Wednesday, September 14, 2011

First Oscar Predictions: Best Actress

This year the Actress branch is one of the most competitive in years. The Oscars usually pick the best actress based on accents or makeup transformations and sometimes even if the actress is playing a real life person.



The following are in particular order

1. Meryl Streep-The Iron Lady-Its hard to ignore Streep as she has been nominated 16 times and only won twice. In recent years she has been close to winning but somehow the Academy does not vote for her. However things bode well as she is playing a real life character and well its Meryl Streep. The only bad sign is no one has even seen the film and well Phillipa Lloyd is the director. Her last film Mama Mia was an utter disaster. We'll see how critics receive the film.


2. Glen Close-Albert Nobbs-Critics were divided on this film as Glen Close's turn is very quiet and calm. Its not as showy as many expected but Close is loved by many and she plays a man making it even harder to ignore this performance.




3.Keira Knightley-A Dangerous Method-Knightley's performance as Sabina Spielrein has divided critics as they have complained about her accent and about her over the top mannerisms. However many have stated that she is the best thing about the film and that she is a committed actress. Once again this is another real person turn so the Academy may vote for her.





4. Viola Davis-The Help-Davis who was last nominated for Doubt, steals every scene in this film. Whether she is a supporting or a lead Davis seems like a lock in one of the categories but I am rooting for her in the lead category.




5. Michelle Williams-My Week with Marilyn-I ultimately chose her over Elizabeth Olsen because Williams is an actress who the Academy knows and from the pictures it looks like Williams' transformation was complete. However we won't know what critics think until the film premieres at the New York Film Festival.




Other heavy contenders-  
Elizabeth Olsen- Martha Marcy May Marlene-The film premiered at Sundance and Olsen has been getting praised ever since that. While I did not put her in my top 5 predictions I think I will have to change my decision as the fall season moves on.






Kirsten Dunst-Melancholia-Lars Von Triers' films never get nominated but Emily Watson did get nominated for Breaking the Waves. In addition Dunst won at Cannes which is always a good sign. Last year Javier Bardem surprised everyone when he was nominated for Biutiful, a performance everyone had ignored. 

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