I didn’t think I would see Kate Winslet top her performance in Revolutionary Road this year. The Reader comes close to, if not equaling, her work in the Sam Mendes film. There is no doubt that this is Kate Winslet’s year. How the voters will side, or decide, is one of the surprises yet to come. Will Winslet cancel herself out? More importantly, does anyone else deserve it more?
The Reader is, as Ryan has said, one of the great laments of 2008. There wasn’t enough time to rally this film properly; it wasn’t done in time and was rushed out of the gate, but people liked it anyway. The backstory upstaged it until people starting seeing it. The critics were chilly, as expected, but when Weinstein pushes a film, it is almost critic-proof (or has been in the past). After viewing The Reader, I see it as critic-proof because its riches are far more prevelant than any criticism lodged against it. I only wish I had gotten to see it before the ballots were closed. I didn’t get a screener until Ryan arranged it to be sent to me just this past week and that means I couldn’t write about it.
As you can all see from Revolutionary Road, loving a film doesn’t mean it gets play. The Reader, though, I think, had the stuff to go all the way. Revolutionary Road had the bad luck of being released at the wrong time; in the post-Obama era there really isn’t a lot of room for middle class angst, not now anyway. As good as it is, it didn’t resonate with voters (or maybe they never felt compelled to watch it in the first place).
The Reader, though, is about so many things. It isn’t just about the Holocaust, although that part of the story is most certainly Academy-friendly. It is also about the mysteries of sexual awakening, how we get trapped in a groove we sometimes can’t find our way out of. It is about blame, forgiveness, and illiteracy. Or more to the point, evil grows where education has fled.
Winslet’s Hanna Schmitz is an Oscar-worthy performance, there is no question about it. So is Revolutionary Road. Both are, I think, lead performances. An argument could be made that The Reader could be supporting but I think the title refers not to Michael Berg but to Hanna Schmitz; she is the one who is the true reader in the story.
The Globes nominated The Reader and Winslet won for both. The Critics Choice gave Winslet the supporting win. We will find out next weekend what the SAG will do. Can anyone beat Kate, though? I don’t think anyone can beat her in the supporting category for The Reader, if that’s where she ends up.
If the Academy puts her in the leading category for both films, she will run the danger of losing for both. That is why no one seems to mind that she is split into two categories. I believe the rules state you can’t be nominated in the same category twice for acting.
So now the discussion becomes who can beat her for Revolutionary Road? It seems as though there are two possibilities – Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. Of those two, Streep’s is the more accomplished work. But Hathaway is the up-and-comer, with the advantage of being the put-upon woman of the season (like Reese Witherspoon before her). Hathaway’s speech at the Critics Choice was divisive; some thought she was funny but others thought it rambled on way too long and that she left Viola Davis (Meryl’s stand-in) at the podium too long. Hathaway is surprising as Kym in the film, and it is a very, very good performance. To me, though, it is one that gets you an Oscar nomination; not one that gets you the win.
However, the Academy has a history of giving these types of performances the win – like Reese Witherspoon. Hathaway is a comedic actress, a box office draw and now has proven she is a formidable actress (or actor, whatever) in the making. Kate Winslet, by contrast, has done far more than prove herself a formidable actress; she has turned in one flawless performance after another and yet has watched everyone else win.
Winning an Oscar, as it turns out, is sometimes more about the story than it is about the performance, which is why working the publicity line can sometimes result in a win where it ordinarily wouldn’t. Marion Cotillard is a great example of this and it just so happened she deserved it. Julie Christie kept winning because people knew her. Cotillard made sure that, by the time final ballots arrived, the Academy knew her too. She was everywhere, at every awards show looking absolutely gorgeous and giving interviews left and right. She did anything but sit around and wait for them to recognize her work.
To that end, Kate Winslet has been saying, more than once, that she’d actually like to win an Oscar instead of sitting on the sidelines this time. She’s probably been asked the same question many times but instead of saying, “I’m just happy to be recognized at all,” she’s saying, “I’d really like to win.”
She’s gotten blonder, prettier and more naked as the season has revealed itself too and when she shows up at an awards show these days, she kills. This is how it’s done, folks. Kate is in it to win and she deserves to win. It’s a dirty race, and it always has been. As Jack Nicholson said in Terms of Endearment, “everybody uses everything they have.”
168 Responses for "The Year of the Kate"
You speak as if she could compete against herself in lead. I thought Oscar rules prevent such competition. That’s why The Reader role is being pushed supporting.
That’s right…the rules prevent any actor from being nominated in the same category…
Kate is awsome in all these years and hope so for many years to come…..I adore her……..Go girl!!!
I agree, that The Reader is a fine film and Surprisingly good. I find David Kross astonishing as well (particularly the first scene in the hearing room when the realization sweeps over him and he lowers his head–I can’t seem to get that out of my mind). As Kate Winslet has been submitted for supporting in this film, there is no danger of a split, though empirically Her performance is probably lead.
I think she’s a runaway for the win in the supporting catagory.
The only other possibility is Penelope Cruz and while the academy has shown Ms. Cruz some love, Winslet is due and the double Globe win is too big to ignore.
EVERYONE i know with a screener watched The Reader IMMEDIATELY following the globes (I got at least eight requests for mine) which they had been avoiding up to that point. (ditto for Revolutionary Road)
The question of pulling off the double is interesting. and possible.
But I like the Anne Hathaway thought…she’s next in the pattern you mentioned above.
I think it’s pretty unlikely that she’ll find herself nominated for Leading in The Reader. As far as precursors go, only the critics and the BAFTAs recognised her in the same category for both performances, whereas the more reliable precursors, those more likely to have influence on the nitty-gritty details of AMPAS’ decisions, the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice and the SAGs, chose her work in The Reader for supporting.
She’ll win one way or another, though. One of the related posts at the bottom of this page is ‘Why Kate isn’t Sigourney’, considering the similarities betwen Kate’s double Globe win and Sigoruney’s back in ‘88. Another Oscar-related similarity here might be Julianne Moore in ‘03, with her double nomination for Far from Heaven and The Hours, in two leading roles. Moore was the critics’ favourite for Far from Heaven, just as Kate won the BFCA. She lost out though, to Kidman and Zeta-Jones, the bigger names. But Moore wasn’t overdue like Winslet is – Winslet has five unsuccessful bids to her name, Moore only had two at that time, and Winslet’s the bigger name and the bigger box-office draw.
I don’t think she can pull off a double win, and my guess is The Reader is where her best chance to win will be. I actually think it is possible she will get a best actress nom for The Reader (which would mean no Rev Road nom) even if it is unlikely as there are some instances of academy members (who can vote for an actor in either category unlike at the globes or SAG) nominating people in a category different than the one they were pushed for.
I found her quite amazing in The Reader. If she wins in supporting for that role, I’ll be thrilled. My only regret – that Penelope Cruz can’t win as well.
My real preference would be for Kate to get a lead nom for The Reader and win there, while Penelope takes the supporting Oscar.
I guess it doesn’t hurt to dream.
Yes, thank you Clarence – you’re right; she can’t be nominated twice in lead. I hadn’t realized that was a rule but I guess it is.
LadyLurks, that might happen if voters really hated Revolutionary Road – I think she deserves it for both but I haven’t seen Vicky Cristina yet. I did see Scarlett Johansson yesterday at our fundraiser lemonade stand for my daughter’s school and she is so pretty in real life it was shocking to me. She’s pretty on camera too but there are things about her the camera doesn’t translate, like her really long legs (for a short person) and her pretty skin. She acted like a normal person.
kate should win lead for rev road, she was astonishing in that role, i kept thinking the whole time that she was exploding with emotion, her performance was so vivid and jumped off the screen at me
AMPAS members put the actor or actress anywhere they want whether in lead or supporting…..there is no rule that emphasis that they must put a performance in lead or supporting…..So Kate may end up both The Reader & Revolutionary Road in lead category…..And as the rules prevent any actor from being nominated in the same category…..So she may end up having only one nomination or none if she haven’t enough votes to split her own votes…
Ladylurks, you’re not dreaming. Kate W. in lead for “The Reader” is what I’ve been hearing that the Academy is doing.
They can write her name down in either category. Or for either film.
“The Reader” has more a relevant grip. It’s a halocaust-themed movie whereas “Rev Road” is about the desolaton of a failed marriage in suburbia.
However, if they DO nominate her twice in the same categories that the BFCA & the Globes did, I would say she would win for “The Reader” in Supporting.
OR she’ll split her own vote. Like Julianne Moore did. And end up watching Anne Hathaway and Penelope Cruz win.
Yes, Kate Winslet is a deserving actress to win an Oscar. She has been nominated 5 times, and she has Oscar-history backing her up. I believe that she is the first actress to get nominated so many times at a very young age and to be nominated twice in the same year playing the younger-older version of the same character (Titanic- Winslet and Gloria Stuart- & Iris- Judi Dench and Winslet). So that alone makes Winslet a real catch. She might even be the first actor to win both lead & supporting Oscars. She is our new Meryl Streep, and she has yet to win the Oscar. And she wants it, she really wants it.
As an unapologetic Winslet fan, I really do hope this is her year. She is one of the most consistent actresses working today, showing her versatility in roles ranging from the refined Brit Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility to the quirky American Clementine in Eternal Sunshine. I think she should have won for Eternal Sunshine, a movie sorely underrated by AMPAS, but she ran into the critical darling Hillary Swank. (No offense to Ms. Swank, a fine actor in her own right who gave a stellar performance in Million Dollar Baby).
Hanna Schmitz was one of her most complicated roles to date, and she nailed it. She wrung sympathy for this character where perhaps there should have been none. As Revolutionary Road just opened in Pittsburgh this past Friday, I have yet to see it. From all accounts, though, she nailed that too. This is her year.
(As this site has quite the international readership, I apologize in advance for the American football reference, but my Steelers are playing to get into that spectacle known as the Super Bowl tonight, and I’m excited.)
If Winslet does not win this year, she will be the Buffalo Bills of the Oscars. (For those of you who don’t know, the Bills of the early 1990’s were a great team made it to the Super Bowl four years in a row and lost all four of them.) So cheers and best of luck to Kate! Thank you for your many awe-inspiring performances.
The problem now for Kate is will she get enough vote to be nominated in the Lead if she split her votes between Rev Road & the Reader……
And if many members voted her in the lead for The Reader, will she have enough vote to get her nomination in supporting…..
Can AMPAS member vote for a performance in Lead and Supporting at the same ballot at the same time??? I wonder that….
Sasha, I also think she deserves it for both performances, though I love The Reader more as a film. As long as she finally wins something, I’ll be happy.
And I bet you’re gonna love Scarlett, Javier, Rebecca Hall AND Penelope in VCB. Such a warm, funny project from Woody, at long last.
I agree with you. Most one this part: “Winning an Oscar, as it turns out, is sometimes more about the story than it is about the performance, which is why working the publicity line can sometimes result in a win where it ordinarily wouldn’t. Marion Cotillard is a great example of this. She was everywhere, at every awards show looking absolutely gorgeous and giving interviews left and right. She did anything but sit around and wait for them to recognize her work.”
