Jessica Lange winning Best Actress for "Blue Sky"

[FilmLoverForever]

I'm so tired of hearing how much Jessica DID NOT deserve this Oscar. She deserved it for BOTH this performance and her distinguished career. Considering she's never played the Hollywood game, she's amassed a wonderful little body of work that stands as a testament to both her talent and humility. One of my biggest pet peeves: "She was so over the top in this." Um, and I'm sure you know a subtle bi-polar nymph. Sometimes I think detractors just can't stand a beautiful woman WITH talent.

[LangeFanForever]

An "old school Hollywood" turn with grit and gravitas which fused the a acting styles of the 50's and 60's with that of the 70's, 80's and 90's, Lange's performance as Carly Marshall in "Blue Sky" is in the vein of such great performances as Elizabeth Taylor's in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Vivien Leigh's in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and Marilyn Monroe in "Bus Stop". She not only gave the best performance this year, she also gave one of the best Academy Award winning performances ever.

[ghostflyable23]

Constance Langdon.....

[Tigerlily21]

Where was her longtime love Sam Shepard?

[lokijordan]

@Tigerlily21 Yeah... interestingly MIA

[TaraAshleyTWILIGHT21]

Winnona deserved this, however Lange is a fantastic actress but this wasnt her best ppepe

[Starkardur]

1994 was some brilliant year for movies and actresses but none of them were nominated. Instead they nominated most basic acting from the most basic films.

[travisj90]

Winona looked really pretty that night!!!! and Jessica is amazing!! I hope she gets an emmy nomination for American Horror Story she is so good on that show!!

[caradecaballo]

outstanding ms jessica lange. once of the very few great actresses of this century.

[MatronicBabe]

My choices for nominees:

Toni Colette "Muriel's Wedding"

Melanie Lynskey "Heavenly Creatures"

Rena Owen "Once Were Warriors"

Sigourney Weaver "Death and the Maiden"

I would add Miranda Richardson to this group because of the 5 nominees she was the only one deserving of the nomination and perhaps a win.

[Starkardur]

@MatronicBabe Muriels Wedding didn´t come out until 1995 in the US and so was The Death and The Maiden.

[wreyoG]

...but she was great in tootsie...and even greater in other movies s hes played...

[wreyoG]

this movie is just as forgotten as the fact that jesisca lang won an oscar 16 years ago...

[beinndorainjames]

Timeless, ageless, breathtakingly beautiful. That is Jessica Lange. And what an actress.

[saltwatercb]

@attrcted2sin I TOTALLY agree with everything you stated. I saw this film in the theatre in the fall of 1994 and was completely awestruck by her performance. She and Tommy Lee and Powers Boothe were all amazing in this very compelling film.

[Misteron20]

I consider her performance to be one of the greatest by a leading actress. She totally deserved this honour for her astonishing turn.

[SHRINA17]

@attrcted2sin --I totally agree with you! Have you seen her in AMERICAN HORROR STORY? She is incredible!!!

[JoeyTatangelo]

Jodie Foster DESERVED IT.

[Starkardur]

one of the worst oscar line up ever. It wasn´t really bad year for actresses but the wrong performances were nominated

[Branigan4ever]

@Starkardur Bull! Jessica deserved to win.

[cerulean202]

JODIE FOSTER's performance in Nell was ground breaking... a dead woman’s daughter, conceived by a rapist. Raised in an isolated cabin & has to face other people for the first time. She developed a language from her mother's aphasic speech after a stroke.

JESSICA LANGE's performance in Blue Sky was brilliant.. free spirited wife of a nuclear engr. moved from Hawaii to isolated base in Alabama. She spiraled to severe depression & slowly being suffocated by domestic torpor and encroaching age.

[captainjjb84]

Winona Ryder!!!

[jckfmsincty]

I really like Lange, but this was a very weak year for the Best Actress category.

[Bienville25]

@jckfmsincty I agree, but I think the correct decision was made. Jessica Lange was brilliantly bat-shit crazy in "Blue Sky". She deserved it

[Branigan4ever]

@jckfmsincty ...Apparently, you never saw "Blue Sky".

[badalnow]

shitty year for actresses anyway - no-one was great. funny how she sniggers after each shitty thing.

