Female Acting 2013: Embarassment of Riches
Friday, November 22, 2013 at 8:28PM You guys.
How am I ever going to decide on my own awards ballots this year? When the Film Bitch Awards begin in late December / early January - hell even before then when I vote at the annual BFCA "Critic's Choice" Awards -- I will have to make a Sophie's Choices and narrow it way down. There are so many fine performances this year. How will I choose??? Oh god, how will I choose. And with a few films still unseen these two fields could even grow.
BEST ACTRESS - MY LONGLIST BALLOT
in no particular order
- Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
- Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said
- Jane Adams, All The Light in the Sky [opens December 20th]
- Brie Larson, Short Term 12
- Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
- Emma Thompson, Saving Mr Banks
- Veerle Baatens, The Broken Circle Breakdown
- Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
- Judi Dench, Philomena
- Paulina Garcia, Gloria [Qualifying Run. Opens in January]
- Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue is the Warmest Color
Can I just have 12 nominees this year?
This drama queen moment has been brought to by the realization that both Garcia and Adams are getting qualifying runs and a recent revelatory rewatch of Enough Said. Damn Julia Louis-Dreyfus just nails the comedy and the pathos of all of those self-mangled relationships and her own proactive empty-nest crisis. It's a performance of great technical precision but also intuitive feeling. And how she manages facial expressions that prompt painful sympathy with a crosscurrent of funny schaudenfreude is beyond.
Seven of these ladies I'll have to dismiss with "in any other year!"... or eight if Amy Adams in American Hustle (the last remaining possibility that I'm aware of) turns out to be great. Who are you rooting for?
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - MY LONGLIST BALLOT
in no particular order
- Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
- Margo Martindale, August: Osage County [Opens for Christmas]
- Maribel Verdu, Blancanieves
- Léa Seydoux, Blue is the Warmest Color
- Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler
- Sarah Paulson, 12 Years a Slave
- Joanna Scanlan, The Invisible Woman [Opens for Christmas]
- Melonie Diaz, Fruitvale Station
- June Squibb, Nebraska
- Octavia Spencer, Fruitvale Station
- Scarlett Johansson, Don Jon
- Scarlett Johansson, Her [Opens December 18th]
- Julianne Nicholson, August: Osage County [Opens for Christmas]
- Kaitlyn Dever, Short Term 12
- Elizabeth Debicki, The Great Gatsby
- Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
- ... and I feel like I'm forgetting someone
I've narrowed it down to 16 favorites (for now) with two possibly grand performances still unseen: Naomie Harris in Mandela, and Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle. I'm not mentioning cameo roles like Alfre Woodard's in 12 Years a Slave since the Film Bitch Awards have their own category for that.
Any FYCs?
We'll do the men as well but there's a few more movies I have to see first.
Reader Comments (81)
I came here to do a FYC of Elizabeth Debicki but then YAY! Seriously, she was just so watchable in that movie, more please!
I love Jane Adams!!! Glad she's back doing movies.
Actress
-Greta Gerwig
-Adele Exarchopoulos
-Julia Louis-Dreyfus
-Katie Chang
-Cate Blanchett
-Julie Delpy
Supporting Actress
-Lupita Nyong'o
-Lea Seydoux
-Emma Watson
-Sarah Paulson
-Tavi Gevinson
-Naomie Harris
-Shailene Woodley
-Sally Hawkins
FYC: Alfre Woodard for Unofficial Scene-Stealer of the Year in 12YAS
My Special Saw Them At a Festival but They Did Not Get Picked Up In Time Or Are Still Crazily Not Yet Picked Up.....
ScarJo, Under the Skin
Emma Roberts, Palo Alto
I am so angry at Short Term 12 not only being unavailable in any nearby city but also not on VOD. As a Brie Larson fan, this bites.
No Julia Roberts for August: Osage County?
Yeah, I just caught Enough Said last night, and had a similar feeling. Too many great actresses at the top of their game this year. (I had the opposite feeling last year.)
Louis- Dreyfuss was a (stunningly detailed) marvel, and in most years I'd rank her in the Top 5, but any prospective Actress ballot for this year is already overstuffed between Delpy, Gerwig, Gheorghiou, Blanchett etc. and I'm yet to catch several of the other major contenders.
I was thinking about this same thing just the other day! Not that I have to make official picks or anything (but who reads this blog and doesn't make his/her own lists?) I've only seen what's been released, but God how can I pick??
Julie Delpy, Brie Larsson, Cate Blanchett, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Adele Exarchopoulos, Greta Gerwig and Shailene Woodley (from The Spectacular Now) are my shortlist so far.