For that I think that the Oscar goes to Anne H., because she was everywhere: in late-night shows, red-carpets, award shows, magazines… Like Reese W. or Marion C. But I would love to see at the end of the Oscar, Kate Winslet and Meryl with one in the hands… That would be perfect and so well deserved.
If anyone deserves to win two Oscars it one night, it is Kate Winslet. It would make up for all the times she’s been snubbed (Sense and Sensibility, anyone? Eternal Sunshine?). She also, IMHO, gives the best supporting performance and best leading performance of the year (although Hanna comes awfully close to being lead… maybe she is). Could she tie herself in Lead? That would be extraordinary.
It’s time one actor gets to walk home with two awards in one night; if any actor can do it, it’s Kate.
I’m calling it, she’s taking home Best Supporting Actress for “The Reader,” and Best Lead Actress for “Revolutionary Road,” and I say good for her! She’s a brilliant actor.
-Vincent
I can only say:
2 Nominations and 2 Wins!!!! The first one is for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for “Revolutionary Road” and the second one is for Best Peformance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for “The Reader”.
I mean, how can Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep or Angelina Jolie in the Leading Competition or Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis or Marisa Tomei in the Supporting Competition win against such a TOUR DE FORCE Performance, such a REMARKABLE Performance, i mean there are no Words wich describe her 2 Peformances in The Reader and Revolutionary Road. This is definitely the year of Kate Winslet. How she potray grief, anger and disapointment in Rev Road! Indescribably! And i’m 100% sure, that the Academy knows that. So, it was a loooong journey and it will end on February 22, 2009
“I agree with you. Most one this part: “Winning an Oscar, as it turns out, is sometimes more about the story than it is about the performance, which is why working the publicity line can sometimes result in a win where it ordinarily wouldn’t. Marion Cotillard is a great example of this. She was everywhere, at every awards show looking absolutely gorgeous and giving interviews left and right. She did anything but sit around and wait for them to recognize her work.”
For that I think that the Oscar goes to Anne H., because she was everywhere: in late-night shows, red-carpets, award shows, magazines… Like Reese W. or Marion C. But I would love to see at the end of the Oscar, Kate Winslet and Meryl with one in the hands… That would be perfect and so well deserved.”
Very true! I also agree. The idealist in me wishes that the Oscar votes would be based on the merit of the performance alone. But that would eliminate the human nature element. The campaigning and the appearances can and will play a part in it. To that end, I saw Winslet on Leno pushing both movies, and she looked gorgeous at the Globes, and seemed to give genuine speeches. We shall see.
And the person above who asked whether a voter can vote a performance as a supporting and lead in the same ballot, that is a good question. I also would like to know the answer.
I don´t think that Kate wins in the both categories, because that already happened at the Globes and the Oscars always likes to surprise, and the 2 wins are no more a surprise.
In the other hand, Penelope Cruz was great and Meryl Streep hasn´t won an Oscar for 25 years. Wake up Academy!
I wouldnt even mind if she won in both categories. Kate is just equally great in both movies. As some other people say my only regret is if Kate wins Supporting Actress then Penelope cannot win. If Kate wins best actress then Meryl cannot win. But still I am hoping she will win at least (!) one this year.
After all this discussion about Academy rules regarding actor nominations, I checked their website for the official word:
Although an actor’s name may be submitted for a particular category (lead or supporting), it’s up to the voters to decide for which category to cast their vote. Conceivably, Kate could get enough votes for her Reader performance in both categories to lead the pack, but only one of those performances could actually receive a nomination — the one that qualified first in the vote tallies.
An actor cannot be nominated twice in the same category.
Here are the relevant rules, lifted from the AMPAS website:
4. The leading role and supporting role categories will be tabulated simultaneously. If any performance should receive votes in both categories, the achievement shall be only placed on the ballot in that category in which, during the tabulation process, it first receives the required number of votes to be nominated. In the event that the performance receives the numbers of votes required to be nominated in both categories simultaneously, the achievement shall be placed only on the ballot in that category in which it receives the greater percentage of the total votes.
5. In the event that two achievements by an actor or actress receive sufficient votes to be nominated in the same category, only one shall be nominated using the preferential tabulation process and such other allied procedures as may be necessary to achieve that result.
The title “The Reader” is definitely referring to Michael Berg. The original German title is “Der Vorleser”, which refers to a person who reads to someone. And Michael is the one reading to Hanna throughout the book/film.
I am so glad to see a focus on The Reader. I have not been able to get it out of my mind since I saw it a few weeks ago. Kate Winslet is astonishingly believable as the character, Hanna Schmitz. She embodies the figure and personality of this woman fully with all of her silenced complexity lurking beneath the surface. As I watched this film I believed that there was an intense inner life to this enigmatic character. She did more than just illustrate someone shut off from her emotional life, she personified the unraveling that goes along with the fear of vulnerability, the frustration at losing control and the shame of the revelation of shortcomings. I am still in awe of Kate’s portrayal. This is why I think she has earned the awards she has received already, and why an Oscar seems very deserved.
And, about this movie… The story is revealed as only it can be in a film. The melding of information, emotions and events is so artfully done and mesmerizing. The film is precise and aesthetically woven through time. I feel that the cinematography is so in tune with the story. It is just plain excellent filmmaking.
I am glad to read that people are rallying to see it now.
Until I read Stephen Holt’s comment that AMPAS voters are tending toward nominating Winslet in lead for The Reader, my hunch was that her role in that movie seemed to be congealing as a supporting role to pave the way for a lead nomination for Revolutionary Road. Now, however, I’m concerned that category confusion may negatively affect her nomination chances for either performance regardless of the category. I hope this won’t happen.
I personally feel that her Rev Road performance is the better of the two. And I believe Sasha is right in suggesting that Rev Road seems to have been released at the wrong point in time in terms of cultural mood. That, plus the film’s rather downbeat beginning, may have a negative effect on box office — not to mention Academy voters’ attention spans.
I think she’ll win in the lead category. I’d say for RR because it’s a more personal project for her, but it seems it isn’t getting much love.
I think her winning in the supporting category would be unfair (and I’m not talking about category …misplacement?) for herself. I feel that if she gets an Oscar in the supporting category this year, the “overdue” feeling won’t entirely disappear and maybe in a couple of years (5 tops), there will be this feeling that “she deserves an Oscar in the lead category”. And for God’s sake, this woman has been leading (=carrying the weight) movies since she was in her early twenties. If you want to recognize her work, do it properly.
Apart from that, it’s just that I’d like to see both Winslet and Cruz win.
I’m betting on Winslet getting only one nomination; Lead for The Reader.
She’ll probably win that… and Penélope in Supporting.
This aside, it looks like its a win-win situation for Harvey Weinstein.
I’d hate to see Kate’s first Oscar be in the supporting category, especially for a performance that is arguably a lead role. I think a win in the supporting category would be underwhelming, sort of a consolation. I’d love to know her true thoughts about it. Maybe she feels that an Oscar is an Oscar and will be happy with any win. I (I’m sure she’ll be interested to know) will only be happy if she wins the lead category or wins both; a sole win in supporting would be a disappointment for me.
Re the campaigning, appearances, pandering, etc. required to win an Oscar: the constant “Leo is my best friend and reason for living” schtick is really getting old. I was also put off by her blubbering at the Globes. I’m thrilled she won both categories, but come on: it’s the freaking HFPA. I felt that she was really overdoing it. I remain a huge fan of the actor, but my admiration for the woman is becoming slightly tarnished.
I never saw an editor so in love by Kate Winslet. I just hope that the Academy gives her the 2 oscars so we dont have a kate Winslet post every week.
Anne, Meryl and “whos the other one” were better then Winslet in RR.
Since SAG placed her in both categories for both films, I feel AMPAS will probably follow suit. At least, I hope they do.
IF they do, I really do think she has a shot at winning both. The main reason (and I am bias since I think her perfs in REV ROAD and THE READER truly are the best of the year) is that there is no other performance that kills this year (except Kristin Scott Thomas and she’ll be lucky to get a nomination).
Fine, in Supporting you can make an argument for Cruz, who is fantastic, but in Lead? I love Meryl MORE than the next person but her turn in DOUBT is not Oscar-win worthy. And Hathaway is terrific, but not Oscar terrific.
Winslet simply deserves both this year. Now it’s Oscars turn to decide. Step one: the nominations…
First let me say that Kate Winslett’s performance in Rev. Road is the year’s best Lead Actress performance and virtually tied for the year’s best supporting actress turn (w/ Penelope Cruz).
Is there any chance the category confusion can result in just one nomination (like Leo a couple years ago getting snubbed for The Departed his more revered performance & getting nominated for Blood Diamond instead) or even crazier can Kate get snubbed in both categories?
In lead there’s that chance since there are great female performances up the wazoo. Hathaway, Melissa Leo, Streep, Hawkins, Jolie, Scott Thomas are all Oscar worthy.
In supporting it seems less likely of this long shot.
Sasha, dont you think that you only mentioned Meryl Streep and that’s all. I think that is a performance unsurpassed this year.
Much as I love the Oscars and the Oscarwatching as a pastime early in the year, I have to say that every year I grow more annoyed at the fact that there is always that one potential nominee that is being peddled everywhere as the “overdue”, “it’s his/her year”, “he/she has to win”. We had that with Scorsese two years ago, the Coen brothers last year, this year it’s Kate Winslet.
Now it’s true that all of them are great in general, but I hate when people think it’s preordained that they MUST win, that anything else would be unacceptable, based solely on the fact that they lost several times in the past. And sadly, it appears as if the Academy actually listens to that noise and eventually enough voters fall for this “you must make up for the snubs of the past” nonsense and vote that candidate to a win.
Aren’t people complaining to this very day that Al Pacino won his Oscar for Scent of a Woman, certainly not the very best performance he ever gave. Yet everybody was clamoring for him to finally win! Shouldn’t the Oscars be about what was best in the given year? I would argue that Scorsese should’ve won for any number of his films, but that there were directors two years ago who did better work than he did on The Departed.
Now I’m of the opinion that Winslet had many great performances, but she was NEVER robbed of a Oscar win. Everytime, there was simply someone else who was better that year. The same is true this time, at least as far as Rev Road is concerned (I haven’t seen The Reader yet). I personally found her performance in that film mediocre, as I did the entire movie. Overwrought, melodramatic, artificial. Didn’t move me at all. I know she can play this well (cf. Little Children for a very similar role, played infinitely better), so I fault Sam Mendes here, yet still, I would find it an astonishing misjudgement if she actually got Best Actress for this. I know I at least would record this as a Make Up Oscar that would look ridiculous in a few years when she actually gives the year’s best performance (as she is skilled enough to do!) and then gets overlooked because she has one already.
Kate Winslet will win an Oscar this year.
If supporting, she has a better chance to get a lead in the next few years.
If leading, 25-30 years later she may win again and die with that accomplishment. But this itself holds an “if”: If she is lucky enough to live that long…
Matthias.
One of the best post I`ve ever seen in AD. Congratulations. Winslet shouldnt be nominated in Titanic and Litle Children. Another 2 actresses were robed.
Matthias wrote: Now I’m of the opinion that Winslet had many great performances, but she was NEVER robbed of a Oscar win. Everytime, there was simply someone else who was better that year.
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I don’t agree. She was the best in her category the year of Sense and Sensibility and SAG and I believe BAFTA agreed. She deserved to win that year for such a remarkably nuanced and memorable performance as Marianne.
