When an actress faces the gauntlet of Oscar campaigning, usually it requires that extra something something. This isn’t to say you can’t get there if you’re Judi Dench (sexy in her own right), Helen Mirren (ditto) – but there is a reason why many brilliant actresses seem to “age out” of the process — their window for winning an Oscar fading, along with her sexuality (as defined by the male gaze — usually defined as younger). With so many Oscar nominations under her belt, freedom with her own nudity, Kate Winslet still had to go there to finally win:
The sex card is a powerful hand to play during Oscar season because the voting bodies tend to be dominated by older straight white males. Women who can play it often do. Women who can’t must depend on their reputation and general likability. But if you’re young and trying to break through, often sex is the only way to really do that. Oh sure, every so often it doesn’t matter. As far as I can tell, Jessica Chastain has never needed to play the sex card, although she lost to Jennifer Lawrence who not only played it in print but played it in the movie, Silver Linings Playbook.
While it might not always be the right hand to play to win, it can often make the difference in a very crowded year with many contenders. For instance, Adele Exarchopoulos is an actress who is so hot she could probably fry eggs just by looking at them. She has a powerful weapon at her disposal — all she needed to do was say yes. GQ spreads her out like butter on its pages. That magazine will likely make its way to the commodes, waiting rooms and offices of many voters.
These images might, at the very least, get voters who might be afraid of a three hour movie, to watch. They’d be watching (or fast-forwarding) anyway, but surely this helps.
You might think this is an insulting way to address collective male attitudes. Surely they are able to judge good performances without having to factor in sex. But human beings overall are preoccupied by, distracted by sex. It isn’t a bad thing. No one is judging. It just is. The sex card is played the same way actors appear on Letterman or go to parties and lunches. It’s the one thing that guarantees men will look, some women too. It guarantees they will be talked about, admired, remembered.
The Best Actress race right now is mostly filled with vets — Cate Blanchett, by now, shouldn’t need to play the sex card. She is one of the sexiest actresses in Hollywood — but you don’t really get that about her unless you’ve met her in person. But her charisma is on the level of George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Sandra Bullock is almost 50 — but is so popular now, and in the year’s most popular movie so far, that she doesn’t really need to. Meryl Streep for August: Osage County, doesn’t need to. Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks? Won’t. Amy Adams in American Hustle? Can play it and is playing it in that film.
The two actresses hovering right on the fringe – Exarchopoulos and Brie Larson. One is playing the sex card and the other isn’t. True, Blue is the Warmest Color already won the Palme d’Or and has making the publicity rounds — the film doing well with critics despite the director’s continued assault on Lea Seydoux, who is the film’s true standout, in this site’s opinion. Larson doesn’t seem to be playing the sex card, at least not to the degree Exarchopoulos is. She did this pose for Elle:
Of the two performances Brie Larson’s is by far the most accomplished. Exarchopoulos has less to do with actual skill and more to do with the director’s extreme tactics to elicit from her what he wanted. He’s made that clear. He picked a character who was unselfconscious, young and unaffected. He pushed her far, held her under a microscopic lens and recorded the results. Is that acting? There is no denying the ultimate effect but it was a collaboration between director and muse. With Larson, she has created her own manifestation of a very interesting, accomplished young woman. The layers of her performance from beginning to end is a thing of beauty. You never really know where she’s taking you until you get there. Is an Oscar nomination something she needs right now in her career? Who knows. Is it something she deserves? Absolutely.
Ms. Exarchopoulos is going to be an icon. She will sit alongside the greatest beauties in our enduring relationship with French imports. Being so young, it’s hard to imagine where she can take her career from here. She doesn’t seem to mind showing her body (she’s French, after all) — she might hit the big time and start doing tentpole films — big action movies. As far as I can see for her, the sky’s the limit.
Either way, it’s a win win for both of these actresses, whether they can bump one of the A-listers or not. It isn’t necessarily a matter of whether Exarchopoulos or Larson will get in; it’s a more a matter of who, of those who have their place in line, won’t.
Other actresses who could break through:
Kate Winslet, Labor Day
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Berenice Bejo, The Past
The Best Actress race right now look like this:
1. Cate Blanchett, still for the win but vulnerable to Bullock.
2. Sandra Bullock, poised to win her second Best Actress Oscar, but she’ll have to beat Blanchett.
3. Judi Dench, word has it her work in Philomena is a career best
5. Meryl Streep and/or Julia Roberts in August: Osage County
5. Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks.
5. Amy Adams in American Hustle
Those last three actresses will have to fight it out for the last two slots available but as you can see, bumping any of those is going to be tough indeed. Playing the sex card might be one of the ways. Just saying.
I am quite sad that Greta Gerwig and Julie Delpy are kind of out of the competition now. They’ll probably, even more sadly, be ignored at the screenplay category. But, alas. two unforgettable witty lovable performances – especially co-WRITTEN by the performers themselves. Perhaps they would be nominated at Globes for comedy, perhaps not (and Emma Thompson will eventually win, who is, on the other hand, a rare example of winning a writing award at the Academy as leading actress in the same film). Will the academy ever appreciates the female roles that involve a creating process from the actresses themselves.?
Jennifer Lawrence deserved that Oscar. She was incredible, and I don’t see why there’s so much hate for her, for her performance, or for the fact that she chose to pose in fairly standard ‘actress’ photos. So many people went nuts when Melissa McCarthy (not a good actress, but a subpar prop comedian whose prop is her obesity) posed in a trenchcoat instead of in lingerie (McCarthy’s choice btw) — so which is it: fit young women don’t pose and middle-aged obese ones must pose sexily?
I don’t understand why Chastain’s performance was so great. She was essentially Mariska Hargitay in any of SVU’s 4,000 episodes – stoic, boring, serviceable, competent. Nothing for the ages, and frankly, nothing Oscar-worthy. She was a strong female who was a character but by no means a strong female character, which is something people constantly confuse around here.
Anyway, this year’s Best Actress race is really fun to watch. People complain about those vetrans dominating as “frontrunners” and I agree it may look less fresh, but I also think it’ll be awesome to see all those established relatively older actresses at the same time. It doesn’t happen very often. I want to watch Blanchett, Bullock, Dench, Streep and Thompson chatting at a roundtable.
I think 12 Years Box Office is a bit low, but taking my work into consideration (which has always been a good indicator in the past) I’m not overly surprised at this point. No one else wants to see it but me.
But I suspect that will change when December comes around and it starts racking up critics awards and then a ton of GG nominations.
