National Society of Film Critics

[flipp525]

This quote from Nick: "Better than lots of kids would have done, sure. But where oh where is Bonita Granville? (Or what’s-her-name, also in These Three, whom everyone on this blog revered so intensely" officially made me fall in love with him. Bonita Granville would've taken the character of Briony in Atonement and turned it into something of a masterpiece.

I'll admit to a natural affinity for this category while it's on the table.

[Eric]

I'm also amused that there are limits to how gay they let themselves get in this quintessentially gay enterprise (I'm sure there's a blog post to be made about why gay men seem to have such an affinity for the supporting actress category -- it extends well beyond this blog) ... they have nothing but harsh words for Carol Channing in Thoroughly Modern Millie.

[flipp525]

Maybe, but I have to say I love StinkyLulu's supporting actress smackdowns.

http://www.stinkylulu.com/search/label/smackdown

Their commentary on Catherine Burns' nomination for Last Summer (one of the best nominations this category has ever seen, as pointed out by "Slayton") is surprising deft and insightful.

Also kudos to Brad for recognizing the brilliance in Susannah York's scene in the storage space with Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. Overshadowed by her breakdown in the shower at the end of the film, this other scene stands out as such a desperate, heartbreaking moment for both characters. And York does something really incredible in a short amount of time.



Edited By flipp525 on 1231258497

[Eric]

Maybe, but I have to say I love StinkyLulu's supporting actress smackdowns.

http://www.stinkylulu.com/search/label/smackdown

[Penelope]

What I said.

[Eric]

let me guess: the critic who picked Eve for Best Actress is a man.

I would have said a jerk, but whatever.

I would've said a moronic idiot, but whatever.

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2009....ss.html



Edited By Eric on 1231250239

[rolotomasi99]

Yet another example of how segregating performances by gender is an antiquated custom.

totally agree, eric.

[Eric]

Yet another example of how segregating performances by gender is an antiquated custom.

[Penelope]

let me guess: the critic who picked Eve for Best Actress is a man.

I would have said a jerk, but whatever.

I would've said a moronic idiot, but whatever.

[flipp525]

Also, I don't think [Happy-Go-Lucky] is the optimistic fairy tale some say it is (if it were, I'm sure that, for instance, Big Magilla would have loved it). I found both the film and its main character more bitter and less superficial than one might think reading this thread; it's an intelligent, subtle portrayal of the deep social and economical crisis England is going through these days (trust me, I am often there, you can almost touch it), and at the same time a kind of desperate answer to it.

What a great way of describing it, Italiano. Just as Eric said downthread, Leigh's insistence that the perils (and sadness, even) of a life led by happiness be shown saves this film from becoming a treacly mess of a fairy tale. In fact, I would say that several scenes, including the one with Poppy and the bum, are included just so the audience sees the darker side of a sunny disposition.

Big Magilla, the Georgy Girl comparison, while interesting in theory, isn't necessarily a perfect fit for this particular character or the film. Georgy doesn't feel aligned with the world around her so she strives to bestow her own vivaciousness onto it. I didn't get the same feeling from Poppy. While her attitude toward life is often out of sync with those around her (embodied in the character of Scott), I don't think she views the world as out-of-step with her philosophy, just in need of someone to coax it out, a challenge she's gladly taken to heart.

I haven't seen Hathaway's performance, but I don't think it's a stretch to believe that Hawkins outdoes Streep in Doubt (which she absolutely does).



Edited By flipp525 on 1231163488

[Big Magilla]

Heh, heh. I can't imagine myself "loving" any Mike Leigh film. And, no, I wouldn't necessarily love any optimistic fairy tale. Slumdog Millionaire, for example, is an optimistic fairy tale I admire but don't quite love.

[ITALIANO]

Cannot believe she bested Streep or Hathaway.

Well, but I don't understand... If you havent seen the movie, how can you say this? And it's not like you can be that familiar with this actress from the other movies she made.

Also, I don't think the movie is the optimistic fairy tale some say it is (if it were, I'm sure that, for instance, Big Magilla would have loved it). I found both the film and its main character more bitter and less superficial than one might think reading this thread; it's an intelligent, subtle portrayal of the deep social and economical crisis England is going through these days (trust me, I am often there, you can almost touch it), and at the same time a kind of desperate answer to it.

[Big Magilla]

let me guess: the critic who picked Eve for Best Actress is a man.

I would have said a jerk, but whatever.

In thinking about Georgy Girl, the screen character Happy-Go-Lucky's Poppy most reminds me of, I can't help but wonder if there had been as many critics' groups in 1966 as there are today if the majority of them had voted for Lynn Redgrave in that film if she, and not Elizabeth Taylor in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? would have gone into the Oscar race the prohibitive favorite.

Back then there were only four precursors. The New York Film Critics were up first with a tie between Redgrave and Taylor. Then came the National Board of Review with Sylvie in The Shameless Old Lady, a great performance, but one that had no chance at the Oscars. Then the National Board of Review in a rare year when they weren't up first, with Taylor.

The Globes went for Redgrave in comedy and Anouk Aimee in A Man and a Woman in drama over Taylor.

[rain Bard]

let me guess: the critic who picked Eve for Best Actress is a man.

[Sabin]

According to Hollywood-Elsewhere, WALL-E was a strong number one on the first ballot. Heath Ledger led Eddie Marsan and Penelope Cruz led Hanna Schygulla. Sean Penn won on the first ballot, and EVA from WALL-E received a first place vote on the first ballot which I very much agree with.