Annette Bening for Best Actress? - Being Julia (2005) Discussion

[–] LMayberry-2 20 years ago

I saw the film last night at a screening in Hollywood, and I think Annette should start writing her acceptance speech right now. It was a magnificent job of acting, and a thouroughly delightful film.

Ms. Bening did a Q&A after the movie, and I almost asked her if she had her speech ready.

Linda

Martin Sheen: "The world will be saved by women. And I think men are basically big sissies."

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[–] Librartist2 20 years ago

I loved the movie. And, no, I am not a young guy! lol...Annette Bening deserves at least a nomination for Best Actress. I thought the entire movie was perfect. They did a great job re-creating London in the 30's. Casting was special - each performer never got out of character. I was so caught up in it - I want to go back and see it again - in case I may have missed something.

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[–] Stevek4286 20 years ago

I agree! ;)

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[–] adamkeller 20 years ago

Why is no one mentioning Vera Drake's Imelda Staunton as competition? I think it's obvious now that these two women will win the two best actress golden globes and then go head to head for the oscar. Another Cate/Gwyneth type smackdown seems in the works. Although Winslet might possibly sneak in for the win, she's too easy to take for granted and will most likely have to wait yet another year for her statue. Both Staunton's and Bening's performances look magnificent. But yes, I do agree that Bening will probably take it. She's due, and hers will be the fun, lovable performance that people will want to honor. Staunton will have to settle for the drama globe and/or BAFTA. That's my take, anyway.

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[–] xxtheorchidthiefxx 20 years ago

Man, I am really pulling for Annette Bening with you people. I really hope that she wins for this movie. I haven't seen it yet but I plan to as soon as it opens in a theater near me. I hope Bening wins because she was snubbed out for her nomination for AMERICAN BEAUTY(my favorite movie of all-time) in 1999! I really thought she was going to get the Oscar for that, but she lost! Now that she has yet another (from what I've heard so far) brilliant performance, I hope that she gets nominated for the Oscar and finally win!!!

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[–] pulpfic1 20 years ago

saw this film last night. god, it was awful but bening's perf was rather good. i don't think it is the best female perf of the year (nor do i think it will be at the end of the year) but i do think the academy will most probably award her because (1) she's american (2) she's old and (3) she's kinda over due. still, i do think kate should win but she will probably score next year with a doll's house. i'm holding thumbs.

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[–] litos 20 years ago

How can you think this movie is awful? Let me guess (1) you're a guy (2) you're a young guy (3) you thought Kill Bill 1 and 2 should have won oscars.

Try again.

Where is fancy bread, in the heart or in the head?"

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[–] AvantGardener 20 years ago

Haha, looks like Bening's chief competition will again be Hilary Swank (this time for "Million Dollar Bably"). Why--and a certain Mr. Spacey could (though it's a huge long shot) get a "Best Actor" nomination for "Beyond the Sea."

Michael

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[–] joemystery2003 20 years ago

I'm almost in awe of Annette Bening at this point. I didn't like her before, but now I see that she's really humble and grounded from what I can tell (an interview with Newsweek I think it was.) This woman went to the Oscars nine months pregnant in 2000 against doctors' advisements because she was sure she was going to win (hell, we all were!) and then Swank took it.

I always root for what I think is the best performance. Bening's performance in American Beauty, now that I look back, does slightly beat Swank's just by a hair (they were both wonderful.) Maybe I just feel that way because Bening gave the showier performance in the bigger film, whereas Swank's was more subtle. However, the Academy has made an awful, awful mess of things. They should have just given it to Bening in 2000 for American Beauty, and now because they didn't, Hilary Swank might lose out on the oscar she truly deserves this time (does anyone get what I'm saying? I know I'm kind of rambling.) I'm firmly against awarding an actor or actress for their body of work as oppose to how their performance ranks compared to others that are nominated. That being said, I take back every mean thing I said about Bening (ahem...there have been other posts.) I still don't think that Bening should win this year (c'mon. it's gotta be Swank.) but she's such a good actress with a beautiful spirit that when she does finally win (when not if) it will be because she truly gave the best performance. Also, most actors and actresses (esp. Bening) have wonderful lives completely outside of their careers. They don't live and die by these arbitrary validations of their greatness.

~Just because you're hung like a moose doesn't mean you have to do porn.

