Sunday
Feb202022
"sweetheart..."
Sunday, February 20, 2022 at 7:24PM 
Which Best Actress would you have voted for 25 years ago in the Oscar race?
- Brenda Blethyn, Secrets & Lies (BAFTA, GLOBE, LAFCA, CANNES, BSFC)
- Diane Keaton, Marvin's Room
- Frances McDormand, Fargo (SAG, OSCAR, NBR, CFCA, KCFCC, CCA, SEFCA)
- Kristin Scott Thomas, The English Patient (NBR *supporting)
- Emily Watson, Breaking The Waves (NYFCC, NSFC)
This is why we do Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals here at TFE. It's easier that way! Anyway... 1996 was one of those years like 1950, 1974, 1987, 1995, or 2006 that Best Actress fans will be debating forever. Do you think 2021/22 will be like that or will we look back on the current race as a mild 'coulda been better' one?
tagged Best Actress, Brenda Blethyn, Oscars (90s), Secrets & Lies
Best Actress, Brenda Blethyn, Oscars (90s), Secrets & Lies
Reader Comments (54)
1. Emily Watson-Breaking the Waves (one of my all-time favorite films ever)
2. Frances McDormand-Fargo
3. Brenda Blethyn-Secrets & Lies
4. Kristin Scott Thomas-The English Patient
5. Diane Keaton-Marvin's Room
Performances that should've been in consideration: Scarlett Johansson-Manny & Lo, Jena Malone-Bastard Out of Carolina, Ana Torrent-Tesis, Laura Dern-Citizen Ruth, Reese Witherspoon-Freeway, Theresa Randle-Girl 6, Debbie Reynolds-Mother, and Ashley Judd-Normal Life.
1. Emily Watson-Breaking the Waves (one of my all-time favorite films ever)
2. Frances McDormand-Fargo
3. Brenda Blethyn-Secrets & Lies
4. Kristin Scott Thomas-The English Patient
5. Diane Keaton-Marvin's Room
Performances that should've been in consideration: Scarlett Johansson-Manny & Lo, Jena Malone-Bastard Out of Carolina, Ana Torrent-Tesis, Laura Dern-Citizen Ruth, Reese Witherspoon-Freeway, Theresa Randle-Girl 6, Debbie Reynolds-Mother, and Ashley Judd-Normal Life.
If only the world knew McDormand would win three more times! I haven't seen Keaton and the last time I saw Watson's performance was probably 15 or more years ago. Thomas is good though she doesn't get a ton to work with. For me though, Secrets & Lies is a perfect film and Blethyn is an all-timer. She'd get my vote.
Impossible to choose between Watson, Blethyn and McDormand. I'd like to thank the Academy for doing it for me.
I’ll go against the presumed grain and say that McDormand definitely deserved this one. It’s her defining role in many ways. (She definitely did not deserve the other 2.)
That said, would be totally fine with Watson or Blethyn winning here, both also excellent. Thomas was also very good but just not quite as memorable as the others. Never saw Marvin’s Room, but Keaton’s Annie Hall victory is one of the few times the appropriate, zeitgeisty performance won the Oscar.
1. Watson
2. McDormand
3. Blethyn
4. Thomas
5. Keaton
It's a trend.
I'm of the belief that the Academy got it right that year. In fact, I'd say it's the only one of Frances McDormand's three Oscars I 100% agree with. From there, I think I would fall on...
SILVER: Brenda Blethyn
BRONZE: Emily Watson
I don't think I've ever seen Marvin's Room and while I usually really like Kristin Scott Thomas, I don't remember being all that impressed with her in The English Patient.
Frances!
Swear to God that I said "she's going to win an Oscar" when I saw Fargo in early June or something. Is that a gay epiphany? My good friend Klodia Patricia is my witness. Kept my bet even after watching Secrets & Lies (that was tough). Her monologue driving the blond dude to the police station. CHILLS.
Imagine having Frances and Olivia winning back to back. The class, the taste.
Brenda Blethyn just breaks my heart every time, and in such a unique way, that I'm all in for her "sweetheart."
Fargo and Secrets and Lies are two of my favorite films and McDormand and Blethyn are both iconic in their respective roles. So I was torn between the two of them, plus I loved Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves. Thomas was good in English Patient, leaving Keaton as the sole weak nominee. She really didn't give off any enduring sparks in Marvin's Room, which itself was typical semi-interesting/semi-blah mid-90s Miramax fare. Anyway, as long as it was one of my two faves I was happy, and I was!
Blethyn.
(And this year will get ugly—unless Cruz wins, which I don't think will upset too many people...right?)
Blethyn and Watson... hard choice.
Actually Streep was better, than Keaton, and not nominated., But Streep was nominated for a Golden Globe and Keaton was not... so who knows?? it is all so subjective.
I am really fine with a Cruz win. Not Stewart or Kidman. Possibly Chastain. I also
thought Colman was excellent ... but she always is!!!
Watson is one of my fave performances of all time so have to give her the gold, but McDormand was deserving also. I've never seen Secrets and Lies though.
