Glenn Close and the next Best Actress competition
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 7:26PM by Nathaniel R
Glenn Close is "The Wife"
Happy news to share or remind you of if you've already known (this is not a 'breaking news' specific post, just newsy). Sony Pictures Classic is NOT waiting until the dread last weekend of the year to release the new Glenn Close vehicle The Wife. (Post Christmas releases in Los Angeles and New York rarely work for Oscar hopefuls but studios have been loathe to give them up, hoping that Oscar fever will rescue their commercial prospects despite not putting the effort in of releasing them before Christmas). The post Christmas pray-for-a-midnight-miracle attempt is what doomed Annette Bening's chances two years in a row for Best Actress nominations (20th Century Women and Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool were released on December 28th and December 29th respectively in 2016 and 2017).
No, The Wife is trying the summer player / Best Actress momentum game (which works out more often than New Years Eve hopefuls). The film hits theaters in limited release on August 3rd and will platform from there. I think it's the best work she's done in a couple of decades so I'm hoping y'all like it too. Whether or not her perpetual "overdue" status paired with what we're assuming will be strong reviews (at least for her if not necessarily the film) will lead to a nomination or win will depend a lot on her as yet unknown competition; it's not the undeniable kind of ferocious big star turn but more of a finely calibrated character study. But who will that competition be...
Here's my preliminary list before the April Foolish predictions in alpha order but the research has just begun. Obviously some of them might go supporting. Is there anyone else you can think of?
2018 Leading Ladies
- Amy Adams, Backseat
- Cate Blanchett, Where'd You Go Bernadette?
- Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place
- Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns
- Sandra Bullock, Bird Box
- Glenn Close, The Wife
- Toni Collette, Hereditary
- Penelope Cruz, Everybody Knows
- Viola Davis, Widows
- Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade
- Claire Foy, The Girl in the Spider's Web
- Lady Gaga, A Star is Born
- Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Kindergarten Teacher
- Kiki Layne, If Beale Street Could Talk
- Rooney Mara, Mary Magdalene
- Rachel McAdams, Disobedience
- Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
- Julianne Moore, Gloria
- Julianne Moore, Bel Canto
- Michelle Pfeiffer, Where is Kyra?
- Margot Robbie, Mary Queen of Scots
- Saoirse Ronan, On Chesil Beach
- Saoirse Ronan, Mary Queen of Scots
- Charlize Theron, Tully
- Emma Thompson, The Children's Act
- Rachel Weisz, Disobedience
- Olivia Wilde, Life Itself
Probably 2019 but you never know
- Jessica Chastain, George & Tammy (playing Tammy Wynette!)
- Rooney Mara, A House in the Sky (reuniting with director Garth Davis of Lion fame)
- Rachel Weisz, Untitled Miranda Barry Biopic (though being finished in time seems unlikely)
Reader Comments (89)
I believe Emma Thompson received strong reviews out of Toronto for The Children’s Act
Netflix snatched up Kindergarten Teacher, but HOLY SHIT I had no idea Jessica Chastain was playing Tammy Wynette. Commence gay weeps.
Hmm ... this year feels remarkably ...tepid? I wish Glenn the best but unless this senior summer film is a hit, I would say her odds of being nominated are generously 1000 to 1.
Still in disbelief McDormand was able to sweep a season to a 2nd Best Actress win. I want this kind of reverential affection for overdue American veterans.
Um newcomer Kiki Layne in Barry Jenkins new film Beale Street
Lady Gaga? No. Ditto Jessica Chastain. That film is old and played in festivals in September 2017. Frances and then Glenn seems unlikely, but maybe this is another 1994 where they can barely pull together five worthy nominees
It's another category, but I would be delighted if Ricardo Darín were nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Farhadi's Everybody Knows.
