Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Last Day To Prove You're "Actress Psychic" !

Last year five readers predicted 4 of the 5 Best Actress nominees correctly 10 long months in advance. That ain't easy to do. This year doesn't seem to have as many 'sure thing' prospects on paper as someone like Meryl Streep in Doubt last year so you'll need all your ESP to win.



Do you think the Academy will be in the mood for young ascending stars like Romola Garai or Evan Rachel Wood? Will they want to make it up to people they've ignored: Robin Wright Penn or Vera Farmiga? Perhaps last year's 'make it up to Kate Winslet!' fever will inspire some kindness to other big stars still waiting for their gold man like Natalie Portman or Amy Adams? Or maybe AMPAS just likes what they like and will stubbornly fall back on a shortlist filled only with previous Oscar winners like Helen Mirren, Hilary Swank, Renée Zellweger and Charlize Theron. Not that that ever happens. (Has that ever happened? That's a question for the trivia experts among you).


Delayed a couple of days: The Film Experience's first Oscar Predictions for 2009. Stay tuned.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seems like there are more biopics coming out, but I think this one is for next year.

PRECIOUS, a biopic based on the inspirational true story of (black) South African-born British Olympian Precious McKenzie, MBE.

This US$12.5M film is to be shot on location in South Africa during July/August 2009.

The film's confirmed cast is as follows:
Viola Davis (2009 Oscar nominee for Doubt)
Franka Potente (The Bourne Identity)
Rutger Hauer (Batman Begins)
Kerry Washington (The Last King of Scotland)
John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings)

This heartfelt drama, which is set during South Africa's tumultuous Apartheid era, is the ultimate underdog story and a testimony to one man's indomitable spirit.

Cinesnatch said...

I'm going to say if it's happened, it happened way back when. 1984 gave us FOUR! Poor Judy Davis was the odd duck out. But, I think if it ever happened, you're really going to have to dig.

Kent said...

1941, 1944 and 1994 are the only years for Best Actress where the field included past nominees.

Dame James said...

1944 and 1948 are the only two years that I saw where every nominee was a previous nominee, but, like Vince stated, I think 1984 has the most winners in its lineup.

1944: Ingrid Bergman, Claudette Colbert, Bette Davis, Greer Garson, Barbara Stanwyck (Three previous winners at this point)

1948: Ingrid Bergman, Olivia de Havilland, Irene Dunne, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Wyman (Two previous winners)

Dame James said...

That should be corrected to say that '44 and '48 are the only years where the lineup consisted of previous BEST ACTRESS nominees. Sorry for that omission.

NATHANIEL R said...

i meant winners. So I guess 1984 is the most we've ever had in a lineup. Which is really too bad because KATHLEEN TURNER definitely should have been in the mix that year and it should have been her SECOND nominations to boot.

John T said...

1982 also technically had four, as Jessica Lange had won earlier that evening (Debra Winger being the only one without a trophy).

Ditto 1997's Best Actor, since Matt Damon had won earlier for Best Original Screenplay (Peter Fonda being without a trophy).

The following years had all five winning trophies eventually:

1939 Best Actor (if you count Rooney's Special Award)
1952 Best Actor
1967 Best Actor
1973 Best Actor
1982 Best Actor (if you count O'Toole's Honorary Oscar)
2002 Best Actor
1941 Best Actress (if you count Stanwyck's Honorary Oscar)
1942 Best Actress (if you count Russell's Jean Hersholt Oscar)
1944 Best Actress (if you count Stanwyck's Honorary Oscar)
1958 Best Actress (if you count Russell's Jean Hersholt and Kerr's Honorary Oscar)
1968 Best Actress
1985 Best Actress
1990 Best Actress
2001 Best Actress
2006 Best Actress
2001 Best Supporting Actress

It's never happened in Best Supporting Actor, but I kind of wonder if 1998 will be the first. Coburn, Duvall, Thornton, and Rush all have trophies, and Ed Harris is the only one without a trophy.

Cinesnatch said...

Is the Academy intimidated by women who use their sexuality to get what they want?

Cinesnatch said...

I was just thinking of Kathleen Turner in Body Heat, Nicole Kidman in To Die For and Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. Those were all roles that put them on the map, yet, they wouldn't get their first nominations until later.

Nick M. said...

Just sent in my predictions. I feel so, so foolish.

NATHANIEL R said...

John T but i meant prior to that lineup. So I guess the answer is NO? No acting category has ever had five previous winners against each other in one race?

I wonder if any tech category has even?

John T said...

Yeah, no acting category ever has. I'm going to research tonight to see if there's ever been a tech category, but there's no obvious contenders coming to mind.

John T said...

All right-I found one: 1956 Best Animated Short.

Wayne B. said...

I am wracked with indecisiveness when it comes to my own predictions, trying to consider many possible factors like: which studios will push which nominees and who will get a big push from the festivals? Meryl Streep is my major question mark. What will her campaigns end up looking like? Oh well, better to just go with the instincts, have to hurry; less than a day now.

Anonymous said...

Is Julianne Moore or Amanda Seyfried lead in Chloe??? Filming has wrapped (Liam finished his scenes)and they are planning a Cannes debut.

NATHANIEL R said...

i don't know who is the lead there. The synopsis reads like it could be the husabnd (Neeson) or the wife (???) as lead. But I don't know if Julianne is playing the wife or not. Amanda Seyfried is the title character but i assume that's a supporting role based on the plot description.

Kamila said...

I have already sent my predictions for the contest.

Hopefully, I will do a better job this year compared to last year. :-)

Fernando Moss said...

Well... Chloe is a remake of Nathalie... so you could say it's a Three-Lead movie wich only means that one the girls -Moore or Seyfried- will be campaigned as supporting.

But really, if the characters remain like the original, there's definitely 3 leads (Neeson, Moore (the wife) and Seyfried (the escort).

Kim said...

Nat, when should we expect confirmation that we are in? Sent my picks last night, and don't want to miss out!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Fernando! I'm pretty sure Moore is the wife Nathaniel.

NATHANIEL R said...

kim... i sent a group email to all entries before i posted this. if you didn't get it filmexperience@gmail.com is probably going to your spam folder.

just add me to your contacts list.

Melinda Seckington said...

Hmm, I've checked my spam, but I haven't received a confirmation message there either.

Could you check if you got my email? It's mseckington@gmail.com and I sent it on the 31st.