Oh, and what about Mickey Sumner in supporting actress for Frances Ha? I really liked her performance, any thoughts?
I've only seen julie delpy of these. that's sad.
I really want to see julia-louis dreyfus.
So glad to hear Garcia is getting a qualifying run. And happier to see Debecki on your longlist. I also liked Berenice Bejo in The Past and Adepero Oduye in 12 Years.
My HEAVILY culled reminder list for my year-end Best Actress ballot:
Lake Bell, In a World…
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue Is the Warmest Color
Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
Jo Min-su, Pieta
Brie Larson, Short Term 12
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said
Léa Seydoux, Blue Is the Warmest Color (yeah, sue me)
Sharni Vinson, You’re Next
And that's without seeing a lot of the big-name films.
The excellence of this category (I'm not feeling all that jazzed about Supporting, sorry) is thrown into even sharper relief by comparing it to how hard I'm finding it to scrape up even five names in the male categories that I feel particularly enthusiastic about putting on a ballot.
What about Berenice Bejo for The Past? She's a big contender too. Would be a very worthy winner also!
Loved the list though. I'm looking forward to finishing all these films and making my own list :)
No chance in hell, but I loved Mia Wasikowska (leading) and Nicole Kidman (supporting) in Stoker. I also really liked Reese Witherspoon in Mud but where do you put her? She has the screen time of a supporting actress but is so central to the story that you can make the case for her being the leading actress. I'm big on Brit Marling (leading) and Ellen Page (supporting) for The East. Throw a dart at the cast of Much Ado About Nothing and you've hit a possible nominee for me.
Halle Berry gives a great leading performance in The Call but the film isn't very good. I very much like Jessica Chastain's leading turn in Mama but that's a cakewalk for her. I loved Kristin Scott Thomas in Only God Forgives but have major issues with any scene she's not in (and the lead/supporting dilemma pops up again). Ashley Bell somehow improves on her masterful leading turn in The Last Exorcism in The Last Exorcism Part II, but the film is atrocious. Like, I got through it because I have a high tolerance for bad horror and it tried my patience like nothing else this year. Let's add perspective: I got dragged to A Haunted House, Movie 43, and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and none of them made me want to run out the theater and fight for a refund as much as The Last Exorcism Part II.
I currently have Rosario Dawson in Trance as my leading win. Melissa McCarthy also makes my leading line-up. Emma Watson might be my supporting win right now for The Bling Ring, but that would mean recognizing the interesting experiment that was The Bling Ring over much more challenging and rewarding performances in Short Term 12, Fruitvale Station, Blue Jasmine, Stoker, Blue is the Warmest Color, The Great Gatsby, etc. Then again, I did give one of my top acting prizes last year to the lead in The Loved Ones, which only didn't land in the I Can't Review This pile because of that one performance. We'll see.
I wish you had mentioned Carey Mulligan for Gatsby. She and Debicki were easily the only good things about that movie.
Tyler -- i liked Carey, too. but she'd be right outside the lead list.
I still have lots to see but I'm championing Paulina Garcia in lead actress. Still waiting to decide on supporting actress.
goran -- if Luminita were eligible this year, i'd have to dump one of that top 12.
tim -- i understand the argument for Léa is lead with ease. But I'm opting for supporting just because it's on the line and the movie is so focused on Adele's POV. (by contrast i think Barkhad Abdi in Captain Phillips is a lot closer to a leading role in that you actually are sometimes just with him and his story and not with Captain Phillips.... and yet everyone thinks of that as supporting.
I would also include Julianne Moore (What Maisie Knew), Gemma Arterton (Byzantium) and, of course, Nicole Kidman (Stoker) for Supporting since I have them on my list. But I have so many movies yet to see.
I haven't even had a chance to see many of these yet- so much to look forward to!
Some performances I loved that aren't on your list: Andrea Riseborough in Oblivion, Zhang Ziyi in The Grandmaster, Noomi Rapace in Dead Man Down, and Sandra Bullock in Gravity.
I love that there's so much love for Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who catapulted to the top of the shifting sands that I call my best actress list when I saw Enough Said. It's sad to me that she will likely not get an Oscar nomination since the field is crowded with heavyweights this year and bizarrely makes a small, petty part of me wish that it was a weaker year so that she could be in contention. Then I remember the debacle that was Joan Allen somehow missing out on on nominations for her work in Pleasantville and The Upside of Anger and that wish fades.