I just hope that FOX isn’t expanding it too quickly and theaters won’t have a place for it when December comes around should it happen to limp through Thanksgiving.
We’ll see.
I wonder what Lawrence did to piss off the AD crew. They had no problem with her during Winter’s Bone. I get that she wasn’t everyones pick for the oscar last year but dragging her into fold every time “fuckability” and the oscars comes up is a little much and I’m sure it will happen again this year if she’s nominated for American Hustle. She’s a great actress and has played the game at times just like everyone else. The difference is she’s not afraid to admit what the endgame is. In fact she even said it on the Oscar red carpet when she told a reported something to the effect of the best part about being nominated was getting better roles. This is a young actress who seems to really enjoy acting instead of being famous, and it shows. I have a feeling she doesn’t care nearly as much as we do about what happens during awards season but she also knows that since it can mean the difference between good scripts and great scripts she better at least try.
“Nicole Kidman has admitted to botox, but I doubt she’s had surgery. Pictures of her at Cannes this year showed a face that looks like the face you’d expect her to have at her age, and having closely followed her career, I can say that I’ve never noticed a significant enough change in her face in any small period of time to suggest surgery. And if the shape of her face around her eyes has changed at all (and I don’t think it has), botox could certainly account for that.”
Kidmoan most certainly had surgery. You trust what she said? She’s a very clear suspect for extensive plastic surgery. Look at what she looked like in the early 90s compared to today–that’s not the aging process. She has had a nose job and chin work. Her eyes look different too; that’s more than just botox. That’s a permanent result of eyelid/browlift surgery.
“Streep has the tightest neck I’ve ever seen on a 64-year-old woman.”
“Well someone has to have it!”
Meryl’s been having work done over many years. People suspect it began in the 90s. As I said before, when actors are out of the spotlight, they get their adjustments, which is what you have to do once you begin plastic surgery treatment. Meryl also wears big glasses and scarves to take the attention off certain features. Her cheeks are clearly implants and her face is very tight—any other person her age would be experiencing more visible effects of aging and gravity.
I’m cynical because I know there’s a lot the bigwigs in Hollywood don’t want the general public to know. They don’t want people to learn that singer’s entire careers have been created in the studio, including their voices, which then perpetuates lipsynching in live performances. Also, the fact that many lead actresses share the same agent (one example, Kevin Huvane at CAA, the agent for all three stars of The Hours–of course, Kidman was going to be the one pushed forward), who can plan Oscar chances years in advance. Clearly, plastic surgery is just another example. I’ve listened to interviews of actors saying they were told to go to plastic surgeons by their agents if they wanted work. Normal people don’t look like stars for a reason. It’s a completely different world, and when money is on the line, people will do anything to extend a career and bring in the bucks, not only for themselves but for the entire infrastructure the star supports.
Django Unchained’s got shit to do with it. Quentin Tarantino + Jamie Foxx + Christoph Waltz + Leonardo DiCaprio + Samuel L Jackson + holiday release + very wide release + heavy marketing campaign = big grosses, well north of $100 million, which was expected of it. It’s by no means expected of 12 Years a Slave.
Look at The Descendants. In 29 theatres, it reaped almost $2 million. It has taken 12 Years a Slave 123 theatres to get over $2 million. The Descendants couldn’t make it to $90 million in the end, even with George Clooney and major Oscar attention, never mind $100 million. In box office terms, Django Unchained an 12 Years a Slave are chalk and cheese.
The precedent’s not there and the potential’s not there.
Two words: Django Unchained.
12 Years a Slave won’t make $100 million under any circumstances, guaranteed. I hardly ever make such definitive statements, but this, I’m confident about, Bryce. The precedent’s not there and the potential’s not there.
Insane Box Office for 12 YEARS A SLAVE #8 in only 123 theaters. Tough sell? BS. It’ll end up well north of 100 mill domestic. It’s a hit. Add that to its narrative.
I don’t understand why people complain about women showing their bodies. It’s not a bad thing. If they want to do it that’s fine. It also gives me more material to look at, if you know what I mean. 🙂
Nicole Kidman has admitted to botox, but I doubt she’s had surgery. Pictures of her at Cannes this year showed a face that looks like the face you’d expect her to have at her age, and having closely followed her career, I can say that I’ve never noticed a significant enough change in her face in any small period of time to suggest surgery. And if the shape of her face around her eyes has changed at all (and I don’t think it has), botox could certainly account for that.
Streep has the tightest neck I’ve ever seen on a 64-year-old woman.
Well someone has to have it!
I suggest you look up every person I mentioned. There are articles online speculating each had work done. I hate when people get offended when it is implicated that their favorite actresses had plastic surgery…it doesn’t make them bad actresses or anything, it’s not cynical, it’s the business. I don’t want to get into specifics, but you don’t think Nicole Kidman, really?!?! LOL We used to joke about how she was acting in her neck, since her face doesn’t move. This is Hollywood we are talking about; these people do more than just botox. Nicole Kidman’s nose has changed and her eyes–that’s not change over time. And Streep has the tightest neck I’ve ever seen on a 64-year-old woman. A lot of the time actors will get regular adjustments when they are out of the public spotlight (which is required once a person begins plastic surgery) and will look rejuvenated when they come back to promote a movie. Boyle was just photographed this week and looks awful.
KT, that’s hilarious. People’s faces change over time. But surgery looks like surgery, and it’s clear that most of the people you mentioned have not had surgery. The only one you mention who may have had it is Renee Zellweger, but even that may only be botox.
Bullock has had extensive work done on her face, injectibles, likely facelift. I remember seeing her face in a close-up at the Oscars when Meryl won, crying, and she had no lines on her face whatsoever. It was frozen. That’s more than just botox and avoiding alcohol and drugs and the sun (LOL to what some actors will say to explain why they look so good). Sandra looks great, but it’s very clear something is up with her face.
Plastic surgery is a simple truth of the business, and something no one is going to reveal publicly. They all get plastic surgery, undergo skin treatments—it extends youth (and careers), it helps some people remain leading actors, it also has ruined some careers. Tom Cruise has likely had a facelift and used botox…when he showed up at the Oscars to present Best Picture to The Artist, people were astounded how young he looked. Look also to Nicole Kidman. She says she’s only dabbled in botox, but her face doesn’t lie, the shape of her eyes has changed over the years. Renee Zellweger no longer has the eyes she was known for, neither does Catherine Zeta-Jones. Eyes are usually a tell-tale characteristic of more than just botox. Even Meryl, who has repeatedly denied she’s had surgery, is lying, with likely cheek implants, and multiple face and neck lifts over the years…the difference is, she probably has the best plastic surgeon and has been very careful with what’s been done. Unlike Lara Flynn Boyle, for instance, who looks like a disaster. Yes, plastic surgery is vain, but it would be ignorant not to recognize that it’s widespread in Hollywood and even encouraged by the top agencies, CAA, WME, etc.
