2014 Academy Awards: Supporting actress
Sweep or spread the love? The Oscar battle begins
By Tom Long
Detroit News Film Critic
Here’s what’s sure about this year’s Oscar race: Nothing’s sure.
Yes, the race for best picture seems to come down to three main contenders: “American Hustle,” “Gravity” and “12 Years a Slave,” which have won the bulk of critical and industry awards so far.
“Gravity” and “Hustle” are big crowd-pleasers, while “12 Years” is the sort of politically brave if brutal film that makes Oscar voters feel good about themselves.
“Gravity” has a happy ending, but science fiction doesn’t usually do well at the Oscars. “Hustle” is a dream showcase for actors and the third best picture nominee in four years from David O. Russell. “12 Years,” again, has gravitas on its side.
The question is whether the Academy will grant one of those pictures a sweep of sorts or whether the love will be spread around.
And the answer to that question will directly impact the race for Best Supporting Actress, where a star from “Hustle” faces off directly with a star from “12 Years.”
One or the other could get caught up in a grand sweep — or they might end up canceling one another out and letting someone else win. Let’s look at the nominees and their chances:
Julia Roberts for “August: Osage County”: Roberts was ferocious in this film, which offered her best part in years. If nothing else, it makes you want to sit down at a dinner table with the woman just for the sparks. But the sheer meanness of this movie makes it unlikely Oscar fodder. Plus, Roberts has the already-has-an-Oscar factor working against her.
Sally Hawkins for “Blue Jasmine”: How can this be Hawkins’ first nomination? Shouldn’t she have five by now? Either way, this still falls under the honor-just-to-be-nominated umbrella. Performances as thoroughly natural and low key as hers rarely take home gold. She just doesn’t seem to be acting hard enough (which is the point, obviously). Still, wonderful to see her here.
June Squibb for “Nebraska”: Keep your eyes on old June. If anybody profits from “Hustle” and “12 Years” colliding it will be her. The Academy loves an underdog and an 84-year-old woman who started making movies at 60 and has been plugging away in obscurity ever since makes for a wonderful story. Plus, this is a good way for the Academy to honor “Nebraska,” which somewhat quietly scored five major nominations.
Jennifer Lawrence for “American Hustle”: Here’s what she has going for her: She earned it. She sets a very good movie on absolute fire. And all indications are she’ll be the greatest actor, male or female, of her generation. Also, everybody adores her. So there’s that. But here’s what she has going against her: She won best actress last year. It’s likely she’ll be getting nominations for decades to come. And she’s only freaking 23. If she does win, look for a “Hustle” sweep.
Lupita Nyong’o for “12 Years a Slave”: She’s a complete newbie; this is her first feature film, after an MTV series. Her character is hugely sympathetic and tragic, and thus the film’s miserable heart; she doesn’t get to go home, she is home, and wretched. A win for her here won’t necessarily signal a sweep for “12 Years” — it could very well be the mirror of a Squibb win, a way to honor the film without handing it the bigger awards. Or it could be the start of a wildfire.
Who will win: Lupita Nyong’o for “12 Years a Slave”
Who should win: Jennifer Lawrence for “American Hustle”
tlong@detroitnews.com
twitter.com/toomuchTomLong
The 86th Annual Academy Awards
8:30 p.m. March 2
ABC
From www.kitsapsun.com
