Today's Must Watch: 14 (Silent) Character Types

Oh to have the New York Times arts budget. They've asked 14 actors to recreate classic character types in 1 minute segments and the results are at turns breathtakingly gorgeous (Natalie Portman), funny (James Franco), exciting (Javier Bardem), questionable (Jesse Eisenberg?) and sometimes plain old garden variety awesome (Tilda Swinton's Falconetti?) Yes please.

Tilda Swinton

Noomi Rapace

Anthony Mackie

But my favorite might be Jennifer Lawrence's screaming victim.

Watch all 14 here (also starring Vincent Cassell, Chloë Moretz, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall and Lesley Manville.)  It'll only take you 14 minutes!

Gotham Award Winners

If you'd like running commentary IndieWire provided. If you're short for time here are the winners.

Best Documentary The Oath
Breakthrough Director Kevin Asch for Holy Rollers
Breakthrough Performance Ronald Bronstein from Daddy Longlegs 
Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You Littlerock (Mike Ott)
Festival Genius Award Waiting For 'Superman'
Best Ensemble Performance Winter's Bone
Best Feature Winter's Bone
Tributes: Hilary Swank, James Schamus, Darren Aronofsky, Robert Duvall


The most interesting detail was that, despite a strong night for Winter's Bone, Jennifer Lawrence did not win Breakthrough Performance. I now kick myself for missing Daddy Longlegs which was on my Sundance schedule at least twice and I kept having to rearrange and missed it.  The other immediately noticeable development was in the Documentary field. The field was entirely composed of films that did not make the Academy's Finalist List, Inside Job excepted. The terrorism doc The Oath won.

(Speaking of those Oscar finalist documentaries, I'm only seen a handful but Restrepo, detailing one deployment for US soldiers in Afghanistan is my personal favorite of the lot thus far. Still, none of them compare to Last Train Home, which gets shunned awards-wise.)

What's next for Winter's Bone? Tomorrow will undoubtedly be another good day for the scary Ozark-set drama. The Spirit Award nominees, the big deal for indies, will be announced at 11 AM EST. Expect it to lead the nominations, or thereabouts. From there the awards path for Debra Granik's well loved minor hit gets trickier. Will the critical enthusiasm translate to mainstream movie prizes like the The Globes and Oscar? Stay tuned.

Oscar's Collection: The Youngest Best Actress Nominees

Another Oscar Trivia Explosion. This time it's the Actresses. 

Jennifer Lawrence made quite a film-carrying impression in Winter's Bone this past summer. It was one of the leggiest arthouse hits in some time, playing for months, and wracking up $6+ million without a huge advertising budget or bankable stars and with grim subject matter. Well done. At Christmas Hailee Steinfeld will lead us on a revenge journey in True Grit. While we suspect she's the lead actress as well, people her age are almost always demoted to "Supporting" if they're sharing the screen with a big star as co-lead and she is. Hi, Jeff Bridges! But we're pretending she's an Oscar lead today so as to have double the excuse to make this list. Humour us, won'cha?

 Imaginary Movie: STEINFELD. LAWRENCE.  WINTER'S TRUE BONE.

36 Youngest Best Actress Nominees

And where Jennifer or Hailee would fit in, were they to be nominated. (Winning performances are in red.) Disclaimer/Bragging: You won't find info this extensive elsewhere! The Official Oscar site / Wikipedia only offer top tens. However the following info is approximate. Though the Academy's top ten is down to the day of the actual nominations, they don't provide official nomination dates only ceremony dates. Inside Oscar and Wikipedia also only list the ceremony dates so we're just using February 1st, ∞ as a general calculation date for when nominations happened for given years.

Youngest "Best Actress" Wins: Matlin & Gaynor

1. Keisha Castle Hughes, Whale Rider (2003) was 13.
   Wow, well would you look at this? Either Jennifer Lawrence or Hailee would become #2 if nominated for Best Actress.
2. Isabelle Adjani, The Story of Adele H (1975) was 20. [more]
3. Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice (2005) was 20 going on 21. [more]
4. Ellen Page, Juno (2007) was about to turn 21. [more]
5. Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser God (1986) was 21
   She's the youngest winner of all time in this category.

Read more »

Can Jennifer Lawrence Become the Second Youngest Best Actress Nominee?

I was writing up my little filmbytes column for popbytes and decided to spotlight Jennifer Lawrence as a rising star.

<-- This particular still freaks me out. Doesn't Jennifer look just like the Zeéeee there?

