Hilary Swank Defeats Annette Bening | Best Actress Oscar 2000

[@emillion4470]

There's also what I call the "I can do that factor". Remember, actors nominate actors; they always consider the degree of difficulty in a role. I bet many could see themselves or someone else playing Annette's role and doing it just a well or even better. Not the same with Hillary's - the character is very specific, rarely examined or attempted (if ever) AND a huge career risk . For those reasons, you could argue that there is no choice but to be in awe and reward such a performance.

[@TheAwardsContender]

That is an EXCELLENT point! Thank you so much for watching!

[@55555gino]

I agree with that , but for that reason, Glenn Close should’ve won for Albert Nobbs. She was fantastic as well

[@aagold76]

I always thought Annette's role in American Beauty was more supporting than lead- had she been in that category- she probably would have won.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!!

[@brajeshsingh2391]

this is the reason. Her performance in American Beauty is more supporting than lead. The real lead out and out was Kevin Spacey and the movie revolved around him. And he took that Oscar. But what a great speech by Michael Caine. The best acceptance speech I have heard. The Oscar goes to but I am not the winner. It really takes modesty and humility to give such a speech.

[@davidao2551]

I don't know that she could've beaten Angelina She took everything

[@aagold76]

@@davidao2551 because it was a weak field- Annette would have taken some if not all had she been in that category. She was the number 2 pick in the lead- being #1 in supporting wouldn't have been a stretch. People thought Angelina was weird, may have been looking for someone else given the option.

[@ChrolliForever]

@@aagold76 I never thought about it, but if ahe really is supporting? Would be a slamdunk win indead.

[@orphicuranus]

Love the Kate winslet and Jennifer Connelly reference. Jennifer getting snubbed instead of winning for Requiem for a dream and House of sand fog is the biggest crime ever.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed. Thanks for watching!

[@renan.csmaia]

I hope they win: - GLENN CLOSE - ANNETTE BENING - AMY ADAMS - JESSICA CHASTAIN - MICHELLE PFEIFFER - MICHELLE WILLIAMS - SIGOURNEY WEAVER

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed. Hopefully someday. Thanks for watching!

[@andressalgado4558]

Sameee

[@ceylawo]

Diane lane also 😘

[@nirvikhazra7258]

well chastain did it

[@davidao2551]

Jessica done I think it'd be hard for Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Pfeiffer to do it, they haven't been nominated in so long and don't get juicy roles nowadays

[@renan.csmaia]

It must be horrible to lose to the same person twice...

[@TheAwardsContender]

I know, right??

[@aameyadevansh4246]

"Spacey, now better known for making Christmas videos"💀😂

[@cooperwesley1536]

Wonderful. I felt horribly for Bening when she lost to Swank, but I did agree that Swank was the most deserving (both times, actually). This video reminds me of two other Oscar races that had a similar vibe: 1) The 1950 race that gave Judy Holliday the win over Bette Davis (with most of the blame going to Ann Baxter, alas); and 2) Streep's win over Jessica Lange ("Frances"). Streep deserved it, of course, but in any other year, Lange would have been a near unanimous winner for her portrayal of Frances Farmer... she was literally that good! It's criminal that Lange's best performance ever is now almost completely forgotten by most serious film fans.

[@TheAwardsContender]

So true!! Excited to make videos about both those races down the road. Thanks for watching!

[@sharonalbanese8084]

Oh gosh, thank you for reminding me about the sublime Jessica Lange in Frances. I adored that performance. So happy she eventually won an oscar.

[@cooperwesley1536]

@@sharonalbanese8084 Yeah... 2 actually!

[@swikarkalden]

Thank you very much for this video!!! Hilary Swank's win for Boys Don't Cry is hands down one of the most deserved victory in Oscar's history and easily in my Top 5 Best Actress wins. I find it interesting about your point about Annette Bening being cartoonish in American Beauty, I'm of the opinion that her character being the unlikeable 'nagging irritating wife' put her at a disadvantage against Swank who portrayed a sympathetic 'tragic figure' who also happened to be a real life victim. I think that was also a reason that swayed voters to vote for Swank alongside the sheer brilliance of her work as Brandon Teena.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Excellent point! Thanks so much for watching!!

