"Julia Roberts winning an Oscar over Ellen Burstyn" controversy

[movielover-9]

Okay, let me just say this. I am tired of Julia Roberts getting crap from the public about her winning an Oscar over Ellen Burstyn. Well, you know what, boo hoo hoo. Are you aware how many performances have gotten jipped for Oscars? Robert DeNiro for "Taxi Driver", Denzel Washington for "Malcolm X", Cate Blanchett for "Elizabeth", Haley Joel Osment for "The Sixth Sense"[IMO]. The list goes on, porbably even performances I don't know about. But did people conitnually rag on, let's say, Al Pacino for beating Denzel Washington? No, no, no. Of course not. Why do that when you can pick on Julia right? I admit Ellen Burstyn is truly a great actress. The Exorcist, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, etc. I have not seen "Reqeuim For A Dream" but I am sure that she gave a great performance. But let me say, wasn't she laready an Oscar winner for "Alice doesn't Live Here Anymore"? Best Actress, am I right? Okay, so Julia Roberts hasn't won once yet, gives a great performance, and she wins. I believe, maybe, that it was sort of both an apology Oscar[she was nominated for Steel Magnolias and Pretty Woman in the past] and an establishment Oscar[although she was already VERY established]. Sometimes, that's how the Oscars work? Unfair, huh? Well, trust me, many more situations like this will come down the road in time. And I have heard others say that she won because it was a popularity contest. Popularity?? If it was popularity, Julia would have won Best Actress for "Pretty Woman". She was obviously one of the most popular actresses of that year, and obviously the most popular in that category. If the Oscars are a popularity contest, then Kate Hudson would have won Best Supporting Actress for Almost famous that year. But who won? Oh yeah, Marcia Gay Harden. The underdog. Acting Oscars also don't depend just on acting. It depends on the script, the character, character development, dialogue, etc. I believe that you guys should consider the fact that although Ellen may have deserved it[like I said I have not seen the movie], sometimes the Acting Oscars aren't solely based on acting alone. Many other factors weigh in, too. As well as for the Best Picture Oscar, Director Oscar and Screenplay Oscars. I am now trying to grasp the concept. Yes, it is no fair, but life ain't sunshine and flowers.

End Of "Rant"

[Nate6]

Well it is unfair. Ellen Burstyn's performance in Requiem for a Dream is widely considered, at least among film buffs, to be one of the best female performances in recent history. Julia Roberts was good in Erin Brockovich, but when you compare the two, they don't even come close.

It was a make-up Oscar, for sure. I hate them, but they happen.

You say acting Oscars take other things into account? No, they don't. Or, no they shouldn't. It's called "Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading/Supporting Role." Performance. Not dialogue, not story, performance. Many people have been nominated for crappy movies because of good performances. Look at James Woods for Ghosts of Mississippi, for example. I realize that other factors sometimes do weigh in, most winners that aren't apology winners win because their role carried weight in the film, but they shouldn't.

Burstyn deserved it, plain and simple. Just because life is sometimes unfair doesn't make it right that she lost.

[James Logan]

Both of them deserved it, and one of them got it. Simple as that.

[Just Jack]

Originally posted by James Logan
Both of them deserved it, and one of them got it. Simple as that.

Ditto.

[Nate6]

Originally posted by James Logan
Both of them deserved it, and one of them got it. Simple as that.

Not in my book, but hey, opinions are opinions!

[BadCoverVersion]

I understand exactly what you're saying Re. "Sympathy Votes", "Establishment Oscars" and the like...

But I'm afraid Ellen losing out was an absolute travesty! It's that simple!

I suggest you take a look at the Movie Movielover-9. This is certainly not an issue of two "deserving" Actresses and two "great" performances...

Ellen Bustyn was absolutely bloody amazing, not just GOOD...She was STUNNING!

Roberts should not have walked away with the Oscar, her performance was mediocre at best...How she kept a straight face is beyond me!?

[James Logan]

Originally posted by Nate6
Not in my book, but hey, opinions are opinions!

Exactly. And I understand people who think Ellen Burstyn should have won, she sure would have deserved it, as much as Julia did if not maybe more. But Julia deserved it too, I think.

[paul calf]

have to disagree strongly,ellen's performance in rfad was not just the best female performance of that year it has to be up there with the best female performance ever.if julia lives to be 100 she will never be as good as that,julia's performance was her best but her best will never be good enough to compare with the real great female actress's,such as ellen,sissy spaceck,judi dench,kate blanchet,helena bonham carter.

[flowrchild]

Ellen Burstyn is 1000x the actress that Julia Roberts will ever be. She was robbed I tell ya, robbed!!!

