Over the course of this week I’ll be updating my 2014 Oscar predictions per normal, but the biggest focus will be on the four acting categories and today we’ll begin with Best Actress.
Last week the first trailer for Blue is the Warmest Color premiered online and even though it didn’t included subtitles, the French-only trailer captured the Internet’s attention. The film won the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and for the first time ever was it not only awarded to the film’s director, in this case Abdellatif Kechiche, but to the two lead actors, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux. Today Exarchopoulos debuts on my Best Actress charts along with Short Term 12 star Brie Larson.
Over the weekend I was able to watch Short Term 12 and got to see what all the fuss was about. I’ll be posting a review soon, but let’s just say the buzz is well warranted. Written and directed by Destin Cretton based on his 2008 short film (watch on iTunes), the film follows the lives of workers at a group home for troubled teens. Larson alongside John Gallagher Jr. are among the staff and serve as the film’s two leads when the actors playing the teens aren’t stealing the show, chiefly Keith Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever.
Right now it’s hard to say what kind of a shot Exarchopoulos and Larson have, though I think Larson’s performance is likely to gain far more kudos at award shows such as the Gotham and Spirit Awards, but the actress field is a little tricky at the moment with only Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) and, based on what I’ve heard so far from those that have seen it, Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) as the two most likely locks of the year.
As a result, Blanchett and Thompson remain my #1 and #2 for the time being, which is where they will likely remain until after the Toronto Film Festival where I will at least have seen Julia Roberts in August: Osage County, Kate Winslet in Labor Day, Judi Dench in Philomena, Sandra Bullock in Gravity, Reese Witherspoon in Devil’s Knot and, it’s looking more and more likely, Exarchopoulos in Blue is the Warmest Color.
So, for now, here is how my top five predicted nominees currently stand:
- Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
- Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)
- Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
- Kate Winslet (Labor Day)
- Amy Adams (American Hustle)
You can see my full, ranked field of 23 contenders right here, but remember you will need to be a registered and logged in user to see the predictions beyond the top five.
Also note, I’m putting together an Awards Season Newsletter primarily targeting Academy members, Guild members and industry professionals, which I expect to be available for subscription later this week. Stay tuned.
