Thursday Movie Picks: Best Supporting Actor & Best Supporting Actress (Oscar Winners Edition): Wandering through the Shelves hosts a weekly movie challenge in which you choose 3-5 movies based on that Thursday’s theme and explain why you chose those movies. Today’s theme is Best Supporting Actor & Best Supporting Actress (Oscar Winners Edition), so here are my choices!
catherine zeta-jones (chicago)
I had never seen Chicago before when the 2002 film came out. But I instantly fell in love with it. The music, the performances, and the drama. I think Rob Marshall did a fantastic job adapting the musical to the big screen (which also won the Oscar for Best Picture that year).
I know that originally Rob Marshall wanted Zeta-Jones for the role of Roxie Hart, but the actress pushed for the role of Velma Kelly instead. I can’t blame her. I think Velma is the meatier role and who wouldn’t want to sing All that Jazz? I was really happy when Catherine won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (up against Queen Latifah as Mama Morton as well), and I think it’s well deserved.
denzel washington (glory)
Denzel Washington is by far one of the most talented actors alive today. My dad is a huge Civil War buff, so I distinctly remember my parents watching Glory when I was younger. More than once. It’s a movie that has stuck with me all these years later, most notably Denzel’s performance as the defiant Pvt. Trip. The things he could convey without even speaking. A really wonderful and touching performance. I still can’t believe he only has 2 Oscars. The man is a legend.
viola davis (fences)
I still contend that Viola should have been nominated in the Best Actress category for her work in Fences, but I can understand why they opted for Supporting. She is just a powerhouse of an actress. This movie is rough, but between Viola and Denzel Washington, you just can’t look away. Her loyalty to her husband, her pain and sorrow. Her strength. Viola is an actress that I would gladly watch in anything. She more than earned her Oscar for her role in Fences.
Joel
April 1, 2021I liked this version of Chicago without really loving it. CZJ is dynamic as Velma easily outshining Zellweger though she does get solid competition from Queen Latifah and John C. Reilly.
I don’t always care for Denzel Washington, there is often a sameness to his work, but sometimes he fits the role or the role fits him and he can make magic out of it. Glory is one of those time, Malcolm X is another.
My only problem with Viola Davis winning for Fences is the category fraud aspect, thereby cheating an actual supporting player out of their rightful prize. It’s frustrating because she won a Best Actress Tony for the same role on Broadway. Be that as it may she is phenomenal in the picture. Easily best in show.
I couldn’t decide between the two categories so I chose three that I love out of each.
The Razor’s Edge (1946)-Anne Baxter-Larry Darrell (Tyrone Power) disillusioned by WWI drifts through Europe looking for life’s meaning. In Paris he becomes reacquainted with childhood friend Sophie MacDonald (Baxter) who he remembers as a happy wife and mother. Having lost her family when a drunk smashed into their car Larry finds her a broken, drug addicted prostitute and tries to help her but her sorrows run too deep.
The Last Picture Show (1971)-Cloris Leachman-In the slowly dying North Texas town of Anarene high school senior Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms) drifts into an affair with the coach’s wife Ruth Popper (the recently departed Cloris Leachman). Though it commences more out of ennui than true feeling their involvement soon causes profound changes to both.
The Year of Living Dangerously-Linda Hunt-Well connected photographer Billy Kwan (Linda Hunt) takes inexperienced correspondent Guy Hamilton (Mel Gibson) under his wing upon Guy’s arrival in Jakarta. As political tension roils and then escalates to the boiling point both their lives as well as that of diplomat Jill Bryant (Sigourney Weaver) hang by a thread.
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)-Harold Russell-At the end of WWII three servicemen return to their hometown to find their way of life radically changed. One of the men Homer Parrish has lost his hands in an explosion, while he has adjusted to living with the hooks that replaced them, he finds the world is a vastly different place for him. Russell, who had suffered the same sort of injury, wasn’t a professional actor but his performance is naturalistic and immensely impactful.
All About Eve (1950)-George Sanders-In the Broadway world of stage star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) urbane, venomously acerbic and powerful theatre critic Addison DeWitt (Sanders) is tolerated but not liked. Still when Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) insinuates herself into Margo’s good graces it’s Addison who sees through her sweetness to the vicious climber underneath. My favorite Supporting Actor winner, a perfect meeting of actor and role.
They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969)-Gig Young-In the soul crushing world of Depression era marathon dances resides opportunistic promoter and emcee Rocky Gravo (Young) a man devoid of scruple or compassion. He sees the contestants-including hard bitten Gloria (Actress nominee Jane Fonda), glamour girl wannabe Alice (Supporting Actress nominee Susannah York), broken down Sailor (Red Buttons) and audience surrogate Robert (Michael Sarrazin)-as so much fodder to be made money off until they lose their usefulness and are thrown away. The deeply troubled Young (he ultimately killed himself and his fifth wife in a murder/suicide) was a preeminent comic actor for years before this revelatory performance.
Cinematic Delights
April 2, 2021Ah, I like your ‘theme within a theme’ of one word titles!
I’m yet to see Glory and Fences. I can appreciate Chicago for its strong performances, music and costumes, but it isn’t for me. I’ve seen it once and that was enough.
Sara
April 2, 2021I went to see Chicago when it came to Off-Broadway here and it didn’t hold the same energy I got from the movie, sadly. But Glory and Fences are two very emotional movies. I can only watch them when I’m in a certain mood.
Sonia
April 2, 2021I still haven’t seen Glory but I love the other two performances you picked, especially Viola’s which is one of my all-time favourites.
Sara
April 2, 2021She was so powerful in Fences!
Brittani
April 2, 2021I really need to see Glory as I love Denzel. I like the other two wins too. Great performances. I’d like to revisit Chicago again sometime.
Sara
April 2, 2021Glory is wonderful. Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher… Matthew Broderick really gives his best performance too.
Katy
April 3, 2021Nice picks! We share Viola Davis for Fences. Her performance is one of my all-time faves. I haven’t seen Glory yet, but I’ll add it to my watchlist. I almost picked Catherine for Chicago too. That was such a tough year with all of their performances getting recognition. I think any of them could’ve won and it would’ve been deserving.
Sara
April 9, 2021Glory is really well done. I think it’s Matthew Broderick’s best performance. It’s a very moving film and has a gorgeous soundtrack.
Birgit
April 4, 2021I love all your picks. I so loved Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago (I really wanted someone else other than Renee in that role as she bothered me). I was glad they kept so much Fosse in the dancing. This is when one wishes musicals were around like in the decades before because we miss great dancing and singing actors like Jones.
Denzel is a powerhouse and I have a major crush on him. he is brilliant in Glory, an under-rated film that deserves better recognition than it does. Denzel has been great in so many films no matter what he does.
Fences is another that he is great in but so is the impeccable Viola Davis who plays his suffering wife. She deserved to be in the Best Actress category for sure. Whatever she does, she turns to gold. She is much better than Meryl Streep whom, I think, is over-rated.
Sara
April 9, 2021Thank you! You know, Renee was fine but she was my least favorite performance in the movie. Catherine was just so fantastic though. I agree that Glory feels very underrated but I’m glad Denzel got recognition for his performance. I also know it’s a hot take but I do think Viola is a better actress than Meryl Streep!
ThePunkTheory
April 5, 2021Chicago has just the most amazing soundtrack. I love all of the songs so much!
Sara
April 9, 2021Yes! they’re so catchy!
Wandering through the Shelves
April 8, 2021I would like to rewatch Chicago too. I remember liking it and the songs.
Sara
April 9, 2021The songs are so catchy.