My Cousin Vinny : The reason people hate Marisa Tomei's Oscar win…

1. She didnt star in a movie about gays

2. She didnt cry

3. She didnt speak in a British accent

4. No one had AIDS in the movie

5. More than 5 people went to see the film

6. It was a movie that made people laugh

7. She didnt pretend to be a man

8. She had the nerve to appear in a movie that appealed to a wide audience

9. She didnt star in a movie that preached to people about a social issue

10. The Coen Bros, Paul Thomas Anderson, or whatever other artsy fartsy director didnt direct it.

Basically anyone who gave Marisa Tomei grief for her Oscar win was a stuck up pretencious film snob. Tomei was laugh out loud funny and a total scene stealer in a film people liked. God forbid she beat Joan Plowright playing a cranky old hag in some bore of a film 5 people saw or Judy Davis playing a stuck up b (which she is in real life) in a pretencious boring unfunny lame Woody Allen effort or Vanessa Redgrave in a 10 minute role that was nothing, or Miranda Richardson who cried in 1 5 min scene in a dreadful movie.

Basically what I'm saying is that people who hate on Tomei's Oscar win can suck it.

Yes, you do!
But the fact is: she was great!

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OK, this is six years since your post, but I just wanted to say that I LOVE your signature! Pure awesome!

No problems here! Tomei totally deserved her Oscar. She was BRILLIANT in this film!





"No, I don't like Katrina. She smells like soup."

just because her performance was flawless!

in the future, everything will work

Quite the rant, for sure. However, given the amount of vitriol I've seen directed at her win, I think it's at least partly deserved.

I could not agree more with the spirit of your argument. She did in fact steal every scene she was in, but even if she had been nothing but an accesory for the rest of the movie (which she assuredly was not), she would have deserved the award simply for her brilliant turn on the stand as the rebuttal witness to George Wilbur's testimony. The look on her face when the DA admits "she's acceptable" as an expert on general automotive knowledge conveys "you're damn RIGHT I'm acceptable!" without saying a single word.

I think it's actually one of the most richly deserved awards ever given by the Academy.

Tomei's win as best supporting actress was one of the few times I agreed wholeheartedly with the academy's choice.

I also had no idea there was the slightest hint that this was not a deserved Oscar win. I had no idea she was 'supporting' - I thought she was the star along with Pesci. It is my favorite film of all time. There are only half a dozen films I have watched more than 5 times and this is one. It is a master-class in screenplay, camera-work, editing, timing, casting and for me every actor in it turns in the performance of their career, giving the impression they did every scene on the first take, with no rehearsal. I would have given them all Oscars and rate it 10 out of 10.

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I also had no idea there was the slightest hint that this was not a deserved Oscar win. I had no idea she was 'supporting' - I thought she was the star along with Pesci.

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Tomei certainly was a star in the film (along side with Pesci, of course). Whether a performance is considered "leading actress" or "supporting actress", however, is all politics.

In other words, if the studio thinks that the actress does not stand a chance in the "leading" category, they simply list her role as "supporting", assuming that she stands a better chance in the latter category.

Whether the role is, in fact, a leading or a supporting role is entirely beside the point.

Hollywood politics.

That being said, Tomei turned in a stellar performance. As we all know, the Academy doesn't take too kindly to comedies, in general. They prefer other genres. But, I assume, acting in a comedic role is just as much "hard work" as acting in a dramatic role (if not more so).

Did she deserve an Oscar? I'd say "yeah". Did she deserve this Oscar? I dunno. I'd have to check who the other four contenders were to make my final decision.

I totally agree tiller, the rebuttal witness scene was absolutely brilliant. Her "you're damn RIGHT I'm acceptable!" look was fabulous and I also really loved how at first she was really angry at Vinny, but then the triumphant look on her face when she starts to see what he is getting at. I think she played that role brilliantly, absolutely flawless and she hands down completely and utterly deserved to win.

EDIT: I also wanted to add that, even though I think that MT totally deserved to win, I was still surprised when she actually did win. This movie and her role in it, is not usually the kind to win Oscars. Doesn't mean that is wasn't deserved, was just surprised that they recognised that she deserved to win.

"20 Pounds of crazy in a 5 pound bag" - Spencer on Parker

Speaking of Oscars and Marisa Tomei, watch her in "Oscar" and you will see another fabulous and hilarious performance by Tomei.

Well stated, acsuc99!

Wow acsuc99, you nailed every point you made.

Marisa was phenomenal in this movie, and deserved that Oscar.

Excellent post OP!

acsuc99, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel! LOL
BTW - I agree!

What's this Oscar curse that I've heard about? Once you win one Oscar you never get nominated again? (It seems most actors, there are the exceptions; Streep, Nicholson, Hanks)

Oscar curse? Are you thinking always the bride's maid never the bride?