She was also quite wonderful in Eternal Sunshine and Iris and it would not have been an embarrassment for her two win those years.
Really Titanic was her only good not great performance that she was nominated for.
And I do think she is as good or better as any actress being nominated this year for actress and supporting actress.
Unless voters suddenly get catty, I think there are a lot of actors and other Academy voters who are thinking she should be awarded for something this year.
However, if the Oscars decide to only nominate her for RR or The Reader in the Best Actress category, that will certainly make things interesting.
Sasha, I’d like to add one thing to your astute assessment of Kate’s year.
Not only has she been campaigning well for herself she has also campaigned for her fellow actor Leo every chance she gets. She doesn’t need to do that and it certainly makes you respect her as an actor even more.
People tried to make a fuss after the Globes that she forgot Angelina’s name. But what they didn’t say was that she apologized to all her fellow nominees for winning. (I’m so sorry, she said.) Who has done that before?
Sasha: I am glad you liked The Reader. I have yet to see either Rev. Road or The Reader, but based on you reviews…..or views …I will definitely put them on my “to see” list. I always had the impression that the lukewarm reviews were influenced more my the “behind the scenes” machinations than the actual film itself. The BAFTA love for the film may well be duplicated by the Academy. I do though agree that…if her performance is lead….than that’s the category she should be placed in regardless if she had another film where she is lead as well. That goes for Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt. It is really not fair for performances which are truly supporting. Robert Osborne of TCM wrote a very interesting article recently which appeared on Reuters and The Hollywood Reporter about this very subject and made some valid points which everyone in the industry should consider especially awards groups.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilNews/idUKTRE50F1GL20090116
“I’m in favor of actors getting all the awards and rewards they can comfortably haul away in a stretch limo, but it seems time for a reality check here. Who in “Reader” does the noble Kate support? She is the hub and thrust of the story. She’s the one with top billing. Further, she plays her character throughout the entire movie, unlike teammates David Kross and Ralph Fiennes, who take turns playing younger-older versions of one person…………
…….Pretending that Winslet’s “Reader” role is a supporting one negates why the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences inaugurated a supporting category in the first place, which was to honor work by actors with only limited screen time.
………Bottom line: Does it really matter who gets nominated where? Yes, I think it does, particularly if it means the inclusion of someone in a slot where they don’t belong shuts the door on someone who genuinely deserves to be there. “
Bravo, Sasha. This is a great piece. I’m concerned about Pierre’s comment — it would be devastating if the Rev Road/Reader camps split the vote to an extent that she’d be snubbed. Truly devastating scenario.
As many others have said, if someone deserves two Oscars in one night, it’s Ms. Winslet. She has shown time after time that she is one of the very best. And even some of her non-nominated work (see “Heavenly Creatures” & especially “Jude”), she has displayed her outstanding abilities and craftsmanship. It FEELS like it’s her year. And I’m glad she’s going the Cotillard route (another splendid actor) in getting out there during Awards season.
I sincerely hope she is recognized — she DESERVES and EARNED all the recognition.
I do think she’ll win, this year. Finally. I’ve been a fan since Sense and Sensibility. Kate has always been my favourite actress since the day I loved movies really.
In terms of ever being “robbed”, I agree that in the years she has been nominated there have been performances that have been equally as strong (although certainly in 2004 and 2001, they did not come from the Oscar winner).
At the moment I am fearful that she may only get one Oscar nomination. It was intimated on another site that Winslet got enough votes to be nominated in Lead and Support at BFCA, and they chose to place her in Support, as per her campaign.
I do wonder whether the same may be true of ‘The Reader’, and wonder what precisely you do if both roles have enough support in the leading catergory – which do you pick to be nominated? Is this guided by the votes for the same performance in another catergory ?(ie The Reader gets enough support for both a lead and a supporting nod – where do they put her ?).
This year – I want her to get the 2 nominations. And then we’ll go from there.
I can’t stand Robert Osborne sometimes. He is a creep.
We’ve been through this many times. Who was Catherine Zeta Jones supporting? Or Jennifer Hudson? Was Jim Broadbent a supporting actor in Iris? Was Forrest Whitaker the lead in Last King of Scotland (no). Why is Heath Ledger not considered a lead this year? Because he sure seems close to one, dominating the movie over everyone else.
I’m still utterly perplexed and confounded at how Ms. Winslet’s “Reader” performance could be construed as anything BUT a Supporting one. The entire movie is seen through Michael’s eyes… he is the protagonist, he is the character we follow, he is the Lead. Hannah is the supporting player who affects him and who changes him… she leads nothing.
She should win for THE READER, it is the better performance. RR was a terrible film and poorly directed…..”if you come near me I swear I’ll scream” and they she bellows…I mean come on!
I don’t think Kate should win a supporting actor prize for “The Reader” — that would amount to category fraud. It’s clearly a lead role. As for “Revolutionary Road,” it’s a horrible, dreary film and she strains throughout to play April Wheeler.
And count me in with those who feel the real surprise would be the Academy giving Meryl Streep a third Oscar, along with Viola Davis for supporting, for their fine work in “Doubt.”
I saw both The Reader and Revolutionary Road this week. Here is what I think:
Kate Winslet is a leading actress in The Reader, not a supporting one. It is a remarkable performance: in the supporting category, she is a shoo-in (too bad for Viola Davis !), but that is not where she belongs.
Revolutionary Road disappointed me a bit. Kate Winslet’s performance is certainly an excellent one… but she did not create a character for me the way Meryl Streep did in Doubt.
Which is why I would prefer to see her nominated as a LEAD actress for The Reader, only. And THAT would be a close and exciting race with Sister Meryl. And a real heartbreaker for me, either way.
Her performane in The Reader was far superior to hers in RR and one of the best in this year. For RR she definately doesn’t deserve the Oscar, sorry.
And with The Reader I have the problem, that this is all but not a supporting performance. I mean “supporting” means, she supports the performance of one of the main characters. Hmmm, she IS the main female character (or is there any other I haven’t noticed?). So as hard as it is, she doesn’t deserve a supporting Oscar for a leading performance. THIS would mean she would rob one of the real supporting actresses the Oscar.
I know this happend often before, but a supporting actress of course hardly can stand against a leading actress cloaked for strategic reasons as as supporting role. (See Jennifer Conelly, Rachel Weisz)
And to say there aren’t any better performances this year is simply ignorant. I am the opinion (and many others, too) there are.
Apparently she gets her freak on in both films! She loves getting nude
a lot so that can’t be too bad, loved her 2nd speech at the Golden Globes
” Meryl, Anne, Penelope and the other one .. oh, Angelina” ha ha ha!!
For that she’ll get a nomination but won’t win but she should’ve won
the Oscar for that speech alone, it was priceless!
“I’m still utterly perplexed and confounded at how Ms. Winslet’s “Reader” performance could be construed as anything BUT a Supporting one. The entire movie is seen through Michael’s eyes… he is the protagonist, he is the character we follow, he is the Lead. Hannah is the supporting player who affects him and who changes him… she leads nothing”
well count Winslets screentime and then Fiennes. You will be surprised. Yes Fiennes is the male lead, no doubt, but Winslet definately doesn’t support him, she leads him. She is CENTER part of the story, without her the film wouldn’t exist. That is the difference between main performance (necessary for story progression) and supporting one (important but not central to the story). At least thats what I understand as main and supporting role.
By the way, her role in Iris was also not a supporting one. I mean she is the same character as Judi Dench just in another timeline. So one character, two categories? Strange.
PS, the notion that Kate is supporting in “The Reader” is ridiculous, and BAFTA dismissed this notion. She has as much if not more screen time than David Kross or Raife Fiennes, and she is in the movie from start to finish. The story of Hannah is the movie.
Thanks for the props, Pierre! But I’m not the only one spilling this Academy dish about Kate in lead for “The Reader.” And Ann, what a beautifully phrased post about her grrrrrreat performance!
Nancy, (I feel like I’m at a marvelous tea party with all these passionate cineastes this morning!) I’ll check out the Robert O. link in a sec.
But I did want to add that Tom O’Neil has been saying that he’s been hearing this to, in L.A. I’m in NYC. That they’re voting for Kate in lead for “The Reader.”
And so is the Academy. I mean, It’s split between the two coasts and of course, there’s the foreign voters, mostly Brits in London.
The New York branch sometimes votes very solidly as a block. Like I think they did for one example when Marcia Gay Harden so surprisingly won for “Pollack” not having any percursor awards or any predictions(Except on my TV show!)
Marcia was playing a New York Jewish character the amazing real wife woman who was also a painter and was Pollack’s great care-taker and de facto wife. Did they ever really marry? I can’t remember.
I bring up the Jewish question in regard to “The Reader” because that’s what it’s really about, Kate’s great portrayal of a Nazi prison guard…who is responsible for a horrific number of deaths by fire of 300 women. We never see this. It’s is referenced in the court-room trial scenes, but basically Kate gets to ACT THIS OUT!!!!
That is the really unforgettable Oscar moment. I can’t get that scene out of my head and how magnificently she acted it. WOWOWOW!
“Rev Road” was not on this level as angst-ridden as it was.
And now, back to the Jewish question. I don’t know how many members of the Academy are Jewish, but I’m guessing it’s a lot.
And Jews are divided on this film. Certainly Jewish critics were. Like for instance, Time Out New York gave it a VERY bad very and ONE STAR(?!?!)
Neither Stephen Daldry, David Hare, or the author of the book it’s based on is Jewish.
As a non-Jew, I didn’t have any trouble appreciating this marvelous films many memorable aspects.
But I think some Jews in the academy may not like this film at all……And yes, to answer the above poster, I can’t remember who now, who said Kate could split her vote and note get nominated at all.
That COULD happen. Especially with the surprising number of very very good female performances this year.
I certainly hope it doesn’t.
I also spoke to some (who shall be nameless) SAG committee members and they objected to Kate’s April in RR as being “not genuinely American” and “too British.”
Whereas in “The Reader” her German character(and accent) is completely, superbly executed.
Also, the theme of “The Reader” is something that everyone can agree on that Nazism was a terrible horrible thing.
“Rev Road” seems to be saying that middle class white marriages in suburbia are a horrible thing.
April seems a bit ridiculous. Hannah Schmitz is frighteningly real.
And the fact that all the nude/sex scenes/love affair occur at the BEGINNING of “The Reader” (before it turns to its’ real subject, the Halocaust and Hannah’s trial ) means that everyone will watch the screener. “Rev Road” is a bit less compelling. I loved it to. And put it on my year’s Ten Best. But I put “The Reader” one slot higher.
Both are best films of the year.
I don’t see how her performance in The Reader, whether lead or supporting, could be any worse than or seen by the Academy as any worse than that in Revolutionary Road. If anything, The Reader is doing better with precursors and many critics. In this movie Kate actually has a challenging role, whereas in the other film she is the cliched suffering wife. End of story.
Damn she looked good in Revolutionary Road.
Someone mentioned Kate has more screen time than Fiennes in The Reader. So what? Geoffrey Rush had about 40 minutes on screen in Shine and he won Best Actor.
Let it go folks. Anyway, the Academy likes to mess things up like not giving Leo a nomination for The Departed when he was clearly the heart of the film.