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[–] AriesJB4 20 years ago

I have seen "Vera Drake" and "Being Julia" within the last five days. I saw "Million Dollar Baby" last month. At this point I feel that Best Actress will go to Hilary Swank and if should she fail to get the majority of votes, the winner (in my opinion) would be Imelda Staunton for "Vera Drake."

Annette Bening was excellent as well, however I see the above named actresses as being stronger in their respective roles.

Any one of these three would be a worthy recipient. I haven't seen Kate Winslet or Ms Moreno so I can't pass judgment on their performances at this time.

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[–] xavrush89 20 years ago

I just saw Being Julia and I would gove the slight edge to Imelda Staunton, as far as performances go, not chances. Just like last year I would have given more than a slight edge to Shohreh Aghdashloo over Renee Zellweger, but the Academy didn't agree.

So Bening might actually win, because she may seem to be overdue, but Staunton is the one I remember most vividly.

KAKISTOCRACY (n.)--a society governed by its worst citizens.

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[–] dinky-4 20 years ago

I can think of five better performances by actresses this year: Esther Gorintin in "After Otar Left ...," "Imelda Staunton in "Vera Drake," Isabelle Huppert in "La Vie Promise," Uma Thurman in "Kill Bill Vol. 2," and Giovanna Mezzogiorno in "Facing Windows."

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[–] robertrosado 20 years ago

In response to lito's post:

"How can you think this movie is awful? Let me guess (1) you're a guy (2) you're a young guy (3) you thought Kill Bill 1 and 2 should have won oscars.

Try again."

I am a guy. I am a young guy. And yes. Kill Bill deserved Oscars. And yet... I loved "Being Julia". Hmmmm....

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[–] heaintloveu 20 years ago

It's a shame that Uma Thurman was not nominated for Best Actress for Vol. 1 and PROBABLY won't be nominated for Vol. 2.

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[–] robertrosado 20 years ago

I agree. This is the role that she will be remembered for. And yet, she has received minimal attention for it.

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[–] Nimble-Bird 20 years ago

This was a fabulous showcase for AB, but if Oscar voters can remember back to early last spring (a 50/50 chance) they will not be able to ignore Tilda Swinton's somber portrayal of a "Desperate Boatwife," if you will.

Overall, I was a little disappointed in the acclaimed film, but I'm never disappointed in Tilda!

The Nimble, Limber One.

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[–] sdoich 20 years ago

Annette Bening MUST win...she already lost against Hilary Swank in '99. She was amazin in "American Beauty", her performance was so much powerful than the one of Ms. Swank in "Boys Don't Cry". What a shame! I really hope this will be her time to take home the big prize!

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[–] jl1100 20 years ago

Yes i agree that Bening was MARVELOUS in American Beauty. But, sdoich, I don't know if you saw Boys Don't Cry, but if you did, did you actually pay attention to Swank's performance? As much as I love both of them, and they both gave excellent performances. Swank deserved it. Are you just saying you didnt like Swank because you are a Benning fan? Because Swank was just astonishing, one of the best ever, but that is still on the list with Bening for AB.

And for this year, however Bening was great, Critics and the likes are saying, and I tend to agree, that Swank and Staunton will go head to head. The Bening Vs Swank has changed over the past month, but she still very well has a chance.

P.S. No hate to Bening she is great. But if you see Boys Dont Cry, you will know why she lost, as much as It is a tough, close, call. And This year, If you havnt, I suggest you all see Vera Drake and Million Dollar Baby and you will know what I am talking about. Althought people have opinions, what is absurd is that you say that Bening is perfect and the rest suck. But that is not true. Yea Bening was perfect and American Beauty, and Being Julia, but there were better. So next time, and this goes to all Oscar judgers, until you see all the films, and are going to examine them with detail, don't already pick a winner, or judge something over someone else when you havn't seen the other films.

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[–] sdoich 20 years ago

I follow the "Oscar race" every year...and i saw "Boys Don't Cry" and i really appreciate Swank's performance. I saw the movie! ...but I think is wrong to give the statuette to the one who had the most difficult role and get ugly! Swank was perfect, I gree, but Bening deserved it...in my opinion!

