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Was the Academy on crack? Montenegro should have won Best Actress!!!

posted 19 years ago by Nijn1978
36 replies | jump to latest

In 1999 Montenegro was nominated for Best Actress for her beautiful, haunting performance in Central do Brasil. Next to her, Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth), Emily Watson (Hillary & Jackie), Meryl Streep (One True Thing) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) were nominated. Paltrow, of course, won for her very mediocre performance in that godawful one-joke period comedy ("Shakespeare has writer's block", reasonably good idea that's stretched to a very tedious two-hour movie).

I remember that Montenegro commented on Paltrow's victory and her loss that year, stating that she wasn't surprised, because she thought that the Academy gave Paltrow the Oscar as a sort of investment as there were not that many virginal, innocent-looking young actresses like Paltrow in the industry. Giving her the Oscar would have meant that more young actresses would be encouraged to emulate her wholesome image. Well, I don't really think that it is nice to slag off another actress for winning the award that you were nominated for. (A couple of days later after her comment, Montenegro thought so too and stated that her words had been put out of context or that she was misquoted or something like that). But....somehow I can't shake the feeling that she was right.

If you look at the line-up that year, then I would say that even though Watson and Streep are great actresses, the roles in the movies they were nominated that year for are not representative of their best work. And as for Blanchett. Well, I wouldn't have been that terribly dissapointed if she had won. She had a very difficult role where she had to go from an innocent young princess into a full-blooded commanding queen. Blanchett's transformation was convincing and certainly entertaining to watch. But in the end, I do think that Montenegro was head and shoulders above everyone else that year. In Central do Brasil, she starts as a very bitter, selfish woman who is very unsympathetic and towards the end she changes more and more into a woman who has made peace with her life and past unfortunes. In the end you care for her a great deal, you've grown to love her character, understanding very well how she had become the person that she had become. Montenegro brings very subtle nuances to her role, suggesting all the disappointments that have hardened her soul under her characteristic face. The transformation of her character is extremely involving and if you don't cry at the very end for her, then it's best to check your pulse.

If it turns out that you're not dead at the end of seeing this movie, I defy you to not think that Montenegro was the best of the bunch that year and was robbed of her deserved statuette.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] s_elhaddad 18 years ago

Well, I must thank you so so much for this analysis. I have just watched Central Do Brasil today, yet I can't believe that this cinematic language hadn't been awarded any Oscars. I'm so chocked, the who would deserve that?!

I really had my eyes full of tears at the end and now I am a diffeent man, thy have taught me alot through this movie.

Fernanda Montenegro deserved the Oscar, if she was so far in her comment for Gwyneth Paltrow, I'd be in her side. Nothing's worst than to feel underestimated.

If this was american movie and was led by any american actress, it'd be a legend till nowadays, but it's the way they treat poor countries cinema, although it's a real cinema.

Now I believe that the Cinema is an European art, lots and lots of European movies could touch my heart the way Centrl do Brasil did but a so little of american movies did.

[–] leforcat 18 years ago

"If this was an american movie..." - well, it couldn't have been, because no one in America, not the mainstream, nor the independents, are capable of creating such movie. Besides, the Oscars is an internal affair. The Academy wasn't on crack - it was acting up to the responsibilities and expectations, as they are. The Best Film or Best Actor award wil never be give to a film with small busines prospects in the US, and neither to a movie not shown extensively in theaters before the Awards are given.
If the judges haven't seen the film that is nominated - happens every year! - it will never win!

Cinema doesn't belong to any country, not Europe, not America, not Asia (that makes most numbers of films these days!) - it's universal. The Oscars are not.

Saigon... s**t! I'm still only in Saigon...

[–] Leftmidder_2000 15 years ago

1. its hard for a foreign film to win an acting award, though i admit it does happen.
2. i think most people wanted it to win one of the awards, and it was probably a close second for foreign film. it did win the BAFTA
3. i think the young boy deserved a lot more recognition. he was amazing!

[–] ah_jlee 18 years ago

This movie is a bless
I just watched this movie and I almost fall in love with Montenegro when she played the role Dora
I cry my tears out,it's hard to find a word to explain how good it is!
She definitely should win the Oscar than Paltrow
And your analysis is conpletely objective & good indeed!!