Maybe the Academy can break down acting awards further, like best reaction shot or something like that, because seriously, Louis-Dreyfus' face when she gets called a lesbian deserves an award of some sort. Then maybe one can be awarded retroactively for Kirsten Dunst's reaction in Bachelorette when she finds out a friend she'd always deemed a loser is engaged.
The only real omission I saw was that of Shailene Woodley in The Spectacular Now. As someone who is currently in high school, I was wowed by how perfectly she nailed all of the ticks of that kind of girl. Her performance defined the sense of verisimilitude which made that film so good.
emma thompson looks like annette bening and/or emily mortimer in that photo.
I guess Marion Cotillard has moved to 2014. Far too many actresses vying for the 5 Oscar slots for Actress and Supporting Actress.
Wouldn't be surprised if Streep is snubbed for August. A lot of Academy members probably feel 'ENOUGH ALREADY' and want to give other actresses a chance.
FYC - Emma Watson/The Bling Ring for Best Supporting Actress
I second Zhang Ziyi in the Grandmaster. I was probably the happiest person in the cinema when the third act decided to ignore Yip Man and just tell her story for the rest of the movie ;)
FYC...
BA:
- Shailene Woodley, The Spectacular Now
BSA:
- Emma Watson, The Bling Ring
- Mickey Sumner, Frances Ha
(Either of these two, IMO, over Sally Hawkins, whom I love, but her role in Blue Jasmine was impossibly half-baked, almost to spite her one could infer.)
And, just for pure, unadulterated fun, nearly all of the ladies (and gents) in I'm So Excited!
@Sad man
Ditto re. Moore in What Maisie Knew. Though I remember Nathaniel wasn't too big on her.
I loved how she took that role by the neck. And she took each of her scenes in the most arresting direction possible.
I really loved Amy Acker in Much Ado About Nothing. Haven't seen a lot of the big league performances, so maybe she'll get bumped from my short list eventually, but right now she'd definitely be in my top 10.
And props to those mentioning Zhang Ziyi, too. She was so so so good in The Grandmaster.
Impeccable taste (as usual) and what a thorough, evocatively worded tribute to Dreyfuss. If Searchlight quoted you across a big FYC ad, she’d have a real shot at an Oscar nom.
Also, watch out for Amy Adams (she is *sensational*)
everyone -- i have not yet seen The Grandmaster. i know i know. i have the screener now so i shall.
I think both Amy Acker (Much Ado About Nothing) and Olivia Wilde (Drinking Buddies) are worth a look, even if they obviously will not be part of the awards conversation...
And I am a fan of Kristin Scott Thomas (Only God Forgives) and Allison Janney (The Way Way Back) supporting turn, they elevate their scenes.
My other favorites are already in Nathaniel's longlist...
And I don't know if 2014 will be any less crowded (yay!). With the films that have already been seen and then pushed back, you could already make a viable slate of contenders (Swinton, Chastain, Cottilard, Kidman, etc).
Add me to the list of people happy to see Elizabeth Debicki here. She was absolutely my favorite part of The Great Gatsby.
Just saw Black Nativity...loved Angela Bassett and Jennifer Hudson.
I saw "American Hustle" today and thought Adams and Lawrence were both on fire. Adams in particular, gives what I think is her best performance to date, with at least two monologues that are as strong as her porch scene in "The Fighter". But even though It's a lead role with a lots showy moments I still doubt she get nominated. Lawrence on the other hand, has much less of an arc due to screentimes, but gets to showboating like Melissa Leo with even more sass. She was the one everyone keeps talking about after the screening.
I haven't seen Meryl or Jane Adams yet, but of your Best Actress list I'm rooting for Exarchopoulos, Larson, Delpy, Garcia, and Louis-Dreyfus.
Speaking of Garcia, you've heard that Gloria the character appears in every shot within Gloria the movie, right? I found this fact out after the movie and was surprised that I hadn't realized it during the screening.
For Best Supporting Actress, I'm rooting for Johannson x 2, Diaz, Squibb, and Seydoux.
Good luck making your decisions!
The ladies of Touchy Feely were excellent, and I was disappointed the movie didn't get more love. Worth checking out, especially if you're a Lynn Shelton fan (Humpday, Your Sister's Sister).
I'd say go with the ladies who have a shot at Oscar but who aren't the locks. So no Cate, no Meryl, no Emma, no Judi, awesome though they may be. I'd toss my votes to the ladies who are probably hanging around 6th-10th--so of your list, Adele, Brie, Greta, Julia, and Paulina? Same goes for Supporting Actress, I'd go Lea, Sarah, and Scarlett for sure, I'd break my own rule to include Lupita because I wouldn't want a lightning bolt to come down and smite me, but my fifth would have to be Shailene Woodley, who was so real in The Spectacular Now that it almost hurt to watch her.