[@FernandoGonzalezJay]

She should’ve gotten a nomination for film stars don’t die in Liverpool. What an amazing performance and good movie. 20th cent women also should’ve gotten nominated

[@lizd.8655]

This is the one I've been waiting for! Your breakdown for the reasons why Hillary won was amazing and makes so much sense. If an actor wants to be in the supporting category, would a studio allow it? I'm still waiting for a WOC to win lead actress but they have more luck in supporting but I don't want that to be the only option. It's a shame that Hillary's career hasn't blossomed the way it should after 2 Oscars but she's right, one in a lifetime roles are rare and she was fortunate that lightning struck twice

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you for your insightful comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the video. ❤️❤️❤️

[@Jadewizard]

Oh wow! I love that you’re doing this! These are topics I’m incredibly knowledgeable about and never can really find anyone in my circle of people to geek out with. I’ve been following the Oscars and their history for almost 30 years! I remember this night very well! Such a great year of nominees. I had been ballsy enough to predict Swank for the win. She had the lion’s share of critics prizes, Critics Choice and the Golden Globe. Bening had SAG and BAFTA in a Best Picture contender. I think the passion for Swank’s performance was stronger than the steamroll zeitgeist. Which incidentally, how I viewed her 2004 win for Million Dollar Baby. But poor Annette. Someday… someday! Lito

[@TheAwardsContender]

I'm so happy you enjoyed my video! Thanks for your wonderful comment, and I hope you enjoy my many Oscar videos to come!

[@Jadewizard]

@@TheAwardsContender Absolutely! I look forward to engaging in fruitful discussions. It’s so much fun!

[@juandavidgomezcaycedo7899]

Amazing video! I think we all need one about 1951's best actrees for Judy Holliday over Gloria Swanson and Bette Davisñ

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, I will get to that one eventually, a FASCINATING race. Thanks for watching!

[@thedivination]

Really been enjoying your uploads so far, Brian. Def think your YT channel is on the verge of taking off!

[@TheAwardsContender]

I hope so! Thanks so much for watching!!

[@outinsider]

Hilary Swank also won because she had an impressive professional narrative. Everyone knew through previous interviews with Swank that she came from nothing and that her and her mother lived in their car for a while trying to make ends meet in California. She found acting, nurtured her craft from working class background, and found her way to Beverly Hills 90210 and the Karate Kid. She was seen as your typical young actor with a chance of a career with the followings of television and trendy sequels. With Boys Don't Cry, she showed that she was more than just a television dramatic actor, but one that could sell a feature film by name recognition and who portrayed a real person. The political climate was waking up to the realities of LBGTQIA+ life given the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998, not to mention the professional outing and punishment of Ellen DeGeneres. The film told a story of a murder similar to Shepard's in association, and no one had any empathetic dramatic understanding of trans life on screen that didn't fall into heterosexist stereotypes of murderous drag queens and serial killer transgender folk. Hillary's empathetic portrayal of Brandon Teena wasn't a stereotype. Hilary found a real person for audiences to see transgender folk as real. While industry practice still struggles with authentic representation that even Kimberly Pierce said that she wanted a trans actor to portray Brandon, Hollywood box office insisted on someone with name recognition. To her peers in the Academy, this was seen as an artistic risk, as Hilary had minor name recognition. Sometimes going independent when you have some following, Hilary's being good television ratings and fair box office receipts, is enough to convince the Academy to vote for an investment of talent, especially seen in a new light. The Academy loves new performances like these. I think of Sally Field in Norma Rae as an example, and Sally had a harder climb considering the industry's attitude towards television. Hilary is a beneficiary of Sally's work. Hilary was the first of her young generation at the time to receive industry recognition this way. Reese Witherspoon would soon follow. That being said, Annette Bening was seasoned with her previous Oscar nominations, and for the longest time, it seemed that the Academy would not reward her on account of her being connected to Warren Beatty and not wanting to fall into industy nepotism. I would have felt a tie was necessary. Same with 2004. There is a chance that if Annette Bening does have the strongest performance in a "weak" year, she may win. Right now, it seems the Academy is remembering previously nominated well. But to be honest, I want Viola Davis to get Best Actress sooner than Glenn Close and Annette Bening. Viola has a lot more to prove in an industry that does not favor her skin color, whereas Glenn and Annette only have the age factor. I want all three to win, but the industry has to offer more opportunities for women of color, even though women of color may or may not have an easier time creating their own. thanks for reading this.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you for your thorough analysis, this is fantastic! And thanks so much for watching!

