Ellen DeGeneres (Finding Nemo)
Our voters at BOP have never shied away from acclaiming
non-traditional roles and performances. The idea that someone's
acting isn't as involved or worthy because they happened to perform
it to a microphone is a silly and outdated idea. That notion reaches
its peak as we award this year's Calvin for Best Supporting Actress
to Ellen DeGeneres for her voice work in Finding Nemo.
It's easy to overlook how much DeGeneres meant to the film, but like
a lot of our nominees, she was the emotional core and
hilarious to boot. It would've been extremely easy for the short-term
memory challenged character of Dory to be extremely annoying, yet she
continued to make her character loveable and even surprising. It's
time to end this marginalization. Let's just hope she can remember
the award after we've given it to her.
In second place is Miranda Otto, playing Eowyn in Return of the King.
She made an impression here last year in The Two Towers, finishing
seventh, but with a more sizable role this time around, she was able
to saw off a bigger piece of the film. Playing possibly the most
compelling role in the film, Otto made this role sing and kept her
warrior princess from coming off as a parody.
Young Sarah Bolger took third place as the oldest daughter in In
America. Wise beyond her years, Bolger's character was perhaps the
most mature in the film, and she never hit false notes or appeared
cloyingly kid-like as is so often to happen with young actors. She
and her sister Emma are ones to watch for the future.
Cold Mountain gets its sole mention of the entire Calvins
here, as Renée Zellweger takes fourth place. Just as the movie threatens
to become a dire romantic bore, Zellweger arrives like a needle
scratching across a record to change the tone. This performance has
divided a lot of people because of its over-the-top scenery chewing,
but it's definitely made an impact with our voters. She's building a
bit of a following among us, as in the three years of the Calvins,
she's finished top five three times and won once. C'mon Renee, give us
a call.
The larger than life performances continue with Marcia Gay Harden
grabbing fifth. A portrait of a confused wife, Harden was the
catalyst for a large portion of Mystic River's second half and it's
hard not to feel pity for her character's confusion.
Catherine O'Hara took sixth for her role as an aging folk singer in A
Mighty Wind. While this film didn't have the comic bite that
Christopher Guest's improvised films have tended towards, Wind
brought in pathos that O'Hara excellently personified.
Our kudos towards Whale Rider continue, including here Vicky
Haughton as the tough Grandma who finally sets Grandpa straight.
Christina Ricci takes eighth as the confused Selby Wall in Monster.
Anna Faris's "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" air-headed impression in Lost
in Translation of a certain unnamed blond superstar made an
impression with our voters to give her ninth place. Strong women
continue to place well in these polls, with Lucy Liu sharing tenth as
a cold-blooded Yakuza boss in Kill Bill, Vol 1 alongside Emma Thompson's
ultra-dedicated spouse in Love Actually, who was perhaps building on
real-life experience (let's just say she and Helena Bonham-Carter
won't be best buds anytime soon). (Reagen Sulewski/BOP)
Top Ten
|
Position |
Actress |
Film |
Total Points |
1
|
Ellen DeGeneres
|
Finding Nemo
|
109
|
2
|
Miranda Otto
|
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
|
63
|
3
|
Sarah Bolger
|
In America
|
50
|
4
|
Renée Zellweger
|
Cold Mountain
|
46
|
5 (tie)
|
Marcia Gay Harden
|
Mystic River
|
38
|
5 (tie)
|
Catherine O'Hara
|
A Mighty Wind
|
38
|
7
|
Vicky Haughton
|
Whale Rider
|
37
|
8
|
Christina Ricci
|
Monster
|
34
|
9
|
Anna Faris
|
Lost in Translation
|
31
|
10 (tie)
|
Lucy Liu
|
Kill Bill Vol. 1
|
30
|
10 (tie)
|
Emma Thompson
|
Love Actually
|
30
|
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Cast
Best Screenplay
Best Overlooked Film
Best Scene
Best Use of Music
Worst Picture
Worst Performance
Best Trailer
Best Breakthrough Performance
Best DVD
Best Special Effects
Return to the 2004 Calvin Awards