Anime is Forever

The curse you're referring to is when someone wins the first time that they're nominated, the curse states that because of that your career will just fizzle out after that.

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What's this Oscar curse that I've heard about? Once you win one Oscar you never get nominated again? (It seems most actors, there are the exceptions; Streep, Nicholson, Hanks)

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Here's the "curse":

Once you win an Oscar, you have reached the pinnacle of success (in the acting world). There is no other way to go, but downhill from there.

All of your subsequent performances get compared to your Oscar performance. And, by definition, those are very big shoes to fill.

Also, once an actor becomes an Oscar winner, they are held to a "higher standard". And their performances are scrutinized much more closely.

Luise Rainer won two consecutive Best Actress Oscars (1937 and 1938). She said it was the worst thing that ever happened to her.

You are 100% correct (and funny). She 1000% deserved to win. Joe Pesci also deserved one as well. You're right on. Why does good acting always have to come from JUST dramas?

1) It was a WEAK Oscar year. There is some luck involved as there are years where there are tons of great performances and only one wins. Heck, the entire starring cast and supporting cast should have won Oscars for The Godfather.
2) It was a great performance all around, especially with the physical acting.

Plain and simple, it was a comedy and people seem to discriminate and think ONLY a dramatic role should take home the award.

I was shocked that she won. There was nothing special about the character or performance that stood out.

She won an Oscar! Fantastic! She was adorable in this film. She was a bonbon in this movie, good enough to eat.

I've never seen her in any other performance, interview etc. How far from her real persona was the one she protrayed in this film ? In other words was this a John Waye/Robert DeNiro kinda thing ? Or is she some mid western preppy type in her private life pulling off this character ? If shes from Queens/Brooklyn, with a typical NY upbringing the role is not that much of a stretch.Go to any mall in L.I. in the 90's and this "type" is the norm. I LOVE this movie, I think I fell in love with her (Lisa) the first time I saw it so I don't mean to diminish her performance - just that I'd be that much more impressed if she wasn't from NY. The stereo type is just too easy for anyone from the area - I grew up just outside of the city, I'm 100% German heritage but could do a "Guido" that literally had people in tears - not of laughter either. My brother was getting jerked around by the owner of a music store. My bro. had paid, up front, big bucks for a guitar only to be told AFTER he laid out the cash that it was on back order. Then there was a different excuse every week for why it hadn't been delivered. When he told me I was outraged to hear he was being treated like this. I got creative - got on the phone and did my best DeNiro/Peci impression. After I got off the phone I sat down with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. I remember that I hadn't even finished my coffee when the phone rang - it was my brother. He told me he was on his way to pick up his guitar - he had just got a call from a very distraught music store owner appologizing for the mix up ! I hadn't even called my bro. back yet to tell him what I had done as while I was having my smoke I was wondering to myslef if what I had just done wasn't such a good idea. What happens if the guy reported the call to the police and they tracked me down ? I really started to worry ! LOL !! In any event, after my brother got back home he called me again and asked what exactly did I say to the guy ? "He was shaking like a leaf and couldn't apologize enough" ! True story. So, my point is if shes a native the role isn't that big a deal.Her looks didn't hurt either. Imagine if she was just an average woman, 25 pounds or so overweight, I think the role would not seem as impressive - just stereo typical if not a little too masculine for most guys taste ! Am I wrong here ? Again, I LOVE the movie as I'm a "transplant" where I live now and this movie always comforts me with memories of home (dad and the aunts/uncles all from the city and with the NYC accents).

You make not a lick of sense.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=i8liPzaBT-s

WATCH IT- HILARIOUS!

Just saw this great film again and I think MT thoroughly deserved her award.
I also, think this bloke on the previous comment is not just smoking tobacco.!!

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I've never seen her in any other performance, interview etc. How far from her real persona was the one she protrayed in this film ? In other words was this a John Waye/Robert DeNiro kinda thing ? Or is she some mid western preppy type in her private life pulling off this character ? If shes from Queens/Brooklyn, with a typical NY upbringing the role is not that much of a stretch.Go to any mall in L.I. in the 90's and this "type" is the norm. I LOVE this movie, I think I fell in love with her (Lisa) the first time I saw it so I don't mean to diminish her performance - just that I'd be that much more impressed if she wasn't from NY. The stereo type is just too easy for anyone from the area . So, my point is if shes a native the role isn't that big a deal.Her looks didn't hurt either. Imagine if she was just an average woman, 25 pounds or so overweight, I think the role would not seem as impressive - just stereo typical if not a little too masculine for most guys taste ! Am I wrong here ?

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Excellent point. The performance was great. But was the acting "hard work" or was it just her natural persona?

LMAO!! Great post and balls-on, dead accurate!


btw, in retrospect 1992 was a horrible year for movies.