[@cvill03]

FUN FACT: Madonna was supposed to be MUSIC OF THE HEART & was deep into pre-production with her violin training but dropped cause she & Wes Craven had "creative differences"

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

There should be a video to how Madonna could’ve actually had a better acting career if she didn’t let her ego get in the way and I say this as a massive Madonna stan

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, I’ve read about that! Wild. Thanks for watching!

[@garethjd78]

Her biopic is stalled - and it looks like a control issues are to blame - with re-writes and possible budget issues. Hopefully surrenders some control for her own benefit, and I say that as a huge Madonna stan

[@AtlasBlizzard]

It was still dumb that the Academy snubbed her for Evita, when she won the Golden Globe for that role. Same as with Jim Carrey, maybe the Academy just didn't like Madonna.

[@colinwhitfield8627]

Great content! Well thought, well presented, well spoken!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you so much!! Means a lot ❤️

[@chriswald7700]

Though everyone was concentrating on the deja-vu situation on the 2005 Oscars, I find that the best performance in that category was actually delivered by Imelda Staunton for her subtle portrayal of "Vera Drake".

[@ahmetilbeyaynekin5616]

Thank you very much for handling this issue. I also loved Hilary Swank's performance in 'Boys Don't Cry'. But Annette Bening in 'American Beauty' was simply amazing. Of course, Annette Bening will win an Oscar one day, of course.😇🤩🙏🧚‍♀

[@chroniclesofalivingdeadgirl]

Bening was actually fortunate to be even nominated. Her role was a supporting role in that movie

[@TheAwardsContender]

True!

[@1marilynable]

I watch be kind rewind a lot because I know a lot more about classic Hollywood and actresses more than I do current ones. Would you ever consider doing older Oscar category analysis? I've always wanted someone to do the 1950 Oscars. Although that's not very original, I would love to break down exactly why Gloria Swanson didn't win. Between that and saving private Ryan those are the 2 loses I have such a hard time understanding lol. Love your content.

[@kellie8468]

I love that channel. Some I am interested in seeing are Sophia Loren winning for Two Women, Simone Signoret Room at the Top, Brie Larson Room, Charlize Theron Monster, Marion Cotillard La Vie en Rose and Ingrid Bergman Gaslight. Well the list goes on and on!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, I will be exploring older Oscar categories, too, so stay tuned. Thanks for watching!

[@DavidStevenson-yh8sb]

Losses (duh)

[@frankmorelli9366]

Great video! Hopefully, Bening will get an overdue Oscar soon. If you are interested in doing so, I would love to see your take on why Glenn Close hasn’t won an Oscar yet. She is possibly the most overdue actress we have!

[@TheAwardsContender]

The video about Close is coming! Stay tuned!

[@frankmorelli9366]

Awesome!

[@DavidStevenson-yh8sb]

Ms Close should have won for Dangerous Liasons (period)

[@Nobody-nv6ds]

Swank gave one of the greatest performances ever captured on screen. She obviously couldn't play the role today, but 23 years ago... Boys Don't Cry changed and saved lives, no doubt about that. You don't really hear a lot of transgender people having issues with Swank. That's how important and groundbreaking the movie is. I admire Bening, should've won the Oscar for 20th Century Women.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Excellent point! Thanks for watching!!

[@Nobody-nv6ds]

@@TheAwardsContender I love your channel, so it's my pleasure. Keep going!

[@oscarlover100]

That loss for American Beauty must have been brutal for Bening who saw Spacey triumph over Washington and the film modestly sweeping the ceremony. But Swank was favored from the beginning with her winning all the critics awards and the Golden Globe. It was only SAG that snubbed her. If American Beauty had been placed in the Comedy/Musical category at the Globes, Bening could have gotten a bigger boost. But it also feels like her character and persona were turnoffs for the heavily male academy and yes, like you said her screen time was an issue. This also doomed Spaceck in 2001, Christie in 2007, and Davis in 2011.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, excellent points all around. Thanks for watching!

