The delightful Julianne Moore, the most unhollywood hollywood actress. A talent you only think you know. Truth is she has shown up in so many different movies in a varity of roles, and goes on stretching herself in unique roles that would have Juila Roberts running for the hills. Graceful, sexy, tragic, scary, witty, heartbreaking, real and even funny. Just call her legend already!
My Top Ten in reverse order…
10. Clarice Starling – Hannibal (2001)
Yes I dare bear the wrath of SOTL fanboys, because as great as Foster was Moore is just as convincing in the role, adding a more chrismatic, tom boy edge to the role.
9. Nancy Donovan – 30 Rock (2009-2010)
Having seen Moore in hours of heart wretching, darkness, you would be forgiven for thinking that she just wouldn’t be at home in sitcom. But the truth is she whips up a storm as Jack Donaghy’s crazed love intrest. It’s an eletric comic turn, with her strange non-descript New York accent reminding me of the creepy european one from the Big Lebowski.
8. Charley – A Single Man (2009)
The power of a great actor can often be measured by his or her nack for stealing movies when only given a small amount of screen time. While it would be unfair to say that Moore stole this one from Colin Firth who rightly won a BAFTA. In a very slight appearence as Charley the washed up socialite and best friend to Firth’s gay teacher, she gives a truly compelling performance getting accross the desperation of Charley as well as the charm.
7. Barbara Baekland – Savage Grace (2007)
As the icy and manipulating Baekland, Moore reaches down into the pit of human cruelty, and gives one of her most unsettling portrayals yet.
6. Sarah Miles – The End Of the Affair (1999)
This is one of the least sexy visions of a woman spicing up her marriage with a passionate affair. Even in the sex scenes Moore is very restraint, showing the ugly and painful side of cheating, while just giving us a little window into new found lust.
5. Linda Partidge – Magnolia (1999)
Another finely judged performance with plenty of angst, but also a tender side.
4. Laura Brown – The Hours (2002)
The most rewarding of the three actresses in this oscar winner, what we get here is a tight, buttoned up, cooly reserved turn perfectly displaying the pain and sadness of a trapped 1950’s housewife.
3. Amber Waves – Boogie Nights (1997)
In Paul Thomas Anderson’s haunting masterpiece, the theme of family plays a big part, and Moore as Waves is at the heat of this as a bubbly woman hiding a secret. As things begin to crack later in the film the actress gives us both the hopeful and plastic side of Amber while striking a real emotional chord. It’s a truly seemless and unnerving bit of acting.
2. Carol White – Safe (1995)
At her raw, painful best, White is a woman who has trouble breathing at times, and in fact is scared of ever day life. And here we get the full range of emotions, this more than ever saw Moore put herself through the ringer, and embody everything that Carol takes on. This is a suprising non-judgemental piece.
1. Cathy White – Far From Heaven (2002)
The Tour de Force which finally got her the attention she deserves. As White she lights the screen up with a festy, yet humbling take on a woman with nowhere to go, constantly faced with decisions, but only ever given one answer. It’s an intellgent, charming, but ultimately bleak role. She is perfect in a near perfect movie.