My current predictions
1. Amy Adams, Backseat
2. Viola Davis, Widows
3. Saoirse Ronan, Mary Queen of Scots
4. Kiki Layne, If Beale Street Could Talk
5. Cate Blanchett, Where'd You Go Bernadette?
6. Emma Stone, The Favourite
7. Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
8. Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns
9. Julianne Moore, Gloria
10. Claire Foy, The Girl in the Spider's Web
hope Pfeiffer at least gets some critics nominations/wins, her reviews are incredible for Where is Kyra?. EW called her "Brilliant" in the film, etc. But too artsy and small for the Oscars probably
Looking at that list of contender they're either going to play it very safe or do some weird shit.. Frankly, this feels like a strong year for Blunt to finally get nominated if Mary Poppins does well. I'll guess Blunt, Close, and Davis for sure, after that maybe the Queen of Scots ladies? Moore? Blanchett?
Also Felicity Jones in "On The Basis Of Sex".
Judging from early reviews, I'd say Mara's one face expression passing for Magdalene can safely be taken off the list.
Gyllenhaal in Kindergarten Teacher though is dy-na-mite. Not in the showy Oscary way. Just in the eerie-genius-let-loose way. The movie too is a kind of masterwork.
Emma Thompson must be in there! Some of those reviews out of TIFF were great!
I’m predicting a veteran year of Close, Thompson, Davis, Adams and Blunt finally taking the ingenue slot (I can dream but isn’t she the weirdest star to not have a nom?)
Yikes. That's a long list and only two women of color (both Oscar winners). Such is Hollywood. Yikes.
Isn’t Davis in a heist movie? Many of these are distinct genre films or quirky comic films that will never be nominated. A Star is Born is rumored to be expectedly awful.
Jono -- just learned that DirectTV has the rights to A Woman Walks...BEFORE it's theatrical release so instantly ineligible. That's what happened to THE BABADOOK too (not that that would have been nominated but it was worthy)
KBJr -- adding another WOC since I didn't realize Barry Jenkins had cast an unknown young actress as the lead of his new movie. She could very conceivably get in if the movie is well received if Moonlight was any indication of his gift with actors.
Morgan -- really. I felt the film was rather tepidly received. but i love Emma.
Competition matters, but so does box office. I can see The Wife doing very well on platform release—perhaps $8-10 million domestically? I'm not a box office expert but Glenn Close (still an A-list name) in a contemporary role, earning rave reviews with little prestige competition feels good to me.
Unlike Albert Nobbs, it's likely that people outside Oscar circles will want to see this movie.
The word of mouth could be more powerful than we saw with Rampling, Cotillard, Riva and maybe even Huppert. If they handle it correctly.
Jono -- that's funny how rumors are. I've heard the EXACT opposite about A Star is Born.
Emma Stone/Rachel Weisz - 'The Favourite'?
Rooting for my queen, Toni Collette. Also, I just finished AHS and am hardcore missing Penélope Cruz, so I’m rooting for her as well.
Mmm hmm ... Miss Shangela appears in it (!) and heard it was “terrific.” Ha.
@Nat:
Oh, I didn't mean it as shade toward your list. I was just commenting on the state of lead roles for WOC in Oscar-contending films. It sorta spells out why so few get nominated for lead (and only one has won)...ain't no leads!
This is a long list. Has a performance ever come out of nowhere to snag a nomination? Quvenzhane Wallis, maybe? How often are you surprised by something totally off the radar in April?
Glenn Close must win the Oscar next year! Gay people assemble and campaign for her!!!
@KBJr
This is the elephant in the room which restricts the careers of nonwhite actresses versus their nonwhite male counterparts.
Depending on success of film I would venture
Cate Blanchett, Where'd You Go Bernadette?
Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns
Glenn Close, The Wife
Charlize Theron, Tully
Emma Thompson, The Children's Act
Whenever we put Sandra Bullock (Such a mediocre actress such a sad Oscar win) in the conversation I wonder were the world as come to? Oh! yes Trump is in power....
Another year, another white woman winning Best Actress. Yawn. Halle Berry is still the only black, heck nonwhite woman period, to win Best Actress.
The campaign for Glenn Close should've been last year. With the whole Trump fervor and women standing up in Hollywood, I just know she would've had a great shot with that role. The studio banking on Bening instead was a mistake. A few commenters here felt the same as I did. Now, we'll have to just wait and see.
On the bright side, it pushes Sunset Boulevard back to 2019. Studios would never release The Wife and SB in the same year. So, again, filming is halted to avoid a double release in the same year. I'm sure Close doesn't mind as it gives her another great year to look forward to. BUT ... she could've finally nabbed that Oscar already.
