A Look at the Potential 2010 Oscar Category Straddlers
Just where do they belong?
Nathaniel over at The Film Experience just published a post discussing the potential confusion over a few Oscar contenders whose performances may be confused for lead performances when they are actually supporting and vice versa. His list, however, doesn't include one I just watched yesterday, but first for his…
- Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz and Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds
- Anthony Mackie in The Hurt Locker
- Woody Harrelson in The Messenger
- Christian McKay in Me and Orson Welles
- Jake Gyllenhaal in Brothers
I don't think he needs to worry much about Melanie Laurent or Brad Pitt, both of which are obviously supporting if you ask me. Or Jake Gyllenhaal, although I wouldn't mind seeing Gyllenhaal get a nod for Brothers considering I thought his was the best performance in it… but for what category? Lionsgate has placed him in the Best Supporting Actor category, but in reality all three (Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman) are co-leads in that film if anything, which could cause voting confusion.
Next is Christian McKay in Me and Orson Welles, a performance that should undoubtedly be nominated for an Oscar, and in my opinion in Best Supporting Actor, but will voters look at his commanding (and dominating) performance as a lead perf?
Woody Harrelson earned a Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Messenger and he was also awarded in the same category by the National Board of Review. However, according to Gold Derby Woody was upped to lead status by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. for Golden Globe qualification after being submitted for the supporting race. So what is it?
The one performance that currently has me scratching my head and was left off Nathaniel's list is Helen Mirren's turn as the Countess Sofya Tolstoy in The Last Station, a film I just watched yesterday and will agree with many that it is good (perhaps not as good as some are saying), but I don't agree with the decision by Sony Classics to push Mirren in the lead category.
They have it right when it comes to pushing Christopher Plummer and Paul Giamatti in Supporting (both are great and it's an accurate placement) as well as James McAvoy in the lead. After all, this is McAvoy's film and his character's growth is dependent on all the characters that support his story.
I'm actually surprised Sony Classics would go for a Lead nomination for Mirren, primarily because she is an obvious supporting character and on top of that the Supporting category for an Oscar nom is far more wide open at the moment. Of course, I may feel differently after seeing Nine tomorrow night.
As for Nathaniel's inclusion of Mackie for The Hurt Locker (not sure why Nat thinks there is confusion on that one), I think it is definitely a supporting performance, but what do you say? Any category confusion on your part?
You'll remember last year there was an uproar over The Reader, not just because it knocked The Dark Knight out of Best Picture contention, but because Kate Winslet was nominated (and won) for Best Actress and not Best Supporting.
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One that has me a little confused is Marion Cotillard for Nine – if they'd pushed her for supporting I think she would be a lock, but for lead? I'm really not sure about that. Seems overambitious by the Weinsteins, but then they are the masters of Oscar politics…
Perhaps you could comment on this once you've seen the film, Brad.
@Tristan: Ahhhhh, I knew I forgot one. Should have looked closer and I agree with you, but I will know more about that one tomorrow.
The Weinsteins have already said that Laurent is being submitted as lead actress.
@Red: And thus the point of the article you just read.
At least confusion about Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard is currently nonexistent.
@m1: Yeah, it seems like confusion on those two was sorted out early and the decisions make sense. Although I believe I saw some bloggers saying Farmiga should have been pushed as lead, which I wouldn't agree with. Sarsgaard could have really gone either way, but the film remains Mulligan's and his character is just a part of her larger story.
I think even with the Oscar politics, Brothers is an disputable runner that is very likely to win something… dont you think?
I'm seeing Nine tommorrow night too.
I wish that Diane Kruger was getting more supporting actress buzz for Inglourious Basterds. I thought she was fantastic. Then again, I think I'd probably give 3 or 4 actors from that movie a nomination (Fassbender's performance is approaching the level of dangerously underrated, which really isn't fair because his Oscar worthy performance for Hunger was also completely ignored come awards season).
Oh man, I'd be thrilled if Jake Gyllenhaal were nominated for Brothers, same with Natalie Portman. Hell, I thought everyone was exceptional in that movie.
@Scott: are you kidding? I thought Diane Kruger was the weakest actor in that movie. Especially in the scene after the pub massacre where the guys are taking out a bullet from her leg.
@justyna:
"I thought"
^^^The key words in your OPINION. I respectfully disagree.
Did I miss Christoph Waltz in the analysis above? Your thoughts? Possibly he should go lead. If Melanie Laurent does, why shouldn't he?
I read that Weinstein is pushing Cotillard and Laurent in Lead, with Waltz in Supporting. I've seen FYC ads for Harrelson and McKay in supporting as well.
If Lionsgate is smart they'll push Gyllenhaal in Supporting. Lead Actor is incredibly crowded.
@Scott I loved Diane Krueger in Inglourious Basterds as well!! I thought her whole sequence at the PUB (by the way, the scene was brillant) was very good, I love to see an actress playing an actress acting. =P And she nailed it, because she wasn't acting, she was acting as acting. Loved it!
@Stefan I think Christoph should go to lead to. It's obvious we're actually following his journey during the movie, his and Melanie's. Not Brad Pitt or the baterds
I think the whole thing with Christoph is that their putting him where they think he has the best chance of winning similar to how Javier Bardem was put as supporting for No Country for Old Men and Heath Ledger for Dark Knight. Those two had MUCH higher chances to win supporting oscar then leading.