Andre
Don’t change a thing
Bullock looks great probably because she never ruined her health the Hollywood-way (drugs, alcohol, smoking) and she clearly has a damn good dermotologist who can work his/her magic without surgery (peels, laser, injectables) and who has the brain to NOT overdo any of it, hence her naturally youthful looks.
Sandra Bullock is almost 50, and looks great, but she has had extensive work done (sorry to let the cat out of the bag).
And your proof is where? She still looks exactly as she did 20 years ago. She’s clearly never had surgery.
*joke post*
Proof that sex sells but not for long:
I first comment here with my shirtless photo avatar and everyone talks to me.
I’d do more than talk to you with that avatar 😉
Something you left out Sasha is the extent to which actresses, including several of the women you mentioned above, also have used plastic surgery to get parts, stay current, or remain in the game. Of course men get surgery, but for women, it’s always more drastic because of how the industry objectifies women. Sandra Bullock is almost 50, and looks great, but she has had extensive work done (sorry to let the cat out of the bag). Women in show business are under more pressure to have work done from head to toe, and they have work done frequently to try and keep up. It’s the only reason I hope that Jamie Dornan does do 50 Shades of Grey, because he is/was a male model and he will look good for the part and fulfill a useful place for male objectification to start to turn the tables. I do think things are changing, but they are still very much controlled by male studio executives who want certain kinds of women — usually decorative — depicted in film.
Yeah, me too…
But now, thanks to SerbianFilms, I’m back in support.
Brazilianmovies, thank you for your comments. I used to be favor support pedophilia but your comments made me think and now I’m not any more.
*joke post*
Proof that sex sells but not for long:
I first comment here with my shirtless photo avatar and everyone talks to me.
2 weeks later, no one pays attention to me.
I really liked Burton’s “Sweeney Todd”, but a McQueen version would be a wet dream for me.
Also, don’t take ONE Brazilian poster’s opinion as a consensus of all of our opinions!!!
And Im still waiting for a reply to my previous post =P
PM – Burton’s Sweeney did stay pretty faithful to the plot of the source material, it’s so meticulously plotted, you kind of have to. But what I found unforgiveable is that he took out all of the multi-part harmonies and such which is what Sondheim does best (in addition to lyrics). And Sweeney Todd is probably his best work with regards to four part vocals and harmonies. It’s kind of like watching Life of Pi without the tiger (at least for me)
phantom: If my comments aren’t of you liking just don’t read them. And the comments aren’t going specially to paddy but to expose a subject that we should discuss, don’t think?
1. Robert Duvall has already won a lead Oscar pre-Get low, a film that was very low-key and released VERY early (July) by Oscar-standards. In comparison, Judi Dench has never won lead, and her film – a British crowdpleaser backed by Harvey Weinstein – is perfectly positioned for awards attention as a Holiday sleeper hit. As shocking as this may sound, I do think there may be a ‘Get low’ situation this year but that could be Redford. I don’t think All is Lost will play well on screeners BUT they may vote for him on name basis alone without bothering to watch the film, so make no mistake, I’m still predicting him, I’m just slightly concerned, that’s all.
2. Brazilianmovies, what’s your take on the Best Actress race ? How many performances have you seen, which one was your favorite, if you haven’t seen any, which ones are you looking forward to most ? If you insist on trolling here , could you at least contribute to the topic ? Because accusing AD-regulars like Paddy with pedophilia-promotion simply because he won’t join you in your little boycott of a French art film that is essentially a love story of two young girls, does not qualify as contribution, frankly it ONLY qualifies as a remarkably rude and ridiculously baseless accusation. Long story short, if you have nothing more to add, just leave and share your thought(s) somewhere else!
The age consent of sexual in Brazil is because the patriarchy like in France where the coward criminal Roman Polanski lives.
It’s ironic that the user whining about the sex in Blue is the Warmest Color calls himself BrazilianMovies, since age of consent in Brazil is 14…
I’m getting the sense that Dench in PHILOMENA could get the same treatment that Duvall got a few years back with GET LOW.
Get Low was a minor player. Philomena is gonna be major league. Possible Best Picture attention. Plus, word is that it’s Judi Dench’s best performance. And that’s something.
K. Bowen, where are you finding the box office figures for the weekend?
As far as Blue Is the Warmest Color …. it’s doing less than $10,000 per screen on 13 screens this weekend. Is that really going to be enough, even if they stick with it throughout the Oscar season?
“But nobody says they ONLY vote for the hot chick”
Sasha does.
I mean, Ryan, do you read your own website?
“Old White Guys Vote Only for the Hot Chick” is practically the alternate title.
– “But nobody says they ONLY vote for the hot chick”
– Sasha does. I mean, Ryan, do you read your own website?
If you’d like to help, you can buy Sasha a book about Oscar winners so she can see the names of actresses who won Oscars even though they were not the ‘hot chick’
But my guess is you can save your money because I have a feeling Sasha is already aware of the times when that happened.
In other words, to be blunt, it’s stupid to think Sasha thinks men ONLY vote for the hot chick.
“But nobody says they ONLY vote for the hot chick”
Just as nobody says rednecks ONLY vote for the white guy.
But look at this map and tell me if those rednecks who do ONLY vote for the white guy ever make their inclinations apparent to anybody who has eyes and a brain.
Yes, I think sex appeal lends a helping hand when it comes to getting the edge into the lead actress category. It also helps to propel and actress to the win. The film ERIN BROCKOVICH made quite the big deal of the title character’s sultry wardrobe, a factor that likely allowed Roberts to be rewarded for a fine performance, but certainly not the finest of the year, or even the finest from that crop of nominees.
Slight sidebar: I’m getting the sense that Dench in PHILOMENA could get the same treatment that Duvall got a few years back with GET LOW. Everybody saw him as a major contender, he got a few precursor nods, then couldn’t make it past the finish line for a nod. Just a possibility, especially in a crowded field.
2-star reviews all over the place. How on earth can it make it to BP? I’m having my doubts.
