Here are the five nominees: (Winner in Bold)
Biggest Snub:
Mia Farrow – Rosemary’s Baby
My Overall Thoughts:
This is a year with some great nominees and it truly was down to the write especially given the final results.
My Rankings:
Actress
5. Vanessa Redgrave
4. Patricia Neal
3. Joanne Woodward
2. Barbra Streisand
1. Katharine Hepburn
Movies
5. Isadora – Really long and boring biographical story that is presented in a very abstract fashion. Redgrave is very eccentric in the lead role and its understandable how she could receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her work here. The supporting cast is also quite talented with Robards and Fox doing fine jobs too yet neither of them can make this story more interesting to watch unfold. The film is overlong and drags along much too much for its own good and was torturous trying to get through.
4. Rachel, Rachel – Woodward is great here, but the story gets a bit to weird for my taste along the way. Liked the way they explored a woman’s awakening from a closed off individual without any prospects or desires for the future into a dreamer. Overall, this film feels quite average and doesn’t evoke enough enthusiasm as I had hoped from Woodward and Newman (who directed it).
3. Funny Girl – Has some really funny scenes that are weighed equally with some touching and even dramatic scenes, but goes on a bit too long and drags a bit towards the end. Streisand is truly great in this film, but I didn’t think she and Sharif had enough chemistry to be paired together. Has some great songs that help it along the way. Streisand definitely deserved her Oscar for this role.
2. The Subject Was Roses – Excellent written dialogue, great performances by all 3 actors. Albertson won a Best Supporting Oscar for his role here. Based on Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning play.
1. The Lion in Winter – Great dialogue makes this so much fun to watch. Excellent cast of actors that included ones that were destined for greatness besides those who had already proved it previously. Baffles me that this didn’t beat Oliver! (1968) for Best Picture that year. Hepburn really deserved her Oscar (even if it was a tie).
Do I agree with the Oscar winner? – Absolutely! Both KH and BS are super here and despite the fact that it’s baffling that there really was a tie (the only one in an acting category in the 91 year history of the Awards, they both are very deserving of winning since they bot were spectacular in these roles.
Let me know what you think about these films and my rankings!
