Oscarbation: A Look Back at 2001 for Best Actress

2001 was a good year for the best actress nominations. all were deserving but only one could win. a rare comedy performance was nominated which is always a breathe of fresh air. a musical nominee emerged from, for me at least, an unlikelyplace. and then three amazing dramatic turns shined. here they are, the talented women of 2001...

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#5 renee zellweger in 'bridget jones's diary'

renee gave a charming performance as the lovelorn bridget in the title role. i always find it refreshing when a comedic turn is recognized in the lead actress category. her british acent worked. i find it amazing that brits can do 'american' but most american actors trying to do 'brit' fall flat.

#4 nicole kidman in 'moulin rouge'

a wonderful and to me unexpected musical turn here by ms kidman in one of 2001 best films. however good she was she should have been nominated for 'the others' this year. had that been her nomination she would have placed number two in this grouping.

#3 halle berry in 'monster's ball'

let me start by saying that i worked my ass off for barack obama in 2008. i will do so again for 2012. i like to say i single handedly helped him win florida. i say this before the hate mail starts coming. ms berry gave a wonderful if often overwrought performance in 'monster's ball'. she deserved the nomination but not the win. she won because a win in this category was long overdue to a woman of color and she gave a worthy performance. her follow up work, as with many oscar winners before and after her, shows how slight an actress she really is. yes it was a 'bravura' performance but not the best in 2001.

#2 judi dench in 'iris'

a remarkable, i expect nothing less of, performance by ms dench as iris murdoch and her battle with alzheimer's disease. as good as she was she split screen time with kate winslet as her younger self. ms winslet was rightfully nominated in the supporting category. i believe ms dench should have shared the category as well as the title role. perhaps she may have won there. perhaps.

(as an aside jennifer connelly who won in the supporting category belonged in the lead category. but that is the politics of hollywood)

#1 sissy spacek in 'in the bedroom'

i believed it then. i believe it now. sissy spacek was and remains the best actress of 2001. her range of emotions from the beginning to the end of this film carry us along in this wrenching tragic slice of life film. and in her final moment on film with an icy stare she asks 'is it done' her name should have been engraved on her not to be statue. this is truly ms spacek's best film role. it remains the apex of a long and strong career.

sublime