Under One Roof
Sony Pictures Classics has two and arguably three of the top Best Actress contenders under its roof right now -- Kristin Scott Thomas in I've Loved You So Long, Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married and Melissa Leo in Frozen River. They have, it can be argued, a special heat in that their performances are urgent and hurting -- each telling the story of a hard-luck underdog coming from a place of desperation -- and are not highly toned, massively-funded Oscar turns with expensive key-light halos around their heads.
And with this comes a very delicate political dance in which SPC can't be seen as pushing one actress over another, even slightly. Which Sony Classics co-president Michael Barker says is absolutely not an issue. "There's no such thing as divided loyalties in a situation like this," he says. "It s incumbent upon us to pursue anyone whom we feel has a shot, and these three do, and we're very proud of each one."
Barker is also cranked about potential Best Supporting Actress nominations for Rachel Getting Married's Rosemarie DeWitt and I've Loved You So Long's Elsa Zylberstein. Other contenders in this category are Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler).
A week ago The Envelope's Pete Hammond called the '08 Best Actress race the hottest in years. In addition to the SPC contenders Hammond has added Meryl Streep's performance in Doubt (likely), Kate Winslet's in Revolutionary Road (yet to be determined) and The Reader, Angelina Jolie's in Changeling (possibly), and Cate Blanchett's in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 14, 2008 at 4:00 PM
comment #1
btwnproductions
says ...
Quality performances I'm sure, but if this is any indication of the all-around lineup look for the lowest-rated Oscars ever. Button and Revolutionary Road are unlikely blockbuster material, and the rest will be lucky to do VCB business.
Posted by btwnproductions
at October 14, 2008 5:38 PM
comment #2
Mr. Peel
says ...
Just tossing this out there--what about Debra Winger for Rachel Getting Married? Yes, she isn't in it that much but when she is there it's potent. The whole 'reappearance' angle for Winger might give it some juice and besides, it's not like Ruby Dee didn't get a nomination for even less screen time.
Posted by Mr. Peel
at October 14, 2008 6:26 PM
comment #3
LauraReeling
says ...
What - no love for "Happy-Go-Lucky's" Sally Hawkins?
Posted by LauraReeling
at October 15, 2008 6:49 AM
comment #4
adorian
says ...
Has Young Victoria dropped off the 2008 release schedule? I was hoping Emily Blount might be in the Best Actress running as well.
Posted by adorian
at October 15, 2008 6:50 AM
comment #5
hcat
says ...
btwn, the best actress race is ussually among smaller movies due to the fact that most of the good female roles are in films distributed by the dependents. And Hathaway, Streep, and Winslet are stars that will bring interest even if people don't see these specific films. I still believe Road has a shot at 100 million (might not reach it by oscar night but I think it will still be in theaters in March)
While I don't think it is a lock, there is a good chance for Dark Knight to be heavily nominated which will bring in a ton of viewers.
As for a tight race I think Hathaway is the only lock as the popular movie star who has shown she can actually act (that seems to be the favorite story for the last decade), Leo will be the critical favorite that people will not want to be overlooked (the win just to be nominated slot), Streep (the Streep slot, though voters have got to have fatigue by now right?) and the rest of the field is a horse race. No matter how good Scott Thomas is, in a crowded field a role in a subtitled movie has a handicap.
Posted by hcat
at October 15, 2008 7:40 AM
comment #6
btwnproductions
says ...
Yeah, I know, but right now this gives off something of a 1996, "who are these people?" kind of vibe. (Winslet, good as she is, has never been much of a draw and I think the verdict is still out on Hathaway.) I'd find it hard to take seriously at all if Dark Knight swoops in with multiple heavy-hitter nominations. But DiCaprio winning an Oscar might be a draw (he should have won for Gilbert Grape, but I digress).
Posted by btwnproductions
at October 15, 2008 8:34 AM
comment #7
hcat
says ...
I would think Dark Knight will get at a nom for Ledger, and possibly Picture or Director depending on how the rest of the field shapes up. I am not saying it is deserving but box office of that size often results in oscar nominations that wouldn't normally go to genre films (Star Wars, ET, Raiders of the Lost Ark).
As far as the verdict being out on Hathaway, i would argue that she is nearly as big as anybody right now. With Roberts semi-retirement, and Kidman's streak of flops (though I think Australia will get some love, but not enough for a nomination for her), the biggest female stars are who? Diaz, Witherspoon? I doubt that there is any actress that can substantially increase the ratings for the telecast.
Posted by hcat
at October 15, 2008 9:04 AM
comment #8
cinemascopian
says ...
The only place these three will compete each other is the independent spirit awards.
Posted by cinemascopian
at October 16, 2008 3:13 AM
comment #9
janee
says ...
Si vous etes interesses par le dossier, ou desirez en savoir plus, contactez-moi par mail, et je vous mettrai en contact.
Best regards,Jane, CEO of high availability server
Posted by janee
at May 18, 2011 5:45 AM