Amid the conflicting reviews that have emerged so far for John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt,” the one common denominator between them appears to be unanimous praise for the supporting performance of Viola Davis. You may remember Kris describing her work as “gut-wrenching,” amid an otherwise tepid review.
Davis’ role may be small — she has a mere two scenes — but as the Academy has demonstrated in rewarding Beatrice Straight in 1976 (or in nominating Ruby Dee earlier this year), brevity is no obstacle when they are sufficiently moved by a performance.
Knowing the role, I’ve thought for a while that Davis could wind up the film’s strongest contender for gold, despite many supposing the film would be The Meryl Streep Show. Streep, however, has suffered notices as mixed as the film’s, with heady praise balanced out by detractors (including a much-quoted Variety review) who find her performance a tad on the melodramatic side.
Now Nathaniel Rogers at the Film Experience, whose deeply considered views on the female acting races are always worth reading, has seen the film, and he is also climbing off the Streep bandwagon. Venturing that Streep may have to wait a while longer for that elusive third Oscar, he writes:
Sister Aloysius is a sticky role but it’s not the slam dunk “erase memories of Cherry Jones’s powerhouse stage creation”‘ it needed to be for Streep to reach Nicholson’s three statue tally. Best Actress fanatics take note: the way is clear for Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road / The Reader) if she delivers –it’s getting harder and harder to imagine anyone else winning.
When it comes to Davis’ Oscar chances, however, Rogers is thoroughly on board:
You’ll remember that I’ve been more confident about Davis (“Mrs. Miller”) in the supporting actress field than any other candidate and I cautioned other prediction-happy types earlier this year to ignore Amy Adams starpower and focus on the actual roles being played … It’s a sneaky miracle part. Mrs. Miller shades and shocks the otherwise blunt themes into more troubling life … Unless Academy voters get stingy about her screentime, expect to see Viola Davis all dolled up on Oscar night.
I have yet to see the film, so I have only this kind of talk to go on so far. But until I hear something remotely negative about Davis’ performance, I’m going to consider the possibility of her being a spoiler in a race that many pundits (too many?) have prematurely called for Penelope Cruz.
Comments
18 responses to “Is Viola Davis stealing Meryl Streep’s Oscar thunder for ‘Doubt?’”
I don’t think the reviews for the film have been mixed, other then Kris and some negative reaction towards Streep I think the reviews have been pretty strong.
I really agree. I think Viola Davis could definitely end up the winner…NO ONE has criticized her…she’s had unanimous praise…I can’t wait to see the film…
…and I know it’s really really stupid to be talking about next year, but that truly might be the year Penelope Cruz finally takes the gold. If Nine is any good, she’s going to have a terrific role as Carla, who sings the show-stopping number “A Call from the Vatican”…the role won Jane Krakowski a Tony (I believe). So if it doesn’t happen for Penelope this year, maybe next year will be a better bet…
I think Doubt’s strongest contender is P.S. Hoffman, who may be Ledger’s only real competition in Supporting (so much better than in Charlie Wilson’s War too), although personally I feel Hoffman is a lead in the film.
There are a collection of reviews here: http://www.ihavemycertainty.com/2008/meryl-streep-is-sister-aloysius/
Streep has gotten rave reviews – only 1 negative from Variety. The brilliance of Viola Davis stems from her short screen time, but Streep has gotten notable remarks on her different interpretation of Sister Aloysius.
Streep is so far in the lead, it isn’t even funny. Winslet will be nominated for supporting and lose to Davis.
@Jacob
It is an insult to say Viola Davis’ brilliance is because of her short screen time. If you have seen her in any of her other movies she is a brilliant actress who just needed the right role. As an african-american actress her roles come view and far between but when she gets a good one she makes the most of it. Also, I have not seen the movie but in the few clips I have seen her in, what was so powerful was that she told a life time just from those words and that hurt in her face, that is brilliance.
@Aaron: Don’t forget Cruz has Almodovar’s “Broken Embraces” next year too. Looks like a solid year for her.
To answer the title’s question, she might be stealing a significant portion of it, yes.
Viola Davis has to win for ‘Doubt’, seriously. If anything, the trailer spoke volumes about her acting power. Also, on an actress note, I really hope Meryl Streep wins her third Oscar soon. If not for ‘Doubt’, for something powerful and evocative and haunting. And please, whatever the Academy does, let it not be a pity Oscar.
I don’t really get why anyone would feel “pity” for Meryl Streep. Sure she’s lost a lot of times and arguably shouldn’t have on one or two occasions, but she still has two Oscars. By most career standards, that’s a pretty great achievement.
I don’t know, but I’m not sure if the Academy feels they owe her quite as much as the blogosphere does.
