I’m a little worried this morning about the Oscars, Best Actress in particular. The worry is that we’re headed into a real life version of Christopher Guest’s satire “For Your Consideration.” I’m reading some columns by well meaning writers who are encouraging impossible nominees. Please, stop it now before a lot of hearts are broken.
There is a small group of realistic candidates for Best Actress. Last night, Emily Blunt jumped into the pool with “Into the Woods.” She’s just great. Blunt joins Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Gugu Mbatha Raw, and Felicity Jones as a leading contender. Amy Adams is a dark horse for “Big Eyes.” I would have put Patricia Arquette in lead for “Boyhood.” She carries the movie; IFC should fix that.
But listen to me. I am the biggest Jennifer Aniston fan in the world. I think she’s got delicious comic timing. (She’s also not bad to look at.) But “Cake” is not going to take her into the Oscar race. Neither will their very good performances do it for Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl” nor Shailene Woodley for “The Fault in our Stars.” They are all talented and will be in awards races in the future. Maybe The Golden Globes this year– likely.
I think it’s wrong to make these women think Oscar nominations are really possible. It’s only fun for the legions of “Oscar prognosticators.”
Everyone in a current movie should watch the Guest movie this weekend. It’s a really equalizer. Once you see Catherine O’Hara come down her driveway with that new face lift, reality sets in fast!