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[–] venus_spice 20 years ago

benning is totally deserve an oscar for her performance in being julia. but, i hope kate winslet wins the oscar, bcos she has been naminated for about 2 times, and this times, she should wins. just like nicole kidman and renee zellweger, the're finally won oscar after several times being nominated. and kate always played in a good film. i love you kate

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[–] diyarkhorshid 20 years ago

I Love Kate to, SHE SHOULD win teh oscar. she is teh best and het perform. was awsome.

PS: She's been nominated for 4 times and not 2, and never sh's won, I hope she'll get it this time!

I'm from Holland so Í have not seen being Julia en Million Dollar baby, but Kate, I Love her.

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[–] XaMgGbEx 20 years ago

CONGRATULATIONS Annette Bening on the Oscar nomination for BEING JULIA!!! Her third of her career! I am rooting for her because of her snub for AMERICAN BEAUTY(even though Hilary Swank was amazing on BOYS DONT CRY). And Again, Hilary was nominated for MILLION DOLLAR BABY. In my opinion, I saw the movie and I didnt think that her performance was difficult to play. Yes, Maggie Fitzgerald(Swank's role) was the "heart and soul" of the film, but Annette Bening's performance in BEING JULIA is more complex. She had to be funny at times, dramatic at times, angry, sad, just so many of all those emotions, etc.

THIS IS THE REMATCH OF THE CENTURY! FIve years ago, Annette Bening for AMERICAN BEAUTY(my favorite movie of all-time, btw) and Hilary Swank for BOYS DONT CRY(great movie). Hilary Swank won round one, but I think Annette Bening will win round two. Statistically, its going to be very hard for Swank to win another Oscar because only like ten women have done that in the past and that crowd is LEGENDARY(Vivien Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, Meryl Streep, Katharine Hepburn, etc)!!! That is a GARGANTUAN CROWD of women and I dont think Swank will make that list.

I'M PULLING FOR YOU, ANNETTE BENING!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

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[–] Vash2001 20 years ago

I have yet to see Million dollar baby, and Vera Drake has not been released in even one theater here, so I am going to base my opinion purely on what I thought of Bening's performance....She was FABULOUS! She absolutely carried the movie and the character seemed so real!

SPOILERS ahead..........

In this movie, at first she was just a successful actress who was going through mid life crisis, having affairs, etc. However, in that one scene with her 'son' (Roger) we see her as a mother for the first time. Later she 'finds' herself and she is so confident that she never acts like a victim when she finds out that her husband had been cheating on her. I found myself rooting for her halfway through the movie. The final stage scene was triumphant. IMO only Annette Bening could have pulled off this performance. She displays an unbelievable range of emotions, and different sides to her character. Her voice is absolutely masterful whether she is doing the stage scene or just a regular movie scene. I have been her fan for many years and I really hope this is her year to win the Oscar.

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[–] nomen_est_omen 20 years ago

I am quite happy that Bening has won the Golden Globe for her performance in this movie and I cross my fingers for her to win Oscar, too, she deserves it, because she's a great actress with humanity and has the ability to express emotions that make us a human. She's so normal, don't you think?

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[–] Dane_Green 20 years ago

I wish Uma Thurman was nominated... how sad.

Vote this film a 1-->http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057181/

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[–] Aquileia 18 years ago

I wish Annette Bening had won her richly deserved Best Actress Oscar for this movie. It was a terrible oversight on the Academy's part.

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[–] mike-aiello 15 years ago

While I like Annette Bening, I found her to be the weakest of the five in the lineup five years ago. Now, with that said, Annette surely did not deserve to lose to Hilary Swank a second time in a row. Ouch.

But Imelda Staunton and Kate Winslet were both better than Annette Bening, as I believe so was Catalina Sandino Moreno (though I know I'm in the minority on that one).

The reason Annette lost a second time to Hilary Swank was because even though she may have been Hilary's closest competition, there was no clear alternative to Hilary Swank, who was in the BP frontrunner at the time. Bening received votes from friends and colleagues she worked with over the years, whereas Kate Winslet probably received votes from Mendes, people that prefer quirky comedies, etc. Imelda Staunton certainly siphoned votes from the British block of the Academy, and Catalina Sandino Moreno received votes (I imagine) from the Hispanic community in Hollywood, as well as anyone that likes a fresh, new face or really likes foreign films.

Hilary was certainly a safe choice, but not a deserving one. But like I said, everyone else had positive things going for them. This was certainly one of the strongest Best Actress lineups in the last decade.

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