Maybe Kate will win her Oscar for RR and everyone will say–she should have won for The Reader.
I can say that Meryl Streep does not deserve an award for Doubt and I’m beginning to think Viola Davis doesn’t deserve one either for 10 minutes on the screen. Best cameo is more like it.
I’m getting angry here because I’m mad at all the category fraud posts.
Someone wrote: And to say there aren’t any better performances this year is simply ignorant.
******
How offensive.
Stephen : The Holocaust is an aspect of the story but the fact that
Hare, Daldry or Schlink are not Jewish is irrelevant. Because what the film and book is really about is how the generation that followed Nazi Germany….ie. Germans , come to terms with what the generation before it ( ie their mothers, fathers, teachers who they loved etc) did…. or come to terms with what they allowed to happen. Bernhard Schlink, the author of the book spoke about the book and the film a few weeks ago on The Charlie Rose show about why he wanted to write the book.
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/9877
Hannah is a metaphor for a loved one…..and Michael represents someone who tries to come to terms with what a loved one from previous generation did.
………
daveylow said Quote”
the Academy likes to mess things up like not giving Leo a nomination for The Departed when he was clearly the heart of the film. ”
daveylow: Eventhough The Departed was the better film…..I always thought his performance in Blood Diamond was the better of the two. It demonstrated more range and it was a richer role…..so in this case tey did the right thing.
daveylow:
Can you believe oscar noms will be announced in 4 days and we have no idea who’s gonna win (or even be nominated for) Actress and supp Actress?
***well count Winslets screentime and then Fiennes. You will be surprised.***
Screen-time is completely, wholly, 100% irrelevant when determining category placement. Anthony Hopkins won the LEAD Actor trophy for having 15 minutes on screen in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Hanna Schmitz, and likewise Kate Winslet, is nothing but a Supporting role. End of story. Not arguable. I could see arguing Casey Affleck two years ago for JESSE JAMES, or crying foul over a CLEARLY Lead performance pushed into Supporting (Timothy Hutton in ORDINARY PEOPLE), but Ms. Winslet is entirely Supporting in THE READER. If they put her in Lead, THAT will be category fraud 101.
“Someone wrote: And to say there aren’t any better performances this year is simply ignorant.
******
How offensive.”
No.
I believe that Meryl Streep gave the greatest performance this year and Sasha Stone I read your site frequently. I think you should make your mind about to whom this year belongs. Two articles that you wrote
The Year of The Grand Showcase Performance-Meryl Streep
The Year of The Kate-Kate Winslet
and it seems that you are changing your decision so harshly just because 70 people give Kate Winslet two awards on one night.
You will regret this article when you find out who wins on Oscar night.
Well, here’s hoping come nomination morning, that Kate has two nominations in separate categories, and doesn’t split her own vote and *gasp!* not get nominated. I shudder to think of that possibility. And if she does get those two nominations, I really hope that she WINS for both films, because no one else’s performances even come close to Kate’s this year.
For instance, finally saw Doubt last night, and Meryl was very good, but I just wasn’t blown away. Felt the same about Viola Davis’ performance – very surprised at all the buzz it has gotten, because the role doesn’t require her to do much more than cry with downcast eyes. I’ve seen a million actresses do that and never get award recognition, so why Viola is being touted…..?? I’m not saying she’s a bad actress, but her cameo role was hardly award-worthy.
Kate Winslet is brilliant and has been overlooked for far too long. It’s time for it to be HER year.
I’ve seen all the films and I have to admit that I’m a huge Kate Winslet fan and that she deserves a win. However, I think Streep’s work in Doubt is the best performance and that she should win her third Oscar. If only to stop her from being nominated for every film she appears in! 15 nominations, two wins – just give her a third already!
Winslet winning leading.
Cruz winning supporting
or
Blanchett winning leading
Winslet winning supporting.
As already mentioned she wasn’t overlooked. Otherwise she wouldn’t have ben nominated for 5 Oscars. Oscar nomination =one of the five best performances of the year for the AMPAS members.
“End of story. Not arguable.”
Calm down, I don’t argue with you. You have your opinion, I have mine. And I simply consider her role as lead, you as support. Tell me why she is support, I am curious. How do you define support? I mean without Hanna Schmitz, how would the film look like? Isn’t she THE central part of the story?
And for me screentime is relevant in a way, though you are absolutely right with Hopkins. I would say it is a rare case, at least i don’t know any other main lead with such a short screen time. (it appears much more subjektively, because he is in many scenes and gives such a strong presence). The character you see the most time on screen one considers automatically as the lead role whose performance carries the story.
Anyway she never the less will be nominated as support by AMPAS. BAFTA members got it right (as with Rachel Weisz back then)
The thing is, The Reader is the story of Hanna Schmitz, but seen from Michael’s point of view. So there are reasons for considering her the lead as well as a supporting character.
I think it’s kinda like what happened with Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. The main character was Anne Hathaway’s, but Streep was the center of the story. Plus, she stole the movie. And I recall some (few, but there were) people thinking Streep should’ve been nominated in Supporting.
Taitzu–I don’t know who you are, but please do not call people ignorant here. State your opinion but don’t think you’re the end all and all of who is good and better and best.
I think it would be a shame to win for Revolutionary Road, a completely disappointing film. The Reader however would be appropriate, even if it is “supporting”. But, I can’t help feeling giving Oscars to people like Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett for Supporting is just settling.
If the role of Hanna belongs in Supporting Actress (and I don’t agree that it does), IMO that is where the role of Daisy in “Benjamin Button” should go too. There really is no female lead in Button. This whole playing with the categories is nonsense for any award.
I hope Kate does get her golden naked guy this year…regardless of what category it’s in. An Oscar is an Oscar – all the statues look the same. I’m sure she’ll be delighted to win in either category. I sincerely doubt she will win two Oscars in the same year.
It is a very real possibility that if academy voters are voting for her in lead for The Reader and RR, she might not make the cut for either. That would be a crying shame.
Nancy, thank you SOOOO much for linking to the VERY angry Robert Osborne article about Kate Winslet’s “supporting role” in “The Reader”!!!
Osborne, who you can see pretty much 24/7 on TCM hosting the entire channel(!!!), is the voice of the Academy. He is a member and he IS the very visible embodiment of their demographic. Movie-obsessed, a tad self-righteous and in their 70s. This is the academy members speaking very loudly and clearly through him in that article in a UK outlet, no less.
But he PERFECTLY articulated the feeling I’ve been getting about Kate post-Globes.
And I don’t EVER remember seeing the usually sunny, upbeat Osborne go off on somebody like that. But he’s not just speaking for himself.
And Academy members listen to him.
It’s a must-read.
For those that can’t find it, he basically says that no way, no how should KW be nominated for Supporting Actress in “The Reader”. He says “I don’t want to rain on Kate Winslet’s parade” but rain he does.
And he articulates what I’ve been hearing, too.
I’m soooo glad that Nancy brought that to us.
And as far as the Jewish thing is concerned…People object to what is a sympathetic portrayal of a Nazi prison guard who was directly responsible for the deaths of at least 300 Jewish women in her “care” by fire.
Yes, Hannah Schmidt DOES pay for what she’s done, but some people feel that a sympathetic look at a Nazi, any Nazi is heinous and should not be condoned as award-worthy.
Obviously, Daldry, Hare and Schlink all articulated their points of view and yes, I saw Charlie Rose, Nancy. And I was fine with everything they said, but others, I could feel were not…
Well, Kate’s winning two Globes effectively happened after the Voting closed for the Academy. The next day, Monday at 5pm, was the deadline, so many people, MOST of the voters had their ballots in well before.
Some PR agency had someone outside the Academy’s office that Monday(in disguise, no less) and counted only 88 messengers delivering a certain distinctly colored ballot that day.
Also, Robert Osborne’s diatribe against Kate in Supporting for “The Reader” would’ve also been after-the-fact as the vast majority of the ballots were already filled out and mailed(yes, snail mail, by hand, is how most of them do it. No online voting for AMPAS. Too easily hacked.)
However a vituperative piece like that COULD stop people from voting for her in Supporting, if indeed she’s nominated there. And not in lead.
I think Winslet is a lead in The Reader – she is not the main character, Michael is, but Hanna feels very central to the movie. But I can see how she could be argued as supporting, especially considering that her screen time is erratic in the second half of the film.
But sometimes films have more than one (or even more than two) lead roles. From Here to Eternity and Network each received three nominations from the Academy for lead performances, and I think the Academy was right in those cases. It isn’t always right, in my view – with Ethan Hawke in Training Day and Jamie Foxx in Collateral being two glaring errors in recent years, plus, of course, there’s Al Pacino, who was a lead in The Godfather but nominated for supporting actor – but sometimes it’s a fine line between lead and supporting, and I think Winslet in The Reader is one such fine line.
I also agree with Otto. I remember that some people thought that Meryl Streep’s role in The Devil Wears Prada was a supporting one. There have been quite a few ‘lead’ roles that were characters seen from the main character’s point of view – others that spring to mind include Michael Douglas in Wall Street, Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man, Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman…
I think my ideal outcome would be for Winslet to win Best Actress in The Reader and Penelope Cruz to win supporting actress.
Kate for the double win! No one is more deserving of either Oscar this year. How can one person pull off both of those performances and have them released in one year? It’s just unbelievable. If anyone can pull off a double win, it’s Kate Winslet. I’m certainly hoping it happens. I have a feeling SAG might give her the double win as well, but if they don’t, she’ll certainly win for supporting there. I hope the Oscars don’t slip up and not nominate her in one or both categories due to vote splitting. I don’t think it’ll happen since the producers of “The Reader” were adamant about her placement (BAFTA’s the only awards group to name her for leading actress thus far), so I don’t think it’ll be a problem for Oscar.
~Steven
How’s this for a shocker? I saw a screener for “The Reader” so early in the game, that I didn’t know the film even referenced the Holocaust til the film told me. It’s not a ‘Holocaust film’ by nature. It’s a film about those things from the past which inevitably haunt the present. There are no flashbacks to concentration camps or scene recreations, and I found that a smart choice.
Now onto Kate. She’s brilliant in “RR” and “The Reader,” and while you can argue lead or supporting til blue in the face, it’s clear that
the story is told from the perspective of David Kross’ character. His is the protagonist of the story. Kate’s Hanna supports his story.
Regarding Meryl. Sure, she’s great. We know that. But Meryl didn’t make Sister Aloysius come alive for me. The author did that. Meryl
bagged a full-proof role and played it well, just as any talented actress could’ve done with the same material. In my humble opinion, she unnecessarily OVERplayed the role. By comparison, Kate gave emotion and soul to what could have been a one note character.
So according to my scorecard: Sister Aloysius: stronger role. April Wheeler: stronger performance.
And yes, I’m hoping Kate takes home both.
I see Meryl winning best actress and Cruz for supporting at SAG
I see Meryl winning best actress and Winspet for supporting at the Oscars.
Does anyone else really want to see Kate win Oscars in both categories on the same night?
I do…….
