2014 in Film: Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette and Agata Kulesza Among Highlights

By Francisco Salazar and David Salazar Dec 27 2014, 11:30 AM EST

The supporting actor or actress is not simply a throwaway role.

In many cases, these characters transcend the drama, adding color and even stealing scenes from the main protagonist. This is not a new phenomenon by any means and only serves to support that all adage that "there are no small roles."

As the latest installment in the "Best of 2014" feature series, David and Francisco Salazar will look at the supporting actress performances that truly stood out to them:

Misery at the Forefront

By David Salazar

Pawel Pawlikowsk's "Ida" is a true gem. The film, in its simplistic style, manages to capture so many facets of humanity without ever having to pronounce itself in a grandiose manner. There is the detailed black-and-white cinematography; the subtle musical gestures that take on new meaning in their context. There is the slow editing that gives the film a foreboding and yet indecisive momentum that aligns itself with its protagonist's plight. There is the nuanced script. There is the penetrating performance by Agata Trzebuchowska. And then there is the true heart and soul of the film in the suffering Wanda, played by Agata Kulesza.

Whereas the eponymous character suffers internally in a manner, that is not always obvious to the viewer, her aunt Wanda represents their external suffering. Kulesza could have easily played up the self-destructive tendencies of Wanda, but she manages to express so much with so little in keeping with Pawlikowski's style. Early on, she is introduced while having sex with a stranger. The blankness in her expression emphasizes the meaninglessness of the act in her life. In a court case later on, a quick cut to her face expresses her rethinking her decision to leave Ida. As the film's plot becomes untangled, her suffering comes to the fore and yet she never overdoes it. Even in moments where she confronts people from her past, she manages to emphasize the emotional dynamics within the framework established.

In these gestures, she not only works within the artistic system, but adds color and contrast to it. Without her dynamic emotionality, she would essentially provide the blankness of the other performances in the film. And this is exactly what supporting roles are supposed to do. They add dimension to the film's major themes. If Ida is to struggle with her identity internally, Wanda is through with that facet of her life. Her identity has already been destroyed and all she can do is suffer outwardly. It creates some wondrously subtle tension between the two characters and fortifies Ida's eventual decision all the more.

While there were certainly other actresses that "stood out" more with performances that showed off greater range of expression, this performance eclipsed them for its ability to stir emotionally without completely overshadowing the overall film.

A 12-Year Transformation

By Francisco Salazar

The 2014 calendar year has seen a number of great actresses take on very difficult roles.

In particular, the supporting actress category has seen some of the bravest performances of the year. Tilda Swinton brought her charisma and vigor to "Snowpiercer" while Meryl Streep brought her singing chops to "Into the Woods." Laura Dern was the heart and spirit of "Wild" and Emma Stone, Naomi Watts and Andrea Riseborough showcased their bravura in "Birdman."

However, the most incredible performance this year is Patricia Arquette's beautiful portrayal in "Boyhood." Arquette plays Mason's mother and through the film we see arguably the most tragic of arcs possible. Arquette's transformation throughout the 12 years of filming and the timeline the film takes shows a mother who struggles to give her children the best lifestyle and who tries to overcome abusive households and even poverty. It encompasses the struggles of parenting and the difficulties of choosing what is right from wrong.

Arquette embodies the mother figure in such a pure way and the transformation takes full force. At the beginning there is so much joy in her interactions with her children. She is always a support system whether she plays with them or reads to them. There is so much tenderness in these scenes and they never leave the viewer. However, as the film progresses, there is a nostalgic and melancholic tone to her performance. In particular, her final scene is the most heart-wrenching. When she sees that her son is off to college and she is going to be left alone, Arquette breaks into tears. It is truly one of the most powerful and yet saddest moments in cinema this year. While there is a happiness from her character for her son's latest success, Arquette brings forth the loneliness and despair of what the rest of her life could be like.

Without a doubt, Arquette gives one of the most riveting performances of the year and the one performance that stands out as the best of Supporting Actresses.