For those of you who feel she shouldn't win, just watch Crooked House, Sea Oak, or even The Girl with All the Gifts. Close needs to win regardless of the competition because in the last 18 years, she's ALWAYS been especially good (from 102 Dalmations onward). So, regardless of the competition, she'll be deserved either way.
On second thought, isn't "The Children's Act" another DirectTV release? That film also floated around film festivals last year.
Some of these double actress films are going to cancel out best actress nominees' chances unless they are amazing. So, I am not yet there for a Rachel McAdams or Margot Robbie, etc. getting nominated over their costar unless they are stellar.
There's an Instagram account dedicated to Glenn Close and her failed attempts to win an Oscar. Does anybody know what I'm talking about/have a link?
watch for meryl to shoot a post-like quickie to torpedo glenn's chances, just for the fun of it
Praying for Melissa McCarthy's second nom...her performance looks incredible in that trailer.
Nathaniel : I hope what you've heard is true about A Star is Born. Gaga getting a Best Actress nomination would really be something! Cannot wait to see it. The move from late spring to fall inspires confidence.
I would love to see:
NOMINATED: Amy ADAMS,( Backseat) once I'm still mourning her criminally not nominated performance in Arrival (easily one of the best films of 2016 and her performance being right up there with Natalie Portman for Jackie and Isabelle Huppert for Elle); Glenn CLOSE,( The Wife), she deserves it, period. But unless it takes critics by storm like McDormand in 3 Billboards I don't see her winning; Rooney MARA,( Mary Magdalene) someone just give her a second nod, she was amazing and overlooked in A Ghost Story ( I know, too weird for the Academy); Saoirse RONAN, (Mary Queen of Scots) an afterglow nomination and a possible win; Rachel WEISZ, (Disobedience) , I miss her SO much being in the conversation for Awards since her tour de force in The Deep Blue Sea.
RUNNER-UPS: Charlize THERON, (Tully), the Academy owes her for Young Adult plus how amazing she was in Atomic Blonde ? ; Emma THOMPSON, (The Children's Act) always a delicious welcome threat; Viola DAVIS, (Widows) she's a powerhouse name and beyond respected, can totally see it happening. Plus: I love her so much,
NO WAY: Really , Emily BLUNT,for Mary Poppins Returns ? Fantastic actress, but no thanks. Lady GAGA,for A Star is Born? Well, just watch her "acting" in AHS Hotel and we can have this conversation again. Sandra BULLOCK for Bird Box ? I think one (deserved) nod & an undeserved win is enough for Ms. Bullock ( Carey Mulligan is still waiting for her Oscar)
LONG SHOTS: Michelle Pfeiffer for Where is Kyra?, amazing performance,not Oscar friendly film. Think Margot Robbie goes for Supporting ( with a chance to actually win)
I know, SO early, but it's always fun to discuss BA nominations. And c'mom . it's still April, everything is pretty much up in the air.
Julianne Moore's characters in Gloria and Bel Canto seem to be the meatiest. Right now I would say Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, Emily Blunt + an actress that is not on the list.
I do wonder sometimes if Glenn Close would have beaten Frances McDormand. Something tells me she would have not, so perhaps the move to 2018 is for the best. Releasing the movie in the summer makes sense, with the hope of it generating good numbers at the box office and the unstoppable "It's time!" buzz.
Wouldn't it be amazing if Close won Best Actress and Amy Adams won Best Supporting Actress? Let's get those ladies Oscars!
Now that Allison Janney has won an Oscar, I'm really hoping that Hollywood wises up and gives one to Jessica Chastain, the sole lady from The Help who has yet to win. (Does Bryce Dallas Howard REALLY count? Not until she stops running from dinosaurs in high heels.) Perhaps 2019 will be her year at long last. Though I should not be getting ahead of myself.. lol.
Please let it happen,Agreed that Xmas releases for tiny films with Actresses at the centre always get the shaft,Bening for 2 years in a row and many others,I think if phantom thread had opened a month earlier Vicky Krieps performance would have had time to breath and be talked about.