I am not even going to get into this any further, or my computer will end up in a few thousand pieces on the floor.

[electriclite]

I can tell you I screamed out loud in fucking protest when Julia Roberts won over Burstyn. She was by far the most daring and courageous performance of the bunch and head and shoulders much more better than Roberts' Brokovich performance.

I mean it's very hard to find and actress of Burstyn's age willing to just physically debase herself in front of a camera like that. Young actors will take that risk because that's the kind of role they can prove themselves in. But Burstyn has already proven herself more than an adept actress, but she took it anyway. That to me signifies a love of the character, the story and the craft and I think that should've been rewarded.

But like they say "It's an honor just to be nominated."

[someguy]

I think that Julia got the award because of the money she gave Hollywood. Even though Burstyn gave the best performance I've ever seen and deserved it way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,wa y,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way, way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,wa y,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way, way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,wa y,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way, way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,wa y,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way,way more than Julia,you can't stop her star power(unfortunately).

Also,I insist you watch the movie then compare,then judge.

[Mick]

Lots of people get shafted at the Oscars. People go on about how the Oscars are a joke, and don't mean shit. People then bitch about their favoured actors/actresses getting screwed over.

I'm not saying people in this thread in particular do this, but plenty of people (including a lot on these boards) do.

If you don't like the Oscars, fine. I personally think they have their place, and have introduced me to many fine films I may not otherwise have seen.

I'll agree with the original poster in that i'm sick of people bitching about such things, why should we care about someone getting an award? It's not going to affect any of us, or the performances of the people involved in the future, so why get all fussed about it?

I work 50 hours a week, and make less than Ellen Burstyn does just for turning up on set*, so I don't really give a shit if she wins an award. Anyone who is nominated for an Academy Award is probably loaded...... but do you think all that money makes them happier than you or I? You're damn right it does.

Regarding the Ellen/Julia thing, Burstyn was far, far better. It shows in the movie, and movie fans appreciate it.. that's all that should matter. I personally couldn't watch Roberts' portrayal of Erin Chocosnitch for more than half an hour. But I'm not in the Hollywood scene (yet!) so I don't care about her winning the Oscar more than I care about, say, some poll in The Sun.

* I don't know how much Ellen Burstyn makes, and I don't work at all just now. The bums always lose.

[El Bracamonti]

i really think that julia is a great actress, but i also think that ellen burstyn is better. that's all i have to say.

[notchreturns]

Anyone else think Laura Linney should've won for You Can Count On Me? By far the best female performance of 2000.

[Obrotherrules]

I have seen all five of the nominated performances. And this may or may not be interesting, but frankly, Joan Allen gave the best of the five.
Throw Juliette Binoche out the window. She was the best, classiest thing about CHOCOLAT, but that's not enough.
Laura Linney has been much better in MUCH better movies (like TRUMAN SHOW). She doesn't get it.
Then it's between the two "favorites." I've long said that Ms. Roberts should've won long ago (watch MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING and tell me she doesn't have comedic talent; dang Helen Hunt). Yes, ERIN BROCKOVICH is merely a crowning role well-acted, not the best of the year. But come one, her acting is underrated. She's good. That's all I'll say.
Now on to Ellen Burstyn. Well, she was good. But it wasn't entirely convincing; she reduced her role to silly, nervous tics. If anyone had raw power in their performance, it was Marlon Wayans. Sure, she's a great actress, but she's won already. She's not good enough to get two; one is fine. Same for Julia; I don't expect her to win again either.
But hopefully, some day Joan Allen will. She WAS class, and she was excellent in a film that desperately required her to be. The movie was better than most thought, and the acting was all standout.
By the way, if you want to hear my vote for 2000's best actress, it was really Bjork. Yeah, I'm one of those.

[Asokan]

The Oscars are nowadays (actually ever since their existence) a travesty of immense proportions....

Of course not every winner really deserved it. This is up to everyone's own opinion on how to measure a performance.

For example, to me Steven Soderbergh's work on TRAFFIC and ERIN BROCKOVICH was immensely overrated and shouldn't have been nominated at all. His direction was far more creative and dazzling and less conventional and Hollywood-pleasing in pure entertainments like OUT OF SIGHT and OCEAN'S ELEVEN, both dismissed as superficial entertainment without the heavy topics of his Oscar-nominated work.

As for Julia Roberts: She did gave the best performance of her career as Erin Brockovich, but it was no match to the tour de force of Ellen Burstyn and not even up to the magnificent Joan Allen or the more believable Laura Linney. The only nominee she bet in my books was Juliette Binoche who was woefully misplaced with the terribly mediocre CHOCOLAT, who was overhyped by almost everyone.

As for looks, of course Roberts scored best with THAT cleavage.