Part of the reason this really is a no-brainer is that it's an iconic performance. What's more, it demonstrates the value of restraint. Bardem has said that the effectiveness of his character comes primarily from the other characters' reactions to his character. He just has to sit back and be creepy.
BEST ACTRESS
- Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
- Julie Christie - Away From Her
- Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose
- Laura Linney - The Savages
- Ellen Page - Juno
WILL WIN: Julie Christie
SHOULD WIN: Marion Cotillard
Pretty much a three-way race between Christie, Cotillard, and Page. Christie already has an award for 1965's Darling, but it's not clear if anyone actually remembers that to hold it against her. Juno is the only film here to cross the $100 million mark and Page has been rocking the publicity tour. Cotillard beat Page for the comedy/musical Globe (with Christie taking the statue for drama).
Here, the SAG award might be the best indicator. Unlike Dee, who won out of nowhere, Christie's Actor came at the tail end of a string of critical plaudits (16 in all) and oddsmakers favor her for the most part at 1/2 against against Cotillard's 2/1 or Page's 7/1.
I'd say the same three capture my attention for "should" (with the caveat that I haven't seen the other two). All three give fantastic performances, and not to mention they do this in a year full of memorable leading ladies. I'd include Angelina Jolie, Tang Wei, and Carice van Houten in this list. Ultimately, though, and maybe because it's the showiest performance (total transformation and all) I'm compelled to give it to Cotillard.
BEST ACTOR
- George Clooney - Michael Clayton
- Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
- Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- Tommy Lee Jones - In the Valley of Elah
- Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises
WILL WIN: Daniel Day-Lewis
SHOULD WIN: Daniel Day-Lewis
We could pretend that Clooney's got a shot with his five wins and 10/1 odds (pretty much the same as Depp's) and I'd love to hear his speech, but let's be honest with ourselves. Daniel Day-Lewis drank the entire awards season milkshake. He drank it up. Twenty-five wins total, including a BAFTA, BFCA, Golden Globe, and SAG statue along the way.
I wouldn't call his performance as iconic as Bardem's, but it's pretty damn close. And, obviously, it's quotable and easily imitated, two key aspects of any memorable performance. But, as with any great Day-Lewis performance, which is most of them, he really finds his character's pain and lets us in on that. The empathy that generates, especially when you consider some of his nastier roles, is remarkable.
Article comments