But the fact that she presented an award on Oscar night (with Joe Pesci) is a precursor to her (eventual) Oscar win. Every other year, there will always be a winner who is also a presenter on Oscar night (see: Reese Witherspoon, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Tim Robbins, Sofia Coppola, Renee Zellweger). Even Sean Penn was asked to present an award in 2004 (the year he won for Mystic River) but he declined. At least he won that night.

lol that is the best argument ever i love Marisa still after the 100th time watching that movie she still cracks me up.

I have no complaints her winning the Oscar. Your list on the other hand.



1. She didnt star in a movie about gays

How many Oscar-winning movies are there that are about gays? 3?




2. She didnt cry

She was angry though, sure mark for Oscar-fishing.



3. She didnt speak in a British accent

Yes, Meryl Streeps trademark.



4. No one had AIDS in the movie

But what about the crew, grips and sound engineers?



5. More than 5 people went to see the film

Nearly as many as Titanic.


6. It was a movie that made people laugh

You have something here. Oscar-winning comedies after 1960:

The Apartment
Forrest Gump
The Sting (comedy/crime)
Tom Jones

and few actor-winners from comedies.




7. She didnt pretend to be a man

This is actually a huge Oscar-winning category.



8. She had the nerve to appear in a movie that appealed to a wide audience

Like Helen Hunt, bit**es.



9. She didnt star in a movie that preached to people about a social issue

Yes, like mafiosos money-making troubles or the use of hobbits as vehicles for saving the world.


10. The Coen Bros, Paul Thomas Anderson, or whatever other artsy fartsy director didnt direct it.

Or like in the good old days, Billy "Artie" Wilder. Even Eastwood has gone artsy.

Maybe I'll watch Big Lebowski for the umpteenth time right away. I love that fancy artistic elevating feeling I get watching Jeff Bridges head dumped into the toilet.


Ok, I had too much time sitting here with the flu.

What a dumb*ss, hater response. Freakin' tool.

Don't even want to waste my 5 seconds explaining this to you, but.sigh.since you so obviously missed the OP's point: it's not that she didn't fall into ONE of the 10 categories the OP listed, but that she didn't fall into ANY of them. So nitpicking on each one meant nothing- it's the fact that ALL 10 applied in SOME WAY.

Go away hater.


Thank you for your time.

you're appears to be more of a hater response to me

SHUUUUUUUUT UUUUUUUUUUUP!!! AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

I agree with you 100%! She was great in this! I miss her:(


Whenever I get the urge to exercise, I lie down until it passes.

I remember seeing the Oscars when she won and I was elated just b/c the Academy finally went w/ a surprise choice for a change! Someone from an actual comedy!

5. More than 5 people went to see the film

It's funny 'cause it's true.

Marisa completely deserved her win. In general I get annoyed with tiresome people who try to demean someone's victory, or worse, try to claim that everyone feels the same way. The honor is in the nomination, since the Academy votes at large for the actual award, but only your peers can nominate you. (That is, actors nominate actors; but the whole Academy votes for the eventual winner.) This is why there are so many boring, obvious choices, and why it's usually a dramawhich is annoying because comedy is much more diffuclt that drama.

I'm watching this right now. I haven't seen the performances in the other films nominated (they don't seem to be remembered the way this one has) but I think she's great here!

i remember the controversy and i absolutely thought she deserved it. she is soooo funny in this and steals the movie. because it was more low budget and the stars hadn't been seen in awhile (pesci, macchiocharacter actors..herman munster), people assumed the meryl streep types would win. well, this girl got it and deserved it and i'm proud of her. she earned it. thank god they let a comedic actress win who isn't pretentious or full of crap.

People don't think of comedy as "Oscar caliber" is what it boils down to it.

She easily stuck out in a weak year. There are years where everyone in the category deserves it but only one person/film gets the award.

I remember when Silence of the Lambs won best picture. There is NO WAY that movie was Oscar Caliber. Excellent movie but that year was so weak. I think Beauty and the Beast by Disney was it's main competition that year.

She got lucky it was a weak year for her category.
Overrated!
I think Mira Sorvino's Oscar-winning performance is overrated as well as Cuba Gooding Jr., Anna Paquin, Holly Hunter, and Kathy Bates.

As a New Yorker, I was tickled. I thought she nailed the part of Mona Lisa Vito.



Don will fix it. He knows what that nut means to Utz and what Utz means to us.

yep she was brill


"You have enemies? Good! That means you've stood up for something,sometime in your life"

I know you posted your comment in 2008, but I recommend that you read it again and edit it. Some of the things you wrote are "unbelievable," to say the least. Do yourself a favor. Reconsider, delete and repost. For the record, I am a big fan of Marisa Tomei. She has proven to be a great actress and she totally deserved the Oscar for this film. Her performance in "The Wrestler" was outstanding.

I think she did a great job of acting and deserved to win.

She also looked really hot! you got to love the high heels and the skin tight outfits!