Oscar Got It Wrong!: Best Actress 1989

The Contenders:

Isabelle Adjani: Camille Claudel
Jessica Tandy: Driving Miss Daisy (winner)
Michelle Pfeiffer: The Fabulous Baker Boys
Jessica Lange: Music Box
Pauline Collins: Shirley Valentine

Chanteuse

Film: The Fabulous Baker Boys
Format: DVD from NetFlix on laptop.

I can’t say that I’ve ever been a fan of Michelle Pfeiffer. I can’t quite put my finger on it. There’s something about her that comes across as false somehow. I don’t know where this comes from and if I’m completely honest, I think it’s probably completely unfair on my part. She is the reason The Fabulous Baker Boys showed up on my list of films to watch, though, and it’s only fair that I not prejudge her or prejudge the movie based on her presence. However, the only other adult female role in the film that lasts more than a couple of seconds is played by a young Jennifer Tilly. I love Jennifer Tilly, so in that respect, I’d have preferred to have spent more time with her.

That said, I’m happy I do my best to go into movies with as much of a blank slate as possible, because not only is this a good film, it’s Michelle Pfeiffer’s best performance with the possible exception of Dangerous Liaisons. It’s not that often that I get to see a film that really redeems an actor about whom I am lukewarm, but The Fabulous Baker Boys is that rare thing.