Is There A Supporting Actress Curse?

Posted by fly girl in Entertainment, Features on February 22, 2009 | one response

Let me start by saying that I have a love/hate relationship with the Oscars.

I love the couture, the self-indulgent speeches (especially that awkward moment when the violins cue up drowning out the winners), the forced comedy bits and yes, rooting for my personal faves.

I hate when the wrong people win, when the lifetime achievement award is handed out (does it REALLY need a full segment?), and any category with the word “editing” in it (God bless those violins).

Inevitably, there will be at least one actor or actress who will ride the Oscar wave to a win one minute and fall off the face of the earth the next. In examining this issue further, I noticed that more often then not, it’s the poor Supporting Actress winners that seem to suffer the most. Turns out the trip from the Kodak Theater stage to the poor lighting of a Lifetime movie is a quick one. Take a trip back down the red carpet and relive some of the stars of the 90s whose careers fell as quickly as Hammer pants, body suits and ESPIRIT.

To be clear, I’m not saying these women aren’t good at what they do. I’m just saying that 1 Oscar does not a career make.

1990: Whoopi Goldberg, “Ghost”

Who didn’t love this movie (except for the scene where Patrick “inhabits” Whoopi’s body for the weird dance number with Demi)? She earned that Oscar. Since the big win, she’s had her own failed sitcom (the cleverly named “Whoopi”), voiced many a cartoon-character, played a singing nun (”Sister Act”) and most famously, replaced Meredith Viera on what is arguably the most annoying talk show in the history of the genre, “The View’. To be fair, she is a well respected comedian (”Comic Relief”) and she is the least annoying of the 5 on the gabfest. So that’s something.

1991: Mercedes Ruehl, “The Fisher King”

The little seen Robin Williams flick was actually quite charming. I also liked her in “Lost in Yonkers” and as Angelina’s mom in “Gia”. Unfortunately, as of late, she’s mainly popping up in made-for-TV flicks like “The Lost Child”, “Mr.Life”, “Guilt by Association” (that one screams Lifetime), and my personal fave (seriously seen it at least twice) “Mom at 16″.

1992: Marisa Tomei, “My Cousin Vinny”

Her whiny NY accent was just the right amount of grating in this surprise hit comedy. She stole every scene she was in thus earning one of the few Oscars ever handed out for a comedic performance (stealing the spotlight from a bunch of Brits including Miranda Richardson, Judy Davis, Joan Plowright and Vanessa Redgrave). To her credit, she’s flown under the radar since, re-emerging mainly in indie films like “Happy Accidents”, “Alfie” & “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”. There were a few ill-fated choices, including “Someone Like You”, “The Guru”, & “Wild Hogs”. No one’s perfect. She is nominated again this year for her role as the hooker with a heart of gold in “The Wrestler”. She won’t win, but at least she can say that she’s only appeared on “The View” to do an interview.

1993: Anna Paquin, “The Piano”

She bugs. No 9-year-old should win an Oscar. Accuse me of ageism - I don’t care. At least she didn’t follow the path to rehab like most child-actors. She’s most famous for her role as Rogue in the “X-Men” series or as the heroine in Showtime’s “True Blood”. She’s kind of the poor man’s Scarlett Johanneson (who also bugs). Winona should have won that year for “The Age of Innocence”. Even though she’s a shop-lifting fruit loop, but she deserved to win.

1994: Diane Wiest, “Bullets Over Broadway”

She’s a respected Broadway star who aside from her stage presence is known mostly for her uniquely high-pitched voice & squinty eyes (she originated the eye affliction Renee Zelweger & Taylor Swift have since adopted). She’s a tough one to critique - while her career hasn’t exactly gone gangbusters since the Oscar win, I can’t help but think she planned it that way. Kudos Diane!

1995: Mira Sorvino, “Mighty Aphrodite”

Falling into the ‘What Have You Done For Me Lately” category, is Mira Sorvino, star of the recent made-for-TV flick “The Last Templar” (poor man’s female version of “Indiana Jones”). She is a proud member of the Play a Hooker, Get an Oscar Nomination Club, which includes members like Donna Reed in “From Here to Eternity”, Elizabeth Taylor in “BUtterfiled 8″, Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” and the aforementioned Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler”. Good company to be in. But, it’s safe to say she is in major need of a comeback and I’m pretty sure the “Templar” or “Romy & Michelle The Redux” isn’t gonna do it.

1996: Cuba Gooding, Jr, “Jerry Maguire”

He gets a special mention. While clearly not a Supporting Actress, he does a superb job of illustrating how the very same theory works for men as well. After his memorable joyful acceptance speech, he quickly made his way to Razzie winners like “Rat Race”, “Snow Dogs”, “Daddy Day Care”, and arguably the most embarrassing “Radio”. Eeek.

1997: Kim Basinger, “L.A. Confidential”

Oh Kim. What a tangled web you weave. Soon after the win, she and her then husband, Alec Baldwin began one of the messiest divorces in Hollywood history. She’s gained more notoriety for holding custody of their daughter over his head then actual career success. Her most notable role since “L.A” was Eminem’s white trash mom in “8 Mile”. She played that one almost too well.

1998: Judy Dench, “Shakespeare in Love”

Okay, so she’s clearly established her self as bonafide star (what with the “Dame” title & all). I’m including her not because she’s made an appearance on Brett Michael’s “Rock Of Love” recently, but because she actually won this Oscar after 5 - yes 5- minutes on screen. She falls into her own category of actresses who win Oscars just for showing up.