All of the craziness in the past few days has led one reader to ask:
Hi, Sasha, I am the regular reader of your website and forum. You mentioned a while ago that Streep might give the best performance of the year in Doubt. Then now you also have great raves for the two K(C)ates, Winslet and Blanchett. And most surprisingly, you even state that now Blanchett may pull an upset and have a better shot at a win. These series of remarks leave us a little bit confused about who really is the best among these actresses. So I want to ask you: Who really gives the best performance, Streep, Winslet or Blanchett?
What I answered is that: The Oscar race does that to you. That’s why the film you see last often has the most impact. But for clarity, it takes time for these things to settle. It is an embarrassment of riches, so many great actresses, such great work. Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet all three do either their best work or close to it. It’s going to be a hell of a race. The truth about knowledge is that it is often absent in this silly work we do. We go on gut feelings, heart, passion – and these things don’t make sense, really. Trust yourself. That’s the only true barometer. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says, especially 6,000 or so Academy voters. These films and these performances don’t exist to be “the best” or to win Oscars – hopefully they will transcend that.