Ah, award season. A time to celebrate cinematic achievements… or is it just a carefully orchestrated popularity contest disguised as meritocracy? Let’s take a closer look at the 2024 Best Actress race, where the line between “deserving” and “playing the game” can get blurry.
1. Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon): Fresh off her SAG Award win, Gladstone seems to be the golden girl this year. But is her performance truly award-worthy, or is it the Scorsese effect – the undeniable prestige boost that comes with working with the legendary director?
2. Emma Stone (Poor Things): Stone, the darling of awards shows past, might be feeling the heat of competition this year. Despite her undeniable talent, and a BAFTA win, the unconventional nature of “Poor Things” might not resonate with the more traditional Academy voters. Is she a true contender, or just another familiar face on the nomination list?
3. Annette Bening (Nyad): Bening’s a veteran, a five-time nominee yet to take home the golden statue. Is this finally her year, or is the Academy saving the “pity win” for another time? Her performance is undoubtedly powerful, but is it enough to break through the relentless cycle of “overdue” narratives?
4. Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall): Hüller’s foreign language performance is a breath of fresh air, but will Academy voters be willing to look beyond the subtitles? Her talent is undeniable, but the playing field in Hollywood can be notoriously tilted towards English-speaking films.
5. Carey Mulligan (Maestro): Mulligan brings her usual charm to the role, but is it enough to stand out in a crowded field? In a year with such strong contenders, is her nomination a testament to her talent, or simply a strategic move by the film’s producers to garner awards attention?
So, who should win? In the world of award shows, the answer might not lie solely in artistic merit. Popularity, strategic campaigning, and even the whims of voters can all play a role. But hey, that’s the game, right? At the end of the day, the awards are just another layer of the Hollywood machine, and the true winners are often those who can play it best.
If I were to pick, I’d love to see Bening win. Big fan of Nyad, what’s not to love.
Be sure to enter your Ballot for this year’s contest. It could be your year!
See you all on March 10th. Be sure to follow via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
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