1985 is on. Start watching and voting!
The 1985 Supporting Actress Smackdown is on October 1st. Which means you have one month to watch or rewatch the movies and vote.
- Margaret Avery, The Color Purple available for rent on iTunes
- Anjelica Huston, Prizzi's Honor
- Amy Madigan, Twice in a Lifetime available for rent on Amazon
- Meg Tilley, Agnes of God available for rent on iTunes
- Oprah Winfrey, The Color Purple
We'll be announcing the panelists in a couple of weeks but you, the readers (collectively) are the final panelists. Your votes count towards the results. So get to rewatching or finally catching up with these four movies and send in your votes (from 1 to 5 hearts for each lady - only the performances you've seen please) with 1985 Smackdown in the subject line. You have until Friday September 29th to vote.
Reader Comments (36)
Tilley had tough co-stars Anne Bancroft and Jane Fonda
Bancroft and Fonda are both great in AOG,Tilly though seems to get the far away aspects of the character,this a child woman who knows her destiny.
Winfrey is so powerful by sheer force of charisma but Sophia is a bit of a type but Oprah shades it with bckstory,you belive this woman has never had an honest break in her life.
Avery wafts around looking regal and spitting out pithy put downs but grows in stature as her bond with Celie grows,the sinners have a song too daddy line is her best moment.
I just don't get Huston or this film,she often seems ill cast and then at others her meeting with Hickey seems to play up and down on Mae Rose's past.
Madigan is all fury and thunder with no shading but hey when was Amy madigan calm and serene in any movie,a throw away nomination cos they don't like Asian actresses very much.
On to my winner Meiko Harada who owns these women and this category.
I forgot the hearts bit so here it goes
Madigan 2 hearts
Huston 2 hearts
Tilly 3 hearts
Winfrey 4 hearts
Avery 4 hearts
Meiko Harada as many hearts as I could give.
Dear God,
My name is Margaret Avery. Thank you for allowing The Film Experience to choose 1985 as their next Supporting Actress Smackdown. I hope that I might win this time... unlike the last time.
Your little daughter,
Margaret Avery
I really hope Anjelica Huston receives the zero hearts she deserves.
#WorstOscarWinnereEverInThisCategory
I can't believe Prizzi's Honor is so tough to find. It was a major hit in its day, and it stars one of the most famous actors of all-time! I hate streaming culture.
1. Avery
2. Houston
3. Tilley
4. Winfrey
5. Madigan (only one I did not see!)
Woohoo! Smackdown time.
I don't get all the Prizzi hate though.
I rented in High school (mainly for Kathleen), and loved it.
Oprah! Hell no if it's anyone else...
Not one of my favorite years:
Picture
1. „SANS TOIT NI LOI“ (Frankreich)
2. „IDI I SMOTRI“ (UdSSR)
3. „RAN“ (Japan)
4. „LA HISTORIA OFICIAL“ (Argentinien)
5. „KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN“ (Brasilien)
6. „THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO“ (USA)
7. „BLOOD SIMPLE“ (USA)
8. „L'EFFRONTÉE“ (Frankreich)
9. „WETHERBY“ (Großbritannien)
10. „MASK“ (USA)
„BITTERE ERNTE“ (BRD)
„THE COLOR PURPLE“ (USA)
„MITT LIV SOM HUND“ (Schweden)
