The actress categories always seem to be the most exciting every single year and this year is already shaping up to be no different. Following the Cannes Film Festival there is some definite shuffling of the contenders to be done following the initial release of my first predictions in the Best Actress category over two months ago and with the moving and shaking comes four new names added to the list.
First, however, we’ll begin at the top where I’ve kept Naomi Watts at #1 for her role in Diana. The film from director Oliver Hirschbiegel was picked up by eOne Films out of the Cannes Film Festival and will be released later this year. I must admit, the fact eOne picked it up and not a larger studio gives me a little pause, but I just get the feeling we’re coming to a point in Watts’ career where she’s considered one of those actors that’s “due”. So until a performance that totally blows us all away I see no reason not to keep her on top.
My #3 position is one of my new contenders and another Cannes acquisition, this being Stephen Frears‘ Philomena starring six-time nominee Judi Dench. The film tells the true story of an Irish woman (Dench) who searches for the illegitimate son she gave up for adoption in the U.S. Buzz is high on this one and the fact it was picked up by The Weinstein Co. is reason enough to give it immediate consideration.
My top five is rounded out by another new contender, that being Berenice Bejo for Asghar Farhadi‘s The Past. If the Academy was able to nominate Bejo for her work in The Artist just wait until they see her work here. I just hope Sony Pictures Classics gives the film the attention it’s due. Hey, Michael Barker, throw a little advertising this way. Let’s blanket RopeofSilicon with some FYC ads, the film deserves it.
The other two actresses in my top five are Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) and Meryl Streep (August: Osage County). Here’s how I have them ranked at the moment:
- Naomi Watts (Diana)
- Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)
- Judi Dench (Philomena)
- Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)
- Berenice Bejo (The Past)
I have two more new additions to mention, those being Greta Gerwig for her work in Frances Ha, which isn’t likely to earn her an Oscar nomination, but I really wanted to make sure I included her among the year’s best performances as she truly deserves it. The other is Tilda Swinton for Jim Jarmusch‘s Only Lovers Left Alive, which I also don’t really think will earn her a nomination as I doubt the film will get enough attention, but, like Gerwig, I feel the mention is deserving.
One name that might find its way attempting to creep into the top five is Cate Blanchett for her part in Woody Allen‘s Blue Jasmine, which Christopher John Farley at the WSJ was lucky enough to already see.
Farley describes the film as Allen’s take on the Bernie Madoff scandal with Blanchett playing something of a Ruth Madoff-y character, a high-society wife whose husband (Alec Baldwin) goes to jail for some crooked financial dealings, leaving Blanchett’s character to deal with the economic and emotional aftermath. Farley believes Baldwin and Blachett will likely generate some Oscar buzz, making it one to certainly look out for as it will find its way to theaters on July 26.
As always, you can see my full chart of what are now 22 ranked contenders right here. You will need to be a logged in member of RopeofSilicon to view any rankings beyond the top five, but registration is free so that shouldn’t be too much trouble.
