I'm not sure if Nat - or anybody else for that matter - has mentioned it, but could the lack of a frontrunner in the Best Actress category be entirely in correlation with the lack of women portraying real life people this year? Of Nathaniel's
top tier of Best Actress contenders only one - Kate Beckinsale - is the star of a biopic (and even that's stretching it). After that it doesn't get any more factual with only Keira Knightley (
The Dutchess) portraying a real life lady. Where did they all go? I can't help but feel this category would be more sewn up if there were more.
The top tier of
actor contenders features four real life men being portrayed (two from the one movie, actually). The supporting categories are also barren except for Josh Brolin.
So, Film Experience readers, what happened this year? Has there been biopic overload this decade and the studios decided to take a break or have they simply ran out of interesting contenders? Somebody did, after all, make a movie about
the man who invented window wipers!
"They could re-release La vie en Rose and I'd WIN AGAIN!!"
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It is a curious one, decidedly. But I for one celebrate the idea that somebody could create a character using the script as a basis for their performance AND win an Oscar for their troubles...
Rob
Don't you forget Angelina Jolie in 'The Changeling'?
ah anon is correct. Jolie is playing a real life character. But, alas, not a famous one... which might be why she's not the frontrunner.
Good point, Nat. And, her performance is not an "imitative" one - I haven't seen the film but at no point in the trailer do I ever forget this is ANGELINA JOLIE.
they're all coming back soon....streep as julia child....reese as golda maier....angelina as mother theresa....charlize as betty ford...brittany takes a dramatic turn in the jane fonda bio pic.
fuck, don't remind us
I think poor writing may be part of the reason for a lack of established female performances this year. Some of the screenplays this year have been terrible, and the actresses' performances have suffered as a result of it.
jimmy don't forget the devil is coming back as amelia earhart!
Augustin, absolutely true. But for a change I think I might like her in it.
I'm fine with biopics and love many of them, so if there's a year where there aren't many of them, it's not too big of a deal, and when they're done well, they can be great cinematic works. They'll be back in full force next year regardless.
Don't worry, unfortunately the academy's obsession with best actresses in biopics will continue next year with Swank as Amelia Earhart...I'm dreading it already!!
Real life characters next year:
*Hilary Swank, Amelia
*Sophie Okonedo, Skin
*Emily Watson, Within With Whirlwind - Or not?
*Jamie Foxx/Robert Downey Jr., The Soloist
*Emily Blunt/Miranda Richardson, The Young Victoria
*three films about Salvador Dali!. Well unleast two will be released.
*Brendan Gleeson/Janet McTeer, Into the Storm.
*The Edge of Love release this year in USA...
jimmy, it's like the roumor that Megan Fox will be play Mother Theresa!!! :S
Nath, Another interesting fact the lack of real life cvharacters in this 2008 is because many of the important contenders for those roles their films had the real release the next year: Emily Blunt, Sophie Okonedo, Emily Watson.
it's also rumored sally field as mary todd lincoln in the speilberg "Lincoln"....i honestly think she could be increible. the right look certainly. never could buy mary tyler moore as mary todd lincoln in the tv version.
Please, someone make a movie about Lois Weber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Weber). The first woman to direct a full length feature film.
A guaranteed Oscar for whoever plays her :-D
Oh, I forgot Rachel Weisz in Agora. Alejandro Amenabar is a fantastic director and she's the perfect greek looks. Too bad that eduardo noriega isn't in this project!. :(
Well unleast for another big surprises, we have an important list of actresses contenders next year
Michael just reminded me of that Leni Reifenstahl project that was to star Jodie Foster. I wonder where that vanished to?
sigh... i guess that means that Pfeiffer doesn't stand a chance to win for Chéri. FICTIONAL CHARACTER you know.
Huge stars are the new gods of western culture, so biopics are modern greek tragedies.
You're right, we haven't had any visits from the biopic goddesses this year, that is, except for Harvey Milk. i guess that's not a greek tragedy, it's a disco opera.
Add Meryl Streep to the list.. as she plays Julia Child...
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