list-o-mania
from the cluttered wishing to be categorized brain of Nathaniel R
Compiled in September 2005 using a complex mathematical formula [snort] involving number of films, clarity of obsession, quality of work, and other *undefinables* (such as previous films, awards show appearances, publicity, tv, & stagework) that influence me even though the list is meant to be about 2000 through summer 2005 only for more on the workings of this list -check out the introduction
Actresses of the "Aughts" 80-71 |
80 Laura Dern
She's been a dependable screen presence since the 80s. But I'm still waiting for something to rival her amazing triple from the 90s (Wild at Heart, Rambling Rose, and Citizen Ruth) which landed her in my top 40 stars of the decade (that's the combo list of actors and actresses and given the thousands of working thespians that's no small accomplishment. This decade we've seen Laura do thankless stuff (I Am Sam, 2001 and Dr. T & The Women, 2000), semi-interesting but ultimately unsatisfying parts (Happy Endings, 2005 and Focus, 2001) and one juicy part (We Don't Live Here Anymore, 2004). Not a great ratio but we can hold out hope that she has a renaissance soon.
79 Monica Bellucci
This Italian goddess is widely considered one of the world's great beauties. Sometimes when your visage is magnified onto the silver screen that's enough. But Bellucci can act too which is a nice bonus. Not that filmmakers were asking that much of her thespianiac skills in Tears of the Sun, Irreversible and The Matrix Reloaded (all 2003), The Passion of the Christ (2004), The Brothers Grimm (2005), and Malena (2000). In that last film which ignited her international stardom she clearly helped Lajos Koltai to his cinematography nomination. Because well, what a subject for the camera. Gorgeousness.78 Virginia Madsen
It's probably too high a ranking just to celebrate her comeback performance (and her comeback performance only) in Sideways, but it wasn't just Miles who fell in love when she praised the aging of wine. I guess I should say I fell back in love. Reunited and it feels so nice.77 Imelda Staunton
This splendid British actress of stage and screen triumphed last year in a rare lead role, the title character in the exquisite Vera Drake. What will she do for an encore (?) is my question. I am not naive enough to suspect that she will continue to have comparably plum showcase vehicles in the near future but I'm praying that, at the very least, her character parts get foregrounded a little more from here on out. It's all well and good to do funny voices for Chicken Run and support Andie MacDowell in Crush, but after Mike Leigh guides you through Vera Drake that just won't be enough.
Trivia Alert: Imelda is a fine singer appearing in musical theater in London to great acclaim. Is it too much to ask that someone give her a great supporting role in a movie musical?76 Maggie Smith
On principle alone legendary figures like Maggie Smith should rank higher. But I need more Gosford Park (2001) from the great lady. Multiple Harry Potter outtings just don't satisfy me like her outstanding work in Robert Altman's most recent Best Picture nominee.75 Molly Parker
If you're just tuning in you probably only know her through Deadwood on HBO. I personally feel a tinge of loss that television has snapped her up. I liked to get lost in her strange and semi-vacant magnetic pull in Canadian films like The Five Senses (2000) and indies like The Center of the World (2001) where she has a fascinatingly remote relationship with the similarly detached Peter Sarsgaard. Chilly, distant, vacant, remote --these adjectives betray me. This is not to say that I mean this actress isn't giving her all onscreen. It's just an observation that her screen persona is interestingly unafraid of Brechtian maneuvers.74 Hope Davis
For awhile it looked like Hope Davis was a very good actress. Then it looked like she was miserably typecast as a humorless shrew. Then along came her against-type warm and geeky turn in American Splendor (2003) to remind us: oh, yes. This is a very good actress. Even in the semi-thankless roles as wife Joe Goulds Secret (2000) or miserable daughter About Schmidt (2002) to name two examples she's good. One only wishes the movies would let her out of this humorless mode.
73 Lucy Liu
When Lucy Liu first came marching through the office doors of Ally McBeal (to the Wicked Witch of the West themes) on television in 1998 she was instantly a star. The years since then have been both bountiful and disappointing. She has never stopped working and in high profile gigs no less. But she has either proven she has very limited range or accepted Hollywood's limited ideas on how to use her. She has yet to reallly escape the dragon-lady stereotyping. Even in her most high profile film role, opposite Drew Barrymore (#36) and Cameron Diaz (#56), in the Charlies Angels films (2000 & 2002) she was given the least to do. Fortunately, Quentin Tarantino came to the rescue with Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003). O-Ren "Cottonmouth" Ishii is her best role by a country mile. Even if her range is as limited as it seems, she can really hit it when the pitch is right.72 Ellen Burstyn
Ellen is one of the most Oscar-tastic actresses of all time, having won one Oscar and been nominated six times in total, a record only bested by nine other women. She saw her film capital raised again at the beginning of the decade with her incredibly painful but inspired work as a pillpopping widow in Requiem for a Dream (2000). What has she done with her new capital? Er, um... Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood (2002) ? No thanks. There has to be a director out there other than Darren Aronofsky who knows that her enduring career deserves at least one more legendary character to add to its library value. Someone offer her something great right now! Marty? Phone call for Martin Scorsese. 'Marty, look what she did for you in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore! Drop Leonardo and make another movie with Ellen. Come on, you know it would be awesome'.
71 Sarah Polley
We haven't seen quite as much of Polley onscreen as I thought we might after her breakout work in the 90s. Apparently Hollywood's allure isn't that alluring. Her political activism and indie and Canadian film career keeps her busy enough. When she does appear chances are her work will be intelligent and interesting if not always exciting (My Life Without Me, 2003) and possibly way better than the film needs it to be (Dawn of the Dead, 2004).
Trivia Alert: Rumor has it that Sarah was Cameron Crowe's original choice for "Penny Lane" in Almost Famous (a role that went to Kate Hudson who does not appear on this top 100 list). And supposedly her exit is one of the reasons that Brad Pitt left the project to be replaced by Billy Crudup.Top 100 Actresses of the Aughts So Far
(Compiled in Sept & October 2005)
100 -91 / 90-81 / 80-71/ 70-61 / 60-51 / 50-41 /
40-31 / 30-21 / 20-11 / 10-6 / 5-1
In Anticipation of Best of the Decade Lists in 2010
