Day 934: Supporting Performances and ‘The King’s Speech’

Supporting Actress

For the record, I still think Melissa Leo will be the most likely recipient of the best Supporting Actress Oscar AND I think Melissa will be a household name for the rest of her career.  She’s just that good.

However, if the Academy were to go rogue and honor an actress’s body of work rather than an actress’s achievement in an individual film this year… you can’t rule out Helena Bonham Carter.  Sure, like Melissa, this is Helena’s second Oscar nomination, but Helena’s body of work is much more expansive and furthermore, her entire resume and range as an actress is exemplified by the two movies she made in 2010: ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow’s, Part 1’ and ‘The King’s Speech’.

In an industry full of actors and actresses playing to their single ‘type’ it is hard to believe one actress played both, the murderous insanity of Bellatrix Lestange (Harry Patter) and the compassionately tender Queen Elizabeth (The King’s Speech)… and as hard as it is to believe that both performances came from the same woman, both performances are pure Helena and beautifully done.  Bravo.

Supporting Actor

Again, I still believe Christian Bale is a shoe-in for Best Supporting Actor this year, however I can’t stop singing the praises of the most likely Best Picture winner: ‘The King’s Speech’.

Back in 1996 two completely unknown actors appeared in films that could have been lost forever if it hadn’t been for the strength of their individual performances… which not only drove the success of their films, but also drove the success of their careers, earning both Oscar nominations for Best Actor, while also transformed them from ‘unknowns’ into ‘household names’.  They are Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade) and Geoffrey Rush (Shine).  Geoffrey, of course, won the Oscar that year.

Billy Bob had been bumming around television and the odd supporting role for about ten years before he stepped up to the plate and made ‘Sling Blade’ and we all know how that turned out.  And as for Geoffrey… would you believe ‘Shine’ was his first real feature film?  Up until ‘Shine’ he has only really done Australian television series and made for TV movies, none of which were imported to the States… and honestly, based on his bio and resume, he was primarily an Australian stage actor and hadn’t done much film or television for almost ten years before ‘Shine’.  Now look at him… he’s one of 25 people EVER to win an Oscar, Tony, and Emmy for acting.  One movie… one movie made the difference.  What if ‘Shine’ was made without him?  Where would he be now?  Who knows.

And now, ‘The King’s Speech’ and his forth Oscar Nomination.  Which isn’t any big surprise, Geoffrey is one of those actors who makes it look incredibly easy.  Almost too easy.  But, that’s what I love about him.  His on screen chemistry with Colin Firth is remarkable and as you watch, you can actually see the friendship of these two very different characters take root. 

The King’s Speech

But, I mean come on.  How interesting can a story about some rich guy in speech therapy really be?    Apparently, it can be very interesting and ‘The King’s Speech has Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush to thank for it.  And based on how both took their supporting roles so seriously, there isn’t any wonder as to why Collin Firth is in line as the most likely Best Actor Oscar winner.  Both Helena and Geoffrey did their job as supporting actors: bring out the best in Collin.