From our friend Nathaniel at The Film Experience:
Hey Awards Daily readers. Nathaniel here from The Film Experience. I’m been talking to Sasha off blog a bit about the race between the newbie actresses Rooney Mara vs. Elizabeth Olsen vs. Felicity Jones… and I’ve been lol’ing with everyone I know about Joseph Gordon Levitt’s “Breakthrough” via the Hollywood Film Awards last week for 50/50. A breakthrough in his sixteenth year of fame…well, if you say so.
All of which got me to thinking about newbies and breakthroughs while I was rejiggering TFE’s beloved prediction charts which get weekly updates from now on (tis the season).
There are quite a few people in categories both above the line and below the line that have never been nominated before, though that’s the case each and every year. Will AMPAS open the membership rosters everywhere or close ranks?
Which first-timer are you rooting for? It’s way below the line but I’m pulling for Mark Bridges who did the costumes for The Artist to finally get some recognition. Think of all that he did for Mark Wahlberg and Julianne Moore’s characterizations in Boogie Nights, remember the oil stained, sweat soaked, and dusty period wear in There Will Be Blood or just Daniel Plainview’s moneyed suits. Bridges is terrific at contemporary costuming too, though that gets far less respect. He made Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin’s existential detectives even funnier in I Heart Huckabees and notice how Amy Adams and Melissa Leo pop in such different but character specific ways in The Fighter. There’s someone like him in just about every category, people who do fine work year after year and just never quite luck out when it comes time for that early Tuesday morning announcement in January.
@JFK – I think Jessica Chastain is in 8 films this year, if I counted correctly. She blew Jude Law out of the water, haha.
This has no chance in hell, but I just wanted to mention Elena Anaya in Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In.
Forget the fact that she is so stunning that you can’t take your eyes off of her – I can’t explain why because I will ruin the movie to those who have not seen it, but she is very believable and I was really amazed by her.
I definitely had a “Oh my god, who is she???” moment.
Otherwise, Chastain, Mara, Olsen. I don’t believe Felicity Jones will get the same love she received at Sundance. I simply don’t think a lot of academy members will see the film.
And the boys deserve some love too – Thomas Horne was very impressive in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (I really thought that for such a young kid, his work was amazing) and I am hearing that Jeremy Irvine is good in War Horse.
@JFK – I think Jessica Chastain is in 8 films this year, if I counted correctly. She blew Jude Law out of the water, haha.
This has no chance in hell, but I just wanted to mention Elena Anaya in Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In.
Forget the fact that she is so stunning that you can’t take your eyes off of her – I can’t explain why because I will ruin the movie to those who have not seen it, but she is very believable and I was really amazed by her.
I definitely had a “Oh my god, who is she???” moment.
Otherwise, Chastain, Mara, Olsen. I don’t believe Felicity Jones will get the same love she received at Sundance. I simply don’t think a lot of academy members will see the film.
And the boys deserve some love too – Thomas Horne was very impressive in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (I really thought that for such a young kid, his work was amazing) and I am hearing that Jeremy Irvine is good in War Horse.
I really liked Elzabeth Olsen in MMMM but it seems part of personality seeps into her acting because she wasn’t all that different a person in the character she plays in the comedy Peace, Love and Misunderstandings. She very good at playing sardonic and intelligent for someone young.
I really liked Elzabeth Olsen in MMMM but it seems part of personality seeps into her acting because she wasn’t all that different a person in the character she plays in the comedy Peace, Love and Misunderstandings. She very good at playing sardonic and intelligent for someone young.
Easily Rooney Mara. That girl is amazing.
Easily Rooney Mara. That girl is amazing.
Jessica chastain is an incredibly actress and outstanding in every role she played, Elizabeth Olsen was amazing in MMMM and Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding , she has a great future. I had the opportunity to see Like Crazy last week and i didn´t see nothing special about Felicity jones performance, her character was terrible and annoying in the whole movie.
Jessica chastain is an incredibly actress and outstanding in every role she played, Elizabeth Olsen was amazing in MMMM and Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding , she has a great future. I had the opportunity to see Like Crazy last week and i didn´t see nothing special about Felicity jones performance, her character was terrible and annoying in the whole movie.
Definitely Jessica Chastain, what is it, six films in one year? Also, I saw an advanced screener of The Wettest County in the World this week, which she also appears (!) in.
