I've Just Been Informed That All of Your Children Are Missing: The Joan Cusack Poll

I love that the Academy nominated her twice, but it's between Addams Family Values (career best) and Grosse Pointe Blank (asked about her own high school reunion: "It was just as if everyone had suddenly swelled").

Two moments I love : "That's shocking!" from High Fidelity, and her groovin' to "Edge of Seventeen" in School of Rock. I'm going with the latter, as her entire performance in that film is the kind of perfect comedic supporting role of which she is one of our absolute masters.

I suspect School of Rock will win, but I also love her in Broadcast News--she has that one line, "Except for your personal life, you're my hero" (paraphrase)--liked her in a straight role in Perks as a doctor, and, as mentioned, thought she was having the time of her life in Homecoming. (I think she plays one of the mob wives in Married to the Mob? Don't remember, but I love the film.)

Most of these are small roles, just a few scenes. Had to go with Addams Family Values, because playing the movie's primary villain she really got a chance to stretch out and go berserk.

voted addams family values

I love her, but yeah upon review the big ones for me are Addams Family/Grosse Point Blank/School of Rock.

“Hi Rob… YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!”

I guess it won't win after all, but I voted School of Rock. Besides the thread title and the scene crypto mentioned, there's also this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMAdYbAqVIY

(I think that scene starts with us hearing Cusack tear a strip off the student before we see she's like eight years old.)

Haven't seen Addams Family Values since it was in theatres, but may have to rewatch. Jane Schoenbrun included it in their recent "queer coming-of-age films" program for Criterion.

voted for "thats shocking" as above

I just saw her on an old rerun of SNL. It's funny how that cast is (per Robert Downey, Jr.) often cited as THE worst one, and yet in terms of work outside of the show, it's one of their most acclaimed group of actors. Cusack even has the second most Oscar nominations of any former cast member with only Downey having more.

I saw Sixteen Candles when it came out, but I'm pretty sure that, like a lot of people I bet, this was my first awareness of her:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCEkqH0NQQ

"Is it because I won an award?"

GPB for me for exactly the same reason as Alfred. I love that line.

And her rant about soupmaking to her sister on the phone. "It just... that's just the base! You put the chicken in, you gotta add other flavors. Carrots and celery are just a base of a soup!"

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