[@hadbetterdays]

OMG I immediately clicked as soon as this appeared in my timeline! Very explanatory and exhaustive, thank you so much. I'd probably add - and this is not to diminish your incredible essay at all! - that the reason why Swank won the 2nd time is that she had the strongest film, which not only won an Oscar for her, but swept that year's ceremony taking home Best Picture. Being Julia, a film I adore, wasn't widely seen as Million Dollar Baby was and, although Bening gives an astonishing performance as Julia Lambert, little could it do against such a giant hit like Eastwood's film. Yes, technically Swank managed to overcome that with Boys Don't Cry and ultimately win - but that was a dramatic, transformative performance, and we know how much AMPAS loves those performances. And Bening was the casualty of that. If that were up to me, I would give Hilary Swank (whose both Oscars are quite well-deserved) the Oscar for Boys Don't Cry and Bening the Oscar for Being Julia: it's such a good performance it's a study in brilliant acting, a completely unmissable one. I think the weight of having won 2 Oscars and the scarse options for great roles played a heavy part in Hilary Swank's career downluck. And Bening is in her 60s now: hopefully, they will both find good material and get back to work in great projects quite soon.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, agreed, and thank you for your insights!! You’re the best!

[@cdnhank]

Let's talk about "Being Julia" for Benning- even for "Valmont" - she just has a presence that few can endure through a career. That is Talent to be recognized 👏

[@TheAwardsContender]

She’s the best!

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

Hilary swank definitely deserved the first Oscar but the second time for million dollars baby? Either Annette or espacially Kate should’ve won their first Oscar that year

[@TheAwardsContender]

Excellent point. Thanks for watching!

[@gothicjello0154]

I agree that Swank’s performance are better than Bening in both years but i also love Bening and I’m really rooting for her long overdue Oscar win soon

[@TheAwardsContender]

I hope it’s coming soon, she deserves a win! Thanks for watching!

[@marcochen9117]

love this series! hope this keeps going!

[@TheAwardsContender]

You better believe it will. Thanks for watching!

[@Chinmoy214]

Hiliary swank deserves both awards

[@TheAwardsContender]

Great roles!

[@rudulph785]

BEEN WAITING FOR THIS. I've debated this actress race for my entire life. Well, Annette Bening's performance is one of my favorite, or favorite actress performances ever with Kevin Spacey being my favorite, but Hilary Swank was so good! I can't decide man. Anyway, GET ANNETTE BENING AN OSCAR TIME IS RUNNING OUT PLEASE GOD.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed!! Thanks for watching!

[@rayyazzie1419]

Still wish Kate took it for this over The Reader😭

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, she is amazing in Eternal Sunshine. Thanks for watching!

[@rg9561]

Love your videos 🙌🙌🙌 glad that hillary won she was incredible. I love Annette Bening as she was also amazing in american beauty. honestly think she should of been put in supporting she doesn't have a ton of screen time especially compared to spacey, She probably would of won then or had a much greater chance.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Great point! Thank you so much for watching!!

[@renan.csmaia]

Isabelle Huppert lost the Cesar 3 times for Isabelle Adjani before she won her first in 1995.

[@davidao2551]

Isabelle Adjani is always great too

[@arontamas5639]

Both of the Oscars Hilary earned in my opinion, maybe some little more for Boys don't cry, that was such a huge mile stone in LMBTQ movie history plus the fact that an actress with then no celebrity status or Oscar history in an indie movie could make it, it's fascinating!

[@josephlight7863]

This subject is long overdue to be addressed about Benning v. Swank! I was more upset the second time around because "Being Julia" was Benning's best work, and utilized all of her talents as an actress. Boys Don't Cry was a transformative role for Swank, and made her an Academy Sweetheart. Personally, as a gay boy at the time, Boys Don't Cry was hard to watch and but Swank was perfect in that role; acting the role with dignity and viscerally. Love your insight and perspective addressed on this video! Looking forward to the next.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed, Swank was perfect in Boys Don't Cry, what a performance. Thanks for watching!

[@khongmaithikhog5624]

BDC was really heart-breaking

[@youisastar3246]

​@@TheAwardsContender this video wouldn't even have been made if cis, straight actors weren't playing the roles that they were not meant for. While Hilary Swank and Chloë Sevigny (though her character was not gay) didn't look like their characters, they, especially Chloë, were effortlessly able to become them. But again, if the roles of LGBTQ+ were given to them then the actor playing Hilary's role wouldn't be in the Best Actress category.

