Did They Get it Right? – Best Actress – Oscars 1994

Here are the five nominees: (Winner in Bold)

Jodie Foster (Nell)

Jessica Lange (Blue Sky)

Miranda Richardson (Tom & Viv)
Winona Ryder (Little Women)

Susan Sarandon (The Client)

Biggest Snub:

Andie MacDowell – Four Weddings and a Funeral

My Overall Thoughts:

This s a year with a somewhat lackluster group of nominees that has only one standout performance that led the way throughout the award season

My Rankings:

Actress

5. Miranda Richardson
4. Susan Sarandon
3. Winona Ryder 
2. Jodie Foster
1. Jessica Lange

Movies

5. Tom & Viv – Another really boring period drama that I had trouble getting into. Dafoe and Richardson are both excellent actors yet they feel wasted in this really boring and slow moving film. They fail to present things in an interesting way which hurts things so much. The supporting cast is likewise wasted here since none of them manage to help make things more interesting to watch unfold. Richardson and Harris both  received Oscar nominations for Actress and Supporting Actress (respectively) for their work here but neither was able to win.
4. Nell – Fascinating idea that is hampered by a really boring and ineffective script. Foster is great in the lead and was quite deserving of her award nominations and wins for her performance including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress but even that can’t help make this story any more interesting since it all plays out much too predictably. Neeson is a bit over the top as the town doctor trying to help her adjust to society and his chemistry with Richardson is non-existent on screen despite the fact that off screen their work on this film led to them getting married. The film is a bit over long and might have been much better if shortened a bit, but that is just a start for the changes needed here in order to make this story more unique and enjoyable to watch.
3. The Client – Not one of Grisham’s best stories and some scenes feel really out of place. Sarandon is very good here but none of the others stand out at all. There are plenty of much better courtroom mysteries out there; this one feels quite bland and average.
2. Little Women – Enjoyable retelling of this famous story that is enhanced by the superbly talented cast. The story moves along at a great pace and allows us to see these characters develop along the way into characters that can be cared about through the ups and downs of life. Ryder was deservingly nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her work here.  The dialogue is crafted really well and allows for us to get a clear understanding about the ambitions and dreams of each of these very distinct sisters as they all seek out different things in life and have strong hopes of achieving all that they desire.
1. Blue Sky – Interesting idea that unfortunately comes across as being quite mediocre.  Jones is a great actor, but hos character seems too much like a stereotype here which hurts things too much. Lange is the best part of this film since she gives a great performance as a woman teetering on the verge of madness and creeps closer and closer as the events begin to become more and more dangerous. She deservingly won an Oscar for Best Actress for this very versatile performance. The story itself moves at a strange pace and unfortunately doesn’t manage to find a way to show its true potential.  The supporting cast is also great and both Boothe and O’Donnell shine in their small yet very significant roles.

Do I agree with the Oscar winner? – Yep!  JL gives the best performance between these somewhat lackluster nominees.

Let me know what you think about these films and my rankings!