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)
1938, 1997, 1998 and 2000 are my picks.
1946 seems like an interesting year. I've only seen Baxter and she gives the type of performance that has sort of become the blueprint for an unstoppable win, but it would be interesting to stack her against the others.
1981 has great contenders, and 2000 was such an odd Oscar year with Hudson breaking out, McDormand having two performances in play, and Harden prevailing. Were some of those performances just buzz, really good films, or just strong performances in a competitive year?
1. 1946
2. 2000
3. 1981
You're really running out of pre-80s options!
I'd be most interested in 1991 (my first Oscars and two of my fave performances), 1997 (we all know who'd win, but how do the other 4 fare?) and 1987 (I've always wanted to read takes on the 3 Annes).
97
I know Moore will slay, but honestly, Driver and Basinger are both very deserving nominations, and Cusack is always a delight. I'd love to hear what is said about the entire ballot!
In order of preference:
1937 (I like Alice Brady but a totally consolation Oscar)
1987 (I'm pretty solid on Olympia Dukakis's win but wouldn't mind revisiting those films),
1957 (if only to try and understand how Carolyn Jones got in for a five minute performance and Marlene Dietrich in all her glory didn't),
1946 (would be higher but the very thought of having to sit through Duel in the Sun is off-putting)
1938 (I can't imagine anyone else but Fay Bainter taking this but it will be interesting to hear other thoughts)
Those are my first choices but I'll be happy with whatever comes out on top!
By the way The Mating Season (a total delight and Thelma is brilliant in it but she's really in the wrong place...she's the lead) is on YouTube but The Blue Veil (a cloying soaper with a great cast) really is a tough to find.
Thinking about it yesterday. And it would be lovely even recent years, pleeease. Would love 2004 with the wonderful group formed by Dee, Balnchett, Ryan, Swinton and Ronan <3
Omg so many great ones - I'd be especially down for '57, '81 and '91.
91, 97, or 2000!!
1981.
You mean 2019 there, at the end, right? Still, of the ones that are still available, that's a total of 22 right now. Hope someone finds/releases those 1951 movies at a cheap enough price, pushing it to a full 23 that you can do.
1998 - Mike Nichols (2nd win worthy)
2002 - Alexander Payne (nudity plus Jack's girl)
2019 - Clint Eastwood (underrated because you hated the movie)
Yet several wonder how?
My vote is for 1991 and the year Alicia Vikander won. That was such a waste of a trophy and a fraud.
They all look like good options!
But I’m leaning toward ‘65 or ‘81.
Can we finish 1957? It was announced last year and I’ve already watched 4/5 performances to get ready. Just need to watch Sayonara next!!
1987, 1997, 1965 — in that order o preference
I'd say 1991, 1998 and 1987.
I'm more interested in years I feel the winner will be different from the actual winners. In 1986, who would ever beat Weist? Impossible!
1991
1981 or 1997 please!
1998 for me, but that might be because I rewatched Hilary & Jackie recently.
1937! And I already did the work for 57 last year, even found "Bachelor Party".
Can't wait for Smackdowns! And with credible whispers that we will see the completion of Seasons of Bette, plus more of your divine doodling, it truly is a prosperous time at The Film Experience.
37 would be interesting, I've only seen the worthy performances of Shirley and Whitty, but Trevor is always great and Leeds seems to be beloved in this role from what i've read.
46 to see if the panel has the taste to let it be a blowout for Baxter and acknowledge former winner Sondergaard's good performance in yellowface (and if you're going to give the Oscar to de Havilland that year, why not tick off overdue Dunne's exquisite performance instead)
51 is a shame to miss, Lee Grant would probably win for her fantastic debut, and to see Ritter get to be so good as one of her film's three leads is a rare joy. ( 42.58% at screentimecentral)
87 because hearing Dukakis praise for Moostruck never gets old, and if anybody scored Ramsey in a pitch perfect role as anything under a two (i'm being generous to different taste levels) can be immediately disregarded.
91 because for some reason Tandy at her best in a five star performance is bafflingly always overlooked, Her walk and talk monologue about her son alone should have netted her that second statue, let alone all the pitch perfect comedy and pathos she imbued the role with. She also was the best of her Bafta field. Plus Ladd is underrated in a much quieter role than her previous nom.
2000 because every nominee bar Dench has at sometime earned best in field claims by a good number of people, often changing like a tide of appreciation over the years.
