January 27, 2008

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Forest Whitaker presenting:

And the nominees are:

Cate Blanchett-Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie-Away from Her
Marion Cotillard-La Vie en Rose
Angelina Jolie-A Mighty Heart
Ellen Page-Juno

And the actor goes to.....Julie Christie

52 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. she is one crazy old lady.

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  3. "If there's anyone else I've forgotten... I guess I'm still in character."

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  4. Damn, I really wanted Marion Cotillard to get it.

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  5. This was SO unfair.

    Marion Cotillard DEFINITELY deserved it...

    Still... SAG´s are SAG´s...
    Oscars are Oscars...

    SAG´s honored Ruby Dee for god´s sake! They like honoring veterans who haven´t won SAG´s before...

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  6. Oh man... Marion deserves the recognition. Maybe it's just the actors guild thing. Marion still has a shot at the Oscars, I think.

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  7. SAG voters consist 90% on american television and film actors (which explains Ruby Dee´s win), and actually Christie´s win too.

    That´s not the case at the Oscars, though. I´ve always known that Cotillard´s real chance at winning a BIG award was at the Oscars...

    I still don´t think Christie will win.

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  8. Julie Christie isn't American, though. She's British.

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  9. exactly... she speaks ENGLISH (just like any other american)

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  10. are they blind????? This belongs to Cotillard!!!!!!!!!!!

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  11. Julie Christie's acting comes from the soul...not make-up,or histrionics. She has an integrity unparalled in the industry. For 45 years she has never bought into the Hollywood game or compromised her dignity. What we saw tonight was a marvelous tribute to an identifiable human being, and I for one think she is rather perfect.

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  12. The Oscars are notorious for ignoring foreign language films whenit comes to Acting awards. The last best actress in a foreign film was Spohia Loren, so those of you out there expecting to see Cotillard win the Oscar, don't hold your breath. it won't be Blanchett, Linney or Page. it belongs to Christie, who really does deserve. Cotillard was very good, but her signing was dubbed, Page it too young, Blanchett has a better shot in with BSA category and Linney, while respected, won't win. Any doubt about Christie's performance will be removed if you watch the film. She's that good...

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  13. Wholy cow...

    you must be from the Christie Church!

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  14. I have both films... La Vie en Rose and Away From Her.

    And while both actresses play totally different characters, I have to say, after watching them both about 5 times, that Marion is by far the BEST ACTRESS OF THE YEAR.

    Hell, Christie may even win...
    but Roberto Benigni beat Ian McKellen and Tom Hanks, Gwyneth Paltrow beat Meryl Streep and Fernanda Montenegro...

    How fair are these awards shows anyway??

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  15. "Wholy cow...

    you must be from the Christie Church!"

    haha coming from the person (at least I think) who shouts "Marion Cotillard!!!!!!"

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  16. While I think it is admirable for film fans to voice their well righted opinions, let's look at the facts. Christie has won the lionshare of critics awards, with Cotillard winning more than Page. The Academy has not been kind to woman in foreign language films. Someone earlier had mentioned Sophia Loren. How can we forget Liv Ullman, Isabelle Adjani, Fernanda Montenegro and Marie Christian Barrault? Cotillard will definately win the French equivalent of the Oscar in mid-February. Blanchett does not really stand a chance here. Her performance was good in a mediocre film. Linney has been here before, but I don't think this is her year. She should have won for "Kinsey". Ellen Page is a great ingenue, but I don't think she'll take home the golden boy.

    If we take nationalism into account, Linney as the only American has a real good shot, ala Helen Hunt who beat out the likes of Winslet, Bonham Carter among others. Biopics have won the last 4 Best Actress awards (Kidman as Virginia Wolf, Mirren as Elizabeth II, Witherspoon as June Carter Cash and Theron as Wornous)so I doubt that Cotillard will be #5. the Academy simpluy does not work that way. One needs only to look at the history of the awards to see that respected veterans (Melvin Douglas, Helen Hayes, even the great Kate Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman)won decades after their initial win. Julie Christie will take home the Golden Boy. Additionally, while critics may help a box office take and grant critics awards at the end of the year, SAG awards are by one'e peers (120,000+). That speaks volumes compared to the 5700 members of the Academy, w/ actors being the greatest portion of the voting block.