[badalnow]

shitty year for actresses anyway - no-one was great.

[teddybananafish]

No one remembers any of these movies or their characters... Blue Sky? Really? You know who everyone instantly remembers? Jenny... Why wasn't Robin Wright nominated?

[zim83]

@teddybananafish Because a) she was a supporting character; b) the movie was crap and c) she was quite lame in it.

[Kalamac14]

@attrcted2sin

Very well put!

[zim83]

Better performances that year: Linda Fiorentino, Sigourney Weaver, Toni Collette, Iréne Jacob...

[RenanAiam]

Is Sharon Stone or Diane Lane that beautiful woman in the audience?

[HJGOlun261190]

@RenanAiam

That's Sharon Stone, who's one of the most beautiful women on Earth.

[johnmcd7]

I just saw this film again, after many years, and Ms. Lange's performance is without a doubt one for the ages. She absolutely embodied the outrageousness and fragility of the character she portrays! Beautiful!

[tammyd963]

JODIE FOSTER SHOULD OF WON!

[cinematicaliente]

Sigourney Weaver should have been nominated for her performance in Death and the Maiden...

[DarioB0y]

i havent seen blue sky but winona's performance was uncredible.

[popsyzoom]

well deserved

[Yahslick89]

I saw Blue Sky this weekend and it was amazing!! Jessica Lange's character was so crazy she was actually normal. The movie itself was very interesting as well!

[DrewBarrymoreFan967]

Kathy Bates should have been nominated that year

[spiralshaman]

Lange's performance in Blue Sky was definitely a good performance, and it was definitely worthy of being nominated. But the best actress that year IMO was Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction, who of course couldn't be nominated because that movie had aired on cable before being released to theaters. Also, Rena Owen in the little-seen movie called Once Were Warriors was good too.

[Tigerlily21]

@spiralshaman I agree. Linda Fiorentino was BRILLIANT. Too bad she was disqualified due to some stupid rule about her film airing briefly on HBO first because she was the best actress that year.

[RoLorenz]

I think Jodie was not bad in "Nell" at all! How could you play this role better?! -- Her problem was only her face: the face of a Hollywood Star. THAT mad her noncredible. She acted as good as her role allowed.

[Tigerlily21]

@RoLorenz That's true. If it were a new face, someone not famous who gave that performance, people would have appreciated it better. People just hate on it for ignorant reasons, because her character spoke in a weird language and people can't get out of their minds "it's Jodie Foster speaking a weird language". Her fame worked against her.

[rootby]

she has this charming way to speak and such a good actress! but oh my god, meryl streep is uncomparable!

[levanyzzuf]

Should have been nominated: Juliette Binoche (Blue), Irene Jacob (Red), Crissy Rock (Ladybird, Ladybird), Linda Fiorentino (The Last Seduction), Winona Ryder (Little Women).

[Tigerlily21]

@levanyzzuf I think Juliette Binoche in Blue was from 1993. Great performance.

[rootby]

meryl is uncomparable.

[mnorth1964]

There is only one actor comparable to Lange alive today and that is Meryl Streep. She's awesome.

[deusexmachina85]

Excuce me, who? Lange? For what? None compares with outrageous performance of Foster in Nell. She reached there zenith of acting skills. Her performance was magic. If she wins it would be her 3rd Oscar in 7years. Members of the Academy lacked courage to such a step.

[jlalewicz]

@deusexmachina85 You must not have seen 'Blue Sky'

[zim83]

@deusexmachina85 Please, Foster was cringeworthy in "Nell", and the film was crap.

[Kalamac14]

@zim83 I agree!

[hardsam68]

@deusexmachina85 bullshit, Nell was a terrible film and an even worse performance, it was laughable, Foster should not have won the first two oscars, god forbid she ever wins a third, they werent lacing in courage, they got it totally right

[jglammi]

lovely Finnish-American lady. (from northern minnesota)

[euginam91]

when the hell will tommy lee jones win an oscar?

[94Bballpat]

@euginam91 he won best supporting actor for the fugitive the year before

[funnorthwestboy]

I love, love, love Jessica Lange - will watch anything she's in.

