Previously at the Halfway Mark:
• 5 Favorite Pictures and imaginary Oscar scenario
• 11 Costume Design Honors from couture to the puritanical with swimwear on the side
• Cinematography & Production Design Sunset Song, etc...
• Heroes & Villains from Deadpool to Shere Khan
• 23 Male Actor Honorees in 5 categories
Cue fireworks. It's the grand finale. Our brief Halfway Mark Review honoring the best of the 50+ movies we've seen that have been released between January 1st and June 30th, is now at its end. But don't worry. The listing impulse fully never goes away and there's more excitement soon as we'll start updating the Oscar charts tomorrow. Naturally we're ending with BEST ACTRESS if five categories -- the same categories we previously did for the men.
If I had a ballot (hey, I do... albeit not an AMPAS ballot) here's what I'd honor from the year thus far -- January through June releases only though I've seen some July & August titles. [Disclaimer: The most noticeably actress-led film I haven't yet seen this year is The Meddler so please dont read anything into the absence of Susan Sarandon.]
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Sally Field as "Doris" in Hello My Name is Doris
Doris is a CHARACTER but Sally never fails to humanize her written eccentricities making sure that she's the endearing source of the laughter rather than its target. - Tilda Swinton as "Marianne Lane" in A Bigger Splash
The "vocal rest" was her idea -- imagine an actor purposefully losing all their lines! -- and the result is you see Tilda's face and body alone capturing and reflecting the drama and auteurist impulses - Anya Taylor-Joy as "Thomasin" in The VVitch
That angelic face is sensually attentive and her behavior innocent but mischievious. So many possible Masters (God, Lucifer, Herself, General Teen Hormones, and Restlessness) - Rachel Weisz as "Short Sighted Woman" The Lobster
What a tricky tone to master, but she's in control. Her voiceover is beautifully at odds with her meekly submissive than overtly romantic screen self - Mary Elizabeth Winstead as "Michelle" in 10 Cloverfield Lane
Sells shifting (dis)belief in this strange new reality while doing right by primal horror. Nails the only real in-script details about this character -- whip-smart instincts and a "Flight or Flight" response
Choices in 4 more categories after the jump...
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Toni Collette as "Jean" in Glassland
After so many recent thankless roles it's thrilling to watch her tear into such a complex character. She's harrowing and haunted as this severe alcoholic mother - Olivia Colman as "Hotel Manager" in The Lobster
This actress has such tremendous range. This time it's all deadpan comedy and corporate dehumanization. And the singing! - Kate Dickie as "Katherine" in The VVitch
Fearlessly attacks the films most emotive character with the film's biggest emotions, her lack of vanity makes this woman's utter grief, damning piety - Chloë Sevigny as "Alicia Johnson" in Love & Friendship
A wonderfully funny Mean Girl take on an expat wife. Bonus Points for that tremendous chemistry with her Queen Bee co-star Lady Susan (Kate Beckinsale). - Antonia Zegers as "Hermana Mónica" in The Club
It was between Antonia and Angeliki Papouli's "Heartless Woman" in The Lobster for "most bone-chilling performance on the side". Flipped a coin and it came up Zegers as the enable of deviant priests in this Chilean drama
Best Actress in a Limited or Cameo or Voice Role
- Emily Beecham as "Dierdre" in Hail Caesar!
Beautifully plays old Hollywood acting with contemporary appeal frustration in the movie's best scene - Christina Hendricks as "Roberta Hoffman" in Neon Demon
She still holds that camera in a death grip, this time as an intimidating modelling executive. We thank Refn again for giving Christina Hendricks work and a great hard punchline to her scene. But where are the big meaty roles for her super watchable self? WHERE?!? We're now in the 8th year of maisntream Hollywood refusing to acknowledge her completely obvious stardom! - Frances McDormand as "C.C. Calhoun" in Hail Caesar!
She doesn't have much to do as a chainsmoking film editor but she's great fun all the same - Veronic Osorio as "Carlotta Valdez" in Hail Caesar!
Wonderfully endearing in her studio-arranged date as a Carmen Miranda type - Jenny Slate as "Bellwether" in Zootopia
One of our best voice actresses - similarly genius as "Tammy" Bob's Burgers.
Breakthrough Performer
- Lucy Boynton as "Raphina" in Sing Street
In lesser hands this would be the stock pixie dream girl but her vulnerability, self-sabotage, and challenging gaze refuse to play it like that. - Bella Heathcote as "Jane Bennett" in Pride & Prejudice & Zombies AND "Gigi" in Neon Demon
She's good as the traditionally rootable-for shy Bennett sister but she's even better as the routinely confidence-wounded beauty in Refn's sick style-fest - Royalty Hightower as "Toni" in The Fits
The camera finds a fascinating subject / star in this engaging unpretentious young actress who watches everything just as intently as the camera watches her - Anya Taylor-Joy, The VVitch
(See also: Best Leading Actress) - Madison Wolfe as "Janet Hodgson" in The Conjuring 2
Holds the center of this demonic nightmare as a young girl who can't sleep and also can't imagine what's happening to her
Technically speaking Bella Heathcote is a stretch since she had what was meant to be a big showcase in Dark Shadows (2012) but she was flat in that, more of a pretty prop than a breakthrough especially with Eva Green running circles around everything and everyone else in the movie (even the A-listers Depp and Pfeiffer). But with her one-two punch this year, especially in Neon Demon (for all that film's outrageous problems and campy provocations) she has completely changed my mind about the extent of her gifts. Can't wait to see what she does next.
The Hotness
- Emayatzy Corinealdi as "Frances Taylor" in Miles Ahead
The movie may be a mess and her role the typical long-suffering wife, but she's totally got it as this sensual dancer who marries a troubled musician. Plus it's good to see her getting work post Middle of Nowhere breakout. - Gal Gadot as "Wonder Woman" in Batman v Superman
So much was riding on her impression and she made a big one. That brassy I'VE ARRIVED theme music surely helped - Dakota Johnson as "Penelope Lannier" in A Bigger Splash
Impressive range in her three main roles thus far and for the first time she's playing a character who is as sexually charged as her image sometimes is - Marilyn Lima as "George" in Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story)
The most sympathetic girl in this tough-minded movie about teenage sexual abandon - Blake Lively as "Nancy" in The Shallows
Just the right amount of star-engagement and confidence in her formidable physique as she throws down with big waves and a big shark
What did you make of these choices and would your list(s) be similar?
Can any of these 24 women enter any kind of awards conversation besides our own?