The industry will be all over it. Blogosphere currently blind to its potential. Did you hear last weekend’s Oscar Podcast? It’s covered mot eruditely by Sasha, Ryan, Craig and Michael. They made it even harder for me to envisage this year’s Oscar race without The Butler.
Wait…Mel Gibson hates Jaws?
12YAS: January 24th for Finland.
But I’ll see it before in a press screening (which has not been announced yet).
Btw, The Butler was generally disliked here. 2-star reviews all over the place. How on earth can it make it to BP? I’m having my doubts.
Bryce, tell me about it….:)
… but hopefully there will be some pre-release screenings in Denmark prior to that late date. There usually are. You just have to secure a seat when the opportunity arrives.
Tomorrow I get to see Prisoners, Philomena and Gravity (yes, three movies in one day, don’t tell me I’m not a dedicated guy!) prior to their release date. Prisoners and Philomena are released in December over here and Gravity mid-november. So I’m pretty, pretty excited. It’s like Christmas arriving early this year!
Just here to contest one final sample of idiocy and then I’m done. Not gonna bother continuing this debate any more since it doesn’t exist – there is no debate between right and wrong and, as always, I’m right.
Well, when you support a work (is not art) about a relation between a girl of 15 years old and a woman of 20 years old are you promoting pedophilia.
She’s 17, not 15.
Steve,
Hopefully! Divisive indeed. Unfortunately and to be simplistic, I’d say the love-hate ratio is 1:3.
Also, glad to have found something I love during the interminable wait for 12 YEARS A SLAVE. I should stop complaining, checking out the release dates many AD readers have it much much worse
French readers: 22 January 2014
Danish (e.g. Julian the emperor): 27 February 2014 – effing ouch
Well, don’t write it for me, I don’t need your lectures on morality. Nobody on this site needs to be educated on it, either. You’re becoming a one-note annoyance. Surely there are other sites more in tune with your concerns.
Well, when you support a work (is not art) about a relation between a girl of 15 years old and a woman of 20 years old are you promoting pedophilia. And I’m writing this not specifically for you but everybody does.
Bryce,
Yes, I was going to mention yesterday that I impressed with Dargis’ review. I haven’t seen the film yet, but her review is beautifully written.
It sounds like something people with either love or hate, and I’m hoping to be with the former.
I wrote that because you want ban my comments against promotion of pedophilia, and I must remind you that is a crime including the promotion of.
No I did not. Also, I’m not ‘promoting paedophilia’. That’s the most laughable thing I’ve heard in months.
I wrote that because you want ban my comments against promotion of pedophilia, and I must remind you that is a crime including the promotion of.
So the comments agains the promotion pedophilia (wich is a crime) are censored. OK! it’s important know the ethical principles of others.
No they are not. Check above. What exactly has been censored?
Off Topic:
I thought me and the late Roger Ebert’s buddy Richard Roeper were going to be the only freaks standing with THE COUNSELOR.
So pleased to find out Manhola Dargis has designated Ridley’s film a New York Times Critic’s Pick . Lovely piece:
From all the ellipses, as well as the eccentric, mesmerizing poetry of his dialogue, Mr. McCarthy appears to have never read a screenwriting manual in his life. (That’s a compliment; this is his first produced film script.)
Mr. Scott manages all these swiftly spinning parts with impeccable control and a lucid visual style.
I cherish all the love I can find for this film.
Sex does indeed sell. Great OW and PTA for Blue this weekend!
So the comments agains the promotion pedophilia (wich is a crime) are censored. OK! it’s important know the ethical principles of others.
one that actually embraces the source material?
Cor, I thought Tim Burton thoroughly embraced the source material. A friend of mine who participated in a production of Sweeney Todd sang the film’s praises, noting how incredibly closely it hewed to the stage version and how much it brought back memories for her.
BrazilianMovies, you do realise I have an account here? Like, I could delete any of your comments in just a few clicks. I’m not going to, since this isn’t my site, but all I need to do is alert Sasha or Ryan to the issues I have with you, and you never know what action they might take. Just to warn you, the more you aggravate, the closer you come to being banned from the site entirely.
It’s a shame what’s his name got to Sweeney Todd already. I’d love to see McQueen do it, and I bet he’d love to give it a shot. Is it too soon for another version, one that actually embraces the source material?
I couldn’t imagine what a McQueen directed Assassins would look like, but I can say one thing, it won’t happen. Even if 12 Years is a runaway success and wins everything it can, I can’t imagine anyone ponying up the money to make it happen, unless, of course, I win 100 Million on the Powerball.
But on the other hand, it could probably be made for 10 million or so pretty easily so you never know. The only other major musicals I think would be of interest to McQueen would be Ragtime (which I’m still hoping Ang Lee directs) and Next to Normal. Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures could be an option as well. Of course, there are probably numerous musicals out there, but, like I said, they would have to be pretty obscure and financing them would be quite the challenge.
It’s not my problem you accept a pedophilia relation but the law does.
“The only thing understand Patrick Mulholland is you are favor to pedophilia.”
Wow! Sounds like Paddy has really pissed off the Brazilian pearl clutchers!
Jesus! The biggest troll to ever set foot on this website’s comment board had to be a Brazilian. Please go away and stop tarnishing my country’s reputation here.
The only thing understand Patrick Mulholland is you are favor to pedophilia.
I have yet to see Blue so I can’t critique these young women’s performances. Yeah actresses pull out the sexy card for Oscars. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. If it hold up this year the Best Actress nominees will be filled with women well past thirty and many have won before, so I think this year it might be less about the sexy card as it is about a young new actress having a hard time breaking through regardless of what angle she might play.
As for Sandra Bullock she actually does have sex appeal, but it’s more tomboyish. And in Gravity what she’s wearing underneath her astronaut uniform is totally unrealistic for space wear(astronauts usually wear some type of diaper and those are not pleasing to look at). And people have been going on about how hot she looks for a woman who’s almost 50. Seriously at the London premeire of Gravity she rocked a short dress that showed off her legs and the gossip and entertainment sites went nuts. And she does look great.
My point? Even though Sandra may not pull the sexy angle there are people looking at her in a sexy light. She might have the sexy angle going for her if Amy Adams doesn’t deliver. Kate Winslet is pregnant and due any day now so she’s out of the sexy running this time around, and the other Cate as in Blanchett is very beautiful but like Bullock doesn’t play the sexy angle. She plays the Couture Queen angle. And of course La Streep don’t need to play any angle. She can get a nomination on just her name alone. So when it comes to this topic of Sexiness I maintain that Miss Bullock has the distinct edge so far.
