The Film Experience

by Nathaniel R

With most of this year's buzziest titles featuring large casts filled with men, and with the general shortage of movies, Supporting Actress is looking much less competitive than usual. At least so far. This is why we're feeling so confident that the one to watch is 12 year old Helena Zengel of the western drama News of the World. It's a large role -- she plays the kidnapped girl that Tom Hanks is out to rescue -- and just last year with Germany's Oscar submission System Crasher, she made international waves receiving a nomination for Best Actress at the European Film Awards. Of course the film might not open. Nothing is certain this season...

The general emptiness of the competition thus far also might be the ideal situation to finally get Glenn Close her Oscar as "Mawmaw" in Hillbilly Elegy. But Netflix has so far been concentrating on other movies. Will it be delayed? Do they lack faith in it? Or are they just saving the big gun to much closer to the nomination battle (which is still five months away in this delayed season)?

Natasha Lyonne and Andra Day as lovers Tallulah Bankhead and Billie Holliday in "United States vs Billie Holliday"

My father warned me about men and booze but he never said anything about women and cocaine.
-Tallulah Bankhead

Our WILD CARD choice at this point, since we haven't heard people discussing the possibility, is Natasha Lyonne as Tallulah Bankhead in The United States vs Billie Holiday. Director Lee Daniels makes uneven movies but the acting has generally been exciting and what better opportunity for Lyonne, whose career has been on a steady upswing. She could knock one out of the park playing this really flamboyant part of a true original and showbiz legend. Though the film centers on a black undercover agent (Moonlight's Trevante Rhodes) who romances and investigates Billie Holliday (Andra Day), Bankhead and Billie were lovers in real life and both struggled with addiction. The roles and the movie should be interesting.