I'd take away one of McDormand's Oscars, but not this one. My runner up would actually be Kristin Scott Thomas. As a big murder mystery fan, Blethyn is doing great work on Vera these days, which is very popular in the UK.
Maybe there needs to be a smackdown to settle this year
The only Oscar Frances doesn’t deserve is Three Billboards. Nomadland was … devasting, beautiful, etc. It richly deserved every Oscar it got.
Fargo, I need a rewatch. But of the other nominees I’ve only see Marvin’s Room (big yawn), so I definitely need to see Blethyn and Watson!
Oof, this changes often between Frances and KTS. On one hand, Fargo makes me laugh in ways that make me feel bad after I'm done, and McDormand's a big part of that and I LOVE it. On the other hand, The English Patient (and KTS and La Binoche in it) is one of those movies that no matter what I'm doing, if it's on I'll stop and watch it.
As for this year? Honestly, I think no matter what it'll be looked at as a "could've, should've, would've" year. Everyone seems to have strong feelings about the performances nominated, but the love also seems spread out among who should win.
As KST was a kind of ice queen in her films before 1996, so her performance in TEP was outstanding ( passionate, sensitive as a lover of count Almasy ), she was the heart of the film.
My list is:
KST
BB
EW
FMcD
DK
Nicole Kidman in The Portrait of a Lady if she had been nominated as she should have been.
Other honorables Madonna,Courtney Love,Meryl Streep,Winona Ryder and Sharon Stone for the campy Diabolique remake.
Ranking the nominees
1 Blethyn
2 Watson
3 Scott Thomas
4 McDormand
5 Keaton
This year's race might become slightly clearer after SAG and Bafta.
The nominee pool is not a complete letdown Chastain and Colman are excellent once again,I have not seen Cruz but I normally enjoy her work but the others Stewart and Kidman are completely miscast.
Watson
McDormand
Scott Thomas
Blethyn
Keaton
Such an embarrassment of riches this year. Keaton's great!
Are there any other examples of weird category switch ups between actors in the same movie like KST and Binoche? (As in KST could be easily considered supporting while Binoche is clearly a lead in The English Patient?)
1. Watson
2/3. KST/McDormand, my ordering could flip on any day
4. Blethyn
5. Keaton
I like Blethyn fine, but when I think back on that film it's Marianne Jean-Baptiste who stands out to me. A quiet role, but she really fills it out.
I would have voted Blethyn for sure. She's amazing in Secrets and Lies. So heartbreaking but also tongue-in-cheek funny. She's the one who really went out on a limb for the role, and she succeeds wholeheartedly.
But I think this is one of the strongest Best Actress lineups ever. It's 5 completely different roles and each actress took a completely different path to deliver an amazing performance. I would have been cool with any of them winning.
Although I'm not usually a big fan of ties I'd gladly take a three-way tie between Blethyn, McDormand & Watson. Three unique performances in great films and I personally feel that each one deserves a gold medal. But with tiny margins I'd rank them as:
1) Blethyn
2) McDormand
3) Watson
Regarding Marvin's Room (which is of course nothing more than an easily watchable tv movie), I feel that the academy made the right choice and this is coming from a huge Streep fan. While I think her work in this one is solid, Diane Keaton would have made my top five too with a very sincerely moving performance. As a contrarian, I still think she's a better dramatic actress than a comedic one.
As for Kristin Scott-Thomas, while she's perfectly adequate in the movie I wouldn't think to include her even in my top ten. But she definitely deserved a nomination 12 years later for Il y a longtemps que je t'aime. And also she should have won that Emmy she was up for Fleabag.
And about this year's race... I have a feeling that it will go down as a pretty good year for the category. Probably the least deserving one will win and kinda spoil that, but I have solid hopes for a Cruz upset.
I would have voted for Emily Watson, but honestly between her, Frances McDormand, and Brenda Blethyn, any of them would have been easy winners in almost any other year that decade.
Watson, Watson, Watson.
This is one of a few performances in the whole History of Cinema that would compare to Gena Rowlands' greatest moments.
I think it's my favorite female performance of all time not given by Gena, in a tie with Isabelle Huppert in Story of Women.
@guardian
I think they're both leads. KST has more 5 minutes of screentime than Binoche.
I think this a From Here to Eternity/Network situation, a movie with three leading roles.
I think the 90's gave us a few all timer lists
Not only this line up but 1995's peak Actressing year but also 1993 and 1997
@cal roth
I agree with that, and not that it’s quite as relevant to this category, but William H. Macy actually has more screen time in Fargo than Frances McDormand but somehow got nominated for Best Supporting Actor. And Steve Buscemi is only like five minutes of screen time behind them, so I think that’s another three lead film even though Frances was the only one who got campaigned as a lead.
Actually, in terms of percentage of screen time, Frances was just barely over Juliette Binoche in The English Patient that year, so maybe there’s even an argument for Frances going supporting?
Forever Emily Watson.
Those screentime counts are always so interesting. I would've thought Binoche would've had more screentime than KST.
I wish Steve Buscemi would've been nominated somewhere for Fargo.
