The Contenders:
- Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
- Julie Christie, Away from Her
- Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
- Laura Linney, The Savages
- Ellen Page, Juno
The Awful Truth's Ted Casablanca says: Julie Christie
Ellen Page would win this preening popularity contest were it a Student Film Awards at U.C. Berkeley or the MTV Movie Awards—which it ain't. 'Course. It's the Oscars, Ell, so I hope you wear something a bit more sophisticated than that little black funeral dress you've been throwing on for every ceremony thus far.
Cate Blanchett, always amazing, got the Ellen Burstyn: Nominated for Just Existing 'n' Emoting Award, since no one saw Elizabeth: the Golden Age, and those who did had nothing nice to say, save moi. Cate so rules, you evil bitches! That said, C.B.'s votes will all head toward that Best Supporting Actress nom for her more memorable drag act in I'm Not There.
Laura Linney's nominated once again for being the more responsible sibling having a hush-hush affair in yet another sister-brother family dramedy (You Can Count on Me déjà vu, anyone?), but she's outshined by every other jazz-hands-out performance around. Oscar-babe will be handed right over to Julie Christie, since she's (a) old, and (b) she played somebody with a mental disorder, all while looking simply ravishing with those long, silver locks.
And unless the Academy considers glam women in their golden years passé after Helen Mirren strutted her über-horny sexiness at last year's awards, then the glory's being sent à la carte straight to Marion Cotillard for playing, strike that, becoming Edith Piaf perfectly at every single age for every single damn song. But I still say the geriatric grabs it.