Best Supporting Actress: The Ghetto
I’ve got a lead actor piece slated for Monday with chart accompaniment, but I thought I’d interject some thoughts this weekend about a truly ghastly, thin, anorexic category – the Best Supporting Actress field.
No campaign is set in stone, mind you. All this talk of “Helena Bonham Carter is going lead” and the like is just that – talk. Studios are just now feeling their way and nothing should be taken to the bank until FYC ads are taken out in the trades. And even then, things can switch on you (like the campaigns of Ian McKellen and Naomi Watts in 2001). All of that having been said, looking at the field now, it’s pretty damn difficult to come up with a list of real potentials.
My chart on Monday will reflect a listing of Cate Blanchett (“I’m Not There”), Romola Garai (“Atonement,” and the only actress from that film with enough to really chew on), Amy Ryan (“Gone Baby Gone”), Julia Roberts (“Charlie Wilson’s War” – even with a small part, the campaign seems to be circling the wagons here) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (“Margot at the Wedding” – as if). Frankly, it was difficult after the first name because this category is the weakest it has been, potentially in the near decade I’ve been covering the Oscar season.
The “Atonement” crew has been getting good play for no real good reason for some time now. Each of the actresses hasn’t much to work with, and that goes for lead contender Keira Knightly as well. Saorise Ronan, the beneficiary of most early buzz, doesn’t do a whole lot with her brief first act stint beyond what is required of the character. Vanessa Redgrave is in and out, five minutes at best, spouting exposition – even if it’s done in that “I’m Vanessa Redgrave air, but nothing doing for an awards hopeful. Romola Garai is the only true possibility, and I have my doubts there, frankly. “Atonement,” mind you, isn’t the big, sweeping film some would have you believe. It aims at that target but is really in the realm of a smaller, tighter film than all of that. Anyway…
Warner Independent could push Charlize Theron in the supporting field for “In the Valley of Elah” and come up with something. Big Warner could try and make a move with Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton,” but I doubt it. Helena Bonham Carter is out of the mix (and is even getting bad worth of mouth in some quarters, regardless). What the hell else is there to work with here?? Jennifer Garner in “Juno?” Weird.
I suppose “Love in the Time of Cholera” is lurking, bringing with it Catalina Sandino Moreno and Giovanna Mezzogiorno. But there isn’t a lot of hope for that flick, believe it or not. Meryl Streep has thrown a lot at the wall this year, but the films aren’t good enough. The “Hairspray” girls are still a possibility and, my personal favorite, Marisa Tomei in “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” has her champions. But none – NONE of these performances has “the stuff” of guaranteed awards status, and that’s troubling.
Oh well, it’s off my chest now. But I had to say something, anything, about this rancid, vacant, trying category. Enjoy the weekend.
Comments
Yeah, this is an incredibly confusing race. I don't know what to make of it myself. I'm not currently predicting Leslie Mann, but people were talking about her performance over the summer. Is it possible she can get renoticed and nominated? I'm thinking it's possible she could get a nomination considering how well received the film was with audiences and critics. It sounds unlikely with a comedy, but Joan Cusack pulled it off with In & Out.
Posted by: bblasingame![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 14, 2007 12:37 AM
I agree that supporting actress looks weak this year. The only true contenders right now seems to be Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Without having seen In the Valley of Elah I think supporting seems right for Charlize Theron. But what about Susan Sarandon? Or doesn't she have enough screentime?
I still think Meryl Streep could get a nom for Rendition. No matter how the film is received. But maybe that has something to do with the fact that I think she was snupped big time for The Manchurian Candidate and the two parts looks very alike.
I really don't know about Julia Roberts. It's dangerous to judge performances from trailers but I think she's painful to watch in the Charlie Wilson trailer....
And am I the only one who thinks it would be a great idea to campaign Julie Christie in supporting? If they did that I think the race would be over. And really, would it be wrong? Gordon Pinsent is front and center of Away From Her and he is in almost every scene. I don't think it would be wrong to put her in supporting. And if so, I think she could win it.
Posted by: Michael W.![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 14, 2007 09:23 AM
When I read the script for CWW, I immediately thought the Roberts role didn't have enough to work with. But I get the feeling it was amped up in production, so perhaps something can pan out.
Other ideas tossed my way that make since are Samantha Morton in Control, Emily Mortimer in Lars and the Real Girl and one I forgot to mention, Kelly MacDonald in the dude-heavy No Country.
Posted by: Kristopher Tapley![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 14, 2007 11:59 AM
I think Catherine Keener could sneak in there for INTO THE WILD if the film continues to perform as well as it has. She's a versatile, well-respected actress and she always delivers. She was luminescent in the role.
Posted by: elizlaw86![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 14, 2007 12:34 PM
I saw "The T.V. Set" a couple of weeks ago. Sigourney Weaver is very funny in it. She is a previous nominee, the story is a satire of Hollywood so voters will probably watch it, and it's out on DVD already. That could all work in her favor.
Posted by: Frank Lee![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 14, 2007 03:15 PM
Streep might still be a proposition with "Lions for Lambs." That seems more likely than honors for virtually reprising her last two high-profile roles in "Prada" & "Manchurian" with a new "Rendition" of those ice-queen heavies.
Other possibilities (or just wishful thinking) may include Fernanda Montenegro ("Cholera"), Marie Josee-Croze ("Diving Bell & the Butterfly"), Marcia Gay Harden ("The Hoax/Canvas/Rails & Ties"), & Lili Taylor ("Starting Out in the Evening").
Posted by: muteprotest![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 14, 2007 11:09 PM
I think you're right on Susan Sarandon, but on the wrong role. For Enchanted, not Elah. And Saoirse Ronan is much more likely than Garai imo, that little girl is phenomenal. I agree with you on the Roberts role in the CWW script, but I thought every scene in the trailer came off way better than what was on the page, so she may very well be in the running. Youth Without Youth could surprise and produce a candidate as well.
Posted by: movielocke![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 15, 2007 04:19 AM
I still Salma Hayek would've been a shoo-in had "Lonely Hearts" been a little more seen and well-handled.
Posted by: morris___![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 15, 2007 06:23 PM
Wait, how come you're predicting Sam Morton down the side (which I've been thinking could happen for a while now since seeing Control) yet she isn't mentioned in the article?
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 16, 2007 01:04 AM
Romola Garai was the 18 year old Briony? All that buzz I've read (admittedly not much) had me thinking she played the 13 year old.
How anyone can say the 18 year old Briony should be nominated for the greatest accolade in film is astonishing.
Mind you I find it hard to believe the 13 year old Briony can be anywhere near an Oscar nom either, but if I had to choose...
Posted by: adaml![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| October 17, 2007 08:02 AM