Isabelle Huppert was much better than both Portman and Stone in Elle.
Huppert IS fantastic. However, she missed out on a SAG nomination, her film is ineligible at the BAFTAs, and ELLE is not one of the finalists for Foreign Film at the Oscars. Oscar wins are so much about momentum now, which is why there are rarely if ever surprise wins in major categories. If she were to pull off an upset at the Globes, making the final five for Best Actress with the Academy is still an uphill battle. And if she does pull off a nomination, she'll be in third at best.
I saw Jackie today and I was less than impressed. There were moments of striking brilliance performance wise and some breathtaking visuals, but the film as a whole left me cold. I've seen better cinematic depictions of grief (hell, I thought Rabbit Hole was better in that respect) and again I think much of the films power was cribbed from the blending of stock footage and sentimentality of the iconic images. I think that is cheating a little.
Also, I came away feeling like the takeaway was that Jackie was a fraud. This seemed odd. Yes, I get the film was about facades but it felt hollow. I know very little about Jackie and this film gave me little to no insight into her. Even a grieving woman in a hurricane has more depth, especially the controlling one being interviewed. I don't even feel the film gave her much dignity.
At 90 minutes I found the film a slog. I adore Portman but I found it her most superficial performance. At times she sounded like Drew Barrymore's Little Edie complete with "You understand?" and other times no accent. She went from zombiefied to hysterical. It got old quick. I found the screenplay lackluster. Portman limped from one scene to another. If you look on rotten tomatoes, critics love it, audiences are more critical and not really getting it so much.
I thought Richard E Grant as the decorator was a sympathetic standout
I always enjoy your reviews...Who do you like for Best Actress this year?
Greta Gerwig was the standout for me. If the world were just, she should be a huge star.
We're seeing it soon so I'm withholding judgement on the film itself, but our dear friend that cuts our hair, is also area union hair/wig master/etc. He works on "Turn" "Mercy St." "House Of Cards", basically any movie also. He said this was a tough shoot for realism for costume and hair.
Apparently there is one scene wear Jackie sees herself in storefront windows. He said that was a really tough day; but happily he was able to do "A Christmas Story" that night. We haven't seen anything yet; I'm just wondering what order for Fences, LaLa, Manchester, Jackie, and the Hidden Figures.
Happy Holidays to all my friends here and to all! Happy CHR-KWA-Hannukmas and of course, it's Festivus For The Rest Of Us!
east side story said: "Huppert IS fantastic. However, she missed out on a SAG nomination, her film is ineligible at the BAFTAs, and ELLE is not one of the finalists for Foreign Film at the Oscars. Oscar wins are so much about momentum now, which is why there are rarely if ever surprise wins in major categories. If she were to pull off an upset at the Globes, making the final five for Best Actress with the Academy is still an uphill battle. And if she does pull off a nomination, she'll be in third at best.
****
Is she BAFTA eligible for Things to Come?
I expect Huppert has a very good chance of getting an oscar nod. It is hard to imagine anyone longer overdue for a nomination than her. If she is nominated, and if enough voters see the movie, it is still an uphill road. But her work in Elle, and the movie itself, no matter what one thinks of it, so singularly courageous, that she could possibly pull it off.
^ Agreed Henrikgerman. It's also a brilliant reversal on the type of role that she has played previously.
And she is WAY overdue for an Oscar. I mean, all of these movies I felt she was at least deserving of a nomination:
Amour
White Material
Gabrielle
The Piano Teacher
8 Women
The School of Flesh
Heaven's Gate
La Cérémonie
The Time of the Wolf
Story of Women
Every Man for Himself
Her not being nominated for any of these, Fantod, shocks the conscience. Her work with Chabrol in Story of Women and La Ceremonie is unforgettable. And what a surprise and delight it was to see her high clowning - her campy shift from frump to high glamor - in Eight Women (like a Carol Burnett-enchanted Huppert under the direction of an Almodovar-possessed Ozon). Every single acting move she makes in Elle is at once startlingly unexpected and utterly truthful.
Honestly, I've never really liked Isabelle Huppert. To me, she's always Isabelle Huppert. Even in 8 Women I'm very much aware that I'm watching Isabelle Huppert. I already feel like she's always acting in quotation marks, so in 8 Women it's like she's acting within quotation marks within quotation marks (I love that movie, though).
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