Sally's Short Suspense
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 1:54PM 
Sally sings a lullaby she wrote in "African Chelsea"A confession: I've never been this caught up in the drama of the short film categories before. But this year I await Oscar's finalist list on pins and needles. At least four former Oscar players are involved in shorts from the long 70ish wide semi-finals list (the actual list has been hard to come by with no AMPAS press release detailing it). One of them is 80s nominee Sally Kirkland who I've always felt a certain kooky fondness for. She campaigned tirelessly for the actressy drama Anna back when campaigning wasn't so loudly expected of people. She was rewarded with a spot in the 1987 Best Actress list which turned out to be one of the greatest in Oscar's entire history. There's not a dud or even a "just good" performance in that shortlist; they're all freaking great. Sometimes you've got to work for the nomination when your film is small.
There's a new somewhat provocative piece up at the LA Times Envelope about her current director Brent Roske's campaigning for "African Chelsea" the short she's currently co-starring in. Campaigning for short films is not, you see, the norm... though people do do it. I've recently been in contact with the short's director Brent Roske and I reached out for a comment today on working with Sally. Turns out he plans to do it again and quick-like no matter what happens with the short film race.
I've just finished writing an inspiring dramatic feature that Sally will be starring in called 'Alice Stands Up'. I'm hoping I can get her in the Best Actress discussion next year."
Ah, directors and their muses. We love it when they stand by their divas. It's probably too much to hope that a miracle like Anna could reoccur again but we wish him luck in trying. Shine that spotlight on Sally!
Sally Kirkland sure was vivid in "Anna". Have you seen it? It's available on Netflix Instant Watch
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Anna, Best Actress, Brent Roske, Oscars (11), Oscars (80s), Sally Kirkland, short films
Reader Comments (20)
I've just done a write-up on Sally's performacne on my blog and honestly, I wasn't that much of a fan. She was really great but the movie was so boring that it took a lot away from Sally's effect.
However, I agree it's a knockout year. Great Glenn takes it for me, easily. I'm gaga over her.
1987 is not complete without Lillian Gish,Maggie Smith or Bette Davis.
God love her, I remember when I was little and would watch the red-carpet Oscar arrivals on E! by Joan Rivers and she would always be the 1st person there at like 5:00 doing the red carpet... haha :)
Kirkland was pretty amazing in Anna but I disagree with 1987 being one of the greatest...
I prefer 1951, 1962, 1977, 1988, 1995, 1996, 2001 or 2006.
I am head over heels in love with Kirkland's work in Anna. I wish the Oscar nom and Golden Globe had afforded her better opportunities to showcase her talents...while she's mainly known now for her red carpet appearences, the woman is a truly gifted actress.
'88 without Sarandon is bullshit.
I hope Anna's on YouTube.
God more reminder why I feel so crossed by Cher's win. Hunter all the way.
So True! or Maura, MacLaine or Lahti. That year was beyond good for women.
Anyway, I'm Glenn Close both in 87 and 88
/3rtfull -- agreed. but we're talking 87 here.
MARK: Whales of August. Intriguing choice, though probably not within my tastes. But The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne...it's a Jack Clayton and I think he probably doesn't get enough respect today. And /3rtful, I think I still have to go with Close (showier! villain! scary!). Hunter (for Raising Arizona) is silver. I can call Ironweed out easily: A couple of actors playing recessive and drama free characters. No real threat to my lead actor or actress charts. Anna's probably the only real threat to my current arrangement.
Here's my current Lead Actress Field.
Holly Hunter, Raising Arizona – silver
Glenn Close, Fatal Attraction – winner
Cher, Moonstruck – 5th
Nancy Allen, RoboCop – 4th
Robin Wright, The Princess Bride – bronze
volvagia -- calling Ironweed out without seeing it? insane! STREEP is magic in it.
Okay, maybe. However, there's NO WAY Jack is better than Richard E. Grant's Withnail, which is probably my best performance of the eighties in ANY CATEGORY, and probably my second best EVER (nothing tops Sterling Hayden's Jack D. Ripper.)
I'm Robocop's number one fan here and I say Nancy Allen?
I'm not a Streep fan at all but damn it if she isn't ace in Ironweed. Very depressing film about the depression and if you could ever describe a Meryl Streep performance as cool I would for Ironweed.
Emphatically not a fan of Kirkland as an actress. Have you seen Coming Apart? The whole thing is nonsense but she's pretty terrible – histrionics in search of a character. She defines no core. She's serviceable at best in Anna.
My name is Billy and I'm a Sally Kirkland fan.
I was 17 years old when I saw Anna at a small theatre in Albany, NY. Kirkland's performance mesmerized me - I couldn't get enough of her or the film.
I think Sally Kirkland should of won the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal in Anna. It was heart wrenching and real and her accent was ippecable. She did a great job. It was a tough year, granted, but her performance did deserve to take home the "gold."
In the 1987 Oscar race I honestly thought it would be a tie between Glenn Close and Kirkland , I wish we saw just as much of Sally as Glenn Close. In fact I think she is just as good as Meryl Streep one of my favorite Kirkland performance was in The Haunted a true story.
Ive been a fan of Sally Kirklands since seeing "edtv" directed by Ron Howard. She and Martin Landau were sooo funny together. She's as funny as she is dramatic. A rare quality for an actor.
Sally Kirkland is a caring, loving, giving, talented performer. It requires great stamina, understanding of the craft, and ability to carry an entire feature film. With Sally 100 plus credits in film & TV she exemplifies a great thespian..Sally spilled her guts in "COMING APART"... She was real and is very real.....
Mayukh is so off the mark... Sorry!!!!
sally was great in anna! nice that this short film shes in is getting oscar attention as well
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