2004 will not go down in history as the year of women in film. I was hard-pressed to come up with 10 memorable performances by actresses in supporting roles, and could only justify listing five unforgettable supporting actresses in 2004.
I've been a fan of Natalie Portman's since her performance in "Beautiful Girls." With "Closer," Portman emerges as a more mature, more evolved actress in a role that's both sexy and smart.
Robin Wright Penn does an amazing job of pulling together this film. Without her unwavering, steady performance, "A Home at the End of the World" wouldn't have worked.
Audiences were allowed to rediscover this talented, mature beauty with Alexander Payne's "Sideways." Madsen's earthy performance helped "Sideways" achieve critical acclaim and really stood out from the pack.
Cate Blanchett captures the spirit and vitality of the legendary Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator."
Not an obvious choice because of the reception of "The Village" by audiences and critics alike, newcomer Bryce Dallas Howard was the bright spot in M. Night Shyamalan's horror/romance.
