Nicole Kidman was honored at the American Film Institute last night. Here she is making a grand entrance:
And here’s Meryl Streep introducing him (courtesy of Clayton Davis) and Graeme O’Neill, who must present commentary or get a copyright strike. I can’t find any other footage online.
I thought I’d take this opportunity to talk about what I consider to be Nicole Kidman’s best performances, and that probably doesn’t include the performance she won an Oscar for. Sure, it was great, but it didn’t sink into my heart the way some of his other performances have. So here are my top ten Nicole Kidman performances.
to die for
Has there ever been a better role for Nicole than Susan Stone?
It’s bittersweet because Hollywood doesn’t make movies like this anymore. They cannot and will not tell inconvenient truths without morality. Everything must be up to code so that the wrong people are not insulted and no one is offended. But there was a time when filmmakers could tell stories and To Die For is a great satire. It’s all about the mix of true crime and celebrity, something we were strangely attracted to in the 1990s but now seems so common as to be normal.
It is based on the true story of a teacher who seduces her students into murdering her husband. A great cast including Joaquin Phoenix and Matt Dillon in opening roles.
Moulin Rouge
This may be Kidman’s most famous performance. There’s a reason she played Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend when she took the stage at AFI. How to begin to describe this performance? It’s beautiful, romantic, sad, naughty… it’s the hair, the dress, the voice – unforgettable.
dead calm
Early in Kidman’s career she plays a scoundrel on a boat. She was young and just starting out, with her corkscrew curls and a perfect Australian accent. Kidman is the reason this movie is so watchable. Anyone who saw her had no doubt that she would be a force to be reckoned with.
big little lies
It’s possible that the work in this series is the best acting Kidman has ever done, though it’s a little strange that it comes so late in her very long career. Everything came together for him in this. It was just the right character at the right time. She steals the show.
Somewhere far away
Okay, so it’s not the greatest movie, but it’s a lot of fun to watch and reminisce about the days of Tom and Nicole. They met on Days of Thunder and then made this film together. It’s one of those adventure epics we don’t see much of anymore, even though Kidman later made Australia with Falcon.
These are Nicole Kidman’s top five favorite performances, but she’s an actress I would watch in any form. She’s paid her dues and then some, and watching her read the phone book will be just as much fun as she is playing a juicy role.
Like, who wouldn’t watch it?
or this:
I mean, what can I say. When they created Nicole they broke the mold.
What are your favorite Nicole Kidman performances?
