Best of 2009: Top 10 Performances by a Supporting Actress

While some of the performances in the 2009 supporting actress category won't be remembered for lists to come, there were a lot of actresses that incorporated great acting with crucial scenes to land on this list. These scenes - just like those of the supporting actors - are what lands the actress on my list. Many actresses have had great, iconic roles this year (Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air"; all the ladies - Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Fergie, Judi Dench - of "Nine"; Rosamund Pike, the glamorous older friend of Jennie in "An Education"; Catherine Keener in "Where the Wild Things Are"; and Charlize Theron in "The Road." However, what these actresses didn't have - or didn't have enough of - are scenes that steal, scenes that escape the film and hold their own weight, scenes that make good movies great - or in some cases on my list, scenes that make bad movies watchable.

Also, it needs to be addressed that I - just like many of the award shows back in January through March - am confused about what makes an actress a lead and a supporting. I've taken the theory that leads must have their own main storyline; supporting roles are sub-characters. So, in some cases here, I have either agreed or disagreed with the Oscars or Globes or SAGs, but know that I've given their placement much thought.

First, let's talk about the actresses that have made bad movies watchable. Rachel Weisz lighted her way through the murky, silly waters of "The Brothers Bloom" alongside leading men Adrien Brody and Marc Ruffalo. Her character had so much spunk and so full of wit that I questioned why the writer couldn't put the same focus on the other roles and to the plot. "He's Just Not That Into You", a star-studded Valentine film, clustered characters, leaving you emotionless - except for Jennifer Connelly as the jealous, suspicious wife of a cheating husband. The scene in the supermarket still resides in my mind.

In my mind, Penelope Cruz had an incredible year in 2009 with her performances in "Nine" and "Broken Embraces". Many thought that her role in the latter was a leading role, but I beg to differ. Lena isn't the main character by far - she's supporting. Also, Cruz was nominated for the wrong film. Her performance in "Broken Embraces" far exceeds that of "Nine". Cruz's "Nine" co-star, Marion Cotillard should've been the one nominated for the film as Guido's elegant, angry wife.

Many of the performances (all of the ones talked about so far except Weisz) focus on women struggling with relationships and with the men in their lives. In "The Messenger", Samantha Morton plays a widow of an American soldier; Maggie Gyllenhaal falls in love with Bad Blake and she struggles with single parenthood in "Crazy Heart"; and Julianne Moore, in "A Single Man," clings to the hope that her best friend George - who is gay - will still be in love with her. Morton's scene is when she is told for the first time that her husband has died; Gyllenhaal steals the show from Bridges when he loses her son; and Moore's performance seems effortless as she battles with a memory - the memory of George's dead boyfriend.

"Up in the Air" as an ensemble and film was fun, quirky, and dramatic. However, when you think about it, the roles aren't incredibly conflicted. Actually, they are, but the scenes chosen aren't the most dramatic or comedic or substantial. However, the one performance that stands out of the whole film is that of Anna Kendrick. She embodies a youth, independence, and gullibility that exceeds the script's expectations.

Mo'Nique as the abusive, envious mother in "Precious" is quite possibly one of the best performances of the decade. It's not just the surprise of her acting or the fact that she basically said "fuck you, awards, I'm not campaigning", it's the fact that she attacked the character so thoroughly and bravely that the result was genius.

And so, the Top Performances by a Supporting Actress for 2009 are:

10. Jennifer Connelly as Janine in HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU

9. Rachel Weisz as Penelope in THE BROTHERS BLOOM

8. Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jean Craddock in CRAZY HEART

7. Penelope Cruz as Carla in NINE

6. Julianne Moore as Charley in A SINGLE MAN

5. Penelope Cruz as Lena in BROKEN EMBRACES

4. Marion Cotillard as Luisa Contini in NINE

3. Anna Kendrick as Natalie Keener in UP IN THE AIR

2. Samantha Morton as Olivia Pitterson in THE MESSENGER

1. Mo'Nique as Mary in PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE