The Oscars failed to recognize two performances this year that I thought were exemplary.
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Elhe in Contagion
This Steven Soderbergh medical thriller depicts in a scientifically literate way what would occur if the world were struck by a deadly and highly contagious strain of the flu. This actually occurred in 1918 when the Spanish Flu (inaccurately named, it probably originated in Kansas) killed 1% of the world's population.
Elhe plays a courageous CDC researcher who doggedly pursues a cure to the point of injecting herself with an experimental vaccine and then exposing herself to infection.
Best Supporting Actor
Kevin Costner in The Company Men
This inexplicably overlooked film offers the best fictionalized account of the financial crisis I have seen, this time from the perspective of the managerial class. Ben Affleck plays a fired sales manager who loses his dignity when he cannot find another job. Kevin Costner, in his best performance since at least Open Range, plays Affleck's brother-in-law, a carpenter with a working-class sensibility who offers to help Affleck make ends meet. It is a great performance in a great film.
I've been a fan of Jennifer Elhe for years, and liked her performance in Contagion, but I'm not sure it was Oscar worthy. I haven't seen The Company Men, but maybe I'll get it on Netflix after reading your comments.
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