I'm very curious as to whether or not tiny Roadside Attractions can push Winter's Bone towards Oscar as relentlessly as "Ree Dolly*" pursues her missing film dad. Jennifer is the film's best Oscar bet but perhaps it could go further than just Best Actress? For a gritty rural drama that doesn't exactly coddle its audience, I was surprised to learn recently that the movie has already grossed $3 million in a month's time. That's impressive. That means people, and not just critics, like it. When both civilians and critics like things, AMPAS voters often figure they might ought to watch it.

But how's this for a statistic? If Jennifer Lawrence, who is currently 19, does secure a robust campaign and then a Best Actress nomination in January, she'll be the second youngest nominee ever in that category. The youngest was 4 year old Victoire Thivisol for Ponette and... GODDAMNIT. She wasn't nominated! Okay what I meant to type was that the youngest was Evan Rachel Wood for thirt ... SHUT UP. Allow me my Oscar fantasies. No, the youngest nominee is Keisha Castle Hughes for Whale Rider.

It breaks down like so...


Youngest Best Actress Nominees

1. Keisha Castle Hughes, Whale Rider (13 going on 14)
2. Isabelle Adjani, The Story of Adele H (20 and 2/3rds)
3. Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice (almost 21)
4. Ellen Page, Juno (practically 21)
5. Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser God (21 and some change)
   

Isn't it interesting that most of the youngest nominees are from the past decade? The only winner among these women girls was Ms. Matlin who performed Grand Theft Oscar on my beloved Kathleen Turner (see this ancient post) and Sigourney Weaver, both still Oscarless, for which I can never forgive her.

The nail-biting tragedy of March 30th, 1987 illustrated.

The rest of the youngest ladies lost their Oscar races. It's hard to win when people know you haven't truly "paid your dues" yet.

*In addition to being one of the youngest nominees ever, "Ree Dolly" would join the ranks of most memorable character monikers nominated, too.

Halfway Mark: Best Performances (Thus Far)

Hey there 2010. You'd best step it up. Time's a wastin'.

The talk of the 'net right now is Inception but that's not open yet, nor have I seen it. In Contention's Kris Tapley has written a lengthy piece about its Oscar prospects that I'm sure you'll want to read/have already read. You'll recall that I gave Inception a major vote of prediction approval back in April and I shan't be altering that much when I update the rest of the Oscar predictions, since my suspicion was correct that people would love it. Nevertheless, I am confused by some of the buzz for its actors. No matter how good DiCaprio and Marion Cotillard may well be, effects pictures only very very rarely lead to acting nominations (Sigourney Weaver, Jeff Bridges and Ian McKellen are rarities, not the norm) so I haven't suddenly pretended it will move into the Acting categories.

Speaking of acting...

Though the year's films have been somewhat lacking, the following performances did something for this moviegoer so I wanted to give them a glance. They're the performances I'll personally be contemplating from the year's first half when it comes time to whip up awardage for the full year. It goes without saying that most won't be in the Oscar hunt. Oscar has a limited range of flavors they like and a minimum amount of fame that they require but I hope some more adventurous voters will try to see everything that people say... hey there, this performance is good. Since some of these aren't yet released, I've allowed myself 7 contenders in each category. How many of them will be handily trounced by [ominous music] That Which is To Come?

FAVORITE PERFORMANCES THUS FAR
Click on the links to go to the Oscar predix which is an ENTIRELY different conversation.

Best Actor

• Jay Baruchel, The Trotsky
• Anthony Deptula, One Too Many Mornings *not yet released*
• Leonardo DiCaprio Shutter Island
  Robert Duvall, Get Low *not yet released*
• Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine *not yet released*
• James Rolleston, Boy *not yet released*
• Andy Serkis, sex & drugs & rock & roll
  

There's not much of note so far in theatrical release for the leading men. John C Reilly and Jonah Hill were fun in Cyrus but "Best"? RDJ was his usual charming self but how much of a challenge was a second round with Iron Man? Leo barely held on to the edge of this list. I liked him a lot in certain Shutter Island scenes but that gothic gaullimaufry left me wanting in nearly every way, including within the cast. It's dangerous to assume one's own reaction to a movie is shared by Oscar voters, but combined with the early release date and the lack of true and enduring "this movie is awesome!" hoopla, I sincerely doubt we'll see Shutter Island anywhere near the Oscar competition in the winter.

Unless of course, 2010 keeps offering up blah movies. Then it's anyone's game and some crazy things might start happening.

Best Actress

• Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
• Annette Bening, Mother & Child
• Min-Seo Chae, Vegetarian *not yet released*
• Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
• Paprika Steen, Applaus *not yet released*
• Tilda Swinton, I Am Love
• Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine *not yet released*

While nothing of note has yet happened in the Best Actor category, we may already have three or four of our acting nominees. Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone (if she's lucky), Mark Ruffalo (if he's lucky) and both women from The Kids Are All Right (though one will surely be demoted to supporting). Julianne Moore just missed this top 7. She's fun and endearing in The Kids but it's The Bening who delivers in a career best way or something in the general vicinity -- one of her best at any rate.)