I buy the case for supporting in “The Reader.” (Whom does she support? The character of Michael, of course. Who’s the leading actor? David Kross, who plays Michael for the majority of the film.) I’m wondering why everyone is in a hubbub when it’s Kate Winslet who’s committing potential category fraud. Isn’t everyone saying that she needs/deserves an Oscar? So then why not complain when it’s someone no one really cares about like Jennifer Connelly or Jennifer Hudson or Catherine Zeta-Jones, or others who clearly had stronger lead performances like Cate Blanchett or Jamie Foxx? Why Kate, why now? Especially since her performance in “The Reader” is her best work to date?
~Steven
We’ll see what happens with the nominations of course, but I think there is an excellent chance for Kate to repeat her double win at the Oscars. I think a lot of people think she’s way overdue, and will actually vote for her in both categories as opposed to splitting support between the two films.
I think the Academy will want to make the double win a captial-S Story this year—the first dual win by an actor—in much the same way Denzel Washington and Halle Berry came on strong late in the 2001 race.
Just my two cents, but I think Kate will indeed have two Oscars to her name on February 23.
My memory is betraying me. Please somebody clarifies that: the AMPAS has a rule that it forbids actors or actresses to compete two times in the same category, right? Or my memory really mocks me? I guess the first time I heard about this, was in 94, with two leading perfomances by Anthony Hopkins (”Remains of the Day” and “Shadowlands”).
But Steven Soderbergh got two nods for Best Director…
Am I wrong?
These rule exists or not?
If doesn’t, there is a very, very, very, long shot possibility that Kate Winslet could be nominated both for “The Reader” and “Revolutionary Road” as lead???
If there is no such a thing as this rule (again, I think I read that somewhere, someday, a long time ago), the campaing for Kate is one category as lead, and the another as supporting (at this point I’m not dealig with the she is or she is not supporting in “Reader”), is a strategy to assured, or try to, two nods for her, since is almost impossible for her to get a double nomination for Lead?
She will win for ‘The Reader’ in Supporting Actress.
The leading actress Oscar will go to MERYL STREEP. And I haven’t said Meryl Streep, I’ve said MERYL STREEP.
There is a rule about actors only being nominated once per category. This rule doesn’t apply for other categories, such as cinematography or the music categories, etc.
~Steven
Matthias wrote: Now I’m of the opinion that Winslet had many great performances, but she was NEVER robbed of a Oscar win. Everytime, there was simply someone else who was better that year.
Mira Sorvino (Might Aphro) was better than Kate (in S&S)?!?!?! are u crazy??!?
While i do respect Hilary in M$B, i believe Kate gave a more outstanding and complicated performance in Eternal Sunshine. it may not be as heavy as hilary’s role, it was by far more complicated (and fresh)…. i do have to be cautious though cause i think Annette Benning gave a more stellar performance that same year with Julia.
this is really very subjective… we both or all have different opinions… but Mira Sorvino? come on deary! If Joan Allen won that year then i’ll shut up… but the mighty aphrodite?!?!
*** in another topic*****
Meryl Streep, being Meryl Streep, always give a great performance and HAVE always nailED the character she portrays. not in “Doubt” i’m afraid. her interpretation was flawed. like i have said in a different post, if you watched Cheryl Jones performance in theater you would understand what i am saying. I don’t want to give anything away to those who haven’t seen the movie so ***SPOILER ALERT (somewhat)*** Cheryl never ever showed vulnarability. even up to the very end – she said “it”, yes… but still kept her demeanor even though you can sense (thru a tiny window-a window she has kept shut everytime but allowed us a peak) the guilt that was eating her. but she kept her ground… she never physically showed anything nor broke down – it was her voice – the way she said the word “doubt” that gave her defenses away.
i don’t know how the screenplay went (if it chose a different direction that the play)… but Chery’s performance made more sense for the character than what Meryl did. If the script called for it then the script was flawed and not Meryl’s performance… but if it was Meryl’s own interpretation then it was not that effective… i sometimes felt that Hoffman overpowered her in some scenes which shouldn’t have been the case if they were to stay thru with the premise. I WORSHIP MERYL… i lover her so much that i can really say that she is one of the BEST ACTRESS of ALL TIME…. but she’s not perfect… and she showed that in Doubt.
Joao – read post #24 on this thread or go here:
http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/rules/rule06.html
An actor/actress can only be nominated for one performance per category according to AMPAS (Actors’ Branch) rules.
JoeyG, I could not agree more!!! I’m not saying she deserves to win because she’s never won before; I’m saying she deserves it because her performances, in my opinion, are the finest of this year.
Every post here is subjective; no one is “right,” no one is “wrong.” I don’t understand why people try to masquerade their opinions as “fact,” and get really persnickety in the process.
The remarkable thing is, there were SO many great roles and performances by women in film this year. Let’s celebrate that!
I still, however, stand by my opinion that Winslet deserves two Oscars this year, and I hope she gets them!!
-Vincent
I just read the aforementioned Osborne piece and this segment stood out:
“Fay Bainter was the first double-header, in 1938; more recently, there’s Jamie Foxx (2004: “Ray” and “Collateral”) and Cate Blanchett (2007: “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” and “I’m Not There”). But those have been cases in which the actors in question played a clearly defined lead role in one and an unmistakable supporting role in the other.”
In what universe, I would ask Mr. Osborne, was Jamie Foxx’s performance in “Collateral” a supporting one? If you want, oops I mean don’t want, to rain on Winslet’s parade, at least use some more convincing examples.
I want to see Kate Winslet win 2 Oscars. Yes, Oscar loves making history. And yes, both performances are award worthy. But here’s why I think she’ll win 2- based solely on what makes a pretty picture by Hollywood standards. (And I hope my reasoning won’t jinx it:)
Each year after the Awards, we’re treated to a pic of the winning foursome clutching their trophies. We all know that Heath won’t be in that pic, and …let’s face it…he’s gonna win.
Sadly that would leave us with a photo of three winners.
But not this year. Instead of the usual four, there will be only two
actors standing in the pic. One will be Kate, gleefully clutching two gold men, and the other will be…….
IF he gets nominated, and that’s a big if. The lovely Leo DiCaprio. Cause Hollywood likes a pretty picture.
If Leo doesn’t get a nomination, then throw my whole theory out the
car window. Viola Davis and some other actor will complete the picture with Kate. But if he does, then it’ll be a memorable photo op for the Titanic duo.
Feel free to condemn me to Hades, but that’s just how I see it. And my same weirdo reasoning correctly pegged Marion and Tilda last year.
Meryl Streep is perfect honey.
Try to pretend you dont think so with your shitty words and Kate Winslet will juice you in your nightmares for what you have in mind. Even her.
I do like Kate Winslet but that Golden Globe speech ‘gather gather’ just was awful I bet she wished she could take it back- in saying that I hope she does win the Oscar but please Kate practice your speech beforehand.
I would truly like Leo to be recognised I don’t know why he always misses out he is amazing just like Kate. His day will come I’m thinking ‘Shutter Island’.
Well stated Fricshka (#61 Thread)!
I know that this following question has nothing to do with this, but when does the Online Film Critics announce their winners?? Does anyone of you guys knows that?
I also think Kate has more screentime than both her male co-actors in The Reader.
But I think this is the case where like Nicole Kidman in The Hours, and Jake Gyllenhall in Brokeback Mountain.
She is the the ultimate main character in the Reader……in this case Michael is….
Winslet is going to supporting for “The Reader”, as Fiennes and Kross are to..
Simple.
A double nom, like Blanchett last year.
Sometimes, it´s not good idea, like happened to Blanchett in 2006, IN for “Notes on a Scandal” (leading in wrong category), OUT for “The Good German”; also Gyllenhaal IN for “Brokeback Mountain” (leading in wrong category), OUT for “Jarhead”.
I want to see Winslet winning as leading for “RR”.
Two Oscars?
Impossible, let´s keep our feet on Earth.
Noms for the same role in 2 categories?
Impossible, it´s not 1944 and Winslet is not Barry Fitzgerald.
In the end:
Winslet, good lucky as leading!
Kate character in The Reader is part of the main character – Michael’s life, as Jake Gyllenhal is part of Heath Ledger character’s life in Brokeback Mountain……
So this I think can be considered as supporting role. ( I do think also that Cate Blanchett character in Benjamin Button could go supproting also )
Jason, interesting point oif viwe, but I don´t agree.
I think Gyllenhaal in “BM” is leading.
Twist is so leading as Del Mar.
For me, Blanchett in “TCCOBB” are leading too.
But, only opinions.
I have not seen ‘The Reader’ but after all the praises and ravings of a sterling performance, I am just dying to watch it. I saw ‘RR’ and thought it was a remarkable portrayal – could’ve been a disaster on a lesser actress.
I have only seen snippets of Streep’s perf in ‘Doubt’ and thought she was riveting – one that’d earn her her second lead oscar. Now, if Kate were to get a lead nod for ‘The Reader’, that would change the whole dynamics completely!
As for supporting, I think it’s still would go to Cruz, no matter what, for a delightfully entertaining portrayal!
Just can’t wait for the Nominations and gasp in awe! : O
Why would you be expecting a screener if you’re not a voting member of the academy?
Thank you Nancy Kriparos, for what you said in your post #57 and for your suggestion to look at
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/9877
I listened to the interview of Bernhard Schlink by Charlie Rose and it
really helped me understand more about this film. I second checking this out. I was interested to hear that the author wanted Kate to play the role of Hanna.
My dad is an academy member and he took me to see most of the screenings. We both agreed that Hathaway’s performance was too good not to win. The only thing that might hurt her is the fact that she is young and “isn’t due”. I know that the critics have a huge impact on the Academy voters. Everyday my Dad gets newsletters from the National Board of Review (which Hathaway won). The critics might not vote for the winners but they defanitly influence them. The nominations haven’t come out yet, but my dad is planning on voting for her if she gets a bid and his other friends in the academy are split between her are Streep.
I love Kate, but I don’t think she played this year well. The Reader is a lead Actress performance and she will win if she is nominated for it, but with her slanting for supporting, it will hurt her. The Academy will split their votes and she might walk away with lead actress in Revolutionary Road and nothing else. From the Academy voters I have talked to, they want her for the Reader in lead, but if the other half vote for her in Supporting, she won’t have enough votes to qualify for either Actress catagories for the Reader. Poor Kate.
But I will say it again, my dad and his Academy friends are voting for Hathaway, so it will be interesting.
I wish I knew a little more about how the voting is done and the nominations are determined. For instance, if Kate Winslet gets enough votes for The Reader to be nominated in both categories, how do they determine which category she will be nominated in for that movie? And if she’s lead, then that eliminates her performance from Revolutionary Road from getting nominated. So, what if she gets more votes in Actress for the Reader than Supporting Actress, but gets more votes for Actress/Rev Road? She’s get nominated for Best Actress for Revolutionary Road, but would she be able to get nominated in Supporting Actress for The Reader despite having more Lead votes for the same movie?
I have a feeling what they do is determine the Lead categories first, then do supporting, and just eliminate those who actually get Lead nominations.
Kate will win Supporting Actress, where she’s the clear frontrunner and where she’s getting the bulk of her support, and someone else will win Leading Actress (most likely Meryl). Simple as that.