[@noaamouyal1395]

Interesting observation about Tom Cruise. Made me realize hasn't attempted any Oscar worthy roles since Magonlia....I guess he gave up and would rather make money?

[@albalbuena6478]

The scene where she hugs Lester’s clothes gets me every time. I always tear up. That was the moment that showed that Carolyn really loved Lester.

[@adagiobreeze8493]

Annette Bening tamed the notorious Bachelor Warren Beaty, that’s way better than winning an Oscar

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha, so true!

[@Bryan4Hillary]

Winslet deserved it this year. The MDB year. Swank absolutely did for BDC,

[@TheAwardsContender]

That would have been an amazing win! Thanks for watching!

[@samsong24]

Bening should have been nominated and won for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool.

[@TheAwardsContender]

YES, that was an incredible performance. Thanks for watching!

[@kandorstevenson]

Annette Bening🙄for sure. But Hilary Swank gave also an excellent performance. Either way, I don't believe Annette's career will suffer because of that. She will remain the ⚔tour de force that she is on the screen and 🤗delight us with many wonderful performances.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Absolutely!! Thanks for watching!

[@mikegonzalez503]

Haley joel osment is still the most memorable of the five supporting actor roles

[@nik1987o]

found channel and i LOVE IT!!! would love to see a video about Laura Linney and... timothee chalament... i feel Laura is so underrated.... and timothee has so many great movies but no Oscar...

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, will absolutely get to both of them. Stay tuned!

[@kellie8468]

I might have preferred Kate Winslet in The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ( one of my favorite movies) or Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake over Swank in Million Dollar Baby. Swank however was the right winner for Boys Don’t Cry it’s a cut above and is one of the all time best performances to win the Oscar. Good point that Annette Bening might have benefited from going to the supporting category it was that kind of performance that might have worked better in support. Time wise she is similar to Patricia Neal winning best actress for Hud but Annette was going to have a tough time against Hilary Swank that year for the kind of role Swank has and Swank absolutely deserved it. Supporting actress that year Annette or Toni Collette ( Sixth Sense) would be my preferences . While Jolie does a solid job it’s a performance that gets to be too much for me after a while sometimes less is more. That happens sometimes with a stand out performance it gets a lot of attention and praise but it wears a little thin.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you for your comments!! I’m so happy you enjoyed the video. ❤️

[@tekkieman]

Let’s be real. The academy likes to feel as though they’re ahead of the curve when it comes to social issues and pat themselves on the back. As remarkable as Swanks performance is, I feel like it could have been less so and she still would have won.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Great point. Thanks for watching!

[@kylejohnson6867]

“Now all that needs to happen is for Bening to win her first [goshdarn] Oscar!” Truer words have never been spoken.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha, yes!!

[@timgriffin3368]

I'm sure you were just reciting But Morris not Maureece (pronunciation) I know, whatever but I really loved that movie, 1 of 5 I believe.

[@tynielsen]

“On the evening of February 27, 2005..” My birthday!! Also personally I think Annette Bening should have won for American Beauty, but congrats to Hilary. She was amazing in Freedom Writers!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed!! Thanks for watching!

[@BFA100]

The Great Outdoors came out on June 17, 1988.

[@TheAwardsContender]

You’re right! Thanks for the correction. Not sure why I always think of that film as a 1987 release.

[@Starkardur]

Janet McTeer was my second favorite performance of the nominees. Small indie film that cost about 3 times less than Boys Don't Cry to make

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, she was great. Thanks for watching!

[@fitnessfreak7851]

Awesome job!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks so much!

[@brybry3633]

The End of the Affair is one of my fave films of all time!

[@TheAwardsContender]

I’m so glad! It’s a terrific film. Thanks for watching!

[@AtlasBlizzard]

I'd say Michael Clarke Duncan came the closest to winning Best Supporting Actor for The Green Mile. I haven't heard of one person who watched that movie whom he didn't make cry.

