If y5b4ou want another truly great performance from Gena, I would recommend another Cassavetes gem in " Opening Night" (1977). Gena was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress for that performance. Also for 'The Betty Ford Story "(1987) where she won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. Others worth seeing would be Faces (1968) , Minnie & Moskowitz (1971), Gloria (1980) & Love Streams (1984).

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It is generally thought that Burstyn's Oscar was a "Make-Up" Award for not receiving it the Previous year for "The Exorcist" when Glenda Jackson inexplicably won for a lightweight Comedy turn in "ATouch of Class"

We don't how close the votes were,which I find annoying. If Ellen won by one vote,that makes it almost meaningless.
But how did Ellen not have range? She was humble,sympathetic,bitchy,strong,weak,.funny,angry

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Anyone ever see the Academy Awards show when Glenda Jackson won for Best Actress over Ellen Burstyn?. Take a look at BURSTYN'S face.

I agree with you Cassavetes' films were never very popular at the Academy Awards. There was no big mogul or producer behind them, and they were mainly seen as "underground" even though critics often praised them to the skies. Still, I do not think improvisation came into the picture then: I know Cassavetes had the reputation of encouraging ad-libbing and spontaneity. But the truth is his films relied on an elaborate script, written by himself. So even though dialogs were more than once out of the script, and imagined by the actors "in live", one could not say in fact Gena was add-libbing all her performance. (By the way, even if she had done that, it would have been quite a challenge !)
Still, I have not seen the other actress' performance, so it's difficult for me to judge. But Gena's Mabel remains in my mind one of the best piece of acting ever.
" You ain't running this place, Bert, WILLIAMS is!" Sgt Harris

Let me elaborate:
If John's film are well-known for improvisation,there may be a bias by the AA,since improvising is easier than sticking to the lines. Even though the performance does not suffer, it takes more effort to say lines as written then the lines coming from yourself.

Highly unlikely.
" You ain't running this place, Bert, WILLIAMS is!" Sgt Harris

My hunch is that it was the film itself that may had sabotaged Rowlands.

Well obviously the Academy thought Burstyn's role was impressive, they gave her the Oscar ! Even critics opinions are just opinions !
Judging acting performances, after all, is such a very subjective matter of opinion. My own opinion is, that on watching both actressses in their nominated performances a number of times, is that Gena Rowlands' performance was far superior in its depth and range than Burstyn's and Gena would have been my choice for the Best Actress Oscar that year.
Obviously others, who actually had the vote, di2000d not agree with me !

why do people think Burstyn's role was less impressive and less changeling? Maybe Burstyn had more levels to reach in her role than Gena, I don't know. Have any critics been outpsoken about the two? It's not as though Ellen won as a "make-up" award or longevity.

Whilst Ellen Burstyn is a great actress and performed well in Alice, Gena's role in A Woman Under the Influence was sublime ! It was head and shoulders above all the performances that year !
But there is no accounting for taste and judgement by the voting members of the the Academy, is there ?
For goodness sakes ! Glenn Close has not even been awarded one yet !

Agreed Briantotally an inane thread. She does not say "OH Shi%" it was definitely "Oh she." something that is hard to make out. Here is the link to the clip so you can all see that she did not curse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-wRzEoMqJg

You people are morons. She was likely saying to John, "Oh, she" Maybe "Oh, she isn't even here to accept." There was no hard "T" evident in her lip movement and her expression showed no sign of disdain. Rowlands is one of the all-time great, classy actresses. What an inane thread.

Yes

http://thrill-me.blogspot.com

You mean, a positive reaction?

I always thought it was more of a surprised reaction to Ellen winning, rather than being upset that she didn't win.

http://thrill-me.blogspot.com

1. I didn't say I expected her to appologise, I just wondered if she ever was mention that particular episode and said something about, just out of curiousity.
2. Yes, she says "OH, Shi**" That's what I said.-

BTW, I thought it was "Oh shi*"

Oh please, lighten the crap out, why would you apologise for THAT? It's not like you are 100% that's what what said and she didn't say it to someone's face. People expect way too much from celebrities.

I like Ellyn Burstyn, but Gena should have absolutely won for "A Woman Under the Influence". This woman is a stratavarius of an actor, and completley sublime in this film. I love her in everything, but she really sailed in AWUI. She nailed it completely, and I can not understand how in the world Burstyn won for Alice when Gena's role was far, far more difficult.