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If I were a betting man, I’d have said Maggie Gyllenhaal’s performance opposite Jeff Bridges in Scott Cooper’s “Crazy Heart” was a sure-fire Best Supporting Actress contender. The role, after all, fits that unfortunately reductive “suffering spouse” template to a T, the sort that has fared well in this category in years past (Michelle Williams, Sophie Okonedo, Marcia Gay Harden — twice, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jennifer Connelly, etc.).
Well I’d have lost that bet. Fox Searchlight, perhaps due to that ever-present (and overstated) sense that the Best Actress field is “weak,” will be pushing Gyllenhaal as a lead for the film. And despite my reservations, I think she should be taken seriously.
This isn’t blatant category fraud, in my opinion, because Gyllenhaal has a healthy amount of screen time, we get plenty of her story — even if it’s always through the prism of Bridges’s Bad Blake character — and the truth is, it’s a pretty complex role.
Jean Craddock is a Santa Fe journalist writing for the local rag when Bad Blake blows into town for a two-night stand at a nearby hole in the wall. A mid-30s single mother who’s entire life, choices good and bad, is written on her face, the character is intriguing for the reflection of Bad Blake’s crossroads that she represents. She knows the danger of falling in love with an alcoholic, given the presence of a young boy who clearly needs a suitable make role model in his life, but the charm and charisma of the man prove too much.
In that way, the film really could be painted as a love story, the journey of two people and how their relationship paints their future. But this isn’t “Walk the Line” territory, and speaking purely from a personal level, I see the film as Blake’s story, one textured here and there by Braddock and her circumstances. But hey, what I think doesn’t matter. This is being framed similar to Sharon Stone’s role in “Casino” or Elizabeth Shue’s in “Leaving Las Vegas,” and it could pay off. Gyllenhaal certainly is something of a respite from the usual contenders in the category this year, but by my gauge, there is only one slot up for grabs here.
So add one more contender to the lead actress ranks. Gyllenhaal has been close in the past. Certainly she was deemed worthy by some for her work in “Secretary” and “Sherrybaby.” And if brother Jake gets a supporting notice for Jim Sheridan’s “Brothers,” and/or husband Peter Sarsgaard gets a notice for “An Education,” the Oscars could be a family affair for the actress this season.
For my thoughts on “Crazy Heart,” click here.
30 responses so far
1 11-11-2009 at 10:44 am
Jen said...
She deserves!
2 11-11-2009 at 10:53 am
Aaron said...
Kris, which best actress slot do you think is up for grabs? Either Helen Mirren’s or Saoirse Ronan’s?
3 11-11-2009 at 11:03 am
Kristopher Tapley said...
Ronan’s.
4 11-11-2009 at 11:20 am
Encore Entertainment said...
Well hypothetically they’re all up for grabs. I don’t why but I have a feeling that Streep/Sidibe/Mulligan won’t all get nominated.
5 11-11-2009 at 11:59 am
mark said...
i think the 5th spot is up for grabs sidibe,streep for either of her films,mulligan and mirren the new judi dench then 1 more from this lot
swank
cotillard
gyllenhaal
cruz
tautou
pfeiffer
monaghan
6 11-11-2009 at 12:18 pm
SHAAAARK said...
Yeah, it doesn’t seem like Cornish will be noticed now, especially considering she hasn’t campaigned much, and it looks like she won’t be able to.
7 11-11-2009 at 12:21 pm
JAB said...
I’m a HUGE fan of the Gyllenhaals, so this is great news! While I agree Kris that Best Actress is anything but a weak race this year, Supporting Actress is stacked in comparison.
8 11-11-2009 at 12:24 pm
JAB said...
oh and also:
Best Actress:
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Saiorse Ronan, The Lovely Bones
9 11-11-2009 at 12:42 pm
Benito Delicias said...
some people just don’t want to be nominated…or don’t want their actors to be.
I’m not saying it would’ve been a slam dunk or anything, I haven’t seen the movie, not many people have, but damn, it would’ve been much easier…
10 11-11-2009 at 12:42 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
Leaving off Mirren? Tsk tsk.
11 11-11-2009 at 1:10 pm
tim said...
Best Actress is definitely a safer bet than Supporting Actress at this time. Not only is Supp Actress stacked with possible nominees, but I think everyone can pretty much agree that Monique has already won the award. (though I’d prefer to see the long overdue Moore finally win)
12 11-11-2009 at 1:23 pm
tim said...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asPcQp-aKeQ&feature=player_embedded
Please someone tell me how this woman doesn’t have an Oscar or two already.
13 11-11-2009 at 1:47 pm
billybil said...
This is fresh and fascinating news that does, indeed, liven up this year’s Best Actress race.
M. Gyllenhaal is a very interesting actress. She’s always seemed extremely “real” looking to me and unique in her presence on screen. But for some reason (a myriad of impressions over time) I’ve felt that she was eager to be on the sidelines – happy to do quirky roles and then blockbuster roles. I suspect she could turn into quite an interesting American leading lady in films if she wants to be and gets the chance for a few more good roles.
