The Rundown: Best Actress

Posted

February 18, 2011

Wesley Lovell

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We finish out the week with Best Actress, one of the few categories ripe for upset. Come back next week when we do our final five articles in preparation for this year’s Academy Awards.

Best Actress

Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right (O) (O)
Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman – Black Swan (O) (O)
Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine

Runners-Up

Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right (H) (H)
Natalie Portman – Black Swan (Ja) (H)

KEY:

Appears on Four Lists
Appears on Three Lists
Appears on Two Lists

Wesley Lovell Peter Patrick Tripp Burton Wes Huizar

(New) = New Prediction
(O) = Original Prediction
(H) = Post-Hangover Prediction
(R) = Rundown Series Prediction

Wesley Lovell: While I could easily use statistics to prove Natalie Portman will win this award over Annette Bening (only one actress in her 50s has ever won Best Actress), I think there is plenty of other evidence to support Portman’s win. She’s a hot property in Hollywood, well respected and talented. Her film, despite it limited tally of Oscar nominations, is both a Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay nominee. And this will be the only conceivable place for the Academy to vote for the film, especially its many supporters. And when you compare the challenges of the two roles, Portman’s was far more challenging than Bening’s and that holds a lot of weight with Academy voters. Just ask Marion Cotillard over the subtlety of Julie Christie. The only thing that Bening gets points for over Christie is that Christie already has an Oscar and Bening does not even if it’s 11 years after her last truly excellent performance (American Beauty).

Peter J. Patrick: There has to be an upset in one of the acting categories, right? If so, early favorite Annette Bening could re-emerge as the victor over girl of the moment Natalie Portman.

Tripp Burton: Most people have Portman as the front-runner here, but Annette Bening is an actress who lots of people seem to think needs an Oscar, and this could be her chance. Portman’s movie wasn’t as loved coming nomination time, and her performance has quite a few detractors among the hordes of supporters. I’m going with the “upset” here, especially after Bening’s classy campaigning around Hollywood.

Comments

7 responses to “The Rundown: Best Actress”

lallo lupo

February 18, 2011

Which movie did I see???

How could the Academy consider Portman performance worth of a nomination (not skeaking of an Oscar) is a deep mystery to me!
Her character is all moanings and groaning and useless close ups.
Not speaking of the movie one of the worst ones I’ve seen in years, and very direspectful of the ballet world.
Useless film, embarassing performance. And I even kinda liked her in Closer…
Comparing to Portman. Bening seems Kate Hepburn.
At least they were so decent not to consider Kunis and her nimpho character.
Truly, easy forgettable year for best actress category.
I would not deliver the award this year, but since is no possible, I would give it to young Lawrence, at least she seem genuine at most…

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1. Tarek
  
  February 18, 2011
  
  I respectfully disagree….I think Black Swan was a very intensive, impressive and haunting film. There not many films, where an actor or actress (like Portman in Black Swan) are brillantly dominating all of the film. Portman´s performance is by fare the best of the last year. Although I adore Bening I would feel bad if she is winning for The Kids. Her performance was good but totally overrated . (By the way Julianne Moore was much better). It would not feel right if she is winning the trophy just because many voters think she must have one.
  
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  1. Almasy
    
    February 18, 2011
    
    Sorry Lallo, you are entitled to your opinion, but you are alone on this one, Portman, who has done some bad performances on star wars (yuck), stole the show on Black Swan, she made me, and many of my man friends “cried” in the ending, what a performance.
    
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    1. Tarek
      
      February 19, 2011
      
      I totally agree with you almasy….also me and my friends were simply blown away. at the end we were just sitting and starring to the screen. Portman´s performance as well as the whole film were absolutely fascinating.
      
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      1. lallo lupo
        
        February 19, 2011
        
        I deeply respect your opinion guys, but check lately Ken Russell ” The music lovers” and see the difference. At least old Tchaicovsky was treatet as he deserved, there.
        
        Nothing in this film works, seems like a bad mix of Psycho (the mother just came out of Bates Motel) and a Jap horror B.
        And the direction… come on Mr. Aronofsky, show we some ballet and stop with that trembling camera.
        
        Again, in theUS, a dance director like the one portraied by Cassel would be immediately suit for sexual harassment.
        Plus, the company seems only buisy to bitching to each other.
        And the scenes that suppose to be “hot”, are simply “flat”.
        The masturbation is zero emotions, just a bag of bones trembling, and the lesbian one… give me a break. I want my money back!
        Personally I will never invest my money and my time on Mr. Aronofsky anymore, Adrian Lyne of the poors and for Portman, it will take a loooong time before i forgive her.
        Winter’s Bone forever… no wait, TS3. Well, let’s say them both 🙂
        
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MariusJ

February 18, 2011

Based on performance only, it would be a travesty if Portman doesn’t win.

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1. Almasy
  
  February 18, 2011
  
  I agree MariusJ.
  
  This year’s best actor and actress are as sura as last year’s supporting category
  
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