I'm glad to see several votes for 1991, that's the one I came in here to vote for myself. If only to here y'all talk about Juliette Lewis in CAPE FEAR. But with PRINCE OF TIDES having just hit Criterion and Laura Dern having just won her Oscar while her mum watched on gleefully that seems a timely batch... or the case could loosely be made, as I just have. :)
/3rtful - Nobody says that, but yes.
I would so love to get 1957 out of the way, since it’s such a lame bunch. But 1986, 1947, and 1997 are definitely the years I’m most excited for.
I'm down for literally any of them :-)
hmmm, wasn't there way more comments than this earlier?
87 or bust. Also, 81 and 91.
1965, 1981, 1998
I would particularly love to see 1981 & 1991 dissected.
My favorite series. You do such great work with it, Nathaniel. Looking forward to it.
I would love a similar format with the decade’s acting winners and best picture winners. Having Team Film Experience vote on Oscar’s decisions over the last 10 years could be great fun and cause interesting debates.
I guess 1991 would be an interesting discussion. Isn't Ruhel a co-lead in her half of the story?
I'm up for any year, but especially 1965 and 1987.
I of course love every year, but 1997 was the first year I got REALLY into the races and I had seen three of the five nominees in the theater that year (my mom was not thrilled that our dad took his 11-year-olds to GOOD WILL HUNTING, but I digress).
87! Give me a detailed discussion of any aspect of Moonstruck or give me death!
I'm advocating for 2002. I know it is classified as too early but it's almost been 20 years. Surely enough time has passed to objectively critique the performances.
I would pick 1981, 1986 or 1987
I vote 1997
65, 97
I think smackdowns with a pretty even, surprising (and even with underseen gems) are more fascinating than those with runaway favourites. I'd be interested to read about the other 4 but since Moore would certainly take it I would put 1997 low in terms of priority.
I find years like 2002 (that Streep, Moore, Zeta-Jones faceoff!), 1998, 2000 and 1981 could prove really fun with a varied, solid across the board group of performances. I also have no idea who'd come on top for each year which makes the competition really interesting!
1991, 1965 and 1986 don't have runaway favourites like Moore but would certainly have the competition down to only 2 names. Even if the other 3 vary in how interesting they are I find those gourmet offers in terms of discussion.
1947, 1957, 1987 (what is with the 7s!) offer lineups where it's (mostly) anyone's game which is fun, but the group itself is a bad batch of nominees which might not ignite as much passion in any single performance, even the winner. I think throwing in one of these could add to the variety of discussion and we have to get to those eventually right?
*I assume about 1987. I'm a pretty big fan of Aleandro, Dukakis and even Ramsay but I believe they're not generally beloved performances? Could be wrong.
Win - 1987 (one of the most eclectic acting lineups ever; I, too, would love to hear what others have to say about the three Ann((e))s)
Place - 1981 (Joan Hackett will finally get some overdue love)
Show - 1991 (Go, Kate!)
Having just recently rewatched Crimes of the Heart (still so good!) and then watching The Prince of Tides for the first time, I'm gonna go with '86 and '91 even though I still need to see the majority of both lineups.
I'd love to hear a discussion of '97 as well!
Just saw Moonstruck for the first time this week. Agree Olympia was a gem. Was she tipped to win that season or was it a surprise? Would love to see discussion of 1987.
I'm super excited for this series and was waiting for it to be announced while we continued to be in isolation.
So many good choices although I'd like to discuss 51 for Streetcar discussion but I guess that's still not possible.
I'm most curious to see what panelists have to say about Juliette Lewis in Cape Fear, so I'd say 91.
I agree with those who would like to do 1957, since it was announced last year.
In terms of the others, I'd like to do those in which all five films that are easily accessible via streaming. I often rent hard to find films for the Smackdown from the library, which is not an option this year, since it is closed due to the health crisis. For this reason, one of the '90s Smackdowns would be a good idea (I'd love to do 1987, but I know Gaby: A True Story is hard to find, for instance.)
1987 is the only choice. Truly, one of the most bizarre Oscar lineups in any category. It's the Glenda Jackson of Supporting Actress races.
1957-Was ready to go last August.
1991-Seems like Ladd season.
1986-Great mixture to watch.
1947-Would love to read these comments.
Another vote for 1997
I know they were being avoided for recency reasons, but you might want to start sprinkling in the 2000s or they’ll end up the only ones left! Out of the list, I would be interested in ‘87 as I haven’t seen 3 and could use a reason to seek them out.