Fandango Awards Watch
Fandango Film Commentator
Fandango Film Commentator
Best Actress
Chuck Says:
This week's category is Best Actress at the Academy Awards. Unlike its sister category, Best Supporting Actress, the winner here is often times exactly who you thought it would be.
Last year, it was almost an after thought when awards season queen Helen Mirren finally picked up the top actress prize at the Oscars. Ditto 2005 when Reese Witherspoon won for Walk the Line. And likewise for 2004 Million Dollar Baby winner Hilary Swank.
in Walk the Line.
© 20th Century Fox
So what's in store this year? As with the Best Picture category, there isn't one frontrunner. But, it does seem extraordinarily likely that three names are going to make people's lists for sure-shot nominations.
Marion Cotillard's already picked up the L.A. Film Critics' award for her portrayal of legendary singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, and veteran actress Julie Christie topped the National Board of Review and the prestigious New York Film Critics' lists.. Both are nominated for Golden Globe Awards.
My own personal selection would be Ellen Page from Juno, who is included on all of the major critics' best-of lists. Consolation may need to come in the form of a Spirit Award, but it's already been a breakout role for the 20-year-old, who's so believable, original and heartbreaking as the movie's pregnant teen almost-mommy.
The great thing about this year's actress race is that other than those three being nominated, it's still anyone's guess who'll also be nominated, and who will win.
© Lionsgate
I'll place my bet on the Academy giving the award to Julie Christie, who's been a Hollywood icon for years. She holds herself with grace offscreen, and onscreen in Away from Her, and would have the cachet of winning the award 40+ years after her first Best Actress win in 1965's Darling. Hollywood loves a classic comeback...even though Christie never went away (she was nominated in '98 for Afterglow).
Surprises in the acting category, though, are the most fun. Adrian Brody's (and the audience’s) look of astonishment when he picked up Best Actor for The Pianist was great.
© Walt Disney Pictures
Wouldn't it be cool to see Amy Adams from Enchanted"actually win the prize? Or maybe Angelina Jolie could jump back into the spotlight and grab hold of a victory for A Mighty Heart, followed by a mighty acceptance speech.
One incredible scenario I’d love to see would be Keri Russell winning for Waitress. It would be a fitting and emotional tribute to her co-star, director and mentor Adrienne Shelley, who was murdered just months before its acclaimed debut at the Sundance Film Festival, and its success in art house theaters last summer.
Stacie Says:
It seems that the same names are showing up on most of the Best Actress nominee lists, whether it’s the Golden Globes or the critics’ organizations. Here’s how I think it breaks down:
Julie Christie plays an Alzheimer’s victim with grace and beauty in Away From Her, and she’s winning awards left and right. Negatives? The film didn’t get a lot of attention when it came out, and campaigners better get moving before those Oscar ballots are due. I think Christie’s closest competition so far is La Vie En Rose’s Marion Cotillard and The Savages’ Laura Linney, who, with two nominations and no wins, might finally find this is her year.
As far as other potential winners, the last time Cate Blanchett was nominated in this category was for Elizabeth, which did very well and catapulted her to A-list status. This year, though, Elizabeth: The Golden Age was not nearly as successful (although no one faulted Cate’s acting). Then again, Oscar loves biopics, and critics and voters alike love Cate - plus the buzz is slowing on her other film this year, I’m Not There.
© Focus Features
Atonement is getting a lot of buzz, but Keira Knightley was just nominated in 2005 for Pride & Prejudice, another period piece by the same director. Plus, young actress Saoirse Ronan (who plays young Briony Tallis and is a likely Supporting Actress nominee) is stealing her thunder in this film.
There’s a strong chance that Ellen Page will be nominated for Juno, but my gut tells me that she’s too young (and too good). Academy voters will feel she has plenty of time to get to the podium. Plus, the film could be a little too quirky for mainstream voters.
Angelina Jolie’s award-angling role in A Mighty Heart, based on Mariane Pearl’s real quest to find her missing journalist husband, makes her a safe choice for a nomination. But the film came out so long ago, and the superstar factor could hurt her.
in Sweeney Todd.
© Paramount Pictures
Personally, I’d like to see Helena Bonham Carter win for Sweeney Todd, a classic lead performance in a challenging film. She’s only been nominated once before in this category, for 1997’s The Wings of the Dove.