If she gets the nomination this year we may be seeing the birth of a much larger career than I expected from her. In some ways, I feel like this nomination could have a more legitimizing affect on Gyllenhaal’s place in movies than on any other actress mentioned above (except probably for Monaghan). I mean, Mulligan is British and has already made such a huge impression as the fresh, new ingenue. She’s just starting and has the world at her feet, so to speak. But Gyllenhaal has been around a while and hasn’t yet been able to move into the higher “court” of film actresses. A nomination could definitely help put her there. Very interesting.
I do so wish Monaghan, Pfeiffer and Cornish were still really viable options as nominees. I like it when there are 8 – 10 really strong contenders so that there’s some true suspense on the morning of the nominations (so long as Meryl ALWAYS gets one of the slots if it’s even remotely justifiable – and how often is it not?)
14 11-11-2009 at 1:55 pm
BerkeleyGirl said...
Understatement of the Year: “the long overdue Moore”
15 11-11-2009 at 2:14 pm
leonardo said...
Sorry, but i don’t see Maggie in the top five this year ( But i agree she is a great actress ), because the movie looks like is all around Jeff Bridges, his character seems pretty heavy.
So far, it looks like four safe places: Streep, Mulligan, Sidibe and Mirren, and number five is between Ronan, Cornish, Cotillard and even Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side.
16 11-11-2009 at 2:26 pm
Hans said...
Both Gyllenhaals with nominations?
Quiz time!
Who are the only two pairs of siblings to receive Oscar nominations in the same year as each other?
17 11-11-2009 at 2:33 pm
Ivan said...
My line up predict
Carey Mulligan/An Education
Gabourey Sidibe/Precious
Meryl Streep/Julie & Julia
Helen Mirren/The Last Station
Saoirse Ronan/The Lovely Bones
18 11-11-2009 at 2:52 pm
Speaking English said...
***Who are the only two pairs of siblings to receive Oscar nominations in the same year as each other?***
Redgraves.
19 11-11-2009 at 2:56 pm
Guy Lodge said...
And Olivia De Havilland and Joan Fontaine.
20 11-11-2009 at 3:12 pm
Paul Outlaw said...
“Who are the only two pairs of siblings to receive Oscar nominations in the same year as each other?”
Besides the Coen brothers?
When Joan Fontaine won Best Actress for Suspicion, she beat Olivia de Havilland in Hold Back the Dawn.
21 11-11-2009 at 3:25 pm
Guy Lodge said...
I assume Hans meant in the acting categories only. Otherwise one could add Francis Ford Coppola and Talia Shire, the Epstein twins, the Gershwin brothers, etc.
22 11-11-2009 at 3:44 pm
MouseRat said...
Yea. I dont see Gyllenhaal getting in. And i have a feeling Nine and Lovely Bones will live up making way for ROnan and Cotillard to take the last 2 spots w/ Mulligan, Streep, and Sidibe.
23 11-11-2009 at 4:28 pm
par3182 said...
1975: warren beatty (best original screenplay – shampoo) and shirley maclaine (best documentary feature – the other half of the sky)
24 11-11-2009 at 5:02 pm
Hans said...
My bad, I did mean the acting categories. Very interesting to see the other pairs of siblings get in over the years.
25 11-11-2009 at 5:11 pm
The Other James D. said...
She would’ve had an easier time making it in supporting, but I suppose there’s still hope. I’d say at this point, the fifth slot is between Cotillard and Gyllenhaal. My money is on Cotillard at the moment, but I’d like to see Gyllenhaal be an Oscar nominee.
It would be *even better* if both she AND her hubby Sarsgaard became nominees.
Next Trivia: Name the other couples to get simultaneous acting nods in whatever given year (married and/or just together–your choice).
26 11-11-2009 at 5:58 pm
Guy Lodge said...
Hmm, as far as married couples go (there are so many “just together” examples), I can think of Burton and Taylor, and Sinatra and Gardner. (I don’t think Olivier and Leigh were married at the time of the 1939 Oscars.)
I know I’m forgetting something painfully obvious.
27 11-11-2009 at 6:21 pm
The Other James D. said...
That’s true, Guy; I just had a feeling someone would want to mention Brangelina–ya know, the one that shouldn’t have happened. Double.
But anyway, I can’t hold my tongue!: Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne–both nominated for 1931’s “The Guardsman” =).
28 11-11-2009 at 11:34 pm
Paul Outlaw said...
Diane Keaton & Woody Allen
Diane Keaton & Warren Beatty
29 11-12-2009 at 2:46 pm
Patryk said...
Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman for “Rachel, Rachel” in 1968. She for Best Actress, he for Best Picture.
30 11-14-2009 at 4:53 am
Simon Warrasch said...
My favorites of 2009 are:
Ashley Judd in Helen
Tilda Swinton in Julia
Gabby Sidibe in Precious
Birgit Minichmayer in Everyone Else
Charlotte Gainsbourg in Antichrist
The Nominees – i think – will be:
Gabby Sidibe in Precious
Helen Mirren in The Last Station
Carey Mulligan in An Education
Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart
Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia
Alt.:
Hilary Swank in Amelia
Abbie Cornish in Bright Star
Saoirse Ronan in The Lovely Bones
Marion Cotillard in Nine
Tilda Swinton in Julia
Michelle Monaghan in Trucker