[@timgriffin3368]

I can't believe she did it twice. Both times it was Annette and second time. 23rd hour, out comes Million Dollar Baby 👶 though I think she was more apt to win for Being Julia, stunning performance

[@TheAwardsContender]

Absolutely, thanks for watching!

[@winglee1976]

Oh I was very disappointed and upset to see Bening lose to Swank again! It must have been a wtf just happened night for Bening. I had been a huge fan hers since Bugsy, and I also loved her in American Beauty, The Kids are All Right, The Grifters, The Face of Love, 20th Century Women, and Being Julia which I thought it had all the ingredients of an Oscar winning role and performance. I feel that Swank was very lucky and got so much love from the academy that post Million Dollar Baby’s second Oscar, her career had gone downhill. I feel that Bening will get another shot at the Oscar next year with the biopic of Diana Nyad,

[@TheAwardsContender]

YES, feeling good about Bening next year, too, fingers crossed!

[@iago9311]

Imelda should won this year

[@KrueMann1992]

Janet McTeer won the Globe. She definitely had a shot, despite being the “dark horse” shot she still was in the race. NBR win too also helped the profile of a win for her.

[@TheAwardsContender]

YES, she did win the Golden Globe for Comedy / Musical, thanks for the correction / oversight. And thanks so much for watching!

[@TheNathanj2009]

Imelda Staunton was hands down the best performance in 2004

[@TheAwardsContender]

That performance was phenomenal! Thanks for watching!

[@marrmart7690]

Thank you ❤

[@milostewart8738]

Swank deserved both of her wins. She was amazing in Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby.

[@TheAwardsContender]

She’s absolutely fantastic!

[@aajkpa5525]

I agree

[@monicamerle1417]

20 years later, Annette keeps on working but...where has been Hillary Swank lately??? 🤔 in zero movies. An overrated actress, I watched 90210 and she was as mediocre as the rest of the cast. Annette was in the wrong category, her role is supporting actress in American Beauty and surely she would have beat Jolie

[@Aarona13760]

Thanks for this - I think Swank gives the stronger performance - especially in 2000. I am sure Bening will win at some point.

[@Robert-zx2ir]

You should do an elusive Oscar vid for Bening. I wanted her to win for The Kids Are All Right, because she was an older actress and unless you’re Meryl Streep, it’s hard for an older actress to snag an Oscar and she gave a superlative performance in The Kids Are All Right.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, I’ll definitely get to that one!

[@sontagtwist714]

I absolutely disagree with your take on Swank's second Oscar. She's good in the film but, in all honesty, I can't say that she delivered a better performance than Imelda Staunton. Staunton's performance is one for the ages. It's absolutely stunning, honest, heartbreaking work by an actor at the top of her game. Swank is good but unremarkable.

[@kellie8468]

I agree Vera Drake is incredible . Imelda gave a performance you don’t see very often. I didn’t think I was watching an actress but a woman named Vera Drake . That moment when she realizes the other woman got money it’s nothing that would have occurred to Vera . So real!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Very true. Staunton is INCREDIBLE in Vera Drake. Million Dollar Baby just had all the buzz that awards season, and Swank got swept up in it until the end. Thanks for watching!

[@renan.csmaia]

Imelda smiled in the first half and cried in the second half of the movie.

[@singstreetcar5881]

Boys dont cry is such a powerful movie

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed, thanks for watching!

[@lindas.martin2806]

So under rated, she is a marvelous actress. The grifters was fantastic and she just gets better and better.

[@issakelly8071]

I love Hilary Swank, but I hope someday trans people can have more opportunities to tell their stories and showcase their acting talents. May that day come soon for someone like me.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Absolutely!! Thanks for watching!

[@TheLauren800]

great video, I agree swank was the better actress for Boys Don't Cry. but Swank winning for Million Dollar Baby really annoys me!!! I hated that movie

[@chriswald7700]

Reese Witherspoon winning over Felicity Huffman in 2006 (I still don't get it) also would make a great video.

[@davidao2551]

I think this one is easy to decipher Reese did a musical biopic of someone beloved, learned to sing and to play an instrument plus a definitely great performance but all those factors always help them to get ahead in the awards race Not that Felicity wasn't great but she didn't have those extra details to take her to the top plus a difficult subject in the movie

[@adamsbriee6330]

@@davidao2551 this but also Reese in the early 2000s was a Hollywood darling and an ingenue so it made sense that she would be lauded after being in the spotlight for years

[@CinematicDiva]

I adore Vera Drake. Imelda richly deserved to win.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes!