„OBERST REDL“ (Ungarn)
„OTAC NO SLUZBENOM PUTU“ (Jugoslawien)
„OUT OF AFRICA“ (USA)
„PÉRIL EN LA DEMEURE“ (Frankreich)
„PISMA MYORTVOGO CHELOVEKA“ (UdSSR)
„PLENTY“ (Großbritannien)
„PRIZZI'S HONOR“ (USA)
„RENDEZ-VOUS“ (Frankreich)
„RUNAWAY TRAIN“ (USA)
„TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.“ (USA)
„WITNESS“ (USA)
Actor
1. William Hurt in „KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN“ (Brasilien)
2. Eric Stoltz in „MASK“ (USA)
3. Aleksei Kravchenko in „IDI I SMOTRI“ (UdSSR)
4. Jon Voight in „RUNAWAY TRAIN“ (USA)
5. Raul Julia in „KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN“ (Brasilien)
6. Tatsuya Nakadai in „RAN“ (Japan)
7. Jeff Daniels in „THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO“ (USA)
8. Héctor Alterio in „LA HISTORIA OFICIAL“ (Argentinien)
9. Michel Serrault in „ON NE MEURT QUE 2 FOIS“ (Frankreich)
10. Michel Piccoli in „PÉRIL EN LA DEMEURE“ (Frankreich)
Klaus Maria Brandauer in „OBERST REDL“ (Ungarn)
Charles Dance in „PLENTY“ (Großbritannien)
Harrison Ford in „WITNESS“ (USA)
Anton Glanzelius in „MITT LIV SOM HUND“ (Schweden)
Armin Mueller-Stahl in „BITTERE ERNTE“ (BRD)
Jack Nicholson in „PRIZZI'S HONOR“ (USA)
William L. Petersen in „TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.“ (USA)
Lambert Wilson in „RENDEZ-VOUS“ (Frankreich)
Actress
1. Sandrine Bonnaire in „SANS TOIT NI LOI“ (Frankreich)
2. Norma Aleandro in „LA HISTORIA OFICIAL“ (Argentinien)
3. Cher in „MASK“ (USA)
4. Jessica Lange in „SWEET DREAMS“ (USA)
5. Frances McDormand in „BLOOD SIMPLE“ (USA)
6. Whoopi Goldberg in „THE COLOR PURPLE“ (USA)
7. Mia Farrow in „THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO“ (USA)
8. Meryl Streep in „PLENTY“ (Großbritannien)
9. Vanessa Redgrave in „WETHERBY“ (Großbritannien)
10. Miranda Richardson in „DANCE WITH A STRANGER“ (Großbritannien)
Isabelle Adjani in „SUBWAY“ (Frankreich)
Anne Bancroft in „AGNES OF GOD“ (USA)
Nathalie Baye in „DÉTECTIVE“ (Frankreich)
Juliette Binoche in „RENDEZ-VOUS“ (Frankreich)
Charlotte Gainsbourg in „L' EFFRONTÉE“ (Frankreich)
Nicole Garcia in „PÉRIL EN LA DEMEURE“ (Frankreich)
Olga Mironova in „IDI I SMOTRI“ (UdSSR)
Geraldine Page in „THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL“ (USA)
Charlotte Rampling in „ON NE MEURT QUE 2 FOIS“ (Frankreich)
Meryl Streep in „OUT OF AFRICA“ (USA)
Elisabeth Trissenaar in „BITTERE ERNTE“ (BRD)
Kathleen Turner in „PRIZZI'S HONOR“ (USA)
Supporting Actor
1. Klaus Maria Brandauer in „OUT OF AFRICA“ (USA)
2. Eric Roberts in „RUNAWAY TRAIN“ (USA)
3. John Gielgud in „PLENTY“ (Großbritannien)
4. Wadeck Stanczak in „RENDEZ-VOUS“ (Frankreich)
5. Ian Holm in „DANCE WITH A STRANGER“ (Großbritannien)
6. M. Emmet Walsh in „BLOOD SIMPLE“ (USA)
7. Willem Dafoe in „TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.“ (USA)
8. Jean-Hugues Anglade in „SUBWAY“ (Frankreich)
9. Jean-Philipe Ecoffey in „L' EFFRONTÉE“ (Frankreich)
10. Jean-Louis Trintignant in „RENDEZ-VOUS“ (Frankreich)
Patricio Contreras in „LA HISTORIA OFICIAL“ (Argentinien)
Xavier Deluc in „ON NE MEURT QUE 2 FOIS“ (Frankreich)
Sam Elliott in „MASK“ (USA)
Michel Galabru in „SUBWAY“ (Frankreich)
John Gielgud in „THE SHOOTING PARTY“ (Großbritannien)
