To put it bluntly, it was a tough year for women in film. I dare you to, off the top of your head, come up with more than 5 or 6 memorable performances by women in lead roles. Don't cheat by looking at the list below. Give up? Yes, it was a very lean year for powerful roles for women.
1. Ellen Page - Juno
© 20th Century Fox
Ellen Page's breakthrough performance didn't come as the star of Juno. Her starring turn in the 2006 drama Hard Candy really deserves that 'breakthrough' designation. However, this is the role that's going to get her noticed and that's introducing her to a wider audience. A smart film that topped my Top 10 Best Movies of 2007 list, Juno should make Page into one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood.
2. Julie Christie - Away From Her
© Lionsgate Films
In a career spanning five decades, Julie Christie's portrayal of a woman suffering from Alzheimer's in Away From Her (adapted and directed by actress Sarah Polley) ranks toward the top of her lengthy list of credits as one of her best performances ever in a film. And, Christie is just as beautiful today as she was way back in 1965 when she starred alongside Omar Sharif in Doctor Zhivago.
3. Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose
© Picturehouse
If you don't walk away from this film bowled over by Marion Cotillard's performance, then I just don't know what will do it for you. Cotillard handles the seemingly impossible task of playing legendary French singer Edith Piaf from her early 20s through to her early 40s. Cotillard's nothing short of brilliant as she brings this complicated woman to life on the screen.
4. Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
© Paramount Vantage
When Angelina Jolie screams with anguish at the news of the death of her husband, it actually sent chills up my spine. Jolie really sank her teeth into the part, did her research, and tried her best to honor the memory of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Danny Pearl. The result is a heartbreaking film that's tough to watch but absolutely compelling.
5. Jurnee Smollett - The Great Debaters
© The Weinstein Company
In a cast loaded with fresh faces, newcomer Jurnee Smollett just chews up the screen in The Great Debaters. Produced, directed by, and starring Denzel Washington, The Great Debaters focuses on a small African-American college debate team's achievements against incredible odds. Smollett absolutely lights up the screen as the sole female on the team.