Haven't Yet Seen: Hye-ja Kim in Mother and sex goddesses Amanda & Julianne in Chloe.

Best Supporting Actor

• Joel Edgerton, The Square
• <--- John Hawkes, Winter's Bone
• Shanti Roney, Applaus *not yet released*
• Mickey Rourke, Iron Man 2
  
• Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right
• Michael Shannon, The Runaways
• Jimmy Smits, Mother & Child
  

I'm already dreading the Oscar campaign / possible make-up win for Bill Murray in Get Low. He's been great before and he's fine if anachronistically modern in this old-timey picture as a funeral director, but I fail to get why anyone thinks it's a career best for him. Seems more like an enjoyable but nothing particularly special star turn. Of course the Supporting Actor category is almost by eight decades of ballot practices the Nothing Particularly Special category (the last few winners excepted).

Haven't yet seen: Michael Fassbender in Fish Tank (long story. I'm still dying too)

Best Supporting Actress

• <--- Marisa Berenson, I Am Love
• Dale Dickey, Winter's Bone
• Ann Guilbert, Please Give
• Rebecca Hall, Please Give
• Anne Marie-Duff, Nowhere Boy
  
• Kristin Scott Thomas, Nowhere Boy
  
• Mia Wasikowska, The Kids Are All Right

A small note of gratitude to Helena Bonham-Carter who singlehandedly got me through Alice in Wonderland. Apologies to Amanda Peet and Ari Graynor who I enjoyed in Please Give and Holy Rollers, respectively. Finally, please don't ask me where Chloe Moretz is for Kick-Ass. She seems to be able to act approximately one thing: smartass. See also (500) Days of Summer. I'll wait for more range before I join the growing chorus of praise.

Haven't yet seen: Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom

Are you excited about any of these performances or do you have your own pets from January to June screenings? And how are you feeling about the Acting Oscar races -- my predictions are updated? Do you think we're on our way or we haven't yet begun?
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Halfway Mark: Screen Hotties of 2010

I blame the heat and nothing good in theaters but for the holdovers from previous weeks (go see Winter's Bone, I Am Love, Toy Story 3 and I Am Love if you haven't. Uh... I Am Love you're required to see twice, apparently -- Freudian typo!) for this week's Towleroad article. After assessing the Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man announcement I obsess over the Year in Screen Hotties (thus far).

Click over!

Since Towleroad is all about the Gay the list is men but since I'm an actressexual and since all the best people are at least bi-curious when it comes to the movies, you know I can't ignore the silver screen sirens. I haven't seen all of these movie but here's an incomplete overview of the year thus far.

The Girlie Show

Jan: Portia Doubleday torments Michael Cera (both of him) in Youth in Revolt. Kristen Bell can't pick a man in When in Rome. Can't pick screenplays either. Niche hotness, GMILF Edition: Helen Mirren wants her man crowing like a cock in The Last Station.

Feb: Amanda Seyfried, Our Lady of Annually Increasing Beauty, stars in Dear John. The Wolfman follows Emily Blunt's scent no matter the consequence; Who wouldn't? Uma Thurman turns men, not just man parts, to stone as Medusa in Percy Jackson.

Mar: Double Team Alert! Amanda Seyfried rocks Julianne Moore's world in more ways than one in Chloe. Plus, Dakota Fanning unleashes her scandalous Cherry Bomb whilst Kristen Stewart works a Bad Reputation in The Runaways. Niche hotness, Macrophile/Microphile division: Mia Wasikowska can't pick a dress size in Alice in Wonderland.

April: Erika Alexander is a boho honey in La Mission. Zoë Saldana holds a hot piece in The Losers. Niche hotness, Gothic division: Christina Ricci gets yet paler (c'est possible?!?) as a perpetually nude corpse in After.Life.

May: Ari Graynor's tongue brings ecstasy, albeit in pill form, to Holy Rollers. Scarlett Johansson wears ringlets and leather for Iron Man 2 and may or may not have speaking lines though no one can recall. Naomie Harris handles the first part of sex & drugs & rock and roll with her usual style. Love the 'fro in that first scene. Niche hotness, The Alex Forrest "I'm Not Going to Be Ignored" New Generations Award to Naomi "seduce & destroy" Watts in Mother and Child.