As Seth McFarlane sang, “Jennifer Lawrence we havent seen your boobs at all”.
Its funny you’re accusing a girl who has never been naked no screen, and who’s headlining a major franchise which not only lies greatly on her shoulders but also where she plays a female lead who’s never naked or being “sexy”, but is strong, skilled and is fighting to survive.
The role on SLP was first offered to Jolie, who is the embodiment of sexy, has done countless sexy photoshoots and has been naked on screen many times. Then Hathaway was attached to it, who has also been super naked on screen and has played the sexy card more then once.
Winslet has been naked her entire career, from day one. Lawrence hasnt.
Bullock is 49, looks amazing, has a fabulous body, won An Oscar and is a lock for a second nomination without ever playing thia card. Its not as black and white.
“I don’t care the stupid rules in France, country where a child abuser as Roman Polanski lives cowardly. In many countries sex between 15 years old guy and 20 years old is a crime. And this work (is not art) promotes that.”
Jesus Christ, give it a rest! What have your inane ramblings got to do with this post?!?! We get it, you don’t think it is “art”. You will be disappointed to know that many people will not agree with you!
Glad you to hear, Rufus!
Since we’re of the same mindset with our hopes for this for a long time, your stamp of approval goes a long way. I won’t get to see it for another week or so.
I saw another interview with Fassbender who also mentioned that McQueen was looking for a musical. I can’t see him selecting something flippant, so maybe your Assassins is in the running (?) That would be amazing.
On the topic “sex sells” – of course it does. It sells movies, toothpaste, cars, clothing, politics – just about everything. We are sexual creatures, both men and women. The only way to equalize the sexist factor from any system that incorporates voting (like the Oscars) is to ensure that both sexes (of a wide range of ages) are represented.
The current demographic of AMPAS, however, all but ensures that JLaw and Paltrow have acting Oscars, while Pitt and Gosling do not. Entertainment is fantasy and sex plays a big role in what we choose to enjoy and ultimately reward. It’s the nature of the beast.
It’s just that we, men, are wired to grade men according to “most alpha”, and women as to who is effectively “come hither”.
I do it. Do it all the time and scarily automatically. Wired. And I, generally, don’t like alpha males and have no interest in hithering – or whatever it is that you strange hets do.
A “relationship” between an adolescent of 15 years old and an adult of 20 years old is pedophilia
What the fuck is a “relationship”?
That’s not paedophilia. It’s legal in France, and reasonable anywhere in the world, and not even depicted in Blue Is the Warmest Colour. Love is love. Fuck knows what a “relationship” is.
I’m not going to argue with you, BrazilianMovies, because you’re clearly not intelligent enough to comprehend my argument, which, btw, is correct.
I just want to put it out there that Bullock won’t win a second Oscar for Gravity. I know they love her, and I love her (more as a person than as an actor), but come on, they won’t. A lock for a nomination, okay. But if she wins, Sigourney Weaver calls and wants her legacy back. The race will probably come down to Blanchett and Dench, as it should. Sandy can win the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in good time. August: Osage County is becoming a question mark, and Thompson’s movie already was a question mark; it just makes me think of Renee Zellweger playing Beatrix Potter — too slight.
The whole thing is not being against feminism, but agaibst the implication that older white straight nen will vote for the hot babe because they are older white straight male. Of course people are distracted by sex, but to the point that it’ll make you forget how great a performance is when it’s given by someone who is not hot? It’s also offensive to great actresses who happen to be goodlooking, like Lawrence, who killed every single line in SLP and delivered a great performance (and some people like me just thought Trintignant had much more to do in Amour than Riva). On Winslet: she had been going sexy and naked during her whole career, but now you say she had to play the sex card to win? It makes no sense. Why didn’t she win for Iris, or Little Children, or even Titanic?
Come on.
Steve, from one friend to another, I want you to know you won’t be disappointed with what McQueen did with 12 Years. It’s phenomenal. And it’s clearly his vision in every way, shape and form.
Jennifer Lawrence has really become the whipping girl on recent podcasts for being the hot young thing who won an Oscar because she’s fuckable.
It’s a great performance, with a perfecty modulation of manic hi/low energy and focus and an overall magical quality.
STOP HATING!
Sasha “Exarchopoulos has less to do with actual skill and more to do with the director’s extreme tactics to illicit from her what he wanted.”
Nice Freudian slip there. If anyone didn’t know how Sasha felt, “illicit” gives away the game.
The whole Warmest Color kerfuffle reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where they somehow all wind up at Rochelle Rochelle, “the tale of one young woman’s journey from Milan to Minsk.” Somehow, when people write about this film, I see them typing into their computers with the same looks on their faces that Jerry, George and Kramer had at the end of that episode.
It’ll all be forgotten on the day after the nominations. I’m gonna mention this again on Sasha’s 1998 podcast post, but “The Dreamlife of Angels” was easily one of the best films of the 1990s, starred two beautiful young (unknown) French women getting to know each other, got big awards from Cannes…AND was utterly ignored by the Oscars.
This year, the only movie beginning with Blue to field a Best Actress nominee will end not with Color, but with Jasmine.
Not trying to screw up your comment, but we’ll go ahead and quietly change that to “elicit”
For posterity, ok?
We’ve seen the confusion some dumb monk created, badly proofreading God’s Word when He said, “I HATE FIGS!”
It’s kind of a shame that women have to go through this, because their talent is already proven.
on a related note, I’ve been noticing that while there are MANY gorgeous and talented young actresses, it’s kinda hard to find the same with actors. Now, granted, as a straight dude, I don’t immediately notice men’s “hotness”, so to speak. But save for Ryan Gosling, most of the young male sex symbols of today don’t strike me as great actors. Any thoughts on that?
Off Topic:
I saw “The Old Man and Pi,” er “All Is Lost” today. Redford shouldn’t win the Oscar. His character spent the almost the whole time doing stuff. So little time was spent in contemplation, etc. A (nearly) wordless performance is one thing, but when we hardly get a chance to study a character’s face in stillness, I’m sorry, but one of the other actors should win.
The point is not only the ages of actresses but the idea that promoting. A “relationship” between an adolescent of 15 years old and an adult of 20 years old is pedophilia, and the work (is not art) promotes that, therefore this work must not be reward.
Brazilianmovies:
Adèle and Emma don’t sleep together when Adèle is 15. They get together when she’s in her last year of high school, so she is 17/18 at that point.
