Sunday, October 13, 2013

Add to Technorati FavoritesMy vote - Best Actress 2012



It’s time to get back on this horse called ranking Oscar’s Best Actress performances. It’s something I had done for years, but then took a break from. And it’s time to finish Best Actress 2012 (to read my thoughts on how the ladies got nominated, click here).

I am getting back to it, but at my own pace, and in a shorter version. No more individual posts for each of the performances, since they are quite time consuming. It’s the final conclusions that count (mind you: I am still counting the screentime – which basically ensures that I see each performance twice).

So here we are with 2012’s ranking. #1 and #2 are two very different performances, but both very close to my heart. I could vote for any of them. #3 is solid, #4 is overrated, but works great for the film. And #5 still has me puzzled.

Best acted scene of the 5 performances? I almost didn’t award it, since the top 2 performances are consistently excellent throughout. A scene that comes to mind from Amour is when Georges and Anne receive the visit of the young pianist – the shame Anne feels for her disability (repeated in the CD/letter scene) still strikes a chord, and I’ll never forget it. So subtle, played perfectly.
And here is how I decided to rank them:





1. Emmanuelle Riva, Amour

The screentime: approximately 61 minutes and 53 seconds (52.2% of the film)

The film: My favourite film of 2012, an unforgettable drama with such a natural, realistic approach that still haunts me to this day. Technically precise, beautifully acted, directed by a master of his craft.

The role: Emmanuelle plays Anne, the intellectual, retired music teacher in her 80s, who has a stroke and has to live through the harrowing decline of her physical health.

The performance: It’s simply put an actress lover’s dream role and performance. Emmanuelle brings such grace, class, elegance to the screen that you know you are in the presence of greatness. The dignity she infuses into the performance increases the emotional experience of the viewer confronted with the character’s imminent decline. It’s exactly what the film needs: such a subtle performance, no vanity, just pure realism, heart-breaking because of the emotions it triggers in the viewer’s mind.

The highlight: The visit of the young pianist.






2. Naomi Watts, The Impossible

The screentime: approximately 40 minutes and 38 seconds (41.7% of the film)

The film: It has an average screenplay transformed into a good film by the excellent performances and some impressive visual scenes. Less Hollywood would’ve made it more heart-breaking, but the film is anyway relevant and easy to watch as it is.

The role: Naomi plays Maria, wife, mother of 3 young boys, on a family vacation in Thailand during the deadly tsunami of 2004. Badly injured, she and her oldest son try to reach safety in the aftermath.

The performance: It took me by surprise the first time I saw it, as I didn’t expect such emotional rawness from Naomi and boy does she deliver. I was cringing in fear as it was all unfolding because her acting is so natural that it almost felt like I was watching a documentary. Her ability of losing herself in the character is so masterfully achieved that it helped me lose myself in the story. Had the film been only about her journey, it would’ve been a winner. She’s so effective that as soon as she’s not on screen the film unavoidably loses steam. Excellent.

The highlight: The hospital scenes – the quiet pain when thinking her other children are dead.







3. Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty

The screentime: approximately 54 minutes and 16 seconds (36.3% of the film)

The film: The second best film of 2012; a fascinating war drama, always engaging, perfectly directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Those last 30 minutes are pure action, in the smartest way Hollywood could produce.

The role: Jessica plays Maya, a CIA operative on the hunt for Osama bin Laden, following the 9/11 attacks.

The performance: It’s an incredibly challenging role, given how restraint the screenplay is regarding its hero. It’s all about her professional life, almost no back-story, so Jessica has only one approach: the no-bullshit one. With a character that’s not even necessarily likeable and with tough dialogue to get through, the performance is a success. Against all odds, Jessica delivers a believable, smart performance, with emotions in all the right places, a great hold of the dialogue and a good understanding of the material.

The highlight: Getting on the plane, knowing her work is done here.







4. Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

The screentime: approximately 49 minutes and 19 seconds (42.6% of the film)

The film: It’s a romantic drama that I really enjoyed, because it’s mostly well-written, it’s well directed and it has some fine performances. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s always easy to recommend.

The role: Jennifer plays Tiffany, a troubled young widow who falls for a man recently released from a mental institution and helps him heal.

The performance: One could make an argument that the casting is not perfect here, since Jennifer is a bit too young for the role – but I strongly believe she really does try her best with what she’s given. It’s a character that takes time getting used to, and it’s meant to be edgy – Jennifer stays true to the role, hitting some high notes, bringing some humour and ultimately delivering a good performance of a character I didn’t love; but it’s a performance I find little fault to. It doesn’t help that her co-star overshadows.

The highlight: Breaking down in front of the movie theatre and then regretting it.







5. Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

The screentime: approximately 53 minutes and 15 seconds (61.3% of the film)

The film: It felt better the second time around. It’s an unusual film, but beautifully shot, with some nicely made directing choices. The original score is best in show.

The role: Quvenzhané plays Hushpuppy, a young girl raised by her father in a southern bayou community, almost cut off from the world. She has to deal with a flood, her father’s sickness and a prehistoric monster created by her imagination.

The performance: I “campaigned” so hard against this nomination... My point is that it shouldn’t exist. It’s a 7-8 year old child, who probably can’t even read, giving a fragmented performance in a project she doesn’t understand. Her performance is all about reacting, not building, and there’s nothing awards-worthy about that, sorry. It’s not conscious acting, since there are noticeable moments when the actress doesn’t know what the hell is going on, she’s just speaking the lines. That being said, there are highlights in the performance and it’s a good child performance. But if you compare it to acting in general, it’s not much. Well, my point is we shouldn’t even compare it. I didn’t give it 1 star because I have only done that once in the past, and to a truly terrible performance. This nomination is not Quvenzhané’s fault, it’s the silly voters writing her on the ballot.