I love the 1996 Oscar season. My first year watching the ceremony, so I love to revisit it!
One of the greatest performances in the history of film:
Emily Watson, Breaking The Waves
(hint: that's the job description of Oscar = to reward the best of the best)
@cal roth Oh I didn't know that about the screentime, thanks - I guess it just seemed like Binoche had more of a complete character arc in my head
Frances McDormand is such a strong, independent woman, employed by her husband only 9 times.
134000% Brenda Blethyn.
This is the only film in my entire life that has made me cry every single time I've watched it.
The film is perfect from beginning to end.
It should have won Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actress, as well as nominating and awarding Timothy Spall for Supporting Actor.
Tough year to pick out of Blethyn, Watson and McDormand.
The performance that sticks with me til today is Blethyn so she gets it in my personal ballot.
I would have to go with either Watson or Blethyn. I always felt McDormand in Fargo was overrated. I was not even a fan of Fargo. It was so hyped at the time (I recall Siskel & Ebert went really over the top in their praise) and I went with two friends expecting so much more. All three of us were not impressed. Some scenes are just awkward (the car dealership) and it starts to meander until they throw in a coincidence (she happens to pass the car on the road) to wrap it up. I've never understood the reverence people have for Fargo, feels like one of the things people feel they must say they like or be labeled a troglodyte for not getting it.
I like Fargo the script the actors the score the cinematography but I was shocked about this win,it just not typical for them at that time,I think it's characters integrity warmth and good humour esp with her husband that pushed her to a win over the other ladies but having said that I wouldn't have had Frances in my Top 5 maybe no 8
Besides Madonna and Courtney Love who else do readers think was a major snub of the season
@MJC
100% agree. And yes, I'm also always a mess at the dramatic climax, when all the titular secrets & lies come tumbling out, leaving everyone emotionally fragile. Just a wonderful film through and through.
This is a very good line-up, but time has proven that the Academy got it right with McDormand, as the cultural impact of that performance dwarfs the other four.
@jules I have to agree: cultural impact counts for a lot w/ me. Anthony Hopkins for Silence of the Lambs is another great example of an Oscar-winning performance that quickly became iconic in our culture. I still think for that reason (along with the excellence of his work) that Haley Joel Osment in the Sixth Sense would have been a very worthy winner for Supporting Actor in 1999. But the academy instead decided to award Michael Caine for a decent but hardly memorable performance in Cider House Rules. Oh well!
1. Emily Watson-Breaking the Waves (one of my all-time favorite films ever)
2. Diane Keaton-Marvin's Room
3. Kristin Scott Thomas-The English Patient
4. Brenda Blethyn-Secrets & Lies
5. Frances McDormand-Fargo
All 5 were deserving, but some were more deserving than others:
1) Blethyn
2) Watson
3) Keaton (a performance that really surprised me with its depth and sensitivity)
4) Scott Thomas
5) McDormand
It says a lot that my 5th choice wins and I'm ok with it.
Rob & Jules -- i dunno about cultural impact. I mean if that's the metrix a lot of really bad film and performances would have won... though i guess it does give an extra oomph to the winners who would have been deserving even without it.
Yeah, I definitely don’t think cultural impact should be a top priority when deciding winners (also because it can be hard to tell what will actually have lasting cultural impact vs. what’s just a current pop culture sensation i.e. fad at the time of the ceremony), but I do agree with Nathaniel about it adding extra oomph to an already deserving winner. It can elevate a solid frontrunner into an undeniable. Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs is a great example of that. But if cultural impact were a primary concern, there would indeed have been some horrendous winners over the years as well as plenty of all-time performances that would have been denied wins simply because they didn’t have a huge cultural impact.
Winning an Academy Award can also affect a film/character/actor's cultural impact, and hindsight is 20/20, so...
Brenda Blethyn's and Emily Watson's performances are among my all-time favorites, so it pains me that Frances won for 25 minutes of fine but unmemorable acting (an unpopular opinion, I know).
Nathaniel - No one is claiming that cultural impact should determine every Oscar race. There are really only a few performances in the past several decades I'd say are as impactful as McDormand in Fargo, and they're pretty much uniformly great. Hopkins, Heath Ledger, Meryl Streep in Prada.
Fargo was initially a small independent movie (I was there, I remember trying to convince people to see it). It could easily have faded. Personally, I think a lot of its breakout success and now-classic status can be attributed to McDormand's performance. None of the other performances nominated - while excellent! - had that type of impact.
@jules, Nathaniel: I totally where you're coming from Nathaniel but like Jules said, cultural impact isn't a *primary* reason to award an Oscar but it's certainly a huge get when it happens. If Meryl Streep had won for Devil Wears Prada (excellent example, Jules), that would have been a real feather in the academy's cap. Instead they gave her her third Oscar for Iron Lady, a movie no one seemed to like much, even at the time. It's all hindsight, yes, but (going back to my first example from yesterday) did anyone think Michael Caine in Cider House Rules was doing anything special at the time he won? Aside from Osment, he was also up against Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley - a star-making performance if ever there was one! Good conversation to have, at any rate.