Kathy Bates' Academy Award
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SimplemindedSociety — 12 years ago(May 31, 2013 06:55 PM)
It wasn't consistent, but I didn't feel the spontaneity if her lines.
And if you look at the other nominees,it was not an especially strong year. When I say acting stagey, it's as if she's projecting so the crew members at the back of the soundstage can hear her; that's not necessary with a mic.
None of the other film societies awarded her,btw. -
wylierichardson-966-922691 — 9 years ago(June 12, 2016 08:02 PM)
Kathy actually DID win a few other awards for this role - such as the Golden Globe. With that said, I actually found her annoying in this, but no actress could have really done a lot with this poorly written movie.
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wylierichardson-966-922691 — 9 years ago(June 12, 2016 08:04 PM)
Kathy actually DID win a few other awards for this role - such as the Golden Globe. With that said, I actually found her annoying in this, but no actress could have really done a lot with this poorly written movie.
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rascal67 — 12 years ago(June 01, 2013 06:32 AM)
Bates' character of Annie Wilkes had erratic and extreme behavior. We really needed to see more nuanced and unpredictable glimpses into her psychotic behavior when she was being calm. It was more like a black and white performance, either this way then suddenly that, with transitions in her mood swings that aren't that convincing or jarring enough so as to be unexpected and catch the viewer off guard. Some of the corny lines she had to spout probably didn't help either. They worked ok on the page..as with most of Stephen King's novels. I found she gave a more layered and detailed performance in another King adapatation, 'DOLORES CLAIBOURNE-95' a few years later.
At the time, I did like that they gave the award to a character from a horror\psychological thriller and I also like Kathy Bates. It was a very good performance and Annie Wilkes was an interesting character, just not as exceptional as it could have been, or is made out to be. I would have awarded Angelica Houston for THE GRIFTERS. Now that was a more real, in the moment and believable performance. -
Mimapopaluck — 12 years ago(June 04, 2013 06:42 PM)
I don't agree with either of you. Psychotic and emotionally disturbed people can just fly off the handle into a rage at the drop of hat. Joanne Crawford used to flip out over her daughter having wire hangers in her closet.
I thought Kathy was very natural. When she had to say some of that kooky dialogue, which Annie in the book also said, she sold it. You have to remember you're not dealing with a normal person. Annie was crazy. -
rascal67 — 12 years ago(June 05, 2013 01:58 AM)
Joan Crawford used to flip out over her daughter having wire hangers in her closet.
Joan Crawford was an alcoholic, a narcissist and a bully. The alcoholism, was most likely part of the reason for her flip outs; not because she was a psychotic in the sense that Kathy Bates character was in 'MISERY'.
I thought Kathy was very natural.
That is the point of my comments; that the performance wasn't played out as though Bates was always acting naturally or being spontaneous and in the moment. It was a little contrived in parts; as though Bates the actor was with us and not her character. This may be due to the fact that this was a major breakthrough film role for her and she brought some of her stage traits with her. It's a good performance, I just don't think she was deserving of winning the oscar
in response to your original post.
Glenn Close gave a much more believable performance as a psycho in 'FATAL ATTRACTION', a few years earlier. She had more subtle revealing tells in her performance and in the nuances of her character that she brought to life. This was one was more deserving of an oscar
than Kathy Bates' performance. -
SimplemindedSociety — 12 years ago(June 07, 2013 02:36 AM)
'That is the point of my comments; that the performance wasn't played out as though Bates was always acting naturally or being spontaneous and in the moment'
exactly.
People with erratic behavior still have moments of neutrality. I felt a self-consciousness in her acting. The trick to acting is knowing what the lines are ,but acting as if you don't until you speak those lines which you "forgot" -
rascal67 — 12 years ago(June 07, 2013 07:17 PM)
You guys are harsh critics. I just never saw these flaws that you all saw in her performance.
Wasn't my intention to upset you, but you did start the topic and I responded with my comments. Please don't let this diminish your viewing enjoyment of watching Bates act in this film though as this is just my personal opinion. I have other issues with this film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, so I can be quite critical of the film as a whole.
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rascal67 — 12 years ago(July 05, 2013 01:55 AM)
The last time I was really enraptured by a Best Actress win, was for SUSAN SARANDON for DEAD MAN WALKING in 95'. There was some pretty stiff competition that year as well.
Also loved that JODIE FOSTER won for THE ACCUSED-88' and for SILENCE OF THE LAMBS-91' and EMMA THOMPSON for HOWARD'S END-92'. -
Mimapopaluck — 12 years ago(July 11, 2013 08:45 PM)
She absolutely deserved her Oscar. Her win is one of my favourite Best Actress wins, along with Frances McDormand for Fargo and Charlize Theron for Monster.
Agreed.
I am a little perplexed why anyone would think Kathy was undeserving of her win. -
SimplemindedSociety — 12 years ago(July 09, 2013 01:30 AM)
'Deserved. Charming one second, chilling the next.'
Yes, but how is that so extraordinary? She planned that in advance; doesn't take much effort to calculate "I should be charming here, so I'll play it mean instead", and "I normally would be mean here, so I'll be sweet here"
It's ok, nobody gets it. It's not what the actor does, but how they do it. -
rascal67 — 12 years ago(July 09, 2013 05:28 PM)
It's hard for an actor not to plan in advance the script plans in advance.
It can't help that contrivance, as that is part of the process of all aspects of the film making. The devil is in the details though and the manner in which it is delivered.
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InherentlyYours — 9 years ago(August 05, 2016 01:45 AM)
It's hard for an actor not to plan in advance the script plans in advance.
Not that type of "planned". Of course the actor knows their lines, but the excellence is the ability of sounding like you're saying the lines for the first time, as if you don't know ("forgot") what your next lines are. This was mentioned on the Streep board also. There was some legendary actor who phased it well, though I can't remember who. For example, Lucille Ball was a master at it.