Also, I don’t think an article that puts down a woman to raise another has anything to do with gender equality and all to do with judging women. That is actually mysoginistic. I don’t care if Miss Stone claimes herself to be a feminist, real feminists don’t shame women.
Of course, the sex appeal of an actress shouldn’t have any effect on whether her work deserves an Oscar (unless she’s badly portraying someone who should be very sexy).
I find it funny, though, that with regard to the world in general, Sasha is annoyed that the sex appeal of women is decided by “the male gaze.” Doesn’t it make sense that the people who are going to sleep with them, a group mostly made up of straight men, are the arbiters of female sex appeal? (Likewise, male sex appeal is largely in the province of the female gaze.)
If you watch this stuff at home though BrazilianMovies, the chances of completely fucking up your hard drive is high.
Jesus, it’s all about you.
I don’t care the stupid rules in France, country where a child abuser as Roman Polanski lives cowardly. In many countries sex between 15 years old guy and 20 years old is a crime. And this work (is not art) promotes that.
If I looked good enough to put my bum out I probably would. So I’m not going to begrudge those who can and do.
Besides I saw an old movie of Sandra Bullock’s not too long ago where she had a heavy duty love scene with Craig Sheffer. Love him. Anyway, I was surprised because I thought she’d always been goody-goody. And Helen Mirren was in CALIGULA. And all the 13 year olds on Earth saw Winslet’s boobies in TITANIC. What do you think Watermelons named himself after? 😉 So sex helps everyone equally I think. We might have just forgotten that the older actresses used to sell it too.
Last 10 years of Best Actress. I agreed with (or tolerated) the winner half the time:
2012: Didn’t agree with Lawrence. Should’ve been Riva or Chastain. I might’ve still nominated her, but that wasn’t a good win if you ask me.
2011: Man, I disagreed with almost all the nominees. My favorite performance was Tilda Swinton in We Need To Talk About Kevin, but I also loved Charlize Theron in Young Adult, Elizabeth Olsen in Martha Marcy May Marlene and Kirsten Dunst in Melancholia. All were snubbed and they were my top 4 performances by an actress that year.
2010: That was Portman’s year. She really deserved it. Great choice.
2009: I would’ve chosen Mulligan out of the 5 nominees. An underrated performance that got snubbed that year was Michelle Monaghan in Trucker.
2008: BY FAR my favorite performance was Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married. Winslet was good and waaaay overdue, so I wasn’t mad, but that should’ve been Anne’s award.
2007: Yeah, Cotillard was stunning in that movie. Julie Christie was a worthy winner as well, too bad she didn’t win.
2006: Not mad at Mirren. It was a good impression with some layers to it, but I really loved Kate Winslet in Little Children. I actually agree with all 5 nominees this particular year. And the winner as I said before was deserving enough, if not my personal favorite.
2005: No. Just no to Witherspoon. No to Knightley and Theron as well. Huffman was the most deserving of the 5, and should’ve won. An underrated role was Radha Mitchell in Melinda and Melinda.
2004: I think the nominees were basically spot on (although I would’ve maybe swapped Bening for Julie Delpy in Before Sunset or Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol. 2), and the winner was a toss up between Swank and Winslet for me. So I’m pretty happy with the decisions here.
2003: Unquestionably deserving win for Theron. Naomi Watts was a REALLY strong runner up, though. I would’ve swapped out Castle-Hughes, Keaton and Morton for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol. 1, Evan Rachel Wood in Thirteen and Scarlet Johansson in Lost In Translation
I love Chastain, which is why I remember being disappointed that she was actually the one doing the nude thing last year. This sleazy spread which look like a sex hotline ad for GQ immediately comes to mind: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/73749263.html
Google “Chastain GQ”. There’s more/worse.
“As far as I can tell, Jessica Chastain has never needed to play the sex card, although she lost to Jennifer Lawrence who not only played it in print but played it in the movie, Silver Linings Playbook.”
Two Chastains’s photoshots. First, Vanity Fair 09/2012 http://whoisscout.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/jessica_chastain_vanity_fair_2.jpg
Second, GQ 11/2012 http://cdni.condenast.co.uk/1445×878/g_j/JessicaChastainGQJan1302_GQ_23Nov12_pr_b_1445x878.jpg and http://www.2bmanagement.com/images/von-unwerth/portfolio-1/136724419847141-original.jpg
You should also remember her full frontal nude scene in Lawless.
I don’t like the curse-the-darkness headline of this article. Take a cue from John Goodman in Lebowski, shine a light instead, and say:
WOW! Best Actress Likely To Have Oldest Youngest Actress Ever
– that being 44-year-old Blanchett, this year’s hot piece of ass.
However I still say Sandra Bul is not a lock. (copyright 2013 unlikely hood)
What is she going to win? The New York Film Critics? LA? BFCA? Seattle? San Francisco? Chicago?
No, no, no, no, no, and no.
Blanchett, Thompson, and Dench are going to win every pre-award going into the Golden Globes. Then Thompson will win the Drama Globe while Blanchett and Dench fight it out for the Comedy one. What will Bullock have won by then? Nothing.
Anyone wanna predict something she’ll win? Come on, don’t be Republicans, don’t just talk in bromides – introduce an actual plan.
Bullock could still get nominated in the way that, say, Angelina Jolie did for the Clint Eastwood movie – not by winning anything, but by appearing on enough top-five nominee lists, particularly the Golden Globe one. But that’s no lock. And it clears the way for one of these under-40-year-olds that people are talking about.
Bullock carried one of the movies of the year. But that’s ALL she did – not more. Sometimes that’s enough, sometimes it isn’t. Ask Leo DiCaprio.
The way I see it, the sex angle is really predominant in the nomination stage more so than the winner’s circle.
Almost every year I see certain performances get nominated that weren’t as good as certain other performances, but the nod went to the younger, sexier actress instead of the best performance. The winners admittedly do skew younger these days, but I really feel that 90% of the time they are picking worthy performances for the winners (Although I definitely disagreed with Lawrence’s win last year. Should’ve been Riva or Chastain).
Feminism was – and continues to be – the only fair response to a society that has historically been dominated by males.
Such a shame that it even needs exist, but yes, it’s nothing if not fair.
Zooey, you’re right. I missed Reese Witherspoon. But still, the stat is significant, I think.
@BrazilianMovies
The Academy can’t reward Blue is the warmest color because promotes the pedophilia. And that is not ethic, is not freedom, is not art.
