Dianne Wiest's 20 Best Film Performances: A Superb Career in Focus
Dianne Wiest, the Oscar-winning star of films like 'Bullets Over Broadway' and 'Hannah and Her Sisters', is celebrating her 78th birthday with three major movies on the horizon. To mark this milestone, we delve into her nearly immaculate back catalogue, ranking her 20 best film performances. From early roles to iconic turns, Wiest's career is a testament to her exquisite talent and versatility.
20. Merci Docteur Rey (2002)
Every great performer has at least one baffling movie, and for Wiest, it's this curio produced by Ismail Merchant. She plays an opera singer who deceives her gay teenage son about his father's death, leading to a wild plot involving murder and mistaken identities. Wiest flails around Paris in a turban, surrounded by cameos from Jane Birkin, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jerry Hall.
19. It’s My Turn (1980)
Wiest made her movie debut in this studio follow-up to Claudia Weill's 'Girlfriends'. In a minor role, she plays the chipper cousin to Jill Clayburgh's character, dispensing romantic advice and sharing scenes with Michael Douglas at a wedding party.
18. Falling in Love (1984)
As Isabelle, confidante to Meryl Streep's Molly, Wiest shines in another early best-friend role. Her character's intuition allows the film to skip a big confession scene, as she senses Molly's affair with Robert De Niro's Frank.
17. The Mule (2018)
In a handful of scenes with Clint Eastwood, Wiest plays the patient ex-wife of a drug mule. Her understated performance adds emotional depth, with each regretful look highlighting the wastefulness of a selfish life, reminiscent of her role in 'Bright Lights, Big City'.
16. Practical Magic (1998)
Wiest and Stockard Channing provide comic relief as witches raising their nieces in this cult favorite. Despite dark themes, their boisterous kitchen scenes are a highlight, and a sequel is set for release this year.
15. Footloose (1984)
As the longsuffering wife of a preacher who bans dancing, Wiest delivers a tight-smiling performance that serves as a dry run for her role in 'The Birdcage'. She manages her high-maintenance husband with grace.
14. Drunks (1995)
In this monologue-driven film set at an AA meeting, Wiest plays a workaholic doctor. Her comic double-take when offered her own stolen cigarette adds a touch of humor to the serious subject matter.
13. I Care a Lot (2020)
Wiest terrifies as Jennifer, an elderly target of a con artist played by Rosamund Pike. Her performance cycles through bafflement, incredulity, and horror, making her cart-off scene chillingly plausible.
12. Radio Days (1987)
In Woody Allen's nostalgic comedy, Wiest plays Aunt Bea, dreaming of love but facing disappointment. Her romantic low point comes when a suitor abandons her after an alien broadcast scare.
11. Little Man Tate (1991)
As the head of an institute for gifted children, Wiest clashes with Jodie Foster's character over a young genius. Her performance shows sharp edges beyond her shoulder pads, elevating the TV-movie level material.
10. The Lost Boys (1987)
Wiest is bright and breezy as a mom dealing with vampire sons in this emo-teen-horror romp. Her role taught a generation about vampire rules and made her a beloved parental figure.
9. Rabbit Hole (2010)
As Nicole Kidman's mother, Wiest delivers a whisper-soft performance about grief. She explains that sorrow changes over time, carrying it like a brick in your pocket, adding authenticity to the drama.
8. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
In her first of five roles for Woody Allen, Wiest plays Emma, a sex worker with seen-it-all weariness. Her plaintive sigh after a romantic encounter is a standout moment in this masterpiece.
7. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Wiest won her second Oscar for playing Helen Sinclair, a sozzled drama queen. She rages against frumpy roles but finds nuance and pathos in the caricature, making it a memorable performance.
6. The Birdcage (1996)
As the wife of a Republican senator, Wiest delivers comic gold in this adaptation of 'La Cage aux Folles'. Her remarks on decadent china and her disguise in the final scene are highlights.
5. Parenthood (1989)
In Ron Howard's comedy, Wiest plays a single mother struggling with rebellious kids. Her performance dignifies the film, with witty lines and expressive reactions to explicit photos.
4. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
As Peg, the Avon lady who discovers Edward, Wiest solidifies her role as America's mom. Her soothing makeup application scene has become an ASMR classic, praised for its tingles.
3. Independence Day (1983)
In this drama about domestic abuse, Wiest portrays a wife enduring agony with hopeful smiles. Pauline Kael noted that her performance avoids triteness, making it tragically unique.
2. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Wiest won her first Oscar for playing Holly, a loose cannon sister. Her cringeworthy scenes with Carrie Fisher and pairing with Woody Allen's character are sublimely crafted.
1. Synecdoche, New York (2008)
As a last-gasp special guest star, Wiest provides the emotional gut-punch in Charlie Kaufman's masterpiece. Her role as Millicent Weems, directing Philip Seymour Hoffman's character, culminates in a moving and powerful finale.
Dianne Wiest's career spans decades of superb performances, from Oscar wins to cult favorites. As she turns 78, her legacy in film continues to inspire, with new projects on the way.