[–] shadydigital 18 years ago

I believe the Academy was quite unconfident of her performance, not in Central do Brasil, for sure. Fernanda doesn't have a carreer in North American cinema, then it'd be quite risky to have her awarded an Oscar. What if a deeper analysis of her previous and subsequent work shows disappointing results?
But, yeah, maybe Mrs. Blanchett deserved the Oscar, but certainly not Mrs. Paltrow.

[–] tvashtar2919 18 years ago

Who cares about other movies before or after? The award is supposed to be the acting ability of the individual, in one specific movie against other performances of only that year. There have been actors who are incredible at their art, but came up against tough competition for the awards. That does not diminish their skill or accomplishments over time, but it does dilute the meaning of the Oscar if they use outside reasons to choose a winner. This movie was great and she did an amazing job as an actress in this role. Miss Montenegro should have won many awards for this revealing portrayal of discovery.

[–] prepoet 18 years ago

The academy is clearly on crack...a fact which, lets be honest, should come as no surprise (example, Denzel Washington wins an Oscar for TRAINING DAY! For God's sakes people, training day. not to say the movie wasn't good but did none of these people ever see Malcolm X?) Anyways, I digress. The academy, just like the rest of Hollywood, is a setup. Either way the movie was amazing. I definitely had tears in my eyes at the end of the film. Montenegro is a phenomonal actress. Bravo!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] lunagranger 16 years ago

Fernanda Montenegro has a very consistent career in Brazil, on stage, film and television and is one of the best actresses in the whole world. Anybody that's part of film business could know that after a very superficial research. And it is genetic. Her daughter - Fernanda Torres - is also an excellent actress and has once won the Palme d'Or at Cannes , for Eu Sei que Vou te Amar.

[–] dricelo 18 years ago

For us, Brazilians and movie lovers who know both actors' works and performances, handing the Oscar statuette over to Gwyneth Paltrow was simply outrageous!!!

[–] leforcat 18 years ago

No, sadly, it wasn't outrageous at all.
The Oscars is a US award for US audience and for the US market. American cinema may be the strongest in the world, but only americans - not all, I'm sure - can think of The Oscars as a worldly event, just as they belive the World Series is a global championship of baseball that only happens to be won by an american team every time.
It should really be better if all the 'Foreign-this-or-that'-Oscars were dispensed with - but I accept that it's a good way of introducing some foreign movie people, artists as well as producers or other proffesionals, into the american market - and some foreign cinema to the american public. That's probably OK. Still, the whole show is a Hollywood affair.

Hollywood, though, is not capable of producing a masterpiece of the kind of Central do Brasil, nor is any other filmmaker in the US at this moment - That's the God Awfull Truth, my friends, whoever gets an Oscar.

Saigon... s**t! I'm still only in Saigon...

[–] freakaman24 18 years ago

Well- you make some good points , but there have been plenty of foreign actors\actresses that have won Oscars.

[–] Flight_of_Fantasy 10 years ago

American cinema may be the strongest in the world, but only americans - not all, I'm sure - can think of The Oscars as a worldly event, just as they belive the World Series is a global championship of baseball that only happens to be won by an american team every time.

Hmm, I don't know about that. I think most Americans realize that baseball is mostly popular in America, and that the name "World Series" doesn't actually mean that a bunch of different countries compete against each other. Like how Miss Universe isn't actually a competition to see who the most beautiful woman from every planet in the universe is. Amazing how a woman from Earth wins every time! I bet it's that Russian judge giving the Earthlings a better score.

"He's already attracted to her. Time and monotony will do the rest."

[–] Flight_of_Fantasy 10 years ago

I have to say, it's pretty ignorant to say that Americans are incapable of making good movies. Billy Wilder? Elia Kazan? Preston Sturges? Frank Capra? Martin Scorsese? Steven Spielberg? I mean really, saying no American movie can be as good as a movie from another country is just as bad as Americans who automatically discount "subtitled" movies.

"He's already attracted to her. Time and monotony will do the rest."

[–] g_timoteo 17 years ago

For anyone who saw both films, Brazilian or otherwise, handing the Oscar to Paltrow was outrageous. Outrageous.

I'm American and I was screaming in pain when Fernanda lost. Hers was the greatest performance by an actress I've seen.

[–] jdralston 18 years ago

I didn't see the other movies of that year, but I have seen few acting jobs done as well as Montenegro in this role. And I am American but recently have been digging into the "foreign" genre and finding so many gems and this one stands among the top ones for sure. I am glad it at least got the Academy Award for best foreign film as well. The young man was perfect for the role too. At the moment I am working through the commentary on the DVD.

