Yes, Ms. Page gave a fantastic Oscar-worthy performance, but I was also very impressed with the actress who played Jessie Mae. Fully realized, nuanced performance. She should have been nominated as well!
Yes, I agree Carlin Glynn did a wonderful job too. She pulled off the controlling, bitchy Jessie Mae very well...and managed to add just a dab of sympathy to her as well. You got the feeling that Jessie Mae, while vicious and mean-spirited, also felt a bit lost at times also. But she wouldn't show it, and wouldn't allow her humanity to show either.
"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus." "Didn't he discover America?" "Penfold, shush."
SURE, it's hard to play someone that the audience isn't going to sympathize with. Watch her reactions with Mrs. Watts right before she is going out that morning and Mr.s Watts has the near faining episode. She "ain't all bad".... Realize her life status too, even though it's not her story here.
Jessie Mae served her purpose as the the agitator of the movie. The fly in the ointment as it were. Do I think the performance was worthy of an Oscar, no I don't. That's not to say it was not well acted, it was just not of that high a standard.
Yes, Carlin Glynn was excellent, and made Jessie Mae a three-dimensional character when she could have been just a two-dimensional shrew. She should have been nominated for supporting actress.