I’m just saying, Anne Hathaway getting the Oscar for best leading actress and Kate Winslet geting it for The Reader, really???
mmm, Ok, Other years is been tough for Kate Winslet, but this year, she seems she’s been sooo overdue!!, soo, she has to win the Leading actress category and Penelope Cruz should win for Best Supporting Actress, that’s the correct choice, Im thinking one thing will be very important into the actress category, is the SAG, because BAFTA is so for Kate, and the SAG will be definitive in the ultimate choice, well after all, last year Marion Cotillard won the GG, the BAFTA and the Oscar, with out the SAG, but, defintely is important the SAG.
But in the end, this is like sasha said b4, this year in the actress race is definetly for Kate Winslet.
Chris – read post #24 on this thread or go here:
http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/rules/rule06.html
well, what is going to end up happening is that she will probably end up just getting the nomination for The Reader and Anne Hathaway will end up being the clear front runner for Lead Actress. Kate is confusing Academy voters this year. Like I said, my dad is a voter and his friends want to put her in lead for the Reader put she is pushing for supporting. This is going to end up hurting her. But yeah….Winslet=Supporting and Hathaway=Lead
Anne is/will be the clear frontrunner for lead actress? I’ll believe that if she wins the SAG.
Lee: That’s somewhat helpful, but I don’t think it really covers the scenario I came up with.
Let’s say she gets the largest % of votes for Lead Actress in Revolutionary Road; she gets the second largest % of votes for Lead Actress in The Reader; the third largest % of votes in Supporting Actress for The Reader. One of the stated rules eliminates her Best Actress for The Reader nomination (because she can’t be nominated in the same category twice) and another seems to eliminate her Best Supporting Actress nomination for The Reader (because if the same performance gets enough to be nominated in two categories, the category in which she got the largest % of the vote is the victor). I assume she would end up with two nominations in this scenario, but I don’t think this is covered in the rules as described. It also doesn’t seem to cover what happens in the event of a tie between two performances by the same actor in the same category, or a relative tie between the same performance in two categories.
Ironically this reminds me of the situation her co-star DiCaprio was in a couple of years ago with “The Departed” and “Blood Diamond.” He got double nominations for lead actor at the BFCA and Globes, lead and supporting at SAG and a lead nomination at BAFTA. Everyone worried he’d split votes and not get an Oscar nomination, but if he did, it would be for “The Departed.” And he ended up being nominated at the Oscars for “Blood Diamand.”
If Kate won, it’s an unjust to Judi Dench, who is a greater actress from England, who has yet to win! I think pitting against Streep, her first costume performance in years, Kate will not win.
Even so, I’ll be holding my breath when Kate is announced as a nominee for best actress for ‘The Reader’! Now, that’s an honour!
And I wonder why Cate Blanchett hasn’t been getting accolades for her wondrous performance in ‘Benjamin Button’??
Um…Judi Dench won the Academy Award for “Shakespeare in Love.” Unless you were referring to no wins in the lead category. And, of course, the term “greater” is very relative.
As for Blanchett, who is fantastic in “Benjamin Button,” I think not enough people are counting her in but I believe she has a very strong chance — depending on BB’s own showing.
#106, there are plenty of great actors/actresses who have never won a competitive Oscar (Peter O’Toole, for instance) and some not-so-great ones who have (Paltrow, Swank) so I don’t see why Winslet’s winning would be an insult to Dench (who, as Dorothy pointed out, has an Oscar).
Blanchett has received rather mixed response to her performance in “Button.” She, too, already has an Oscar.
Personally, I’d love to see DiCaprio nominated with Winslet this year. But that ain’t gonna happen.
Swank not so good? LOL. Enough of this already. Her performance in “Boys Don’t Cry” is nothing short of transcendent. A “not-so-great one” (how insulting is that?) wouldn’t give one of the best performances in recent memory.
Seriously, some people just get the hate no matter what. Her and Jennifer Hudson. It’s just dull now.
I have seen all the movies for the Best Actress race and here my rankings:
!. Anne Hathaway- Her performance was way beyond her years and she has totally got into the role. IT is exactly what the Academy likes to award. This was a sublime role for her. The only thing that could hurt her is the fact that she is too young and “not due”, but this is by far the front runner.
2. Streep- Her role was very strong as a nun. Her years in front of the screen have helped her to become an amazing actress. This was a great role.
3. Winslet- Her performance was great as well. She jumped off the screen and while I love her as an actress, I don’t believe that her role will be enough to win over Hathaway. Revolutionary Road was pretty much the same as all other “typical suburban housewives”. Although this was a brilliant performance, the movie as a whole was horrible and with Winslet dominating in the Supporting cateragory, I think that…
BEST ACTRESS WILL GO TO HATHAWAY
The Reader is Michael. I can see the “take” on it being Hannah…but, it’s not. Michael is the lead character. It is Michael’s story…else we would have flash backs to Hannah’s past. They could have campaigned her for Lead…but, it not improper to have her in Supporting.
She will proabably get votes in both categories for The Reader, but I think and hope that she will prevail in Supporting, and Lead for RR.
Meryl Streep, who I love, did not do it for me in Doubt. Especially in the scene with Davis. Streep seemed self-conscious? In her head, you know? I know what great f-ing Meryl Streep looks like, and that wasn’t it. Winslet could win. She could win both.
Sorry for the Swank comment. I agree, she was great in “Boy’s Don’t Cry.” My mistake.
Johnny, how old are you? I wonder if your dad, the Academy voter, would like you telling everyone how he voted. By the way, I hope he’s in the actors branch, because otherwise, he can’t vote for actress.
Johnny–Just because you’re Dad is a voter and loved Anne Hathaway you think everyone is going to nominate Anne and vote for her? Well I’d like to talk to an Academy voter who loved Streep in Doubt or Melissa Leo or Sally Hawkins. I’m glad you think you can read the mind of all the Academy voters.
Hathaway is very good in Rachel’s Getting Married but this is the first time she’s ever given a dramatic performance that’s actually gotten attention. I think Anne should just be happy with a nomination. And I think if she wins it will hurt her career. What will have to aspire to? What has happened to Paltrow and Berry after they won Oscars? They have stopped getting good parts.
“Her years in front of the screen have helped her to become an amazing actress”
Hello, this *is* MERYL STREEP we’re talking about!!
But thank you for admitting that Revolutionary Road sucks, and that she shouldn’t be winning for it for lead, especially when she has The Reader.
But I do not see Hathaway winning.
Stephen Holt, allow me to bitch you out since you clearly don’t know much about Oscarology.
Osborne isn’t the “voice of the Academy”. The pre-cursors is the voice of the Academy. Last time I checked, the SAGs and Globes followed Winslet’s requests to put “The Reader” performance in SUPPORTING.
Isn’t it kind of safe to say Winslet is a lock to be nominated in both categories after the Globe wins? And after the SAG noms. Don’t forget, or shall I say, let me INFORM you since you clearly don’t know, only the acting branch can nominate the acting nominees.
The fact that SAG nominated Winslet in Supporting is enough evidence to show she will be double-nominated.
You also brought up the tired, irrelevant argument that “zomg, ballots were due the next day after the Globes (!!!!)”.
The point isn’t that Academy voters will suddenly throw their support behind Winslet in Supporting after witnessing her win the Globe.
The point IS that her winning the Globes shows she has immense SUPPORT in the industry.
And Johnny, How exactly is Hathaway going to win the Oscar after being snubbed by BAFTA? If I recall correctly, every single BA winner since 2000 won the BAFTA, unless the categories were mixed up. Hathaway wasn’t nominated at all.
Best Actress is between Streep and Winslet at this point.
I thought it wasn’t Streep’s absolute best, but this is Streep we’re talking about. This is probably her best *film* performance in years. Two decades, maybe.
Considering she is Streep, she hasn’t always been getting the greatest roles, at least not until Adaptation and Prada put her back on the map.
But that “in her head” notion some critics point to – I think that is fine for the performance. I think Sister Aloysius is in her head, always planning her next move rather than merely reacting predictably to those around her.
And Viola Davis, well, she wasn’t in her head, but there wasn’t much else there, either. I think she is fine and worthy of a nomination, but she didn’t blow me away. Her acting was very one-dimensional because that was all that the part called for – to reveal the big information. She was terrifically in the moment, but she did not add much to what was already strong material. Go watch Beatrice Straight in Network for a brilliant and multifaceted “cameo.”
I just wasn’t crazy about Streep in Doubt and I’ve seen in almost everything, including her stage performances. I thought she was better in The Hours, Adaptation and Prada. If she wins it will be for a lesser performance but some think Streep is beyond criticism so they may just vote for because they wish to see her win something. Let’s see what happens at SAG.
Let me start by saying that I utterly adore Winslet, and I hope they put her in supporting for Reader so that she can take it home.
I don’t see how the Acadamy can ignore Streep anymore. She was absolutely brilliant and stunning in Doubt.
The naysayers keep saying, “She’s always nominated…” But Streep has probably the longest losing streak outside of Peter O’toole.
She’s been pushed aside so many years so that some one who is new and “up and coming,” could win.
I hear women complaining constantly that there are no roles for older women, yet Streep not only keeps working, her work is still brilliant. She needs this win! She deserves this win!
I’d be as elated if Cate Blanchett got nominated for ‘BB’ as when she deservedly got nominated for ‘Elizabeth II’ last year when everyone else didn’t.
I haven’t seen Rachel, but I can safely bet Anne would give a strong performance judging from her terrific turn in Prada. But I hope Winslet will be nominated for the lead in both ‘The Reader’ and ‘Rev Rd’, that’ll be a testament to her brilliance!
This is gonna be a tormenting year for me, as I’m gunning for a Streep win as much as I want Winslet to win for her sheer intensity!!
Kate Winslet is a beautiful, accomplished actress. In my opinion, her better performance was “Revolutionary Road.” Even though, “The Reader” was more low key, it wasn’t the Top 5 quality movie that people are currently hyping.
I too would love to see an actress like Kate Winslet win two Oscars in the same evening (I felt that way about Emma Thompson and Julianne Moore as well). And I thought she gave excellent performances in both Revolutionary Road and The Reader. But here’s the rub: these are two of my least favorite of the baity films of 2008, as I have written repeatedly here at AD. Furthermore, I think both of the roles are leading roles, no matter how you parse Hanna Schmitz’s “function” in The Reader. She may not be “the” lead, but she’s “a” lead.
And she’s definitely not the “reader” referred to in the title:
The title “The Reader” is definitely referring to Michael Berg. The original German title is “Der Vorleser”, which refers to a person who reads to someone. And Michael is the one reading to Hanna throughout the book/film.
Even more simply: “Der Vorleser” is masculine; if it were referring to Hanna it would be “die Vorleserin”.
Ever so slightly off the subject: I happened to catch The Duchess this afternoon, and although I am no big fan of Keira Knightley, I was more moved by her performance than I was by Jolie in Changeling or Streep in Doubt. But timing and perception is everything. (Ditto regarding Fiennes in The Duchess vs. Fiennes in The Reader.)
But all that is neither here nor there, as far as Thursday morning goes. Bottom line: Winslet can and probably will be nominated in both categories. And what does Harvey do then with/for his Kate and his Penélope?
But I hope Winslet will be nominated for the lead in both ‘The Reader’ and ‘Rev Rd’, that’ll be a testament to her brilliance!
AMPAS has a rule that prevents that. Presumably that rule is the reason she was positioned in Supporting for The Reader.