DUUUUUDE. You must, must, must see Suzanne Clement in Laurence Anyways. It is your duty as an actresssexual.
Hmmm...where is Onata Aprile for "What Maisie Knew"? And Shailene Woodley for "The Spectacular Now"?! Both are aces in their films, and I heard you praise them before so....
Completely agree on Louis-Dreyfus. She keeps getting better on subsequent viewings (seen "Enough Said" 3 times).
Still, I feel I have a Tilda-Swinton-a-la-"Julia" year on my hands: as many great lead actress performances I see, I just can't imagine anyone being as terrific as Cate Blanchett in "Blue Jasmine." If anyone does beat her in my eyes, I'll be FLOORED.
Could you do the same chart with the men? I know you're an Actressexual, but I'm curious what your longlist ballot looks like for the men.
From what you've said, I'd guess your current top 5 are below (depending on unseens like American Hustle (which, if we know DOR, will have a wonderful supporting cast) and Wolf of Wall Street).
-Supporting
◾Léa Seydoux, Blue is the Warmest Color
◾Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler
◾June Squibb, Nebraska
◾Scarlett Johansson, Don Jon
◾Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
-Lead
◾Jane Adams, All The Light in the Sky [opens December 20th]
◾Brie Larson, Short Term 12
◾Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
◾Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
◾Paulina Garcia, Gloria [Qualifying Run. Opens in January]
FYC
Lead:
Scarlet Johansson, Her (it just isn't supporting IMO the way Adams & Mara are)
Supporting:
Zoe Saldana, Out of the Furnace
Adepero Oduye, 12 Years a Slave
I still find striking that Julie Delpy is not receiving more attention. She was more than formidable and undoubtedly one of the best performances of the year.
Maribel Verdú in supporting would be category fraud! ;)
(I think the same could be applied to Léa Seydoux, by the way).
I wish I saw the other August ladies (Roberts and Lewis) on your list. I wish I saw all of them receiving every award as a family, indeed.
Great list, not one poor choice on there (though I'm still missing many), but you're missing two MAJOR performances: Suzanne Clement in Laurence Anyways and Juliette Binoche in Camille Claudel in 1915 - both masterclasses in acting.
This year is so rich in Best Actress that with five of your top 12 still unseen, I already have six nominees I couldn't possibly do without: Exarchopoulos, Clement, Blanchett, Binoche, Delpy and Gerwig. I'm terrified at the possibility of having to throw one out :)
As for Supporting Actress, I've seen nine from your list, and I only found Seydoux truly outstanding, though Verdu was also great and all others but Oprah pretty good. Also have to mention Zhang Ziyi in The Grandmaster, Emma Watson in The Bling Ring and Julianne Moore in What Maisie Knew.
Qualifying Run. Opens in January -- That's music to my ears! Go Paulina!
I would have to throw my FYC to Amy Acker for Much Ado About Nothing for Best Actress. Given the limited number of movies I have seen this year (with luck I will break 20 for the first time in almost a decade).
As to who you should select, why not go for the movies they are less likely to be seen? With so many awards out there just out and out star-fucking, why not shine a light on movies/performances others are less likely to grab so that they may get that extra nudge to check it out?
FYC Onata Aprile!
Without seeing many on the list, I just can't see anyone beating Cate. Her performance is an emotional thrill ride. Palpable, ruthless and mesmerizing.
For supporting, I am mostly thrilled for Margo, Lupita and Sarah.
Oh boy, if it is eligible, the best performance of the year was Juliette Binoche in Camille Claudel 1915!
Bensunce -- i'm trying but the men are so slim because the movies i still haven't seen are the male heavy movies: wolf of wall street, american hustle, out of the furnace for starters :)
I'd go out on a limb for Robin Weigert in Concussion. Throughout the performance there were little touches that really pushed how surprising she feels about each of her latest tricks and their own behaviors.
So excited for the potential of Adams. Fingers crossed.
I'm with everyone else here on Louis-Dreyfus. Loved the movie, love her in it. It's like a big, delightful, thoughtful movie-star performance, coming from a tv star instead.
On the flip side, I'm surprised there was no room for Julia Roberts, especially with the list so contender-heavy. Between guy lodge and joe Reid on my twitter feed, I'm mostly psyched for her in A:OC.