Fingers crossed for Glenn, I'm totally rooting for her this year! Amy Adams would probably go Supporting for Backseat, while you can count Rooney Mara out for Mary Magdalene (her character is not developed in any way, she gives a one-note performance and the film itself is a big misfire).
Mary M got bad reviews in the UK.I see people are turning their noses up at Bullock and Blunt but they r well liked,Blunt is overdue a first,her role is Iconic,Xmas hit potentially,early hype plus A Quiet Place is going to be a hit.
Bullocks back in a big way this year,never count her out no matter hat u think of her Oscar win.
Amy Adams must be supporting in Backseat, I think? Like Joan Allen in Nixon.
Just to run some numbers for those chanting for Amy Adams or Jessica Chastain (both of whom I adore) or anyone other than Glenn Close ... Swank cannot have 2 Oscars and Glenn 0. Foster cannot have 2 Oscars and Glenn 0. Sandy cannot have 1 Oscar and Glenn 0. Hayward cannot have 1 Oscar and Glenn 0. Janney cannot have 1 Oscar and Glenn 0. The list goes on and on. It's just not the way the world is supposed to work.
So, yes, other actresses deserve Oscars (Pfeiffer!). But this is Glenn's year. She's in her 70s now. And if you watch the recent Crooked House, you know she's on her game. And even with material like Sunset Boulevard, which is a really mediocre musical, she is really great in it.
So, if you are not on board, pull it together. This is Glenn's year. Work your angles for Supporting Actress or Cinematography or any other category. This one has to be sewn up starting on the day The Wife is released. We can all flood our basements with "Who deserves Best Actress the Most" banter next year.
Zellweger as Judy?
My understanding was that Regina King was the lead of IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK. I would love to see her up there and I think she could - she seems to have immense goodwill within the industry. If she's not the lead, then supporting for sure. She won two Emmys after all.
I'd love for Toni Collette to improbably get a nomination for HEREDITORY because it would surely make her the only actor in history to receive their two Oscar nominations for horror movies.
Glenn -- from my understanding Kiki Layne is inarguably the lead since it's about a young pregnant woman and she's the young pregnant woman. IMDb doesn't list who Regina King is playing but if it's her mother, that's potentially a meaty supporting part. haven't read that particular James Baldwin novel but in various articles about the book it seems like, at least Oscar wise, the women have the best parts.
though how this is going to go over in this particular era of "Believe her!" -- since it all hinges on a false rape accusation -- we'll see. Though maybe it being based on a novel by one of the greatest and most celebrated black artists and directed by Barry Jenkins and about POC will give it enough good will to circumvent hair-trigger reactions to that particular minefield of a topic.
no love for Keira in "Colette"? Reviews out of Sundance were strong, its helmed by the same team that guided Julianne Moore to an Oscar, and is set for a late Sept release. Bleecker is the distributor, and they've had minor awards success with "Trumbo" and "Captain Fantastic" in recent years.
It's probably unlikely, but if we're making a long list then I think CONSTANCE WU for CRAZY RICH ASIANS should be included. If the film is good and makes some bank, perhaps a Globe comedy nod? Oscar nods for production/costumes/adapted screenplay?
Travis -- that's why i said "who did i miss?" not from lack of love just wasn't finished researching. I love me some Keira Knightley ;)
ryan T -- crossing fingers.
I believe that, faced with the danger of cancelling each other out if they both compete for Best Actress, I wouldn't be surprised if they promoted Margot Robbie for Best Actress and Saoirse Ronan for Supporting in Mary Queen of Scots and the Ronan for Best Actress for Chesil Beach. It wouldn't be the first time. Re Kate Winslet and many others.
Julianne Moore also has My Life on the Road, where she plays Gloria Steinem (biopic alert!), but I don't think they'll finish it on time for a 2018 release.
Cas: Here are some of the out-of-the-blue nominees I can remember: Gabourey Sidibe, Melissa Leo, Keisha Castle-Hughes and Sally Kirkland.
I suppose Nicole Kidmad has (I wish) a juicy lead role in Karyn Kusama's DESTROYER due this year.
Best Actress Sight Unseen
Davis
Close
Ronan
McCarthy
Blanchett