Best Actress 1996: Chief Marge Gunderson

In the continuation of the series in light of the upcoming Best Actress Oscar race, I've realized that, ever so slightly (and hear me out on this), Frances McDormand's killer Oscar win in 1996 bodes well for Jessica Chastain's chances (moreso than Jennifer Lawrence, anyway).  While it's a comedy, just like Clarice Starling, Marge Gunderson must stare evil in the face and decide just exactly how she is going to deal with it.  But, it's her job.  But unlike McDormand and Foster, Chastain has very little room to flesh our her "character."  It was also a rare year that the "comic" performance prevailed over the "dramatic" (in this case, Brit Brenda Blethyn, whose age, homeliness, and obscurity probably didn't work to her advantage), which should theoretically bode well for Lawrence, so it's all really a wash.  But, both McDormand and Blethyn were good for more than a few laughs.

1996 was the year that two pop stars almost made it into the Best Actress race (Madonna and Courtney Love), as well as old legend Debbie Reynolds.  What was more gloriously distinct about this year--the designated "Year of the Independents"--was that three of the Best Actress candidates hailed from Best Picture nominees in a year when the category was only comprised of five films.  Not since 1987 had this occurred and never would again until the field was expanded to ten slots (and pathetically, not surpass three nominees, often relying on Field of Ten stragglers).  And, if you took into consideration what the likely nominees would have been had the group been reduced back down to five, that milestone would, sadly, still stand and doesn't look to be changing anytime soon.

All of the films did decent box-office and all three ladies were formidable, with the additional Emily Watson.  It was the American Frances McDormand, as Chief Marge Gunderson, under the direction of her husband and brother-in-law (winner Susan Sarandon having been directed by her partner the previous year), who would scoop up the greatest share of critic awards, as well as the biggest precursors, SAG and the Golden Globe.  Some say her performance was one note, which I can't disagree with.  However, what a note and how she played it made for a cinema icon that will unlikely ever be forgotten.  She would be the second Best Actress winner in the 90s to fit the role of crime-fighting hero, after Jodie Foster's Clarice Starling.  Unless you count Julia Roberts' Erin Brockovich, there hasn't been one since.  Or, will Chastain change that with Zero Dark Thirty?

poll by twiigs.com

The Nominated:
-Frances McDormand, Fargo: SAG, Satellite, Chicago, Kansas City, San Diego, Florida, Texas, Southeastern, Broadcast, NBR, Chlotrudis, ISA, London, Empire winner; GG Comedy, LA (2nd), New York (2nd), BAFTA nominee (Budget: $7M / Domestic: $24.6M / Worldwide: $60.6M, Spring; 94% RT)

-Brenda Blethyn, Secrets & Lies: GG Drama, LA, Boston, BAFTA, Cannes winner; SAG, Satellite, Chicago, National Society (2nd), Florida (2nd), Southeastern (2nd), Chlotrudis nominee ($4.5M / $13.4M, Fall; 94%)

-Emily Watson, Breaking the Waves: New York, Ft. Lauderdale, National Society winner; Satellite, GG Drama, Chicago, Chlotrudis, BAFTA nominee ($3.8M; 86%)

-Kristin Scott Thomas, The English Patient: NBR winner (supporting); SAG (lead), GG Drama,  Satellite, BAFTA nominee; National Society (supporting 3rd), ($27M / $78.7M / $232M; 83%)

-Diane Keaton, Marvin's Room: SAG nominee ($12.8M; 81%)

The Also-Rans:
-Madonna, Evita: GG Comedy winner ($55M / $50.1M / $141.5M; 63%)

-Debbie Reynolds, Mother: Satellite winner; GG Comedy nominee ($19.2M; 91%)

-Courtney Love, The People Vs. Larry Flynt: GG Drama, Chicago (lead) nominee; New York, Boston, Satellite (supporting), Florida winner; LA (supporting 2nd) nominee ($20.3M; 87%)

-Gena Rowlands, Unhook the Stars: SAG nominee ($0.3M, Fall; 82%)

-Meryl Streep, Marvin's Room: GG Drama (lead), Chlotrudis (supporting) nominee ($12.8M; 81%)

The Also Nominated/Won (for supporting):
-Juliet Binoche, The English Patient; Berlin (lead) winner; NBR, Chlotrudis (supporting), BAFTA winner; SAG, GG (supporting), Chicago, Southeastern (3rd) nominee ($27M / $78.7M / $232M; 83%)

-Joan Allen, The Crucible: Empire winner; Broadcast (supporting), Southeastern winner; GG supporting, Chicago, Florida (2nd), Satellite nominee

The Rest of the Competition:
-Nicole Kidman, The Portrait of a Lady: New York (3rd) nominee ($3.7M; 43%)
-Claire Danes, Romeo + Juliet: London winner ($46.4M / $147.6M, Fall; 70%)
-Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma: Satellite winner ($22.2, Summer; 84%)
-Lily Taylor, I Shot Andy Warhol: Seattle, Stockholm, Sundance winner; Chicago, National Society (3rd), Chlotrudis nominee ($1.9M, Spring; 77%)
-Barbra Streisand, The Mirror Has Two Faces: GG Comedy nominee ($41.1M; 53%)
-Heather Matarazzo, Welcome to the Dollhouse: Satellite, Chlotrudis nominee ($4.6M, Spring; 90%)
-Catherine Keener, Walking and Talking: ISA, Chlotrudis nominee ($1.3M, Summer; 86%)
-Robin Wright, Moll Flanders: Satellite nominee ($3.5M, Summer; 43%)