Re The Duchess–I had the misfortune of seeing The Duchess in a nearly empty theater. I found it incredibly slow paced and I found Knightley wasn’t up to the role. Fiennes was fine but he couldn’t save the movie.
Right now I imagine Winslet is sitting at home with her kids and thinking she is sick of all of this. And she wishes RR had gotten a better reception.
When I first heard that Streep and Hoffmann had been cast in the film version of “Doubt,” I worried that the great play would be turned into a ’star vehicle.’ I feared that PSH would be totally miscast, and that Streep would likely reduce the plum role of Aloysius to a clenched cheek caricature. Turns out I was only half correct.
Watching PSH at work in “Doubt” is comparable to watching a doctor perform the most delicate surgery. Without even speaking, PSH conveys the priest’s fragility beneath his overtly cordial demeanor. His priest is flawed, struggling, and PSH displays it all in a glance or a well-thought pause.
But what you get from Streep in this role is all on the surface. She looks bored, working the camera to her own advantage, but not getting anywhere near the pulse of Aloysius. Her most overplayed
catchphrase “Not anywhere you can get at it” comes off like a wisecrack and never lives up to the conviction of the character.
( And I haven’t heard an accent that thick since Linda Lavin worked Mel’s Diner.)
Regarding Viola Davis, I lovvved her acceptance speech for Meryl.
What I didn’t get from her performance was that aggressive fierceness that so splendidly defined the role on Broadway. Onstage the character induces fear. Davis’ portrayal offered likeability and pity.
All that aside, I still liked the film.
winslet is overrated this year. really. I didn’t like her GG speech at all. so annoying.
I think Anne Hathaway should win her first award. She’s far more amazing in RGM.
Kate Winslet is a excellent star. I loved her in Titanic. I loved her in Heavenly Creatures. Little Children was good. I hope she wins the Oscar this year. I can’t wait to see Revolutionary Road. Kate Winslet can do anything. Her career is at a peak right now.
If Kate do split her votes in the Lead, I do think she will be nominated for The Reader instead of Rev. Road.
Not that I think her performance in The Reader is superior than in Rev. Road…..I think both are equally great performances. But as I heard that the AMPAS members will get a list of actors for consideration for nomination. Simply that alphabectcally The Reader come 1st than Rev. Road in the list, thus I think they will nominate her performance in The Reader.
This happen as in Leonardo case, when most people thought he’ll be nominated for The Departed, but it turn out He got in with Blood Diamond….
Interesting facts is Leonardo in Blood Diamond and Kate in The Reader both play foreign accent people…..
Kate speaks with a “foreign accent” in both of her roles this year.
And Leo was doing an accent in both Departed (Boston) and Blood Diamond (S.A.).
And may I say that few things get me quite so hot ‘n’ bothered as British actors doing American accents? Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine; Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton; Tom Wilkinson in In the Bedroom… mmm…
The fact that only one major awards group gave her a nomination and/or win for The Reader in the leading actress category (that would be BAFTA), I don’t think people are that confused. And as someone said on here already, SAG accepted Hanna Schmitz as a supporting role, and since actors nominate actors and clearly love Kate Winslet, she’ll be nominated in both categories. This isn’t a case where she’s a little kid who’s the lead (Whale Rider) or where the film’s main character is a talking pig (Babe). The chance to nominate Kate in two categories is too tempting. Anyway, people who really love Kate will check her off in both categories, don’t you think?
~Steven
Bingo on all counts, Steven.
And thank you for reminding me of one of my favorite surprise acting nominations ever: KC-H in Whale Rider. The right category and everything!
Come to think of it, the Best Actress lineup that year was incredibly stacked. Watts, Theron, Morton, Castle-Hughes… damn!
Thanks, Benj. You also reminded me of three wonderful performances by great actors who deserved all of their accolades and much more (comment #130).
~Steven
Marion Cotillard, last year best actress award winner, recently came to congratulate Kate Winslet at a private screening of “The Reader” in London.
It seems Kate is a clear runner-up.
I am a big fan of Winslet and i’m really hoping this is her year (although i’ve hoped this the last two times she was nominated). I agree with iggy that she should win in a leading role because she is a leading actress and a win for supporting (not that im saying a oscar for supporting isn’t valid) would feel unfulfilled. Also she has been a leading actress for so long that i think the Academy would recognise her this year for leading actress. Im hoping so. And the idea of a Winslet and Cruz win sounds good to me
I don’t understand why a supporting win is less fantasmical than a leading win. That same idea has appeared in discussion of Angelina Jolie, i.e. “When is she gonna win an Oscar? I mean a REAL one.”
Supporting is not a ghetto category, y’all.
I agree with you Gentle Benj but im just saying would you rather see Kate win in Lead or supporting?
I don’t think Kate will mind to win in Supporting……..Both Lead and Supporting have equal honour and value……
Even the great Cate Blanchett only won in Supporting……Meryl herself won a Supporting before winning a Lead…..The list of great actresses in Supporting are nothing less compare to the Lead…
Can anyone think of any recent example of someone being nominated for a performance in a different category than the one they were campaigning for? There have been other examples of performances that could’ve been considered category cheating and it seems like the end result is always that the Academy goes with the category placement that the studios advertised for. I can’t really imagine that changing this year with Kate Winslet, when a lot of people want her to get double nominated.
The only real example I can think of is Keisha Castle Hughes in Whale Rider – and they moved her to leading actress.
In most cases even with a bit of catergory fraud, and especially with big stars – they make it in.
If Kate ISNT nominated for Revolutionary Road, it will be the first time since 1980 that the Actress in a Drama Winner wasn’t Oscar nominated.
For all the chatter and speculation – the academy offer the odd surprise. I don’t see this being that surprise.
I expect 2 nominations.
I agree with Gentl Benji. A supporting award is of course as important as a leading one. It really shouldn´t matter. Or how Gertrude Stein might have put it: An Oscars is an oscar is an oscar…
I´m pretty sure the Academy will follow the SAG result, in order not to risk a vote splitting between both Winslet roles. If Kate Winslet wins supporting (which I believe), she will go on to win that category on february, 22nd.
I have a feeling the SAG will give sort of an “body-of-work”-Award to Streep for leading actress. So she must be considered a tough competitor for Winslet for “Leading Actress”.
I agree with Sasha about Anne Hathaways role doesn´t really feel like an Oscar-winner.
So it´s about Winslet and Streep for the win (Winslet probably repeating her Globe-double-triumph)?
Very possible. But noone should overlook Sally Hawkins in “Happy-go-lucky”! It´s just that kind of performance that could surprise everyone.
And, damnit, I´m not even 100% sure if she gets a nominee after the strange BAFTA-snub. This Best Actress-race is so weird, isn´t it?
Weird and unpredictible = Excitement, I love it!
Sorry if this has been answered before, but, should she win both, would she be the first to win two acting oscars in one night?
first of all, i’m sorry if i make some mistakes (i’m spanish)
then,here it goes, my humble opinion:
i’m sick and tired of all this “kate winslet has to win an oscar this year” hysteria, i mean she is a really good actress (probably one of the tops of her generation, and i loved her in “eternal sunshine of a spotless mind”) but her outstanding reviews (like many others this year: hathaway, scott thomas, cruz, tomei and so on)
why de f*** does she have to take the tiny gold man home?!!!
a lot of respected and impressive actors had to wait years to receive their first statuette or even their first nom (laura dern, peter o’toole, geraldine page anyone…and geraldine page was an amazing actress, much better and versatile than winslet)
i think the lead oscar should go to scott thomas (she was mesmerizing) or even michelle williams (i’m aware that it isn’t even possible) for wendy and lucy (i saw the film at the gijon film festival and the ovation for her performance lasted almost 5 minutes)
and i would be very happy if the supporting oscar went to penelope (she should have won for volver) or my beloved marisa tomei.
thank you, i enjoy your comments a lot, especially in this rainy evenings when the only thing you can watch on tv is ashton kutcher in the guardian..sad, sooo sad)
at the begging i meant that the films she released this year didn’t receive otstanding reviews as hathaway’s, cruz’s, davis’ or scott thomas’)
@D., #143:
Yes, if Winslet wins an Oscar in both lead actress and supporting, it will be the first time in Oscar history that a performer wins two acting Oscars in one night.
I still think the Oscar will go to Hathaway. She´s this year´s princess. She is the all american good girl. The well behaved starlet. The fashionista who was just on the cover of Vogue. She is well dressed. She presents herself as “brainy”, and not at all taken by hollywood glam, while she manages to be, at the same time, fashionable, elegant and cute. She had a difficult and over exposed personal life the past year. She came out as the victim. She is everywhere. She has been on two recent blockbusters. She is playing an addict. On an “edgy” artsy film. Without make up. She will wear a beautiful dress. Will cry gallons of tears and play the “I am so surprised and so gratefull” role as all oscar princesses do. She is the youngest. She is the cutest. (Kate is beautiful, not cute). Will deliver an over emotional cutesy weepy speech. She will take it.
I think its worthy to remember that since Reese an american hasn´t won. A few more points to all american girl Anne.
Man,
Hathaway is very good, but not to win as Best Actress, in her first nom.
Winslet is goingo to 7th.
It´s just a matter of sense.
Blanchett is great, deserves a nom for “TCCOBB”, but I think Winslet will win.
Blanchet, The Great, My Queen, let´s wait for Blanchet and “Streetcar”.
Probably it’s at least fair to remember that, coming into the Oscars 2008, Marion Cotillard had won some 26 other awards for LA VIE EN ROSE, many of them from critics’ groups. She’d also won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Cesar, thus setting her up for a legitimate home run. While she seems a friendly, humble, and witty person, and did everything she was asked to support the Piaf biopic, it was less her willingness to be interviewed and more the performance and her prior wins which helped her take the Oscar. Laura Linney told the NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, when asked about whether she was disappointed Cotillard won the Oscar she was competing for, “That performance was just on another level than the other four. It just was.”
[...] The Reader got a new shot of buzz when it was nominated by BAFTA last week, and this being the year of the Kate could help it immensely. But no one seems to be talking about it at all, it isn’t doing [...]
Oh Brilliant…now because someone is American she should get an Oscar? Please. This is a performing arts award ok?
First of all, to all those haters, I don’t apprciate how you have been speaking to me. Don’t be mad at me and don’t talk to me like your predictions are better than mine. My father gave me permission to divulgue his votes and yes he is part of the acting branch. I am just trying to tell you what I have been hearing from my dad’s other Academy friends. There isn’t as musch secrecy as you would think. From what I have heard from several Academy voters (not ALL) is that Hathaway’s performance was better than the others, based on the criteria that the Academy has set up.
And to daveylow, my dad actually thinks that Hathaway is too young to win, but he told me that performance was to good not to win, so before you go and make assumptions about my life and qualifications, maybe you should take a quick look at yourself.
And to daveylow, my dad actually thinks that Hathaway is too young to win, but he told me that performance was to good not to win, so before you go and make assumptions about my life and qualifications, maybe you should take a quick look at yourself.
******
All I was saying is that it’s impossible to read the minds of every Academy voter. You don’t have to get nasty about it. I’m glad you’re father thinks Anne’s performance is too good not to win.