[@juanpablogonzalezlacava]

I'm still waiting for 2 wins: Annette and of course Glenn

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yup

[@TonyWhiteCreates]

I would be interested in someone braking down how Meryl has been nominated so much and won so little compared to say Hepburn or even McDormand and so on!!!

[@TonyWhiteCreates]

@Josh Johnston yeah I know lol “click click click” she said

[@TonyWhiteCreates]

@Josh Johnston Meryl is my favorite actress though and do also in Kate Hepburn!

[@joeyknox733]

Or how someone like Meryl has over 20 nominations And other just as amazing iconic actresses like Jessica Lange, Susan Surrandon, Glenn Close, Ellen Burnstyn, Annette Benette barely have one

[@marljur]

Can you please do glenn and olivia? Thank you

[@TheAwardsContender]

Ohhhh yes, I’ll get there eventually. But sooner I’ll be doing a video about Glenn’s 8 losses, so look out for that. Thanks for watching!

[@marljur]

@@TheAwardsContender yay!!! I love glenn. Looking forward to that :)

[@JamminOnThe1]

Whatever happened to Swank? Her last movie was a fatal attraction knock off. You gotta wonder what’s up with her.

[@TheAwardsContender]

She’s great in The Homesman from 2014. Thanks for watching!

[@bamabat8435]

Hilary Swank is Annette Bening's Eli Manning.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha thanks for watching!

[@onetouchofvenus2335]

It's honestly hard to compare the two performances because they are both in wildly different films, being asked to do wildly different things. I love Annette Bening and her work in American Beauty was fantastic. Any other year, I would have said she deserved the Oscar hands-down. However, Hilary Swank's performance haunted my very being. In terms of career trajectory and comparing them both as actresses, I would say Annette Bening has more considerably more technique than Hilary Swank. When Hilary Swank is great, she is really really really great. But the rest of the time she is just ehhhhh (Freedom Writers, Black Dahlia, etc). Annette Bening is more consistently strong in her body of work.

[@FernandoGonzalezJay]

Same argument can be made for Close

[@marrmart7690]

Annet bening must be supporting role in amarican beaty becase she was supporting♥❤♥

[@flavorconnect]

Such a close race! Especially with AB winning all of the other big 4. I think that Globe loss really did Annette in but Hilary deserved to win.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Agreed. Thanks so much for watching!

[@khongmaithikhog5624]

@@TheAwardsContender Annette has never won a critic choices award in a film if it serves me right

[@khongmaithikhog5624]

You seem incorrect

[@marlonbeltran1135]

Anette won the BAFTA and the SAG. Hillary won the GG and Critics Choice.

[@khongmaithikhog5624]

@@marlonbeltran1135 i hold a view that Hilary won also because she had won many critic awards in 1999 in contrast to some prizes awarded to Annette

[@davy91101]

I doubt that McTeer expected to win the Oscar even though British actresses who are not that well known in the US, e.g., Olivia Coleman can and do win. McTeer's Tumbleweeds is a riff on the similar movie with Susan Sarandon the title of which I have forgotten. The McTeer movie was far superior but doubtless is forgotten at this point. This is not to disparage Sarandon but point out that McTeer's script was superior. She is highly regarded in England and has appeared on the NY stage. Re Benning'g role in American Beauty as being a supporting role, the same could be said of Kidman's role in the Hours where she didn't spend that much screen time sharing it with two other actresses. I have only seen Swank in one movie, the title of which I can't remember; she certainly hasn't racked up a body of work for which she can be judged.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@flaccidusminimus2170]

I permit myself one unsafe prediction per year, and I called this one. It is consistent with Oscar tradition. Gender-bending and/or physical transformation. And it's clearly better! Meryl Streep looked more surprised than she ought to have been.

