The 21 Shortest Oscar nominated leading performances.

A couple of these are obvious (Page, Kerr, Fletcher, Hopkins, Neal, Bening), others are pretty shocking, like McDormand in Fargo in instance. I haven't seen that film in a while but for as long as I can remember Fargo WAS Marge Gunderson. She's the first thing anyone thinks about when they think of that film. Kidman and Christie are surprising too because I never for a second questioned their category placements when I watched their films (and I still don't fyi) but it's still pretty amazing when you put it in hard numbers like this.

Good luck. I tried last year and couldn't make it through lol

Not just that, but as soon as McDormand enters the picture, Macy takes a backseat. We never really get into his head again -- the film treats him as just another subject in Marge's investigation. I do think he's lead as well, but I think he's more supporting than McDormand despite having more screentime because even though he gets the ball rolling, there's really very little he does after the kidnapping. Hell, I could argue Buscemi is the only character to have actual consistent perspective in both halves of the film, and there's a plausible case for him being lead as well (although I hate to split him and Stormare up on that front).

I'd argue that if you're going to consider Hopkins lead, though, you have to put Levine there as well. He has more perspective than Hopkins, his actions dictate the course of the movie, we actually do see things from his perspective and get to know him (at least, more than we ever do with Lecter). I deign to put them both in supporting because I feel it's Foster's story and how these two characters changed her so thoroughly from start to finish, but I just never really buy having one in lead and the other in supporting. Just my thoughts.

I recently watched The Stunt Man and I'm shocked Peter O' Toole isn't on here. I'd have figured he was under 30 minutes for sure.

I always think of her as a lead, too. She acts a vessel for the audience - she, like the viewer, is equally entranced and repulsed by Hud.

The earthquake recreation is the best part of the film. I caught that scene on TCM, which lead me to try and watch the thing years later, but I found it too preachy, and not much of a compelling story. And Jeanette MacDonald was only there to show off her singing  . She had no chemistry with Gable, and Gable had no chemistry with Tracy. 

Tracy in San Francisco and Kerr in From Here to Eternity are surprises. I was expecting Hopkins to be no. 1. As a percentage of screentime Brando in The Godfather would be up there, but he probably still racks up a lot of time because the movie is so long. Talia Shire in Rocky is not a surprise and should have been supporting.

Never updated our new addition at #17.... Viola Davis in Ma Rainy , whose screentime is apparently 26:41.

Kinda shocked at this list....a lot of these perfs, like Julie Christie, I've always considered Lead but I guess they're technically Supporting......depending on the movie or your rubric.

Any possibilities this year for an under 30m Lead nominee? Blanchett in Nightmare Alley?

Inever love Fargo and I always consider McDormand supporting.-

I still find it rather odd Talia Shire and Sharon Stone were nominated for lead actress. Those are supporting. But whatever makes the studio happy is fine by me.