The Nominees:
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Meryl Streep in “Julie and Julia”
Who Will Win?
Following on from her Razzie award for Worst Actress last night, Bullock is expected to be crowned the Best Actress tonight. All About Steve aside, it’s been a great comeback year for the actress who it’s impossible not to like. The Proposal made shed loads of money and in The Blind Side she played the furthest outside her comfort zone that she ever has, receiving great reviews whilst the box office was huge stateside. I’m going to put this out there, Bullock isn’t that good in The Blind Side. She’s a great comic actress and she’s always a pleasure to have on screen, but she’s hardly an accomplished thesp. I feel she’s being rewarded for doing something different here, whilst there are stronger performances on the list.
Who Should Win?
It’s hard for me to call who’s the out and out best in this category so I’m going to name two. For me it’s a dead heat between the young upstart, Carey Mulligan, and the old pro, Meryl Streep. Despite her wealth of nominations (this is her sixteenth) Streep won her last Academy Award way back in 1982. Maybe this year is her time, she must be considered Bullock’s main competition. Mulligan on the other hand has found An Education to be a springboard for her career and is going to be the next big thing. Securing a BAFTA put her back in the Oscar race at the last minute but her lack of previous exposure may count against her.
And the rest?
Gabourey Sidibe a few months ago looked to be one of the favourites for this award but she has no momentum going into the ceremony on what will likely be her only appearance as an Academy nominee. Helen Mirren is the final nominee and is one of the most undeserved nominees at this years ceremony. Her shouty, over-the-top performance is not only un-worthy of an Oscar nom, it’s just simply bad. One can’t help but feel she, like Penelope Cruz, has been nominated because she’s a past belle of the Oscars.