[@Kenzo8110]

Don’t understand how Hilary swank won any Oscars I just think she was put in really good movies and got lucky there is no way that swank is better than Annette benning she’s unbelievable

[@neutral7786]

I think Annette bening lost because she was seen more as a Supporting Actress than a Leading Role. Hillary swank deservedly won the Oscar. Jennifer lawrence(Silver linings playbook)defeats Jessica chastain(Zero dark thirty) Eddie redmayne(Theory of everything)defeats Michael keaton(Birdman or The unexpected virtue of ignorance) Mark rylance(Bridge of spies)defeats Sylvester stallone(Creed) Olivia colman(The favourite)defeats Glenn close(The wife) Anthony hopkins(The father)defeats Chadwick boseman(Ma rainey's black bottom)

[@craigrm74]

Annette Bening was robbed. Twice.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yup

[@maurierichie6571]

I would not have voted for Michael Caine for The Cider House Rules.

[@kellie8468]

Michael Caine gave a wonderful speech but I wouldn’t have either. I thought some of the other performances in Magnolia were better than Cruise performances that should have been nominated.

[@TheAwardsContender]

My vote would have been for Cruise!

[@sharonalbanese8084]

I guess the moral of the story is- it's about talent, but it's also partially about luck. Nobody was going to beat Hilary Swank in either of those amazing performances.

[@darkwoodfolklore]

to me, Hillary's performance in Boys Dont Cry is still one of the best performances in this category! I dont think Annette's role is leading actress at all from the beginning!

[@Kenzo8110]

Annette should have won in American beauty she slayed that role

[@ben-dx4sp]

matpat on the right of the thumbnail

[@youisastar3246]

American Beauty was an interesting film but no where the hype that it received. I find it difficult to believe that it could be a best picture but looking at the winners of best picture unlike the acting categories, it doesn't seem so hard to accept that. So Annette couldn't shine in it because the movie was mostly about Kevin Spacey trying to lay his daughter's friend. The Best Supporting actress nominees were more tough because Angelina wasn't the clear winner. Chloë Sevigny was as good. Angelina's movie was also impacted by Winona's bad acting who looked unconvincing as her character trying to look pretty rather than what she was meant to be. I haven't watched Being Julia but Hilary's performance that year was one of the best. She will really go down if she keeps it up like Frances McDormand with legends like Vivien Leigh who've only been nominated when they've won. Most of these delegates used to be two-time winners until Frances McDormand broke that with her achievement of winning three Academy Awards whenever she's been nominated and they have all been in the lead category. So Annette's closest shot was The Kids are Alright. But I remember she being the frontrunner with Natalie Portman that year and during the poll results during the red carpet performance, Bening received the least votes. Knowing that Natalie received controversial campaigning of perpetuating the extent of her ballet dancing accomplishment, I could see Annette winning that year if the poll results didn't reflect the opinions of baised fans.

[@tbam73]

I still dont understand how the laughable Golden Globes is more prestigious than the SAG

[@TheAwardsContender]

I feel like in the ‘90s it was, haha! Thanks for watching!

[@VinMar-m6w]

The Academy Awards were established in 1929. The Golden Globes have been around since 1944 and were the only major Oscar precursory award for decades. SAG was first awarded in 1995; Critics Choice in 1996. BAFTA debuted in 1949 but was considered anticlimactic until 2001, when it moved from late spring to February just before the Oscars. Prior to that, BAFTA had no sway on the Oscar race.

[@junj.20]

Annette.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Love her!

[@jamesway]

How about a Oscar for Glenn Close 🤔

[@heaintloveu]

I think Viola Davis would have won in lead anyhow

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks for watching!

[@wrldtrvlr4vr]

The way Hollywood is, there's no question why Swank won

[@TheAwardsContender]

Either one deserved it!

[@ericryanyawl9401]

Bening should have won over Goldberg, period.

[@andressalgado4558]

everything was going well until you questioned swank's second oscar... like wtf???? there was no competition she was the best.

[@danlippershey380]

You sure about that? Kate Winslet should have won if you ask me

[@andressalgado4558]

@@danlippershey380 Lol no, I love ESOTSM but but that’s not even her best performance

[@quinnycasson9854]

your vids are catnip. more please!

[@TheAwardsContender]

I'm so glad you're enjoying them. Thanks for watching!

[@Starkardur]

Bening was much better than Spacey.

[@mr.introvert6173]

🤣🤣

[@carlosalonsoperezsosa8162]

Hillary Swank now make so bad movies, two Oscars don't help so much i think.