Lukas Haas in „WITNESS“ (USA)
William Hickey in „PRIZZI'S HONOR“ (USA)
Ian Holm in „WETHERBY“ (Großbritannien)
Hisashi Igawa in „RAN“ (Japan)
Robert Loggia in „JAGGED EDGE“ (USA)
John Lone in „YEAR OF THE DRAGON“ (USA)
Armin Mueller-Stahl in „OBERST REDL“ (Ungarn)
Sam Neill in „PLENTY“ (Großbritannien)
Jinpachi Nezu in „RAN“ (Japan)
Mansai Nomura in „RAN“ (Japan)
Wojciech Pszoniak in „BITTERE ERNTE“ (BRD)
Daisuke Ryû in „RAN“ (Japan)
Jun Tazaki in „RAN“ (Japan)
Akira Terao in „RAN“ (Japan)
Hitoshi Ueki in „RAN“ (Japan)
Masayuki Yui in „RAN“ (Japan)
Supporting Actress
1. Mieko Harada in „RAN“ (Japan)
2. Sonia Braga in „KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN“ (Brasilien)
3. Oprah Winfrey in „THE COLOR PURPLE“ (USA)
4. Macha Méril in „SANS TOIT NI LOI“ (Frankreich)
5. Anjelica Huston in „PRIZZI'S HONOR“ (USA)
6. Bernadette Lafont in „L' EFFRONTÉE“ (Frankreich)
7. Margaret Avery in „THE COLOR PURPLE“ (USA)
8. Geneviève Bujold in „TROUBLE IN MIND“ (USA)
9. Kelly McGillis in „WITNESS“ (USA)
10. Tracey Ullman in „PLENTY“ (Großbritannien)
Anémone in „PÉRIL EN LA DEMEURE“ (Frankreich)
Rosanna Arquette in „AFTER HOURS“ (USA)
Judi Dench in „WETHERBY“ (Großbritannien)
Darlanne Fluegel in „TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.“ (USA)
Meg Foster in „THE EMERALD FOREST“ (Großbritannien)
Catherine Frot in „ESCALIER C“ (Frankreich)
Yolande Moreau in „SANS TOIT NI LOI“ (Frankreich)
Chela Ruízin „LA HISTORIA OFICIAL“ (Argentinien)
Meg Tilly in „AGNES OF GOD“ (USA)
Director
1. Agnès Varda für „SANS TOIT NI LOI“ (Frankreich)
2. Akira Kurosawa für „RAN“ (Japan)
3. Elem Klimov für „IDI I SMOTRI“ (UdSSR)
4. Hector Babenco für „KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN“ (Brasilien)
5. Luis Puenzo für „LA HISTORIA OFICIAL“ (Argentinien)
6. Woody Allen für „THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO“ (USA)
7. Joel Coen und Ethan Coen für „BLOOD SIMPLE“ (USA)
8. Claude Miller für „L' EFFRONTÉE“ (Frankreich)
9. Andrei Konchalovsky für „RUNAWAY TRAIN“ (USA)
10. Fred Schepisi für „PLENTY“ (Großbritannien)
Peter Bogdanovich für „MASK“ (USA)
Jacques Deray für „ON NE MEURT QUE 2 FOIS“ (Frankreich)
Michel Deville für „PÉRIL EN LA DEMEURE“ (Frankreich)
William Friedkin für „TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.“ (USA)
David Hare für „WETHERBY“ (Großbritannien)
Agnieszka Holland für „BITTERE ERNTE“ (BRD)
John Huston für „PRIZZI'S HONOR“ (USA)
Emir Kusturica für „OTAC NO SLUZBENOM PUTU“ (Jugoslawien)
Sydney Pollack für „OUT OF AFRICA“ (USA)
Steven Spielberg für „THE COLOR PURPLE“ (USA)
István Szabó für „OBERST REDL“ (Ungarn)
André Téchiné für „RENDEZ-VOUS“ (Frankreich)
Peter Weir für „WITNESS“ (USA)
Mieko Harada all the way
Margaret Avery is my choice but Oprah would be a fine pick too. I still can't fathom why anyone would vote for Houston (who shouldn't be nominated).
Margaret Avery, The Color Purple 3 Hearts
Anjelica Huston, Prizzi's Honor 2,5 Hearts
Amy Madigan, Twice in a Lifetime 2 Hearts
Meg Tilley, Agnes of God 3 Hearts
Oprah Winfrey, The Color Purple 4 Hearts
Let's give this to Mieko Harada and cancel the Smackdown.
Huston is my winner here, but she would be bronze. Braga is silver.