I agree wholeheartedly with the review here that comments on the setting. The scenes in the station were good but once they start the trip the stark countryside setting sets a mood that really captured me. I could have seen a best director award and ones in other areas given his artistic talent.

I did cry some at the end though not as if something sad had happened. I think it was the ending you wanted; I wished they had said goodbye but probably was better this way and that did make it a bit sad. Somehow you felt (or hoped) that both had good lives to pursue now because of what had happened.

I will not soon forget this movie.

[–] chibonk_cute 18 years ago

That's right. I'm borred with American movies. This movie is the best movie I ever seen. The European movies more full of art, and more touching than American movie. Beside of Central Station, for me the best European movie is Secretos del Corazon, La Lengua de las mariposas, and Amelie.

[–] Nijn1978 18 years ago

I am glad it at least got the Academy Award for best foreign film as well.

Uhh.....I'm sorry to write that unfortunately Central do Brasil didn't win the Oscar for Best Foreign Picture that year. It was nominated but the Oscar in the end went to Roberto Begnigni for Life Is Beautiful.....

[–] Raksha_Keller 18 years ago

Gwenyth can act, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that she is talented, because she is anything but. Even if Fernanda Montenegro wasn't nominated, I think the other three woman, especially Cate deserved to win the Oscar over Paltrow. Not only was Shakespeare in Love one of the dumbest movies ever, a real insult to the Bard, but the acting in the film overall was lacklustre and especially atrocious when it comes to Paltrow.
Ms Montenegro is an astonishing actress and her performance was exquisite in Central do Brasil, and that Oscar may not have gone to her, but she was the only one who truly deserved it.

[–] Edd-N-Furter 18 years ago

I'm happy with Gwyneth's win, but i'd had been happier with Fernanda's win

You have turned me into this...

[–] msfnyc 18 years ago

For people to say that there is never an American movie as good as this one is simply untrue and is just a form of reverse snobbery. That being said, this was one great film. I had heard about it for years and never saw it until last night and honestly, I was stunned. So well done and the cinematography was fantastic, especially once they got out of the city. The storyline and the performances were also stunning. Both Fernanda and the boy were unbelievable. I could not believe that someone so young could give such a performance. Also, to see her go from a woman ripping people off, not sending their letters, to preparing the most important letter of her life was utterly fascinating. I loved this movie. One of the best I have seen.

[–] Sugarsnap 17 years ago

Fernanda Montenegro gave easily one of the best performances of the past decade in Central Station. She is astonishing in this movie, and I have no doubt at all that she fully deserved to win the Oscar over the ridiculously overrated Gwyneth Paltrow. Everyone makes such a big fuss about Cate Blanchett losing to Paltrow that year, but for my money Montenegro was the truly deserving candidate in that shortlist. I suppose it counts as something that a foreign-language performance was even nominated in the first place, given the Academy's blinkered overlooking of great foreign-language performances like Juliette Binoche in Three Colours: Blue or Isabelle Huppert in The Piano Teacher.

[–] mr_felix_d_cat 17 years ago

I don't understand why Shakespeare in Love is dumb. Explain.

[–] fabiank-1 17 years ago

If was Cate the awarded i could swallow... But Paltrow?!!

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME ON!!!

The Oscars is a joke.

[–] makulitmakulit 17 years ago

Not only was the Academy on crack, it was dead drunk too!!!

Montenegro clearly should have one. Of all people she'd lose the award over. It's for an actress in a completely pointless film. Welcome to America. What a shame. This set in stone the requirements to be an Oscar winner:

1. You have to be an American citizen
2. You must be a great at kissing asses

I just saw Central do Brasil this weekend and wondered why it took me too long to discover such a wonderful movie. Never have I been so moved by the characters. I did not watch Dora, I became her. That was how powerful Fernanda Montenegro's acting was. Too bad she's more of a theater and tv actress. I want to watch more of her movies.

[–] nickboywonder 17 years ago

This just goes to show u that an award means nothing. It was and will always continue to be political.Sad but its true. All of those women are talented. Fernanda was the best. In a strange way I am thankful that she was even nominated - this is a big step for the academy to recognize brasil in my opinion. I love to see the filme brasileiro becoming more and more recognized finally!