Jessica Chastain picked up an Oscar for Best Actress this year for her role in The Eyes Of Tammy Faye. She joins a distinguished list of talented actors who have all been praised for their work and rewarded for their contributions to the medium.
“Going for the gold” might be an expression widely used for sporting events like the Olympics, but it also perfectly describes the highly competitive Academy Awards race that takes place every year. During the 1990s, the amount of exemplary talent was at a staggering high, and the performances from that decade include some of the best in cinematic history.
Gwyneth Paltrow: Shakespeare In Love (1998)
Shakespeare in Love is a historical romance film and a retelling of one of William Shakespeare’s most famous works, Romeo and Juliet through the lens of the author’s own life. As he struggles for inspiration, he soon finds himself infatuated with the beguiling Viola de Lesseps.
While Gwyneth Paltrow has proven time and time again to be a talented actor, some felt that the role of Viola doesn’t give Paltrow enough screen time to add any depth to the character. She does a great job handling the comedic sequences in the film, but her performance during the more serious moments seem to lack conviction for some, but she nonetheless earned the Oscar for the role, proving her merit with the Academy.
Helen Hunt: As Good As It Gets (1997)
Carol is a single mother working as a waitress when her repeat customer, Melvin, begins to form an attachment to her. As their offbeat relationship deepens, they befriend a gay artist who needs care after being robbed.
Although Helen Hunt does an admirable job portraying the hardships of single motherhood, it’s Nicholson’s Melvin that often overshadows the performance. Hunt is able to bring her trademark snarky delivery to the part, but there’s not much that the role asks her to do outside of that. That said, As Good As It Gets is still considered one of Helen Hunt’s best movies.
Emma Thompson: Howard’s End (1992)
When the dying owner Ruth bequeaths Margaret Schlegel a luscious manor in the English countryside, her dubious husband, Henry, refuses to follow through. However, soon after Ruth passes, Henry falls in love with Margaret, causing plenty of drama in both their families.
Howard’s End is widely regarded as one of Emma Thompson’s best movies, and it’s no surprise, considering her wonderfully nuanced and charming performance as Margaret Schlegel. Thompson is able to bring a much-need ray of light to the film’s often-heavy storylines, and her scenes with Helena Bonham Carter are considerably the best parts of the movie.
Frances McDormand: Fargo (1996)
A pregnant police chief in Minnesota investigates the murders of three people, including a state trooper. The mastermind behind the crime tries desperately to cover his tracks, but the idiot flunkies he hired make that increasingly difficult.
Frances McDormand delivers a tour-de-force performance in the dark comedy. Praised for its intelligent script and apt direction, McDormand is able to inject a lot of personality and magnetism into the role of Chief Gunderson. Fargo is one of the most rewatchable Coen Brothers movies and McDormand is definitely a large part of why that is.
Jessica Lange: Blue Sky (1994)
Nuclear engineer Hank, along with his wife and children, move to an army base in Alabama where he will oversee nuclear testing. When Hank discovers that the powers that be do not follow safety protocol, he tries to expose them. His wife, Carly, who has a mental illness, is used as a pawn to help shut him up, but she begins to discover the truth on her own.
It’s a difficult task portraying a character suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness, with it being easy to fall into a borderline offensive stereotyped performance. Luckily, Jessica Lange is able to bring many nuances to the role of Carly, and as chaotic as the character is written, she is able to make her both sympathetic and admirable, while also an entertaining force on screen.
Jodie Foster: Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
Clarice Starling is a young FBI trainee who is pulled from her training and tasked with interviewing infamous serial killer, Hannibal Lecter. The purpose of this interaction is to hopefully equip her with enough insight to catch “Buffalo Bill,” a rampant murderer currently on the loose.
While most audiences remember Silence of the Lambs for its Machiavellian villain played by Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster’s performance is just as spectacular. She is able to ground the movie and craft a performance that is both relatable and thrilling, making Clarice The Silence Of The Lamb’s most likable character. Her sequences opposite Hannibal Lecter are some of the most chilling moments in cinematic history.
Holly Hunter: The Piano (1993)
Non-speaking Ada McGrath is sold into a marriage to a New Zealand farmer. Along with her daughter, they move from Scotland, bringing Ada’s piano. When her new husband refuses to bring the piano home, she asks a farm worker named George for help. He agrees to help in exchange for lessons, and they soon begin a passionate love affair.
Holly Hunter gives a mesmerizing performance as Ada, able to convey so much emotion without ever opening her mouth. Not only does Hunter have the difficult task of playing a non-verbal character, but she must also go through some terribly tense sequences involving her male co-stars that are hard to watch. Able to carry most of the whole film without uttering a single word is undoubtedly what led her to winning Oscar gold.
Susan Sarandon: Dead Man Walking (1995)
This crime drama follows Sister Helen Prejean as she is asked by a convicted murderer to help get him an appeal. When she fails to do so, she is then asked to act as his spiritual advisor during his execution, which brings to the surface heavy themes of forgiveness and faith.
Susan Sarandon’s portrayal of real-life Sister Helen Prejean is a remarkable character study into the mind of someone who processes a monumental amount of faith in both her religion and in humanity. The actor’s incredibly earnest and heartbreaking performance finally got Sarandon her first Oscar after being nominated for four times prior.
Hilary Swank: Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
Boys Don’t Cry is a true-crime film based on the life and murder of a young man named Brandon Teena who fell victim to a hate crime when his trans identity was revealed. The film follows Brandon’s turbulent upbringing up until his final moments in a small Nebraska town.
Hilary Swanks hauntingly beautiful and gritty portrayal of real-life Brandon Teena brought a lot of attention to the horrific events surrounding his death. Swank not only respectfully brings insight into the life of Teena, but uses every tool the actor processes to craft a performance that was hailed by critics to be the best of the year and one of Hilary Swank’s best movies.
Kathy Bates: Misery (1990)
Annie Wilkes is a devious nurse who holds her favorite author, Paul Sheldon, hostage when she rescues him from a car wreck. Trapped in a blizzard, Paul tries to escape from Annie’s obsessive and dangerous clutches, but when she incapacitates him, it’s easier said than done.
Kathy abates received unanimous praise for her role as the twisted Annie Wilkes. Her ability to transition from timid caretaker to malevolent villain is a superb example of exemplary acting. The combination of first-rate performances and striking direction, it’s no surprise that Miseryis considered to be one of the best Stephen King adaptations ever.