I am so fed up with this Best Actress race. It’s being so crowded, that if one had to choose his five favorites, he would go crazy. With everyone in the mix right about now, I just wouldn’t bare to see Streep nominated and take someone else’s place (Winslet, JOlie, Hawkins, Leo, Hathaway, Williams, Blanchett, Scot- Thomas), just because of her name.
SO i say if she is not brilliant, unbelievable, magnificient, she shouldn’t be nominated. Either she wins or she gets snubbed.
Sorry, nothing against her but we know that Winslet will get nommed, Scot- Thomas seems inevitable, hopefully JOlie, HAthaway if she can keep the buzz. And where is Melissa Leo? Snubbed. She deserves the nom, she deserved it for “21 grams”- THIS SHOULD Be the year she gets recognition for her work .
As for Viola Davis, i haven’t seen her in anything else (i think so) and it would be nice to see her among the top 5.
I agree, Guy. I really like her, but I don’t understand why she should be unhappy with only two Oscars. I know a lot of people don’t like that she only has one Best Actress Oscar, but I’ve never understood why Best Actress is somehow a more worthy award than Best Supporting Actress. To me, Meryl Streep has two Oscars. Congratulations.
I really love a discussion like this. Can I hang out here more often? :) The IMDB boards are occupied by some ignorant trolls who don’t even bother to fact-check their statements. Anyway.
@Liz and Guy:
Well, I completely understand your point, but I think my fan instincts might be clouding my view on this one. Regardless, there are people I’d also love to see rewarded, like Kate Winslet, since she was unjustly left (Oscar-wise) empty-handed for ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’.
And I think this Best Actress importance stems from the fact that Katharine Hepburn won four. I think it’s more about watching out for anyone who might break the record than the accolade itself, plus the fact that Hollywood is still pretty much withholding when it comes to well-written, engaging, thoughtful, and entertaining women’s roles, so it makes the category really imporant to some people (like me). Although, yeah, I agree that the Best Supporting Actress actually says more about a performer than it does for Best Actress. There’s just been a disparity between the two ever since I started watching the Oscars, and probably since time immemorial… so, I can’t really elaborate on that.
Look at the Best Actor, and by extension, the Best Supporting Actor category. There’s actually not much fuss there. I don’t think anyone’s jocking to topple Jack Nicholson’s record for winning the most number of Oscars on the men’s side of the equation, despite the (increasing, so it seems) amount of high-quality scripts and vehicles for men. Maybe it’s because of the relative regularity of work, or the pay, or whatever, but (and I haven’t frolicked around the Internet much) I don’t see people counting Nicholson’s nominations and pitting him against other actors.
@tdr:
Streep has gotten good reviews for Doubt (although yes, the general feeling is a mixed one), and I agree with having the quality of the work precede anything else for the nomination, no ifs or buts there. It’s a really crowded field, and I hope the Academy makes room for six nominations but I guess that just won’t happen. (Correct me if I’m wrong, I’m young–born on 1991–and I’ve only been watching the Oscars recently.)
I’m actually pretty iffy about Hathaway, if we’re talking solely about the buzz factor. (I have yet to see Rachel Getting Married.) I can only imagine that the buzz for other actresses will begin to intensify as the season approaches, and with Revolutionary Road and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button coming up, and Winslet and Blanchett’s names being thrown around given their Oscar nom pedigrees, I don’t see how she can get in. Personally, I’d rather have Hawkins/Blanchett/Williams get on the top 5 rather than Hathaway. I don’t know why I think so, but I somehow feel that it isn’t her time yet.
@loveSpike
Sorry, that was bad writing on my part. I was praising Davis… I think the fact that she did so much with so little screen time speaks volumes about her as an actress.
I f they didn’t give it to Streep for her perf in “Adaptation”, then it will take a lot!
She stole the show in movies like “World Trade Center” and “Antwone Fisher” and had barely three minutes of screen time each.
Eunice: Please “hang out” here all you like! The more discussion, the better.
Personally, in a crowded field like this, I’d prefer to see someone like Streep sidelined in favour of a lesser-known actor like Sally Hawkins or Melissa Leo. A first Oscar nomination could make a huge difference to their careers. A fifteenth for Streep — not so much.
I might feel differently if Streep really blows me away in “Doubt.” But she’ll have to be mighty impressive to top Hawkins and Kristin Scott Thomas in my mind.
I think it would be funny if Kate Winslet won for both “THE READER” and “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD”, but chances are Davis is going to win the best supporting actress, and Kate will win best actress (FINALLY) for Revolutionary road. And for the record, i don’t feel bad for Streep, she has the most nominations ever, and two wins. i love her to death, but still, Winslet deserves it. Ledger and Penn for supporting and leading actor! woot!
Just saw Doubt last night. Viola Davis’s performance was brilliant, riveting, wrenching. I can’t think of a better supporting performance – ever.