because it quacks and looks like a duck ACTUALLY doesn’t mean it is a duck, if you catch our drift Raven.
Goodbar gr8 info.
Whatever the case, we’re all poz about Nathaniel and TFE and that’s all that matters!!!
I am sick of this goddamn homophobia and "clever" insinuation about HIV status on THIS SITE of all places. Which is a queer-leaning site. What is wrong with all of you?
There is no shame in being HIV positive so it is so weird to have to state that I'm negative or anything of the sort. Again: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? I am ashamed for several of you on behalf of the LGBTQ community and especially people living with HIV.
I live with a fierce HIV activist but he's out of town and I just want to sic him on all of you and wake you the fuck up the way you talk about this. Get educated. Get on Prep like me and every sensible gay single man. And mind your own damn business.
Seriously. Grow up. Don't be assholes to people. And above all else don't stigmatize people with viruses during a goddamn pandemic.
Might be time to 86 a few toxic people from this site, Nathaniel. Much love and support.
Would be interesting to hear what you have to say about 1965 and 1981 although i think 1991 would be my ultimate choice - some performances worth reevaluating from that year...
CJ -- i think 1991 is super good one (every film is quite discussable) but weirdly in my seeking of special guests nobody has selected it yet. But we'll get there eventually.
I believe the internet has become a home for many individuals with psychopathological behavior, which is understandable for its anonymity. The movies can also become an escape for those with mental illnesses and their lack of connections with the outside world is made up for in place like this, where they can feel validated for their opinions or feel like they can attack others and get away with it. Let's just ignore all of those with aggression here. Let's not give them the satisfaction to even reply to them.
If Peggy Sue and I agree to not cross the line in bitterness will you fuckers cool it? Yes we don't get called out when we say equivalent things, we've paid our dues so you do it to and then you can be seen in a constant favorable light by Nathaniel. Jesus Christ.
1957 or 1997.
1. 2000
2. 1998
3. 1965
1938
1957
1991
Throw in 1965. Just finished my traditional Easter viewing of The Sound Of Music, so that leaves three more films to watch (since Othello has a double-nominee).
I feel like it’s fine to do up to 2005 now! That’s 15 years ago (eep!)
both 'the mating season' and 'the blue veil' are available as torrents.. i mean i know you're not supposed to do it, but if they're not giving you any other options, well..
I hate to be a broken record, but if there was an actual system of logging in a la Disqus, homophobic pricks and impostors could be jettisoned at a moment's notice and we could all enjoy commenting on this site instead of wading through rivers of shit all the time.
"But there's never any time!" How about....now?
But I support you and your ambiguous status. Go gurl.
Top 3 preferences: '47, '86, '00