WILL WIN: Reese Witherspoon
SHOULD WIN: Reese Witherspoon
I don't know why this has happened, but Reese Witherspoon, playing someone without any noticeable ailments or androgyny has a far better shot at winning an Academy Award than Felicity Huffman, who plays a man becoming a woman. Now, in the laws of the Oscar universe, it shouldn't matter that Walk the Line has made 38 times as much money as Transamerica (and that's before DVD). Hilary Swank took down Annette Bening with Boys Don't Cry, which had made $23 million to American Beauty's $108 million by the time the awards were announced. Both Transamerica and Walk the Line received solid reviews. Both performances nabbed a Golden Globe (Witherspoon for Comedy/Musical, Huffman for Drama). But in the end, Reese also nabbed the BFCA, the BAFTA, and the SAG award, not to mention twice as many critics circle awards. What goes on?
Best I can figure, a couple of things. One, a major head start for Walk the Line, which is already out on DVD. The power of Reese's performance was stamped in most people's memory before they had a chance to see Transamerica, if they did at all. Secondly, although both films got good reviews, Walk the Line's are noticeably better. And, truth be told, it's a better film, but more on that in a minute. Finally, and this is pure conjecture, Huffman's a TV star, Reese is a film star. Sounds tough, but there it is.
Although Huffman's performance is outstanding, it begs the question of which is harder, giving a good performance in an okay film, or giving a great performance in a great film? Witherspoon is given far better raw material to work with, and is in the milieu of a better directed film. You could also argue that giving a performance that rivals that of your co-star's Oscar-nominated performance suggests a difficulty level that mitigates the whole "I had better dialogue" thing. Ultimately, though, I just thought Reese gave the better performance, and this is coming from a Sports Night-era Huffman enthusiast.
BEST ACTOR
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
David Strathairn - Good Night, and Good Luck
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