You fool, no it does not. The age of consent in France is 15. I believe the character of Adele is 17 when she’s seen having sex in the film? And anyway, the sex she has with Emma is loving, consensual and (seemingly) pleasurable, so even if it were, technically, statutory rape, it’d be wrong only in the eyes of the law and not harmful in the eyes of the participants.
@Nathan
“STFU” and “FTHO”… Impeccable use of language!
Acronyms. Viable uses of the english language. And they communicate my sentiment quite succinctly.
Feminism is something else.
No it’s not. Feminism is a necessary (and lamentably so) construct designed in order to promote the general opinion of women so that it is equal to that of men. The definition I quoted is from the OED, too, and I’m pretty comfortable on their team opposing yours. Another acronym for you there.
But Sasha’s feminist posts (over and over again) is a relentless bullshit for me.
Impeccable use of language!
First of all, it is NOT helping to whole gender equality conversation to being this much angry every effin’ day. I’m not against women, I’m against feminists. Sorry, kiddo. Deal with it.
Please don’t be sorry. Not least because I don’t need to ‘deal with it’ – there’s nothing here for me to deal with! You’re sexist and I don’t care! To be against those who believe that women should be equal to men is certainly something I wish you were sorry about, that you might change your ways. But you’re not, it would appear, and so I think it’s going to have to be you who must ‘deal with it’, as society continues to progress and advance closer to reality in accepting women and men as human beings of equal worth.
“I don´t get it. When did this phenomenon began that Oscar voters mostly consist of old white males who only vote for the hot chick? Since Jennifer Lawrence won last year, all of a sudden “Oscar” is sexist. But then who gave Meryl Streep 3 Oscars and nominated Emmanuelle Riva in the first place? Who gave Awards to Monique, Jennifer Hudson, Halle Berry and Octavia Spencer in the past 10 years?”
Halle Barry wasn’t hot?
Many of us remember the complaint from Fernanda Montenegro (Central Station) about Gweneth besting her for Best Actress (Shakespeare in Love) because she showed some skin and the Academy wanted the cute young thing to win. But, it’s actually in the Best Supporting Actress category where the hot chick phenomena is most evident.
Pretty obvious trend over the past couple of decades : Angelina Jolie, Marissa Tomei, Miro Sorvino, Jennifer Connelly, Renee Zellweger, Anne Hathaway etc. Even Juliette Binoche, Penelope Cruz, and Catherine Zeta Jones (even if they were a bit “older” by Hollywood standards; and, one can’t deny their beauty) Sure, there were exceptions, but, one can’t deny the trend.
So because the patriarchy considering these work art everybody must doing the same. Blue is the warmest color promotes pedophilia and must not reward it.
Nathan, I think any person that believes in full equality between the sexes is a feminist. How could you not be? The fight for full equality goes on and on and on… We have achieved a lot the last 50 or 60 years, but the question of equal pay for example is still a battle being fought even in the most egalitarian countries in the world.
It’s HOW you choose to deal with that battle/struggle and how you assess the challenges that lie ahead and how obsessed you are with finding scapegoats or identifying victims and perpetrators that is the true dividing line between the common sense feminist (like me and probably you, if you think about it) and the radical strands of feminists (they are a diverse bunch, to be fair). Some ultra-feminists are pathologically inclined to find faults with everything they consider to be male-dominated or paternalistic, but let’s not get carried away and identify feminism as such as the problem.
Feminism was – and continues to be – the only fair response to a society that has historically been dominated by males.
“Feminism is something else. But Sasha’s feminist posts (over and over again) is a relentless bullshit for me. First of all, it is NOT helping to whole gender equality conversation to being this much angry every effin’ day. I’m not against women, I’m against feminists. Sorry, kiddo. Deal with it.”
Nathan, you do realize you sound kind of…angry, right?
“The Academy can’t reward Blue is the warmest color because promotes the pedophilia. And that is not ethic, is not freedom, is not art.”
Depicting pedophilia is not the same as promoting it. From Lolita to Little Children to Salo to Happiness, there have been many films and works of literature that have depicted pedophilia and also been works of art.
@Patrick Mulholland
“STFU” and “FTHO”… Impeccable use of language!
Feminism is something else. But Sasha’s feminist posts (over and over again) is a relentless bullshit for me. First of all, it is NOT helping to whole gender equality conversation to being this much angry every effin’ day. I’m not against women, I’m against feminists. Sorry, kiddo. Deal with it.
“I’m not against women. I’m against feminists.”
“I’m not against gays. I’m against gay marriage.”
“I’m not against black people. I’m against black people who speak out about civil right.”
“I’m not against elephants. I’m against elephants who try to run for their lives when I’m trying to cut their tusks off with a chainsaw.”
Speaking of snatch…let’s not forget about Paulina Garcia’s performance in Gloria.
@ Patrick Mulholland,
I count three…
1. Reese Witherspoon – 2005
2. Kate Winslet – 2008
3. Meryl Streep – 2011
All have given birth prior to their wins.
Streep had four kids before her win.
Winslet had two kids before her win.
Witherspoon had two kids as well.
The Academy can’t reward Blue is the warmest color because promotes the pedophilia. And that is not ethic, is not freedom, is not art.
Oh come on! So a young lady takes some pictures to promote her film (which features graphic nudity anyways) and that is crime? I havent seen it so I can’t judge it against Larsen, Bullock, or Blanchett but Adele shouldnt be discounted just because she took some modelling photos that by all accounts from what I read, tamer then what is actually in the film.
“As far as I can tell, Jessica Chastain has never needed to play the sex card, although she lost to Jennifer Lawrence who not only played it in print but played it in the movie, Silver Linings Playbook.”
Sasha, I know you love Jessica and dislike Jennifer but it was Chastain who got naked during her Oscar campaign and Jennifer never did either in film or for press.
I appreciate your fight against sexism in Hollywood but your hypocrisy concerning the two actresses is quite astounding. I remember reading your post here last year where your congratulated Jessica for her naked pictures and looking sexy and now you are slamming other woman (Adele) for doing the same. Please, stop putting other women down in attempting to raise one up. Brie is a great talent and you don’t need to slam Adele in praising Brie.
Everybody knows how I feel Brie Larson will get nominated
Another feminism bullshit… Again.
feminism
Pronunciation: /ˈfɛmɪnɪz(ə)m/
noun
[mass noun]
the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.
STFU Nathan. Just STFU and FTHO.
We just shouldn´t act like men force women to do those things. When a grown up woman agrees to do a “sexy” shooting for GQ, they know exactly why they do it. They just seem surprised when old disgusting grandpa shows up instead of Brad Pitt.
