Best Leading Actress 1981

5. Susan Sarandon - Atlantic City

Sarandon is very fine the subtle moments of the film, but they don't very much fit the context of the film. The explosive moment are too overacted, on the other hand. But her chemistry with Lancaster is great and she had some very fine moments here and there.

4. Meryl Streep - The French Lieutenant's Woman
Meryl had recently said that this is a performance she is the least satisfied with. And I might in fact agree with her. She was miscast at the time and she simply failed to bring the required charm and energy to the screen. It's technically a fine performance, yet it misses the needed spark.

3. Marsha Mason - Only When I Laugh
Mason is a wonderful leader of this film and her chemistry with her co-stars (especially James Coco and Kristy McNichol) seems so effortless one might take it for granted. On the other hand she overacts some moment too much in the moments it's a bit distracting. 

2. Diane Keaton - Reds

Keaton is wonderfully leading this film without a help from her co-lead, which is quite impressive. She even managed to create some chemistry with Beatty, as well as with the rest of the cast. When she is on screen with Nicholson, it's a pleasure to watch. On the other hand the subtle moments are mostly too dormant.

1. Katherine Hepburn - On Golden Pond

Hepburn is such a delight in this film. I know, it's not her best performance, it's not even the best performance in this category of the year, but nobody can say it's a bad performance. She makes a wonderful couple with Henry Fonda and she made a believable mother to Jane Fonda. And that was an achievement! 

My Nominees:
1. Kathleen Turner - Body Heat
2. Sally Field - Absence of Malice
3. Katherine Hepburn - On Golden Pond
4. Bernadette Peters - Pennies from Heaven
5. Faye Dunaway - Mommie Dearest (guilty pleasure of mine, such a pleasure to watch)

Best Leading Actress 1981: Susan Sarandon - Atlantic City

This performance has been the topic of many discussions, since it was campaigned in the supporting category, but it got nominated in the leading. It's the same case, as with Kate Winslet's win, but both of the times I think the Academy got it right. Both ladies are clearly female leads of their film.
Susan Srandon plays Sally, a woman who has had some problems with her life and she starts having an affair with an old retired mob Lou, played by Burt Lancaster. At first their relationship is not very close.
But some time around the first hour of the film, Lancaster's character Lou changes a bit. He starts doing business and it changes him. He starts to be very gentle and kind to Sarandon's character Sally. Sarandon is very good at her reactions to this change. We can clearly see just through her eyes what she thinks about it, but she wants to stay polite, because she needs his help. But then later in the film, their relationship develops too quick, from Sarandon's side. The director and even Lancaster are trying ot make it as slow and realistic, as possible, but Sarandon maybe pushes a bit too much. This is very obvious in a scene at the restaurant. I don't know, if she was trying to play a bit drunk, but if yes, then it wasn't enough and if no, then it was too quick.
On the other hand, later in the film she again gets to those tiny reactions that express she's not interested in Lou. Though they are very well handled by her, they simply don't work in context of the film.
Sarandon has got a overview over her character, which would normally not be bad, but this time it's transformed in the performance in the worst possible way. She became underwhelming throughout her entire performance. It's very disappointing to see it happen, since her character could in fact have been a juicy part to play. (SPOILER ALERT) For example, in a scene, where she sees her husband dead. There is a long take on her face, but there was nothing I could see in her eyes. She doesn't even try. I know that her relationship with him wasn't very good, but it must have done something to her. (SPOILER ENDS)
What is very strange about this performance is the fact that it seemed to me, as if Sarandon didn't know, what attitude Sally has towards Lou. It's like a roller-coaster. Sometime she plays disinterest, sometimes confusion, sometimes she is all right with it and even provokes Lancaster. When those scenes are cut one after another, it really seems odd and improbable.
I must as well say that this performance does have its good parts. For example the scene in the casino at the end of the film, in which she screams at everyone. After this scene she suddenly uses what's given to her and plays just like her previous scenes should have been played.
We all know that Sarandon is not a bad actress. She handled her character this way on purpose. But most of the time I just found it too underwhelming to like it. It's not a bad performance. It's rather a disappointing one.
The chances of winning an Oscar: The category confusion and the fact this is her first nomination weren't very helpful. Another case of 'just happy for the nomination'...

Next Year: Best Leading Actress 1981

The Nominees:
Diane Keaton - Reds
Katherine Hepburn - On Golden Pond
Marsha Mason - Only When I Laugh
Meryl Streep - The French Lieutenant's Woman
Susan Sarandon - Atlantic City

What do you think of the nominees? What is youre ranking? What is your predictions for my ranking? Tell us in comments!