Definitely Jessica Chastain, what is it, six films in one year? Also, I saw an advanced screener of The Wettest County in the World this week, which she also appears (!) in.
I thought Jessica Chastain was amazing in Tree of Life, and I’m very much anticipating Olsen in Martha Marcy. But Goodness Gracious’ comment is spot-on: Brit Marling blows everyone away with her under-the-radar tour de force in Another Earth. I so wish that film could get some attention, at least from the Spirits and Gothams.
I thought Jessica Chastain was amazing in Tree of Life, and I’m very much anticipating Olsen in Martha Marcy. But Goodness Gracious’ comment is spot-on: Brit Marling blows everyone away with her under-the-radar tour de force in Another Earth. I so wish that film could get some attention, at least from the Spirits and Gothams.
I third the Mark Bridges call! He’s phenomenal and has turned in outstanding work. I’ve seen MMMM and LIKE CRAZY and between those two I’d have to go with Felicity Jones – she’s luminescent. Let’s see what Rooney Mara brings to the table.
I third the Mark Bridges call! He’s phenomenal and has turned in outstanding work. I’ve seen MMMM and LIKE CRAZY and between those two I’d have to go with Felicity Jones – she’s luminescent. Let’s see what Rooney Mara brings to the table.
Jessica Chastain – Has anyone ever exploded on the scene like she has this year? Her agent should get a special award from SAG.
Jessica Chastain – Has anyone ever exploded on the scene like she has this year? Her agent should get a special award from SAG.
I’m with Matt on this one; Jessica Chastain’s breakthrough this year is a truly remarkable feat! Mara has to convince me, the entire movie sight unseen, naturally. In the trailers she looks like an “edgy” fashion model more than a credible Lisbeth Salander. She seems to convey a one-sided portrayal, but sure, it is too easy to judge her performance at this point. Looking very much forward to seeing MMMM and Olsen. Any production that stars the versatile wonder of John Hawkes is in good standing with me.
I’m with Matt on this one; Jessica Chastain’s breakthrough this year is a truly remarkable feat! Mara has to convince me, the entire movie sight unseen, naturally. In the trailers she looks like an “edgy” fashion model more than a credible Lisbeth Salander. She seems to convey a one-sided portrayal, but sure, it is too easy to judge her performance at this point. Looking very much forward to seeing MMMM and Olsen. Any production that stars the versatile wonder of John Hawkes is in good standing with me.
I saw Martha Marcy May Marlene this weekend, and Elizabeth Olsen is brilliant on the film! I don’t know if she has any chances yet, but it is one of the best performances of the year i’ve seen so far!
I saw Martha Marcy May Marlene this weekend, and Elizabeth Olsen is brilliant on the film! I don’t know if she has any chances yet, but it is one of the best performances of the year i’ve seen so far!
I second the Mark Bridges call, Nat. The Academy too often nominates flashy costume design over accurate, appropriate costume design that suits and doesn’t overshadow the characters and the story.
I second the Mark Bridges call, Nat. The Academy too often nominates flashy costume design over accurate, appropriate costume design that suits and doesn’t overshadow the characters and the story.
I realize she’s not likely up for any Oscars, but this year Jessica Chastain enjoyed one of the most remarkable zero to A-list breakthrough years I can remember.
I realize she’s not likely up for any Oscars, but this year Jessica Chastain enjoyed one of the most remarkable zero to A-list breakthrough years I can remember.
I’m team Brit Marling all the way. She’s delivered one of the best performances of the year in my book, first-timer or non.
I’m team Brit Marling all the way. She’s delivered one of the best performances of the year in my book, first-timer or non.
Of these three women I’m not willing to choose just one at the moment. But I did see “Martha Marcy May Marlene” last night, and while I thought the film was good (if not remarkable) Elizabeth Olsen’s mentally frayed Martha was quite a delicately professional performance, especially for such a young actress. That she was able to hold her own against a hypnotizing John Hawkes is no small feat.
Of these three women I’m not willing to choose just one at the moment. But I did see “Martha Marcy May Marlene” last night, and while I thought the film was good (if not remarkable) Elizabeth Olsen’s mentally frayed Martha was quite a delicately professional performance, especially for such a young actress. That she was able to hold her own against a hypnotizing John Hawkes is no small feat.