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  17. I saw all the films with Best Actress nominees. I am a film student at UCLA, focusing on Writing and Directing and I think Julie Christie will win her 2nd Oscar. There are two scenes in "Away from Her" which are gut wrenching. The nuances of her performance are incredible. Her win at the SAG awards is evidence of her industry wide respect by her peers. Clearly, if SAG members were pleased w/ the other nominees to the point of selecting a different winner, they would have done so. Cotillard and Page will have magnificent careers...Linney and Blanchett are already there. Julie Christie deserves it.

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  18. I´m also a film student, and I think it´s ridiculous that Marion Cotillard won´t win. Obviously, only because she´s french.

    Sure, Nicole Kidman (The Hours), Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line), Charlize Theron (Monster) and Helen Mirren (The Queen) all won; and all of them in english-spoken films.

    Cotillard´s performance is by far the best out of all of those, and it´s really unfair that only because she´s french, she doesn´t get the same recognition. If she was american, she would SO SURELY win. But now, people say that her performance relied on make-up (HELLO - Theron-Kidman) and that her performance had 'no soul'.

    Julie Christie was good, sure, but nothing amazing.

    Marion deserves it.

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  19. We all know that the acedemy often recognizes actors for their respective bodies of work. Look at Henry Fonda and Geraldine Page winning as it turns out for their last roles. Christie has been well out of the Hollywood mainstream since 1997 with her nominated performance in "Afterglow" yet her craft is well regarded as is Cotillard's. I am confident that the Academy, as we all know is a combination of talent/performance and popularity de jour, which I think bodes well for christie. Anyone of the nominees is a deserving winner, but my preference is Christie.

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  20. Of the five, Christie has the biggest chance of winning the Oscar. The voters have respect for the movie (which explains a 2nd nomination in the screenplay category), and Christie herself has a lot of respect in the industry. Cotilliard also stands a good chance, but I think her buzz is dying down. A few months ago everyone was talking about Cotilliard, and then Christie just sneaked up behind her. Also, her film La Vie En Rose didn't get a foreign film nomination. It has 3 nominations in total, but the glaring miss of foreign film shows that the respect for the film and her doesn't run that deep.
    Continuing along: don't count out Laura Linney in any way. She can turn out to be the next Helen Hunt. Her performance was brilliant in The Savages, and nearly every critic agree. The mere fact that the Academy nominated her when most of everyone else was ignoring her, means that they could push it even further for her to win. Cate Blanchett won't win this award. The movie was all that great and most critics agree as well. Ellen Page will win the Oscar, just not this year. Give it some time.
    WHO WILL WIN: Julie Christie
    WHO SHOULD WIN: Julie Christie

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  21. WHO SHOULD WIN: Marion Cotillard
    WHO WILL WIN: Julie Christie

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  22. This is sooo much fun!!!!

    Will Win: Christie
    Should Win: Christie

    Should have been nominated: Anna Maria Marenka

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  23. uuuuhhh my turn!

    will win - christie
    should win - cotillard

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  24. I love it...

    Will win: Christie
    Should Win: Christie

    Should win for playing a dead person: Jane Wyman...oh, she is dead...I guess she wins!!!

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  25. Being subtle will has been known to beat out over the top drama. Don't get me wrong, Cotillard embodied Edith Piaf and she was very good, but Julie Christie's slow progression into dementia was heartbreaking. Past history at the Oscars show that being subtle (Cher's Loretta Castorini in 'Moonstruck" vs Glenn Close's Alex Forrest in "Fatal Attraction" wins out. How about Susan Sarandon besting Streep, Thompson, Shue and Stone? She was not over the top either and it worked.

    As a voting member of the Academy, I will be voting for Julie Christie. If she were not on the ballot, my vote goes to Cotillard, hands down.

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  26. ok..milk versus non-dairy creamer...who cares?

