We're wading right into award season, so everyone's making their lists and checking them twice. The Envelope put out a list of Best Supporting Actress hopefuls, and it's an interesting compilation.
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There - She's playing Bob Dylan. That's either going to be too weird or just weird enough.
Ruby Dee, American Gangster - Playing the mother of crimelord Frank Lucas, she's nearly 70-year thespian veteran who's overdue for high profile recognition, and the Academy loves that kind of scenario.
Romola Garai and Saoirse Ronan, Atonement - playing the same pivotal role at differing ages, Ronan the impertinent liar and Garai the repentant angster, either one of them could eke out a nomination, but not both.
Julia Roberts, Charlie Wilson's War - The sheer inertia of the We All Love Julia Roberts mantra might carry her into contention again, and this might be the most palatable of the recent wave of war-related movies, with its genial stars.
Jennifer Garner, Juno - A mother desperate to adopt a child in a teen-pregnancy dramedy with a hell of a cast. Somebody from this movie will get nominated for something. Everybody in it is great, and it looks like this year's Little Miss Sunshine.
Catherine Keener, Into the Wild - The troubled elder hippie that shows kindness to Alexander Supertramp in exchange for soothing her parental ache isn't a huge part, but Keener was perfect in it, and they've given awards to small roles before.
Queen Latifah, Hairspray - As great as she is, I'm doubtful on this one. I just can't see anyone nominating a movie starring John Travolta in a fat suit for an Oscar.
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Margot at the Wedding - The story of woman in the center of a tug-of-war between her sister and her fiance, from a director who specializes in dark, realistic family drama. Much like The Squid and the Whale, likely to be nominated but not likely to win.
Fernanda Montenegro, Love in the Time of Cholera - The surprise Central Station nominee is a surprise no longer, although it seems likely the result will remain the same and all the talking heads will say "for her, the nomination is the award," as condescending as it is.
Emily Mortimer, Lars and the Real Girl - The role of the confused but loving sister trying to rescue her shy and strange brother from his delusion that his Real Doll is a real live woman is the emotional core of the film, and it could satisfy the 'quirky' quotient, since a lot of the more offbeat choices are generally recognized in the Supporting and/or Screenplay categories.
Olympia Dukakis, Away From Her - Released back in May, this Alzheimer's aftermath drama could easily slip the voters' minds, but one can never count her out.
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone - The horrible mother that Affleck Beta fights for regardless of the consequences, Adams owned the role and brought an incredibly realistic feel to the burn-out character. She should certainly get recognized for it.
Meryl Streep, Lions for Lambs - She's bandied about every year, but the movie, on the surface, looks to be a Redford polemic with too much of a "message." Then again, Crash shows that the Academy doesn't always shy away from the heavy-handed.
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton - As soon as I walked out of this movie, I called her nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her role as a desperate business leader nervously trying to play hardball in realms she can't handle is stark and completely real, far beyond the one-note suits that tend to represent evil corporations in movies.
