1. She didnt star in a movie about gays
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tiller088 — 17 years ago(May 28, 2008 11:38 AM)
Quite the rant, for sure. However, given the amount of vitriol I've seen directed at her win, I think it's at least partly deserved.
I could not agree more with the spirit of your argument. She did in fact steal every scene she was in, but even if she had been nothing but an accesory for the rest of the movie (which she assuredly was not), she would have deserved the award simply for her brilliant turn on the stand as the rebuttal witness to George Wilbur's testimony. The look on her face when the DA admits "she's acceptable" as an expert on general automotive knowledge conveys "you're damn RIGHT I'm acceptable!" without saying a single word.
I think it's actually one of the most richly deserved awards ever given by the Academy. -
james-baring — 17 years ago(September 09, 2008 08:37 AM)
I also had no idea there was the slightest hint that this was not a deserved Oscar win. I had no idea she was 'supporting' - I thought she was the star along with Pesci. It is my favorite film of all time. There are only half a dozen films I have watched more than 5 times and this is one. It is a master-class in screenplay, camera-work, editing, timing, casting and for me every actor in it turns in the performance of their career, giving the impression they did every scene on the first take, with no rehearsal. I would have given them all Oscars and rate it 10 out of 10.
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JosephASpadaro — 10 years ago(November 12, 2015 08:05 PM)
I also had no idea there was the slightest hint that this was not a deserved Oscar win. I had no idea she was 'supporting' - I thought she was the star along with Pesci.
Tomei certainly was a star in the film (along side with Pesci, of course). Whether a performance is considered "leading actress" or "supporting actress", however, is all politics.
In other words, if the studio thinks that the actress does not stand a chance in the "leading" category, they simply list her role as "supporting", assuming that she stands a better chance in the latter category.
Whether the role is, in fact, a leading or a supporting role is entirely beside the point.
Hollywood politics.
That being said, Tomei turned in a stellar performance. As we all know, the Academy doesn't take too kindly to comedies, in general. They prefer other genres. But, I assume, acting in a comedic role is just as much "hard work" as acting in a dramatic role (if not more so).
Did she deserve an Oscar? I'd say "yeah". Did she deserve
this
Oscar? I dunno. I'd have to check who the other four contenders were to make my final decision. -
mkenyon1978 — 16 years ago(February 14, 2010 02:03 AM)
I totally agree tiller, the rebuttal witness scene was absolutely brilliant. Her "you're damn RIGHT I'm acceptable!" look was fabulous and I also really loved how at first she was really angry at Vinny, but then the triumphant look on her face when she starts to see what he is getting at. I think she played that role brilliantly, absolutely flawless and she hands down completely and utterly deserved to win.
EDIT: I also wanted to add that, even though I think that MT totally deserved to win, I was still surprised when she actually did win. This movie and her role in it, is not usually the kind to win Oscars. Doesn't mean that is wasn't deserved, was just surprised that they recognised that she deserved to win.
"20 Pounds of crazy in a 5 pound bag" - Spencer on Parker -
JosephASpadaro — 10 years ago(November 12, 2015 08:18 PM)
What's this Oscar curse that I've heard about? Once you win one Oscar you never get nominated again? (It seems most actors, there are the exceptions; Streep, Nicholson, Hanks)
Here's the "curse":
Once you win an Oscar, you have reached the pinnacle of success (in the acting world). There is no other way to go, but downhill from there.
All of your subsequent performances get compared to your Oscar performance. And, by definition, those are very big shoes to fill.
Also, once an actor becomes an Oscar winner, they are held to a "higher standard". And their performances are scrutinized much more closely.
Luise Rainer won two
consecutive
Best Actress Oscars (1937 and 1938). She said it was the worst thing that ever happened to her. -
ragusa11 — 17 years ago(July 24, 2008 09:56 AM)
- It was a WEAK Oscar year. There is some luck involved as there are years where there are tons of great performances and only one wins. Heck, the entire starring cast and supporting cast should have won Oscars for The Godfather.
- It was a great performance all around, especially with the physical acting.
Plain and simple, it was a comedy and people seem to discriminate and think ONLY a dramatic role should take home the award.
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Ironman54 — 17 years ago(July 25, 2008 05:48 PM)
I've never seen her in any other performance, interview etc. How far from her real persona was the one she protrayed in this film ? In other words was this a John Waye/Robert DeNiro kinda thing ? Or is she some mid western preppy type in her private life pulling off this character ? If shes from Queens/Brooklyn, with a typical NY upbringing the role is not that much of a stretch.Go to any mall in L.I. in the 90's and this "type" is the norm. I LOVE this movie, I think I fell in love with her (Lisa) the first time I saw it so I don't mean to diminish her performance - just that I'd be that much more impressed if she wasn't from NY. The stereo type is just too easy for anyone from the area - I grew up just outside of the city, I'm 100% German heritage but could do a "Guido" that literally had people in tears - not of laughter either. My brother was getting jerked around by the owner of a music store. My bro. had paid, up front, big bucks for a guitar only to be told AFTER he laid out the cash that it was on back order. Then there was a different excuse every week for why it hadn't been delivered. When he told me I was outraged to hear he was being treated like this. I got creative - got on the phone and did my best DeNiro/Peci impression. After I got off the phone I sat down with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. I remember that I hadn't even finished my coffee when the phone rang - it was my brother. He told me he was on his way to pick up his guitar - he had just got a call from a very distraught music store owner appologizing for the mix up ! I hadn't even called my bro. back yet to tell him what I had done as while I was having my smoke I was wondering to myslef if what I had just done wasn't such a good idea. What happens if the guy reported the call to the police and they tracked me down ? I really started to worry ! LOL !! In any event, after my brother got back home he called me again and asked what exactly did I say to the guy ? "He was shaking like a leaf and couldn't apologize enough" ! True story. So, my point is if shes a native the role isn't that big a deal.Her looks didn't hurt either. Imagine if she was just an average woman, 25 pounds or so overweight, I think the role would not seem as impressive - just stereo typical if not a little too masculine for most guys taste ! Am I wrong here ? Again, I LOVE the movie as I'm a "transplant" where I live now and this movie always comforts me with memories of home (dad and the aunts/uncles all from the city and with the NYC accents).