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  27. I have loved Julie Christie's work since "Darling" and "Dr. Zhivago". I guess I am showing my age by this, but who cares. For those of us old enough to remember, in 1971, Christie lost to Jane Fonda. In that year, Fonda was the only American in a powerhouse filed of nominees that included, Vanessa Redgrave, Glenda Jackson and Janet Suzman. In 1997, Christie was again in the same boat, losing to the only American nominated that year, Helen Hunt. Hunt beat out Judi Dench, Helena Bonham Carter, Kate Winslet and Julie Christie. The nationalism factor stays in play this year.

    I agree w/ some of the earlier comments that foreign language films don't do particularly well in the acting categories. Of course, there are some notable exceptions like Roberto Benigni and Sophia Loren, but that was in 1962!! Given the track record of the Academy, I don't see Cotillard joining the pantheon of oscar winners. She will more than likely end up as an also ran similar to Fernanda Montenegro, Norma Alejandro, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Penelope Cruz, Isabelle Adjani, Liv Ullmann, Catherine Deneuve and Marie-Christine Barrault.

    Christie's wins w/ the Golden Globe (no real surprise and the boatload of Critic's awards) bodes well for her. The SAG was a huge boost by her peers.

    Don't be surprised if Linney squeaks in just like Helen Hunt. Oscar has been known to throw a few curves...remember Adrain Brody beating Cage, Day-Lewis, Caine and Nicholson or Tomei besting Richardson, Plowright among others?

    Whatever happens, if the show happens, I'll watch just like 1 billion other people. "American Idol" won't be on and who cares about that anyway? I am rooting for Julie Christie!!

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  28. Helen Hunt didn´t squeak in. She won the golden globe and sag awards! Everyone knew she would win that year.

    Cotillard should win. It´s no like her work consists solely on makeup or yelling. She expresses so perfectly every nuance of Piaf´s life, and her soul embodies the very passionate french spirit - it´s one of the most incredible performances I have ever seen.

    Ok, Christie´s role is more subtle, but that´s no reason to call her a 'better' or more 'serious' actress. Given the opportunities they had - in their respective roles - Cotillard did everything she could and even more.

    Christie will win, but the Oscar should be awarded to Cotillard.

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  29. Oh my gosh, how fun!

    HEY MR. IGLOO!!! This topic (Christie vs. Cotillard) deserves a whole topic of it´s own!!! Please do so!!!

    My personal favourite is Cotillard.

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  30. no minimizing the performance of Hunt in 1997, but let's face it, she was not the best actress that year. Neither was Julie Christie or Kate Winslet for that matter, it was Judi Dench in "Her Magesty, Mrs. Brown". What has Hunt done since then, "What Woman Want"? But for real,this is not 1997, its 2008 and its likely that the 'Lara' from "Dr. Zhivago" will take home a well served 2nd Oscar. She gets my vote!!

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  31. Golden Globes are meaningless. Its a bunch of foreign press writers who cover Hollywood. If a group can pick Pia Zadora to be the Star of the Future after her husband paid theym off, what credibility does it have? I see Juluie Christie getting the Oscar. She's my personal favorite. Anyone else, ho hum...

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  32. The Next great Cate...Cate Blanchett is channeling Katherine Hepburn to a 2nd win.

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  33. Julie Christie wins 2nd Oscar and looks fabulous in doing so!! The "Darling" is still hot!! Work it!!

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  34. I give much weight to the SAG. It's an actor's peers. They know what is best, and they have made the decision that Julie Christie gave the best performance of the year. Kudos to Ellen Page, Cate Blanchett and Angelina Jolie. Major kudos to Marion Cotillard, who was probably a close 2nd. Julie Christie is an actress for the ages, she's timeless. For those of you who have never seen "Dr. Zhivago", check out Turner Classic Movies during 31 days of Oscar. Her performance in that movie will break you heart43 years after it was made (still breaks mine!!) just like her performance did in "Away from Her". This would be a good win for those actress who do not care about lines can be seen on your face, or how much grey is in your hair. Simply stated, the woman is timeless. Good Luck Julie, we're rootong for you big time!

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  35. I wish people cared about the election or global warming as much as they care about who wins a statue...ridiculous!