June: Colin Farrell's little mermaid is full grown Polish beauty Alicja Bachleda in Ondine. Please note how many reviews of Winter's Bone describe Jennifer Lawrence's long tresses and full lips in as much loving detail as her performance, even though the movie is about as far from "sexy" as a movie can be. Marisa Tomei is still working the 'dream girl for losers' track in Cyrus. Can you blame the losers? Tilda Swinton is a prized pale gold Russian collectible in I Am Love. Cameron Diaz in primary colors, yellow bridesmaid, red bikini for Knight and Day. Gina Gershon is a whore! (not a dancer) in Love Ranch... the less said about the rest of the movie, the better.

Which actors and actresses grabbed your eyeballs this year?
It doesn't have to be for, uh, performance reasons.

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7 Word Movie Reviews: Knight & Day, Winter's Bone

Knight & Day
Diaz' ditz mode delights. Good visual gags.
B/B-


Winter's Bone
Fine ensemble chillier than milieu. Great music.
B+

"The Actresses Are All Right". Best Actress Next Year?

The Oscar ceremony wrapped a mere 72 hours ago. If you look closely you can probably still see the impression of Sandra Bullock's grip on her Oscar. So it's time to start thinking about next year's Best Actress.

Would that I were kidding! Oh the life of the obsessive. Now, I won't be unveiling TFE's annual year-in-advance predictions until April 1st (April 1st... April Fools. cuz it's foolish, get it?) as is the tradition but that doesn't mean I haven't started thinking about them. And whether or not I'll do some sort of contest this year, despite the stumble last year. So I thought I'd share this brief chat I had with Guy Lodge (In Contention) as a sidebar during The Oscar Symposium a couple weeks ago.

Guy: All I'll say is that I'm CONVINCED I've seen two of next year's Best Actress nominees already.
Nathaniel: Which ones?
Guy: Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone and whichever of The Kids Are All Right ladies comes out on top.
Nathaniel: I can't believe I didn't see that [Winter's Bone] at Sundance. Dumb me.
Guy: Small distributor needs to push hard there but it's such a mammoth performance, plus she's young and hot... it was all people were talking about at Berlin.
Nathaniel: Young and Hot plus Mammoth = winner.

But I'm not convinced about The Kids Are All Right. I think there's so many things that could go wrong there, campaign wise.
Guy: Yeah, but I think they've done the right thing going for a summer release.
Nathaniel: I'm rooting for The Bening.
Guy: I prefer Moore.
Nathaniel: I don't know if you read my review but was I wrong in freaking out over that last closeup from Mia Wasikowska? She just killed me. What a perfect ending that was.
Guy: Yeah, she's terrific. Hopefully Alice doesn't damage her too much. Julianne's line reading of "But I shall return!" [edited to remove spoilers] ...just pitch-perfect coming timing. She's so rarely allowed to be that funny.
Nathaniel: I was in a weird mood when I saw it and Julianne in comedy always makes me tense. I loved the Joni Mitchell scene so much.

Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as "Nic & Jules" in The Kids Are All Right

Guy: Bening's scene on the couch reacting to [edited to remove spoilers] is one of the best things she's ever done.
Nathaniel: Yeah. And some of the little details were so funny and warm. Like the way they'd both stretch out their arms like one super-fusion mom. ha ha
Guy: I know! But that's the thing... they ARE one super-character. I think Focus needs to bite the bullet, accept that it's a two-lead Thelma & Louise type deal and let the votes fall where they may.
Nathaniel: I do too. Hey... maybe you've seen three of next year's Best Actress nominees already.
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Golden Lions in the Ring

Could The Wrestler, the new unexpected Darren Aronofsky movie starring Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei have Oscar in its future? It just won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival which is big news indeed. Mickey Rourke is the kind of storied celebrity that could keep the press humming and you need the press for real Oscar runs. As for Marisa Tomei, she's always fabulous and a possibility too with the right movie / right role. I actually broke the news of her involvement in this film on my podcastinterview weeks before the trades published her casting... only I didn't know it was news ;) Silly me!

Best Film (Golden Lion): The Wrestler by Darren Aronofsky (US)
Best Director: Aleksei German for Paper Soldier (Russia) the true story of the Soviet Union's
'first man in space' mission in the 60s.

Best Actor: Silvio Orlando in Il Papa di Giovanna, a Mussolini-era drama.
Best Actress: Dominique Blanc in L'Autre as an independent but jealous woman.
Best Young Actor or Actress (The Marcello Mastroianni Award): Jennifer Lawrence in The Burning Plain by Guillermo Arriaga (both of them pictured right).
Special Jury Prize and Screenplay Prize: Teza by Haile Gerima (Ethiopia / Germany)
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