Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Ten Best Actresses of All Time Relay Race


I am privileged to once again be selected to participate in another blog-a-thon created Nostra of My Filmviews, The Ten Best Actresses of All Time Relay Race. A twin blog-a-thon, focusing on Actors, has also been making the rounds through the blogging community. Tyler at Southern Vision is the man who has passed the honours on to me, and whom I thank. The idea around the blogathon… well, to use Nostra’s words:
“I’ve created a list of what I think are the best actresses of all time. At the end of the post I, just like in a real relay race, hand over the baton to another blogger who will write his own post. This blogger will have to remove one actress (that is an obligation) and add his/her own choice and describe why he/she did this. At the end the blogger chooses another blogger to do the same. The idea is to make this a long race, so that enough bloggers get a chance to remove and add an actress. We will end up with a list (not ranked in order) which represents a common agreement of the best actresses. It will also mean that those who follow this relay race will get to know new blogs as well!”
Here is a list of the blogs that have participated thus far:

Find the line-up and my substitution after the jump...


Audrey Hepburn 

 Barbara Stanwyck

 Cate Blanchett

 Gena Rowlands

 Ingrid Bergman

 Isabelle Huppert

 Julianne Moore

Juliette Binoche

 Katherine Hepburn

Meryl Streep
Who I am adding?
Tyler removed Kate Winslet, my favourite actress, and I was very tempted to immediately return her again. I considered a few other actresses - Julie Christie, Liv Ullman, Ingrid Thulin, Bette Davis, and after watching Take This Waltz this week I also considered Michelle Williams (no?) - but once again returned to Kate because I have seen almost all of her performances and would simply watch a film because she stars in it. As for the other women, I have seen just a few of their roles (though they are indeed fantastic roles). Since her breakthrough role in Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures it is rare she has given anything other than a strong performance. She was excellent in Titanic (just 22 years of age, and the first role I saw her in) and has been nominated for an Oscar six times since 1995. Examples of her talents are everywhere: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Little Children, Revolutionary Road and The Reader. She was the best in show in Contagion, and turned in another brilliant performance (and certainly a scene stealing one on occasions) in Roman Polanski's Carnage, which is one of my favourite films of the year to date. As one of the best actresses of her generation/currently working, and in my opinion 'the' most consistent standout over the last twenty years, I place her back in.



Who am I taking out?
I hate this part. It is so tough. Looking through this list, who can I realistically take out? Certainly not Ingrid Bergman, not Katherine and Audrey Hepburn or Meryl Streep, not Julianne Moore or Juliette Binoche (two more of my favourites) and not Isabelle Huppert. I agree with Tyler's choice to include her. The only one I feel I can take out is Gena Rowlands. I don't have an opinion on her acting because I can't recall ever seeing a film she has starred in. Sorry Alex.

I now pass this on to Bonjour Tristesse

21 comments:

  1. Hahaha I am admittedly surprised you put Winslet back in but I suppose you love her a lot so that's understandable. Sad you took Rowlands out but pleasantly surprised you at least considered Ingrid Thulin.

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    1. I thought it might surprise you. She was the only one I could strongly justify. Yeah, I thought about all of Bergman's great actresses. As for removing one, it is always going to disappoint someone. Part of the blog-a-thon. What will be really funny is if Tom, or someone in the near future removes Winslet again.

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  2. Bravo, Andy. That's all I can possibly say. Brav-o.

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  3. Wow, this list changes so fast! You should check out films with Rowlands, she really is wonderful.

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    1. Yes, it seems I do. I think it is quite fun but I always get a little sad. I feel like I am disrespecting anyone I remove. Same with Anthony Hopkins last time.

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  4. I was surprised to see Tyler take Kate Winslet out. In my opinion, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet and Katherine Hepburn should be locked in this list. So, good to see her back.

    I need to see some of Gena Rowlands movies as well. I have heard a lot of people praising her.

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    1. I agree, removing Kate Winslet is sacrilege in my opinion! Glad she's back immediately.

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  5. Sigh. People need to quit removing actresses they're entirely unfamiliar with.

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    1. I can certainly understand your frustration, but how could I justify keeping Gena Rowlands in there when I have not seen one of her films? Someone had to go. From my film knowledge, which is clearly lacking - not aware of how brilliant Gena Rowlands is as an actress - this swap makes this list stronger.

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    2. Well, you could have tried to see one or two of her films before making your decision.

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  6. It's sad when you have to do it. I'm not that familiar with Gena Rowlands work either, so I'd probably make the same choice - but it'd inspire me to go and find as much of her work as I could! :D
    And gotta love Kate - one of my favourite roles from her is Sense and Sensibility, believe it or not :)

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    1. I actually haven't seen Sense and Sensibility, believe it or not :-p Oh, same here. Especially A Woman on the Verge? Is that the film?

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  7. Phew! Great to see Winslet return!

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    1. It seems this substitution is well supported. I'm not sure I could make a Top 10 Actresses of All Time list, but I know that most of these women would probably make it - and Kate would be one of the first I consider.

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  8. NOOOOOO!!!

    Ha just kidding, worthy switch.

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    1. Sorry dude. I would have felt the same way if Jack got the boot in the Best Actor Relay haha.

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  9. Good to see you put Winslet back in, think she does belong on the list!

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  10. I knew that Winslet was on the list and now when I saw she wasn't I was enraged. Well, not that much. But very surprised. And of course it's awesome you re-added her!

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  11. Andy, is it possible to assign this one to someone else? There hasn't been and update by Tom Clift since you assigned it to him.

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  12. Glad to see Kate Winslet back. She really deserved to be on this list. Well played, Andy.

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