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  36. Here is my two cents:

    Should Win: Julie Christie
    Will Win: Julie Christie

    Why: She was the best this year. I agree with the comments mentioned earlier today about the subtle performance. The woman is luminous!!

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  37. Ok.

    This is NOT a CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. So mentioning Julie´s talent in other pictures - Dr. Zhivago, Darling, Afterglow, etc - is really IRRELEVANT. That´s at least unfair with Cotillard... what else have you seen her doing other than La Vie en Rose? A Good Year?

    If sentimentalism is the big deal, then give it to Cotillard, since her performance was at least as good as Christie´s, and since the later already has her Oscar. I´m sure you people remember that sometimes YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO END UP DIEING without getting their well deserved Oscars! So cut the sentimental crap!

    Cotillard´s role was the most challenging. She just wasn´t recognized by the SAG because those like honoring veterans and legends (Ruby Dee), and consist mostly on american voters.

    Cotillard, I hope you win. Sure it´s heard, but it´s justice.

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  38. No one is saying that Christie should win based upon sentimentalism. If that was the case people on life support would win everytime. The comments made over the course of the day have been a rather interesting discourse on opinion. Those folks who admire her work are simply voicing an opinion, not declaring a moretorium on anyone's career, so don't call it crap.

    With respect to saying that young people die w/o winning an oscar, that is a slap in the face to likes of folks like Sal Mineo, James Dean and especially Heath Ledger. There are more important things in the world to worry about. The world suffers loss when someone dies, regardless of whether they are famous or homeless. Leave the arrogance to the politicans where it belongs. We can vote them out of office. This blog is simply a discussion of people's taste and from the looks of it today, alot of people like Julie Christie.

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  39. This is a freaking hoot!!! How about Julie Christie and Marion Cotillard auditioning for the Broadway revival of "Whatever Happended to Baby Jane"? Or perhaps mud wrestling with Bill Clinton as the ref?

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  40. Can't we all just get along?

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  41. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Christie and Cotillard in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane!!!

    That was the best of the day!!!

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  42. What's wrong with someone having more than one oscar? Are you saying that actresses the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Fonda, Jodie Foster, Meryl Streep, Sally Field, Dianne Wiest, Shelley Winters, Olivia de Havilland, Vivien Leigh, Luise Rainer, Bette Davis, Barbara Streisand, Emma Thompson,Ingrid Bergman, Hillary Swank, Jessica Lange, Maggie Smith, Glenda Jackson, Katherine Hepburn are not worthy?!

    What about all those one hit wonders from the past like Sally Kirkland, Keisha Castle Hughes, Valerie Perrine, Carol Kane, Pauline Collins, Diana Ross, Samantha Eggar, Ali McGraw, Laura Dern, Sharon Stone, Elizabeth Shue? What have they done lately?

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  43. Wow!! This is a rough crowd. Just imagine what would happen if neither of them wins?

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  44. hahaha way to go laura linney!!!

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  45. The "Baby Jane" comment was real good. LMAO!!! Can you imagine the dialogue btwn the two:

    Cotillard: You would not treat me like this if I were not French..
    Christie: But "Darling" you are! Would you like an autograph?

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  46. Hey Mr. "I-Know-Every-Single-Multiple-Oscar-Female-Actor"...

    You forgot the incredible Helen Hayes...

    Make sure you do your research right.

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  47. Christie was excellent, so were the other nominees. My choice would be Julie Christie, but I may be biased since I had relatives who suffered from Alzheimer's and the devastating effects it has on the patient as well as the caregiver. She did a wonderful job. This movie moved me.. Bravo!!

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  48. Helen Hayes...dead you know...

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  49. How long did it take you to realize I left out Helen Hayes? I did it from memory.

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  50. Helen Hayes had a perfect record 2/2. So did Vivien Leigh, Sally Field and Hillary Swank. Nice odds..

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  51. This is a strange year!! I think it will go to Christie, but all them woman are deserving including a few who were not nominated like Halle Berry,Angelina Jolie, Kerry Russell...

    Good Luck Ladies!! especially Christie
    :o)

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  52. You guys are rough. Let me hide my milk money.

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