Category:
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees:
Penélope Cruz in Volver (film review)
comment: A very deserving nomination to be sure. Too bad more people have not been able to see this film though!
Judi Dench in Notes on a Scadal (film review)
comment: Hmm, yes, another worthy nomination, but not without her co-star. Failure to nominate Cate Blanchette for best actress with her role in Scandal and The Good German is simply unacceptable.
Helen Mirren in The Queen (film review)
comment: The most deserving nominee in the bunch.
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada (film review)
comment: Here's the thing, she's been nominated and won so many times, did the Academy need to use one of only five possible nominations available on this of her roles in this not-so-great movie? No doubt she was deliciously splendid in the role, but knowing her incredible integrity and humble nature, I doubt seriously that she would prefer to be nominated for this role versuses some other roles and actresses to be named below.
Kate Winslet in Little Children (film review)
comment: Absolutely on the money with this nomination.
Who's missing?
- Cate Blanchette from Notes on a Scandal or The Good German--she was nominated for her role in Notes on a Scandal for best Supporting actress. This was not a supporting role even if she may have been eclipsed by Judi Dench (who isn't?, she even eclipses James Bond in James Bond films no matter who is playing James Bond), but she was as leading in the plot line as Dame Dench. Regardless, toss that mistake aside and examine her performance in The Good German. It is simply impossible to comprehend why she wasn't nominated for this role. Impossible. I feel the mistake a lot of studios made this year was that they didn't prepare for this shift in the voting season time line due to the dates for nominations and ceremonies being moved up this yar. This is what helped The Departed. It was out in October! I've always felt it was 'cheap' to release films in late December in NYC and LA and call it a movie of that year when it doesn't reach national audiences until January at the earliest. But, it has really helped some films, I guess, in years where there weren't so many good films or great performances. The Good German should have been released, just for Cate Blanchett's sake, in early November at the latest. She is paying the price, and it is a travesty.
- Cameron Diaz from The Holiday--yes, believe it or not. If you are going to vote for a comedic female role, with all due respect to the immeasurable talent of Ms Streep, why not give Cameron Diaz a bit of credit. Her role in The Holiday is zany, irreverant, and delightful. My guess is that there are far more women in the USA who can relate to her character than with Ms Streep's. While she wouldn't have probably made my final list, she would have been close.
- Naomi Watts from The Painted Veil--I guess nobody watched this film. They couldn't get past the awkward title. I sit stupefied that she wasn't nominated. I have nothing to say. Painfully and shamefully overlooked film and performances for both the two leading actors in one of the year's best films. Shameful.
- Beyoncé Knowles from Dreamgirls--Hmm, not sure? Her performance was perfect in nearly every way. She was certainly on par with Ms Cruz and Ms Winslet. I probably would have used the already-won exclusion clause to pare my list and add some new faces to the esteemed nomination list.
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