[desasmujeres]

Such an incredible shame she didn't win for "Frances", one of the best female character performance ever. Unbelievable. I still wonder.

[desasmujeres]

Such an incredible shame she didn't win for "Frances", one of the best female character performance ever. Unbelievable. I still wonder.

[fatima1009]

This was a consolation prize for Frances, even though she won supporting for Tootsie.

[stradivarius79]

An amazing actress!!!

[godoylego]

Such restlessness in her demeanor. And such genuineness in her words. One in a million, Jessica!!

[IDIOTES1982]

A real deal actress

A serious artist and a great woman. I like her

I love her role in 1999 Hush with Debi Mazar and Gwyneth Paltrow : -  ))

Madonna is a fan too!

[thmspierson]

There is always some backlash when a little movie that no one saw wins awards. This is a prime example (and it doesn't happen often), when the Academy got it right. Jessica Lange in Blue Sky is unbelievably powerful, sexy and simply magnificent. Her performance belongs in the same company as Julie Christie in Afterglow and Elizabeth Taylor in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, she is simply that good.

[Tomcat2121]

This movie was Jessica Lange's best role EVER...she portrayed this woman as sexy and vulnerable, troubled and edgy, and despite all her faults, eminently likeable

[Tigerlily21]

where was her fine man of many years Sam Shepard?

[Tigerlily21]

I didn't like Lange's peformance. What a weak year. The people I liked weren't even nominated though: Kate Winslet in Heavenly Creatures and the one that should have won: Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction

[thmspierson]

@Tigerlily21 I agree that Winslet and Fiorentino should have been nominated. However, I disagree with you statement about Lange. Fiorentino was not eligible for a nomination because of some stupid Acadmey rule. The Last Seduction played on cable before going to the theater so because of that the movie was not eligible for Academy Award nominations.

[jwh1999]

I watched Blue Sky for the first tme today, and Jessica blew me away, and she was so hot and sexy in that movie too!!

[brandonhytr]

winona ryder shouldve won

[hardsam68]

Jessica was amazing AND long overdue.....Ryder was in an ensemble and thats what hurt her chances...a truly luminous presence and just as good as Streep and Close

[solredoc]

jessica lange in one of the few actresess who can compete with the hollywood golden era big stars ( davis, hepburn, hayworth, crafword...)

[fordrmani]

blue sky is a boring movie

[MTVMANN]

Jessica Lange and Tommy Lee Jones starred in the T.V. version of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" too.

[soldierinrain]

ryder should hav won it.

[soldierinrain]

ryder should have won..

[wazonu]

the Oscars are soo much Fun!!

[broadjumper1]

Blue Sky was an odd little film, but Lange was great as was Tommy Lee Jones...

[raindee29]

WINONA RYDER's performance was phenomenal in Little Women... she should have won...

[toplaycool21]

@raindee29 agreed

[koln1996]

NO!!!!!!!

[Branigan4ever]

@raindee29 ..That's a CRAPPY thing to write on a post honoring Jessica.

[shopritewhisper]

Jessica Lange blew them all off the screen wih this peformance!

[cherton]

Jessicas great but you look at her recent pictures and shes just another woman who has fallen victim to hollywoods plastic surgery addiction. Shame really cos she didnt need to do it.

[Heirloom9]

I think jodi should've won

what she did in Nell was just amazing

[madamelove]

I wish Wynona would have won

[ooks]

winona ryder should've won!

[GALWAY123]

jessica lange and jodie foster are SO fuckin HOT !

[Celluloidkid]

" Blue Sky" was completed in 1991, but because of a bankruptcy by the original studio, Orion Pictures, it sat on the shelf until 1994.

Sad that director Tony Richardson didn't live long enough to see Jessica win!

[captchaossega]

@Celluloidkid That's the main reason they gave it to her IMHO. Purely political reasons and the fact she was probably overdue. It was a very week oscar year with no surprises. Heck Tom Hanks was basically assured the oscar as soon as the public saw Forest Gump ; the most overrated movie in hollywood history.

Lion King or Pulp Fiction should have won best picture that year. What a weak show.

[Gunnarsas]

Good actresses but incredibly weak films and mediocre performances. They were all like what are we even doing here.

[Musclehustle]

Miranda Richardson should have won!

