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Suspense intensifies as Best Actress race approaches climax
California, Mar 21: With less than a week to go until the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, the race is heating up for the title of best actress. This year`s nominees are Salma Hayek for `Frida,` Nicole Kidman for `The Hours,` Diane Lane for `Unfaithful,` Julianne Moore for `Far From Heaven,` and Renee Zellweger for `Chicago.`
California, Mar 21: With less than a week to go until the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, the race is heating up for the title of best actress. This year's nominees are Salma Hayek for "Frida," Nicole Kidman for "The Hours," Diane Lane for "Unfaithful," Julianne Moore for "Far From Heaven," and Renee Zellweger for "Chicago."
With less than a week to go until the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, the race is heating up for the title of best actress. This year's nominees are Salma Hayek for "Frida," Nicole Kidman for "The Hours," Diane Lane for "Unfaithful," Julianne Moore for "Far From Heaven," and Renee Zellweger for "Chicago." The race features some familiar faces plus some newcomers in a category that's been described as too close to call.
Salma Hayek plays real-life Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, a controversial figure known for enjoying alcohol and sexual adventurism. Hayek also scored a Golden Globe nomination for the role, but that award went to Nicole Kidman for "The Hours." The 36-year-old actress has been the subject of debate among Mexican film critics, who labeled the movie "Frida of Hollywood" for taking literary license with history and for the film's commercial aspects. However, many of those critics were quieted when Hayek became the first Mexican woman nominated for an Oscar as best actress.
Nicole Kidman plays author Virginia Woolf in "The Hours." In addition to winning the Golden Globe for her role, Kidman also scooped up the Britain's BAFTA. Now Kidman's Oscar nomination has created a sensation in her native Australia.
Fans are cheering for her to become the first woman from downunder to win the coveted Academy Award for best female actress. As Woolf, Kidman was transformed into the troubled author not just by incredible acting, but by a false nose that has become something of a beloved symbol for her fans.
In "Unfaithful," Diane Lane takes on the role of a cheating wife. Lane's character is a happily married suburbanite who becomes obsessed with a mysterious younger man. But as hard as she tries to maintain secrecy, the infidelity and lying eventually catch up with her. Pundits consider Lane something of a dark horse in this race. However, Lane has been active in Hollywood since she was a teenager and may be rewarded for this breakout role.
North Carolina native Julianne Moore is actually nominated for Oscars in two categories: best actress for "Far From Heaven" and best supporting actress for "The Hours." In "Far From Heaven," Moore plays Cathy Whitaker, a house wife struggling with ennui in 1950's suburban America. Her world is suddenly changed forever by her husband's infidelity and her nascent friendship with an African-American gardener.
"Chicago" star Renee Zellweger has been developing what some Oscars handicappers refer to as "momentum." Zellweger won the Screen Actors Guild Award for best leading actress.
She also won the Golden Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy. In "Chicago," Zellweger plays the conniving showgirl Roxie Hart. Alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Queen Latifah, Zellweger plays out this tale of corruption and fame in 1930's Chicago.
Tim Gray, the managing editor of industry trade publication Variety Magazine, is following the Oscars race. Win or lose, Gray says each of these women should be proud of their remarkable performances. "Nicole Kidman in 'The Hours.'
She's terrific. Salma Hayek, 'Frida.' Diane Lane, 'Unfaithful.' Julianne Moore, 'Far from Heaven,' and Renee Zellweger in 'Chicago.' They're all really astonishing performances. And again, people often say women have a hard time finding roles, but this year, there's too many good roles. I think in a weaker year, any one of those five could've won."
But according to Gray, there is a clear front-runner: "With Renee Zellweger, you get the sense from the time that movie opened, 'Chicago,' people really liked her. They were very enthused about it and it's maintained that enthusiasm.
Because sometimes films peak too early and then they have to suffer that, jeez it wasn't that great and people are tired of it. That film, you don't sense that people are tired of and her performance, too."
Film critic Clay Smith disagrees, pointing out the difficulty most musicals have in winning Oscars. "I think this race is almost too close to call right now. I would say that Julianne Moore probably has faded," Smith says. "I would have to say that Nicole Kidman is the front-runner. The last time an actress won for a musical, you have to go way back to 1972 when Liza Minnelli won best actress for 'Cabaret,' so musicals are tough."
The Oscars are scheduled to take place March 23rd in Los Angeles.
Bureau Report
In "Unfaithful," Diane Lane takes on the role of a cheating wife. Lane's character is a happily married suburbanite who becomes obsessed with a mysterious younger man. But as hard as she tries to maintain secrecy, the infidelity and lying eventually catch up with her. Pundits consider Lane something of a dark horse in this race. However, Lane has been active in Hollywood since she was a teenager and may be rewarded for this breakout role.
North Carolina native Julianne Moore is actually nominated for Oscars in two categories: best actress for "Far From Heaven" and best supporting actress for "The Hours." In "Far From Heaven," Moore plays Cathy Whitaker, a house wife struggling with ennui in 1950's suburban America. Her world is suddenly changed forever by her husband's infidelity and her nascent friendship with an African-American gardener.
"Chicago" star Renee Zellweger has been developing what some Oscars handicappers refer to as "momentum." Zellweger won the Screen Actors Guild Award for best leading actress.
She also won the Golden Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy. In "Chicago," Zellweger plays the conniving showgirl Roxie Hart. Alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Queen Latifah, Zellweger plays out this tale of corruption and fame in 1930's Chicago.
Tim Gray, the managing editor of industry trade publication Variety Magazine, is following the Oscars race. Win or lose, Gray says each of these women should be proud of their remarkable performances. "Nicole Kidman in 'The Hours.'
She's terrific. Salma Hayek, 'Frida.' Diane Lane, 'Unfaithful.' Julianne Moore, 'Far from Heaven,' and Renee Zellweger in 'Chicago.' They're all really astonishing performances. And again, people often say women have a hard time finding roles, but this year, there's too many good roles. I think in a weaker year, any one of those five could've won."
But according to Gray, there is a clear front-runner: "With Renee Zellweger, you get the sense from the time that movie opened, 'Chicago,' people really liked her. They were very enthused about it and it's maintained that enthusiasm.
Because sometimes films peak too early and then they have to suffer that, jeez it wasn't that great and people are tired of it. That film, you don't sense that people are tired of and her performance, too."
Film critic Clay Smith disagrees, pointing out the difficulty most musicals have in winning Oscars. "I think this race is almost too close to call right now. I would say that Julianne Moore probably has faded," Smith says. "I would have to say that Nicole Kidman is the front-runner. The last time an actress won for a musical, you have to go way back to 1972 when Liza Minnelli won best actress for 'Cabaret,' so musicals are tough."
The Oscars are scheduled to take place March 23rd in Los Angeles.
Bureau Report