5 Awesome Performances...
5. Gracie Hart - Miss Congeniality (2000)
Come on: you knew it had to be on the list. You can't have a Sandra Bullock list without mentioning this gem. Granted, it is not the best movie on Earth, and it's actually pretty cheesy. Slovenly tomboy Gracie Hart, FBI agent (Bullock), has one last shot after a major screw-up and has to prove herself by going undercover in a beauty pageant. With a little help from Michael Caine's hilarious portrayed beauty trainer, Gracie is able to solve the case, reinstate her reputation, and make some friends along the way. Yeah, I know. It sounds awful, but Bullock pulls it off. She effectively creates the illusion of being disheveled and manly and it's a rom-com classic for the ages. Throw in some welcomed hilarity from William Shatner, and Miss Congeniality is nowhere near as bad as you probably think (or remember). Moreover, the role landed Bullock a Golden Globe nomination and widespread recognition. This movie also falls into that category of movies I like to call "Frumpy Sandra" movies. Before she got work done on her face, Bullock tended to play flawed, non-traditional leading ladies (Speed, While You Were Sleeping etc.). Frumpy Sandra seems much more approachable and her movies are generally more down to Earth. Miss Congeniality is another perfect example of this and no awesome Bullock list would be complete without it.