I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I recently just got in to Orlando, FL where I'm staying for the next week. After being trapped in a car for 2 days disconnected from any sort of internet, it's nice to be back.
Oscar ballots went out today, which means voting has begun! Yes, we're in that weird purgatory where we pretty much know how things are going to turn out but we're all still holding out for some surprises/goodwill for our favorites. There's still time for some surprises (as we learned last year, most notably in the Directing category...), and in a year filled with such amazing films, I ask the Academy to consider some things:
Emma Watson for Best Supporting Actress in The Bling Ring.
You all know how big of a fan I am for Emma Watson's intelligently vapid portrayal as Nicki, inspired by Bling Ring member Alexis Neiers. It's a performance that goes so much further than what's on the surface (and there is a lot on the surface, it's true). Watson's Nicki is an animal all of her own. The first half has her deadpanning lines like, "Your butt looks awesome" and displaying a full range of her comedic timing, but its the second half that adds to the brilliance of her work, as she begins peeling back the dumb valley girl layer to reveal a sinisterly scheming side; she'll say and do almost anything to remain in the spotlight. Nicki could have been daft and empty comedic relief, but Watson makes her so much more than that. People have been nominated (and won) for much less work; Watson is wholly deserving of a nomination for such a dedicated and committed portrayal. (You can read my full write up of Watson's performance here and you can watch some of her best scenes in the film above)
Look away from the names Meryl Streep & Judi Dench
We all know that Meryl Streep could inhale and exhale oxygen, and there would be a select few jumping out of their seats for her to win another Oscar. Judi Dench is another actress that gets nominated, but rarely for deserving work. The two vets deliver another set of commendable performances, however, there are many new faces (Adele Exarhopoulos), new but not really new (Greta Gerwig, Brie Larson) and worthier vets (Julia Louis Dreyfus, Amy Adams) who are doing better and more challenging & less baity work. Perhaps look away from the default nominations based solely on name recognition, and sit down to see these other performances that are always (unfaily) overlooked to make room for someone like Streep or Dench. They'll certainly be back next year, and the next. These other ladies may not get another shot.
Avoid the consensus!
So what 12 Years A Slave has won almost every regional critics award?? So what if Jennifer Lawrence and Jared Leto won a bunch of Supporting trophies? Vote for an oddball nominee you feel is deserving! Your vote could make a world's difference (as we learned last year). Vote for Sally Hawkins, Blue Is the Warmest Color, All Is Lost or hell even Octavia Spencer from Fruitvale Station. Vote what you feel is the best, not what you think everyone else is voting for or what everyone has already voted for
LEADING & SUPPORTING
Category fraud is common at the Oscars, and this year it's as prevalent as ever. Daniel Bruhl & Julia Roberts are the first 2 contenders that come to mind that are guilty; they are the respective leads/co-leads of their films yet are competing in the supporting categories where it is less competitive. Sometimes Oscar sees through this (Kate Winslet in The Reader), but sometimes Oscar doesn't (Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls). Here's to hoping we're in a year where Oscar sees through this trick.
Spread the wealth
Don't be greedy! This year was an amazing year for film; instead of honoring the same 5 films repeatedly, honor something like Prisoners in cinematography or Spring Breakers in Editing. (Those are 2 deserving choices by the way)
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