MovieChat Forums > Agnes of God (1985) Discussion > no OSCAR nomnation for FONDA?!

no OSCAR nomnation for FONDA?!

posted 19 years ago by milhouse_van_houten
23 replies | jump to latest

that's just wrong! Fonda deserves one as much as Bancroft

[–] sirjeremy 11 years ago

I agree with some of the reasons given - biggest one being that there was only room for two nominations, ones for the flashier roles (the actors who played them originally were nominated for Tony's, by the way, Amanda Plummer went on to win). Plus, this was another 'Everywoman in extraordinary circumstances trying to do the right thing' role for Fonda and possibly her peers were bored with the 'same old' thing. I think she did as well as she could do but I agree that the other two parts seemed more challenging.

[–] InherentlyYours 9 years ago

People are under this trendy misconception that actors who play "themselves" are not as worthy; it's HOW well you play yourself. Fonda was not intense enough in this film, though I don't she's' intense enough in general.

[–] Sponiatowski 8 years ago

I think Ellen Burstyn would've been better than Jane Fonda in this role.

Ellen was not at her box office best at the time and began doing made for TV movies, but she was incredible in "Resurrection" in 1980, her best performance in my opinion, and the intensity she brings to every role would've been an improvement over Jane's apparent discomfort, shock, distance and amazement to the situation.

Anyone else agree?

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[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] FranLovesBetteD 8 years ago

I re-watched it last night and, once again, all the three performances blew me away... Jane definitely deserved to be nominated, as well.

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[–] rudeboymurray (3241) 5 years ago

I wouldn't count this among Fonda's best roles, most of which were behind her at this point. Bancroft is better, I would say, managing to overcome the weaknesses in the script.

As for Tilly... she is okay but it always seems like she is trying to hard. There's something mechanical about her performance, it is always obvious that she is acting. I wonder how Amanda Plummer, who I believe originated the role of Agnes on stage, would have fared in the film. She is a naturally quirky actress and I suspect she may have given a more spontaneous performance.