The highlight: Her one achievement, crying on cue in the last scene with her father. [again: since I doubt Quvenzhané understood that scene, it’s hardly conscious acting; they probably told her they killed her dog or something].




How did the Academy vote: I think it was a clearer win for Jennifer than people give it credit. They really wanted to reward Silver Linings Playbook somewhere. It’s very likely that Emmanuelle came 2nd, while Jessica was a close 3rd. I assume Naomi was 4th, and Quvenzhané 5th.

And that’s about it.
What’s next: Continuing with the (even longer-) abandoned 1972. For the introduction of the year: click here. Hope to have it done by end of year. :)
To see other BEST ACTRESS years discussed so far, go to the column on the right, where it says Best Actress Years. ;)



Do tell me how unfair I was with Quvenzhané!! :))

Saturday, October 05, 2013

Add to Technorati FavoritesOscar predictions - An update


I usually update this every couple of weeks, but haven't posted them here in 6 months.
So here are my predictions. Please note that:
- Probable winner from the set of nominees - marked in blue.
- The nominees are ranked by chance of getting nominated, not by chance of winning. Example below: Amy Adams is ranked 5th in Best Actress by nomination chance. BUT, if she gets nominated, I think she will win.
- I'm putting a lot of chips on American Hustle - no one has seen it yet. I just have a really good feeling about it.

Nominees:

Picture
1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Gravity
3. American Hustle
4. Inside Llewyn Davis
5. Captain Phillips
6. Lee Daniels’ The Butler
7. Blue Jasmine
8. Rush

If 10:
9. Dallas Buyers Club
10. The Monuments Men


Director
1. Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity
2. Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave
3. David O. Russell – American Hustle
4. Ethan Coen & Joel Coen – Inside Llewyn Davis
5. Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips

Runner-up: Woody Allen – Blue Jasmine


Actor
1. Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave
2. Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club
3. Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips
4. Robert Redford – All Is Lost
5. Christian Bale – American Hustle

Runner-up: Bruce Dern – Nebraska


Actress
1. Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
2. Meryl Streep – August: Osage County
3. Sandra Bullock – Gravity
4. Judi Dench – Philomena
5. Amy Adams – American Hustle

Runner-up: Adèle Exarchopoulos – Blue Is the Warmest Color


Supporting Actor
1. Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
2. Jeremy Renner – American Hustle
3. Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club
4. Daniel Brühl – Rush
5. James Gandolfini – Enough Said

Runner-up: Jean Dujardin – The Monuments Men


Supporting Actress
1. Oprah Winfrey – Lee Daniels’ The Butler
2. Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle
3. Julia Roberts – August: Osage County
4. Octavia Spencer – Fruitvale Station
5. Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine

Runner-up: Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave


Original Screenplay
1. American Hustle
2. Blue Jasmine
3. Inside Llewyn Davis
4. Nebraska
5. Dallas Buyers Club

Runner-up: The Past


Adapted Screenplay
1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Captain Phillips
3. Philomena
4. August: Osage County
5. Before Midnight

Runner-up: Blue Is the Warmest Color


Original Score
1. Gravity
2. Saving Mr. Banks
3. 12 Years a Slave
4. The Monuments Men
5. Oz: The Great and Powerful

Runner-up: The Book Thief


Original Song
1. Frozen
2. Lee Daniels’ The Butler
3. Monsters University
4. Inside Llewyn Davis [anything eligible?]
5. The Great Gatsby [is Young & Beautiful eligible?]

Runner-up: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [???]


Cinematography
1. Gravity
2. Inside Llewyn Davis
3. Captain Phillips
4. 12 Years a Slave
5. The Great Gatsby

Runner-up: Rush


Production Design
1. The Great Gatsby
2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
3. Oz: The Great and Powerful
4. Saving Mr. Banks
5. 12 Years a Slave

Runner-up: Gravity


Costume Design
1. The Great Gatsby
2. 12 Years a Slave
3. American Hustle
4. Oz: The Great and Powerful
5. The Invisible Woman

Runner-up: Lee Daniels’ The Butler


Editing
1. Gravity
2. Captain Phillips
3. Rush
4. 12 Years a Slave
5. American Hustle

Runner-up: The Monuments Men


Sound
1. Gravity
2. Captain Phillips
3. Rush
4. The Monuments Men
5. Star Trek Into Darkness

Runner-up: Man of Steel


Sound Editing
1. Rush
2. Gravity
3. Man of Steel
4. Pacific Rim
5. Star Trek Into Darkness

Runner-up: Captain Phillips


Visual Effects
1. Gravity
2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
3. Man of Steel
4. Iron Man 3
5. Star Trek Into Darkness

Runner-up: Pacific Rim


Makeup & Hair
1. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2. Lee Daniels’ The Butler
3. Rush

Runner-up: Oz: The Great and Powerful


Animated Feature
1. Frozen
2. Monsters University
3. The Wind Rises
4. Despicable Me 2
5. Ernest and Celestine

Runner-up: The Croods




If you've come this far... :) .... this what I had predicted on April 3rd, 2013 (6 months ago!!!). I am still betting on Matthew McConaughey & Michael Fassbender to win - so if that happens, I can say I predicted it 10-11 months in advance ;)
We'll see.


Anything that might seem outrageous to you? :)