Best Actress 1997: The Best Compliment of Her Life

Her cup runneth over

Well, if there is one argument for Jennifer Lawrence (who I still think is going to win and have been since TIFF) in this year's Oscar race, it's Helen Hunt in As Good As It Gets: the story about a man with issues whose perspective is changed by the woman who enters his life in what might be described as a supporting role.  Like most of the rom-com Best Actress wins, it made bank, so Lawrence (and Harvey) has her work cut out for her.  But, also consider: this was also the second in a series of nominations for Kate Winslet, who was starring in what would be the highest grossing film of all time.  Lawrence, the star of this year's The Hunger Games, is of a similar age, place in her career, and nomination count.  Year 1997 is actually an argument for and against Lawrence.  Hunt, TV sit-com star, scored the female lead in James L. Brooks latest motion picture after Holly Hunter decided she was worth more than the producers were willing to pay her (she had just won the Oscar for The Piano).  She had been working in motion pictures for years, and thanks to disaster films being in vogue and the exposure she received from the deplorably bad Twister, she was ready for something meatier than a hack-job script placing her opposite a CGI-tornado.

In a non-competitive year, the AMPAS continued their aversion to black women in the Best Actress category by not nominating Pam Grier, even though her costar Robert Forster (who I now have celebrity-sighted twice!) got in without GG and SAG nods, which she had in her backpocket for that film.  Go figure.  They also passed on two-time winner Jodie Foster.  For those who were nominated, Winslet would have to deal with being overshadowed by a huge sinking ship (as well as possibly her age and fairly new career), and, though Julie Christie collected her share of critic recognition, she was far from being competitive.  That left Judi Dench and her first nod, thanks to Harvey Weinstein.  She won the Golden Globe Drama, but the scaled down film and, lamentably, her age would be factors against her.  Helena Bonham Carter collected the majority of precursors, but failed to nab the ones that counted most.  Plus, her movie put me (and I'm sure others) to sleep, and made only a fraction of the money generated from As Good As It Gets.  So, declaratively, for all intents and purposes, Hunt's win was as good as it was going to get.  1997: not one of my favorite years for Best Actress, especially after 1995 and 1996.  But, not as bad as 1994, either.

The Nominated:
-Helen Hunt, As Good As It Gets: SAG, GG Comedy, Satellite, Florida, BAFTA winner; LA (2nd), Chicago, Southeastern (2nd), Chlotrudis nominee (Budget: $50M / Domestic: $148.5 / Worldwide: $314.2M; 86% RT)

-Helena Bonham Carter, The Wings of a Dove: LA, Boston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Toronto, Dallas-Fort Worth AND Texas, Southeastern, Broadcast, NBR, Chlotrudis winner; SAG, GG Drama, Satellite, New York (2nd), Chicago, National Society (2nd), Online (2nd), BAFTA nominee ($13.7M, Fall; 86%)

-Judi Dench, Mrs. Brown: GG Drama, Satellite, Chicago, Online, London winner; SAG, New York (3rd), National Society (3rd), Southeastern (2nd) nominee ($9.2M, Summer; 94%)

-Kate Winslet, Titanic: SAG, GG Drama, Satellite, Online (3rd) nominee ($200M / $600M / Billions; 87%)

-Julie Christie, Afterglow: New York, National Society, Ft. Lauderdale, ISA winner; Satellite nominee ($2.5M; 74%)

The Also-Rans:
-Pam Grier, Jackie Brown: SAG, GG Comedy, Satellite, Chicago nominee ($12M / $39.7; 86%)
-Jodie Foster, Contact: GG Drama, Chicago nominee ($90M / $100.9M / $171.1M, Summer; 63%)

The Also Nominated/Winner (for supporting):
-Kim Basinger, L.A. Confidential: BAFTA (lead) nominee; SAG (supporting), GG, Southeastern winner ($64.6M, Fall; 99%)

The Rest of the Competition:
-Robin Wright, She's So Lovely / Loved*: SAG nominee; Seattle winner*; ISA nominee* ($7.3M, Summer; 66%; no stats for Loved)

-Julia Roberts, My Best Friend's Wedding: GG Comedy, Satellite nominee ($38M / $127.1M / $299.3M, Summer; 71%)
-Joan Allen, The Ice Storm: Chicago (supporting) nominee; Satellite (lead), London nominee ($8M, Fall; 83%)
-Jessica Lange, A Thousand Acres: GG Drama nominee ($7.9M, Fall; 23%)
-Kathy Burke, Nil By Mouth; Cannes winner, BAFTA nominee ($9M / $0.3M; 65%)
-Joey Lauren Adams, Chasing Amy: GG Comedy nominee ($12M, Spring; 90%)
-Emma Thompson, The Winter Guest: Venice winner; Chlotrudis nominee ($0.8M; 64%)
-Tilda Swinton, Female Perversions: Dublin winner; Boston (3rd) nominee ($0.9M, Spring; 67%)
-Katrin Cartlidge, Career Girls: Boston (2nd) nominee ($2.4M, Summer; 88%)
-Alison Folland, All Over Me: ISA, Chlotrudis nominee ($0.3M, Spring; 85%)
-Parker Posey, The House of Yes: Sundance winner; Satellite nominee ($1.5M / $0.6M, Fall; 64%)
-Jennifer Lopez, Selena: GG Comedy nominee ($35.3M, Spring; 64%)