Ranking the nominees:
1) Meg Tilly- 4.5 hearts
2) Oprah Winfrey- 4 hearts
3) Margaret Avery- 3 hearts
4) Amy Madigan- 3 hearts
5) Anjelica Huston- 2 hearts
I'd swap out Avery, Madigan, and Huston for Madeline Khan in "Clue," Sonia Braga in "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and Ally Sheedy in "The Breakfast Club"...And then give the Oscar to Khan ❤️❤️❤️😉
@Suzanne I'm not sure about any other platforms beyond home video, but Prizzi's Honor was just released on blu-ray in the US. I'll be watching it soon.
I ♥♥♥♥♥ Margaret Avery's letter to the Smackdown.
Nathaniel...may I suggest a like/dislike or thumbs up/thumbs down feature in your comments section.
Granted I've only watched clips of Anjelica's scenes on YouTube, but I really don't get the hoopla (and I love Anjelica, truly one of the best of her generation).
Oprah all the way on this one!
Oops...Margaret addressed her letter to God, not the Smackdown...I get them confused sometimes.
Angelica Huston is Hollywood royalty it might have something to with her winning
SoSue: Try to see the whole of Anjelica Huston's performance. Her role, performance and presence all work very well when seen in context.
Prizzi's Honor is a tonally awkward film (is it a comedy? is it a drama? is it a satire? etc.), and perhaps too slow in parts. But it's also smart and elegant and funny and emotional (the choice Charley is faced with between romantic love and family ties). And I think that Anjelica Huston is spot-on as the spurned ex.
Looking forward to this Smackdown.
Some people affirm that Anjelica's father, the great John Huston, was very ill when the Academy voting was taking place. Awarding her was a way of awarding him.
Fortunately, some years later she would become the excellent actress she is now: Enemies, a Love Story and The Grifters. She should have won for the latter.
I hate millennials.
Oprah kept a dinner roll from the nominees luncheon that year and had it bronzed. Gene Siskel was glad Oprah had a keepsake from the event. He told her, "You know Anjelica is going to win the Oscar, right?"
Meiko Harada and Sonia Braga should have been here but Maerose and Agnes are enduring presences
The thing that bugs me isawarding some Actresses too early who are then nominated but never win cos they already have one,no one wouldargue that Huston has been better since the win.
I can certainly see an argument for Huston having been better in Enemies, a Love Story and The Grifters (she's tremendous in both of them, and if I'd been an Oscar voter I may well have voted to give her the award for both of those - I definitely think she should have won for The Grifters), but put me in the camp that's perfectly happy with her having won for this, especially given that the film was so "tonally awkward". I'm a big fan of all the actors involved, but it's such an awkward film that I was always happy to get back to the parts with her and Hickey.
Huston is one of the best winners of this category EVER.
Winfrey is the worthiest nominee of the slate. Supporting Actress for daughters and girlfriends can be a welcome to Hollywood prize. Huston may have started this tradition which certainly manifested itself twice with Sorvino and Jolie in the 90's. But thank God she did. Oprah is a cultural juggernaut instead of a struggling Black character actress chasing an industry that does not want her operating too ambitiously in it. John and Jack saw their daughter/lover recognized with the highest honor knowing she was too old and definitely atypical a beauty to become a starlet/ingenue. And Kathy Bates–whose Oscar win caused Huston pa-pa-permanent damage.
Team Oprah! Huston's win is super poor and doesn't hold up well at all.
Okay, well I guess I better see Prizzi's Honor, as it has inspired so much negativity. I remember it being quite popular in its day. To all those bringing up Mieko Harada: yes. She was brilliantly wicked in Ran. She deserved a nod for sure, and I don't know why that didn't happen. Ran itself was fabulous - been meaning to see it again for some time now.
When i watched Prizzi's Honor i didn't get the Huston win 'til her very last scene, when it all made sense. What a classy, subtle performance.
I love her and here in France The Witches and Enemies, a Love Story are nowhere to be found ..... I tried downloading but then again, no luck ....
Angelika.
The rest are bunched together.
I loves Oprah in this movie, even though i find her to be somewhat insufferable in recent years. Had Oprah won that year, perhaps she would not have stayed with the talk show. Things worked out for the best here.
I loves Oprah in this movie, even though i find her to be somewhat insufferable in recent years. Had Oprah won that year, perhaps she would not have stayed with the talk show. Things worked out for the best here.