Is anybody saying men force women to do these shoots?
Is any woman who does a shoot like this expecting Brad Pitt to show up?
Is any woman surprised when an old man gawks at her?
I agree with you, therealmike. We shouldn’t be pretending — and I don’t think we are pretending.
Chastain will definitely play the game every now and then. Too gorgeous not too. Well there is integrity, but in this industry I think it’s tough for people to hold onto it whether you’re a woman or a man. Then again there are some circumstances where they probably didn’t feel they lost any sort of integrity doing it. Winslet probably didn’t even have to do it given the character she was playing in that film.
Another feminism bullshit… Again.
@The username: “@TheStephenCross” (Oct. 25, 2013 10:58 am),
Thank you very much for the link in which Chastain — gasp . . . . AD Gods forbid! – was shown playing the game as well. This should help to close the so-called “Sex Card” case re JC once and for all. [Sasha said: “As far as I can tell, Jessica Chastain has never needed to play the sex card”]
Sasha, I also love Ms. Chastain’s performances and appreciate her talent. But please, with sugar on top, Mrs. Robinson : ), stop making it sound like JLaw is just another untalented girl […] out of nowhere to steal big cheese from the 0D30 talented actress or anyone else. Relatively speaking or not, the way you’ve put it seems to have come out that way, Madam . . . . Just saying.
My roommate saw a test screening of American Hustle and said all the actors were amazing, except for Amy. Said she tries so hard to be sexy and just looks uncomfortable. Also the accent isn’t great.
Another point: Since 1996, the Academy has only rewarded two women in Leading Actress who have had a child by natural birth. Several of the winners have adopted children or given birth since their win.
In other words, those same male voters like to know that the woman they spy clutching that rock-hard gold phallus on the stage before them still has a nice tight cunt.
Personally, I think Bullock could’ve pushed more emotionally at the end. I still think it’s her best performance so far. When I saw Hanks at the end (that scene), I was almost crying tears of joy. I can feel his physical and emotional toil. I didn’t experience that in Bullock’s performance. But that’s just me.
Blanchett’s performance is like a hurricane. First, it knocks me over, then you start to see the destruction she leaves behind. However, she has so many variations on her character (thanks to Woody as well) it’s just mind-blowing even though I think the film is only ok.
Because only straight WHITE males objectify women? The obsession is hilarious. We know how you feel, you make it clear in 99% of your postings, but it’s men in general who objectify and marginalize women.
The obsession is hilarious. We know how you feel, you make it clear in 99% of your postings.
I think when Sasha talks about straight white men it’s because Oscar voters are 94% white and 77% men.
Point taken. 1% of the Academy are black men. (FACT). 55 black guys. Probably some of those 55 black guys objectify women too.
I won’t say it’s “hilarious” that you’re obsessing over 55 black guys.
“As far as I can tell, Jessica Chastain has never needed to play the sex card”
Chastain did play the sex card with GQ UK:
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/girls/gq-girls/jessica-chastain-british-gq-cover-zero-dark-thirty/viewgallery/4
I don´t get it. When did this phenomenon began that Oscar voters mostly consist of old white males who only vote for the hot chick? Since Jennifer Lawrence won last year, all of a sudden “Oscar” is sexist. But then who gave Meryl Streep 3 Oscars and nominated Emmanuelle Riva in the first place? Who gave Awards to Monique, Jennifer Hudson, Halle Berry and Octavia Spencer in the past 10 years? Who gave Oscars to all the female characters written by Woody Allen? What about Oscar regulars like Judi Dench, Julie Christie, Hellen Mirren and Maggie Smith? I personally think the “Best Actress” categories (leading and supporting) are the most fun and versatile. When Ruby Dee can sit next to Tilda Swinton. When Sissy Spacek competes with Nicole Kidman. I never once thought that Oscar is a sexist prick and I really don´t know why anybody would think so? When Actresses choose to be in those magazines and actually think it would make an impact on voters, I think they’re wrong and we should worry about the women who think this way. Men, however, don´t read those magazines.
Question: I don´t get it. When did this phenomenon began that Oscar voters mostly consist of old white males who only vote for the hot chick?
Answer: Oscar voters have ALWAYS mostly consisted of old white men. But nobody says they ONLY vote for the hot chick. Just enough of the time so that we notice a pattern emerge.
Question: Who nominated Emmanuelle Riva in the first place?
Answer: It only takes 1/5 of the Actors Branch to nominate someone. And the Actors Branch is where you will find almost all the female members of the Academy.
Jennifer Lawrence who not only played it in print but played it in the movie, Silver Linings Playbook.
Based on the trailer Amy Adams is kicking it up two notches in AMERICAN HUSTLE. I won’t mention anymore actresses and films because it’s clear to everyone this Machiavellian enterprises only occur in David O. Russell films.
And yeah agree that this GQ are unnecessary PR for WARMEST COLOR –the director and cast are doing just fine on their own. Headlines every week.
Also, do we know whether Kate Winslet will be campaigned in leading or supporting for Labour Day yet? Not that that ever mattered before with Kate… Watermelons ought to know.
Of the two performances Brie Larson’s is by far the most accomplished. Exarchopoulos has less to do with actual skill and more to do with the director’s extreme tactics to illicit from her what he wanted.
Heeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllllllllll no. I haven’t seen Short Term 12, but Adele Exarchopoulos’ performance in Blue Is the Warmest Colour truly is outstanding. You never know how much Destin Cretton was able to extract from Brie Larson via his directorial methods.
Adele hardly needs to do that GQ shoot. It’s utterly puritanical in comparison to what she gets up to in the film!
I also think the final five will be Blanchett, Bullock, Dench, Thompson, Streep, although there is usually a newcomer so one of the Larson, Excharchopoulos, Nelisse trio could surprise if their film is embraced by the Academy and that would result a j.edgaresque vet snub of one of the ladies mentioned above. And the winner ? Judi Dench. Way too strong narrative / likable role / Weinstein push…she will be close to impossible to ignore.
As much as it pains me to admit it, I feel that Delpy will be totally shut out. She’ll wrack up a few nods here and there with critic awards and the like, but that’s about it. There’s no way her role is showy enough to get the attention of these old men, and there’s no way she’s going to debase herself and make the rounds, I just don’t see her as the kind of actress that would care enough to overtly promote herself.
The film has a chance at one nod for screenplay but that’s about it. In a perfect world it get’s 4, Actress, Screenplay, Director, Picture.