With Oscar season upon us once again, it is inevitable that audiences will discuss who was snubbed and make their arguments for what the Academy got wrong. Looking back on the performances the Oscars have recognized over the years is always interesting, as it allows audiences to appreciate how acting has evolved over the years.
Joe Pesci - Best Supporting Actor for “Goodfellas”
Pesci plays Tommy DeVito, a gangster who can go from friendly to combative in a matter of seconds. The infamous “funny how” scene where Tommy scares a new member of the group is a great example of this, as he switches from laughing and joking with his friends to shouting at Henry while interrogating him. This personality transition is very difficult to pull off, but Pesci makes it feel so natural to the point the audience doesn’t even notice the switch.
Natalie Portman - Best Actress for “Black Swan”
Natalie Portman portrays an aspiring ballerina willing to do whatever it takes to be successful, even at the cost of her mental and physical health. A wide range of emotions is required to play the part, which Portman plays to perfection through her exaggerated facial expressions and body language. Her acting is so convincing that at times even the audience feels her stress, a task that is not easy to pull off.
Cillian Murphy - Best Actor for “Oppenheimer”
Taking on the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer is no small feat. Oppenheimer is a man haunted by his involvement in creating the atomic bomb, and Cillian Murphy portrays this perfectly. His eerie facial expressions and stiff body language when talking about his involvement with the bomb convey his guilt very convincingly, leading to a performance that feels genuine.
Anne Hathaway - Best Supporting Actress for “Les Miserables”
In just a few minutes, Hathaway manages to deliver the most impactful performance of the entire movie. Hathaway plays Fantine, a struggling mother who becomes a prostitute to provide a better life for her daughter. Hathaway’s anguished expressions during these scenes make them difficult to watch, and her heartbreaking performance of the song “I Dreamed a Dream” is sure to touch even the most stoic moviegoer.
Christopher Walken - Best Supporting Actor for “The Deer Hunter”
Walken’s portrayal of Nick, a Vietnam soldier, is a haunting performance that stays with the audience long after the movie concludes. Nick is an everyday citizen who enlists in the army, and suffers from PTSD after suffering several traumatic events during the war. Walken’s portrayal of this is incredibly convincing, as his troubled expressions and unsettling voice makes it feel like the audience is watching someone who actually witnessed the atrocities of the war.
Faye Dunaway- Best Actress for “Network”
Dunaway plays Diana Christensen, a greedy TV executive obsessed with making money and boosting ratings. However, she simultaneously plays the character with a likeable personality, making it harder for audiences to dislike her. As a result of this, we are given a performance that is surprisingly relevant after 50 years, perfectly representing how people in positions of power abuse their position for personal gain.
Robert De Niro - Best Actor for “Raging Bull”
De Niro completely transforms himself into Jake LaMotta, a successful boxer tormented by his insecurities. Playing a character with an uncontrollable temper is very difficult to pull off convincingly, but De Niro does it flawlessly. To make the performance more authentic, he trained alongside the real Jake LaMotta for the boxing scenes and gained 30 pounds for the final segments, leading to an incredibly captivating performance.