Fiery Femmes in Film--From My MSN Piece

Actresses have it tough in Hollywood. Really tough. In fact, so much so that it can drive them crazy.

If pretty, they're frequently relegated to the wife or girlfriend function. If "unconventional," they're passed around and sometimes underappreciated in character roles. And if they age ... well, their chances of any "type" shrink more than most young actresses' waistlines. They just don't get those juicy, nutty, meaty parts that, say, Jack Nicholson or Robert De Niro or Al Pacino are allowed to knock out of the ballpark. Think about it. How many gals get to play a Travis Bickle? Or Hannibal Lecter?

But though their opportunities are less, actresses have proven they can play with the big boys. It just takes a particular kind of breakout performance (usually a crazed, fiery one) for audiences and critics to sit up and take notice. With Domino in which the liltingly lovely ingénue Keira Knightly straps on a gun, smacks down criminals and generally kicks a whole lot of butt in playing real-life (and recently deceased) model-turned-bounty-hunter Domino Harvey, I'm eagerly waiting to see what she's made of. Another Angelina Jolie in the making, perhaps?

So to honor those who came before Keira, I've come up with my personal top 10 list of the fiercest female performances in movies. These women not only surprised viewers with their ferocious talent, but left an indelible mark for others to follow. To all you mad and, yes, misunderstood ladies, we salute you.

Angelina Jolie--Girl Interrupted (1999)

Profile: The female Randle P. McMurphy of the girly cuckoo's nest.

Predicament: Labeled a "sociopath," stuck in an institution and really, really hot ... this girl needs freedom bad!

Heated Words: "Some advice, okay? Just don't point your f***ing finger at crazy people!"

Prognosis: As Lisa, the lanky troublemaker/sex pot, Jolie ruled the roost in an institution filled with anorexics, compulsive liars and, awww, sensitive types like little Winona Ryder's Susanna Kaysen. But blasting through the movie with the kind of feral intensity and wit of a Nicholson or De Niro, Jolie single-handedly stole the movie from both star Ryder and the film's director, James Mangold. She deserved that Best Supporting Oscar that she claimed. Now, Angelina -- please show us this stuff again!

Read the rest of my MSN article here.

Comments

[Bobo]

You've been impressing the hell out of me lately,Kim!More than usual.You keep on posting the multiple articles on the same day,and I've definitely noticed.I wish I had a fire under my ass to be that productive!Kudos,ma'am.You are the first person I've heard in a long time to refer to these moviestars as actresses,rather than actors.I guess there are two minds to that.They should maybe just be actors to show equality,but on the other hand it kind of harkens back to the glamourized days to call them actresses.Jolie is,in my opinion the most stunning "actress"out there today.Sure she is in some horrible movies,but she's great when she finds the right script(I still like her even if she really is with Mr.Pitt!).Jessica Lange is great,even though she doesn't do many movies anymore.She seems to be pretty selective,when she does movies,and she always seems good in them.I think she is one of those "actresses" that has aged very well.She is still very striking.Naomi Watts is a great one too.I think there was more depth to her character in 21 grams,though.I like some Lynch movies,but this wasn't one of my favs.There were two things that stuck out to me about this movie.One-Laura Harring's breasts(I'm not subjectifying women,just telling like it is!).I think they were the best pair I've ever seen in a real movie.The second-when Watt's character leaves Harring at her place,is walking out of the house, and says,"Bye,don't drink all the coke"(or something like that).That made me laugh my ass off!A killer line!!Enough of my shallow thoughts though.Great list and article,both of them.

[Nate]

Cool list! What about Linda Fiorentino in John Dahl's flic' The Last Seduction? That was a great role!

[jamie]

Hi Kim,

I love all the movies/actresses on your list. Just curious though.... why so many roles women with mental disorders (except Uma)?

[pdx]

The rest of the article link is no longer on MSN. I looked for where they moved it, but couldn't find it. I feel like the reel just snapped halfway thru Natural Born Killers- what happens?!