Don’t you think some in the Academy may have a different opinion? Some may think Streep is too good not to win, Sally Hawkins, Kate Winslet, Melissa Leo.
I do NOT think Hathaway should win because she is american. But, some people may think that its been three years since an american won and this may add a few extra points to her. If you had read my previous post, you´d understand what I am talking about.
I do not think she should win at all, but I think she will.
I hear ya, just saying what i believe
Yes, points to the American girl indeed and very well parsed on Anne’s behalf, Alice!
She is all those things and more.
And a few other notes—
The “precursor awards” as they are now popularly being called should really be called the PRESS awards, for it is the press who is voting for them, almost all around.
There are no press in the Academy.
The Hollywood Foreign PRESS is again PRESS, and not Academy members.
The only overlap the Actor’s Branch has is the SAG awards. But again there is not much over lap.
While yes, Academy member’s of the Actor’s Branch HAVE to be members of the Actors Union=SAG, the reverse is far from true.
The SAG membership is VAST. A six-figure amount compared to the Academy’s mere 1,200 or so.
It is VERY hard to become a member of that esteemed branch. And though they are members of SAG, this Club Twelve Hundred doesn’t always bother to vote for the SAG awards, which they feel is WAAAY beneath them and I’m guessing since they dislike the Golden Globs so much, they would like the SAGS to go away, too.
So the Club Twelve Hundred is a very, very elite group indeed and they are VERY proud of their AMPAS membership, and the annual dues are a pretty penny, I’m guessing.
The Press Awards due try to influence the Oscars, goodness knows, but they don’t always and Oscar LOVES to do something DIFFERENT – Sometimes ANYTHING different to separate itself from the other, “Lesser” awards.
Which makes me feel that Kate Winslet may get nowhere NEAR the Oscar podium that night. And Penelope Cruz and Anne Hathaway WILL….
Anne has also been compared a lot recently to Julia Roberts. They waited a long time in Julia’s career before they awarded her for “Erin B.” Anne has had a huge string of box-offices sucesses that outdoes most of the gals her age. And she is articulate, poised, intelligent, went to Vassar, like Meryl….OK, she left after one year, but still, once a Vassar-ette still a Vassar-ette. She’s Box-Office.
Is Kate?
And to turn in a tortured, award-worthy, heart-rending performance that astonishes, like she did in “Rachel,” is the kind of SURPRISE that the Academy loves to honor esp. in beauteous young girls.
AND she did win the National Board of Review Best Actress and also the Broadcast Film Critics Award, too. Which she famously split with Meryl. Who didn’t bother to attend. And neither did Kate, BTW. Who won in Supporting.
If Kate is double-nominated she would more likely win in Supp. for “The Reader” than in lead for “Revolutionary Road”.
Poor Penelope Cruz. She must REALLY be mad at Harvey Weinstein right now for creating this REDONKULOUS situation!
He did it last year, too, with Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There”.
Now, the GUILD awards, the tech awards, are much more of an accurate barometer of those categories and those branches than the Acting Awards are. They are also the only group who are NOT press who give out bunches of awards at this time of year.
That’s why something like the producer’s guild and the director’s guild are always the best Oscar indicators. But they don’t cover the unpredictable acting categories.
Another factor – the late Heath Ledger was an Aussie, so one award is already going overseas. And I would say IF Kate is nominated in Supp. and it’s a throw down between her and Penelope Cruz (both foreigners) then the two remaining Best Acting Awards will see American winners. Streep or Hathaway and again Sean Penn or Mickey Rourke.
But Kate COULD end up with NO-THING, too! Splitting her own vote.
There are only SO many KW fans in the Academy, after all.
“There are only SO many KW fans in the Academy, after all.”
Yes, but when was the last time an actress her age garnered five Oscar nominations? And remember, if she gets nominated once and doesn’t win, she’ll be tied for biggest female Oscar loser (and takes the title if she’s nominated twice and doesn’t win). Who wants that associated with Kate Winslet? I think after seeing her win two awards at the Globes, the Oscars will want to give her at least one.
And let me remind everyone that last year’s acting winners (all deserved in my opinion) were all non-American. Being foreign is clearly not that big a deal. Heck, they gave an Oscar to a woman speaking a different language last year. Kate, if nominated twice, will have the advantage of having two vastly different performances in one year. That’s certainly a feat. If anything, she speaks with two different accents, neither of those being her own. Brava!
~Steven
Stephen Holt
Your thesis is quite confusing. You talk about Anne and Penelope making it to the podium and then turn around and talk about Kate winning best supporting actress over Penelope. ?? What is this comparison between Hathaway and Roberts? I sure haven’t heard about it before. Personally, I don’t see it. When ROberts was nominated for “Erin…” she had received multiple nominations before so I don’t get the comparison.
I sincerely hope Penelope doesn’t win because in all honesty she doesn’t deserve an Oscar…yet!
Personally, I thought the four Europeans winning was faaaaaaabulous! BUT, many many people criticized this and associated it with the lowest TV ratings in history, which is sadly, what last year’s Awards show got.
AND these are Americans voting, mostly, and Heath is already yes, a winner, and Penelope or Kate in Supporting for “The Reader” sends a second award overseas.
They, BELIEVE ME, won’t do that in the two main categories. So the race REALLY is between Meryl and Anne…People are loving “Rev”(as I did). As Sasha entitles her above ^ article “Too Little Too Late.”
And if you ad in the box-office for both of these films of Kate’s (so far) they don’t match the millions “Bride Wars” has made.
ET did an entire HOUR show on Sat. on Anne(and Kate Hudson). Anne’s everywhere.
And Deborah Kerr one of my all time favorite actresses gave great screen performance after great screen performance and never won. AND she’s co-incidentally was British. Ditto Oscar’s other biggest losers Peter O’Toole and the late Richard Burton,FWIW
If the American thing really is a factor, then it’s Hathaway. Streep is not a factor for the win.
I’m thinking that by the time the voting occurs there will be major Winslet fatigue and if she is lucky enough to win one this year it’ll be for Supporting Actress instead of lead. I love Winslet but really think that if anyone is more deserving this year it’s Meryl Streep. If you apply the reasoning that Kate should win because after 5 nominations she’s due then the same could be applied to Meryl who hasn’t won since Sophie’s Choice. I love Kate but I think this talk of a double win is more to due with everyones love of her and not the performances.
I’m hoping that the Academy decides to repeat 1982 and give Meryl a leading Oscar and Kate supporting actress honors.
Stephen holt
Your analysis continue to amaze me. You can’t really compare the money independent features like RR and Reader are making to a big studio, crowd-pleasing, chick flick, big budget mess like Bride Wars. That is just unfair.
A lot of big budget messes have been snubbed in the past in favor of independent flicks. And all this talk about Anne being on ET and on the Cover of Vogue and all of that, I mean shouldn’t we be calling on the Academy to recognize achievements in the field of acting….not tabloids? but then again, you might be just stating the sad reality. The academy has the tendency of choosing winners based on media fanfare rather than basing its choice strictly on the acting.
my best case scenario would be Meryl winning best actress and kate supporting or a tie for best actress between Meryl and Kate and Viola Davis winning supporting. Either case, neither Anne or Penelope wins anything. They are not worthy of OScars….yet (especially Anne).
Meryl Streep for Best Actress; Kate Winslet for Supporting Actress; the best thing for the Academy to do…………………….BUT………………
Of course, they (the Academy) are known for surprises…………don’t be suprised if Kate (overdue actress) wins for Best Actress for the Reader and Adams (upcoming young actress) wins for supporting for Doubt…. just food for thought…..;
Other possible surprises Angelina Jolie wins for Changeling with all the Best Actress vote splitting (with Streep, Winslet, and Hathaway)and Marisa Tomei wins for the Wrester….(vote splitting between Cruz, Winslet, Davis)……….OH NO………………
FMPOV, the ONLY possible scenario would be either Streep or Winslet to take the main prize AND no one else. Otherwise that would be a travesty!!
As good as Jolie was, she’s not gonna win it, not by a mile. All these vote-splittings are on very rare occasions when there are multiple nominees from the SAME movie. The Academy are supposed to honour artistic excellence not on mediocrity.
As for supporting actress, let us not tussle over who’s gonna win before the nominations are even announced as nobody has any idea if Winslet will even be nominated for that catergory if the Academy decides to place her in the Lead for ‘The Reader’ – which I’d imagine is highly probable and more honourable! In any way, Penelope’s portrayal is an absolute delight to not be awarded!
It would not surprise me in the least if on Thursday, we find out that Kate Winslet only gets one nomination and it’s for the Lead for The Reader. The Academy surprises with these things sometimes, like Keisha Castle-Hughes Supporting Actress push and then her surprise nod in the Leading category or when Leonardo DiCaprio got the nod for Blood Diamond instead of The Departed. However, I am predicting she will be double nominated. Lead-Revolutionary Road. Supporting – The Reader. I think it would be awesome if Kate Winslet ended up winning both Academy Awards for both Leading and Supporting. I know that the probability of that happening is probably slim to none but wouldn’t it be great for this fantastic actress that has been denied an Oscar five times to win not one but two in one night! I know it’s probably just my dream for her but it still would be so cool if that would happn.
I just saw ‘Revolutionary Road’ last night. Kate – yeah, she was good. Was I stunned by the performance — not as much as I was by ‘Rachel Getting Married.’
The movie – God, does that make you miserable to even be alive. Was a depressing time to even be alive. I kept waiting for the movie to flash-forward, say 12 years forward, to the ‘revolutionary’ ’60s – then Kate could be a snappy Annette Bening and Leo could be a wise-cracking Kevin Spacey. I’m glad that Kathy Bates’ son provided some laughs – because seeing this movie made you wanna jump from the Empire State Building. While the movie was about HIM, the ending made you wanna rewatch it again to concentrate on HER. Did I watch to watch it again…no. I kept wanting two gay guys to move next store, and an angry Marine to move to the other side, Leo start hitting on his daughter’s friend, Kate — then she could hit on – what was her neighbor’s name, Clem or Biff – I wanted some ’60s style fighting, not 50s style repression. Maybe, I wanted some maritial style ‘Virginia Woolf’ type battle – but, they were good in their own sense.
I’m sure there’s the sentiment of wanting to recognize Kate – give her it for ‘The Reader’ – which will always have the asterisk of ‘How to win an Oscar – place Lead Acting down to Supporting.’ Watching that made you appreciate her skills just imagining her Nicole Kidman woulda been as Hanna.
@ Tom: I wasn´t very happy with “Rev. Road” either, but not because it was too depressing. Actually, I´m pretty much into depressing movies, I like Ingmar Bergman very much, for example.
The novel by Richard Yates is also very depressing, but much supewrior to the movie. To most of the characters, that were very lively and edgy in the book, I couldn´t pay much attention too in the movie. With the exception of John, played by the stunning Michael Shannon, nearly every supporting characters were pretty uninteresting and pallid.
Kate Winslet is moving however, a very good performance – but damn, it´s really tough to act in a movie that hardly ever gets LIVELY…
Richard Yates hit me in the stomach, the film left me impassive.
Yeah….Rev. Road was not that good, but Winslet’s performance was alright, nothing amazing. Hathaway was so much more interesting and held me through the entire movie. IT will be close but I think Hathaway will take this one while Winslet should take Supporting.
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