Pollock

Ed Harris' ingenious portrayal of the complex and emotionally chaotic artist Jackson Pollock created stiff competition for Best Actor at the Oscars. The multitalented actor leads viewers through the roller-coaster life of a struggling artist who fights the pressures of criticism, artistic ingenuity and his own inner demons with a bottle of beer in one hand, a painter's brush in the other and a cigarette in his mouth. Marcia Gay Harden plays the devoted wife who wields her philosophical wit and strong character through Pollock's depression, temper tantrums and nervous breakdowns. The rich talent of Harden and the rest of the supporting cast, including Jeffrey Tambor and Amy Madigan, complement the palette of feelings that Harris conveys through words and an expressive countenance.