[mensahcarrelle]

It's too bad Irène Jacob wasn't nominated for her performance in THREE COLOURS : RED(1994)

[zim83]

Very true. It should have been Fiorentino and Jacob instead of Ryder and Sarandon.

[lokijordan]

@zim83 For YEARS I've heard about this stunning Fiorentino performance which was the superior Best Actress work which should have bested Lange's in "Blue Sky.' Intrestingly, Lange has landed/created other interesting roles since her "Blue Sky" win. Fiorentino... umm, not so much. Don't get me wrong- what little I've seen of Fio's work I've admired and respected. However, Ms Lange is cruising toward legendary.

[zim83]

By the way, the winner that year should have been Linda Fiorentino for "The Last Seduction". She got various critics' awards, but was excluded from Oscar competition due to the movie's previous release on cable.

[dufresny01]

Oh, Fiorentino was extraordinary in The Last Seduction! And sexy too!

But at least Lange was phenomenal and still in her prime, even if the film was made four years before. That she—and others—had few opportunities over the past 20 years to perform in serious roles is one of the strongest indictments of the American film industry that one could make.

[frodoireland]

Exactly that was a brilliant performance and she was excluded. They should never have released it on cable.

[ReiHaruno]

Los dos Oscar de Jessica Lange son totalmente inmerecidos.

[kattybatty]

just noticed that Jessica is sitting directly behind Susan Sarandon.

[frodoireland]

Winona or Jodie should have won.

[kangaroosbraun]

bullshit

[Kalamac14]

Foster(who I usually love) was cringe worthy.I never bought Ryder in a costume movie.Sarandon was a filler.If anyone could have beat Lange it was the superb Richardson,playing a similar role but not as warm .Lange was the the best!

[TheNoirNoir]

@Kalamac14 Sarandon? Filler? She was excellent in 'The Client.'

[Valapaca]

Why do they have to show Sharon Stone? We rather see more of Jessica.

[kangaroosbraun]

her and Jessica are best friends..

[Valapaca]

Blue Sky was such an underrated movie!

Jessica deserved it 100%!

[kangaroosbraun]

If Josie Foster had won for her ridiculous over the top performance in Nell she would have three oscars which would have been a joke. Jessica should have won for Frances AND Sweet Dreams, Susan was in a commercial film. Thansk god Foster didnt get a third oscar. This was the right choice

[theHobbes2]

Thanks so much for posting!!!!

[zim83]

Weak, weak, weak year. And "Nell" was a joke, please, don't even mention Jodie Foster should have won. Oh, and it's funny that Jessice won the 1994 Oscar for a movie filmed back in 1991.

[ggfanjase]

Winona should've won it in a cakewalk. Weak year though.

[Kalamac14]

So thrilled that the brilliant Miss. Lange won her second Oscar that night. I love when the audience cheers.

[outinsider]

One of my all time favorites and an Oscar deserved.

[henrysinaga]

She seems pleased, unlike when she won her first Oscar.

[blehgoaway]

Let's be honest, this was not a strong year historically for Actresses. Hence the Jessica Lange win. She was brilliant in Frances, however.

[AJthemoviebuff]

This has got to be one of, if not THE weakest Actress lineup ever. Even though Lange wasn't as amazing as she usually is in other roles as shef was in "Blue Sky", because of the lineup, the win works as a career award.

Despite this, I feel Miranda Richardson deserved it more on merit.

[listentome94]

"Blue Sky" was made in 1991 so she didn't deserve to win that year anyway.

Jodie Foster should have won, definately

[YT0Vits]

1:07 Sharon Stone!She and Jessica were in BROKEN FLOWERS.

[levanyzzuf]

What a dismal group of nominees.

[GWTW4EVR]

I know, right?

[Tigerlily21]

I agree. This year was weak for best actress.

[kangaroosbraun]

so was the year Helen Mirren won...Lange deserved this no end

[BearP89]

She is so Sexy in Blue Sky

[oscarboy94]

Susan Sarandon should have won.

[VTMCompany]

oops...we thought jodie foster would get oscar #3 that night.

[josephmvalentino]

JODIE FOSTER SHOULD HAVE WON

[ririssa]

So true.