For Your Consideration: Best Actress in a Leading Role

It is almost hard to believe that this blog series will be wrapping up soon, but nevertheless, the Oscars are a mere eleven days away. While the Academy might be making some questionable decisions lately about hosts and what they are actually airing during the ceremony, we still march onward. So far we have looked at the nominees for original song, directors, and actor in a leading role. We have had a few blind spots in our breakdowns due to having not seen a few of the nominees yet, but today that will not be the case. We are looking at our leading ladies, and I am personally proud to say that I have been able to view all of these performances.

So, without further ado, let’s break down these nominees and what led to them securing the nomination.

1) YALITZA APARICIO, ROMA

This is an unexpected nomination to a certain degree based on other award nominations this year, but Aparicio is the undisputed star of this film. This is her first acting role, and she is a heavy hitter in her portrayal of a live-in housekeeper. She moves hearts with every sweet interaction with the children, and she makes sure every one of Cleo’s emotions is felt by viewers. This film is not dialogue heavy, and she masters the power of nonverbal communication in this performance.

2) GLENN CLOSE, THE WIFE

This will be the performance that most people will have missed on this list, but The Wife is not to be ignored. This seemingly underwhelming drama is packed with layers, and Glenn Close gives one of the best performances of her life here. It takes a certain amount of skill to nail the explosive moments in a film, but it takes another to utilize silence and leverage nonverbal communication in every scene. Glenn Close delivers on both types of sequences, and she completely delivers on this complicated character and her underlying emotions.  

Also, her scenes with Jonathan Pryce hit a whole other level, and I genuinely cannot praise her performance here enough.  

3) OLIVIA COLMAN, THE FAVOURITE

I have seen Olivia Colman in a variety of roles through the years. I have seen her as a bitter detective and a quick-witted vicar’s wife, but this performance truly showcases her talent as an actress. She seesaws back and forth in this movie between a confident woman and a petulant child, and she achieves every emotion in between. She incorporates humor at the perfect moments, and every interaction between her, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weiss warrants her appearance on this list.

4) LADY GAGA, A STAR IS BORN

The story may not be new, but Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper both bring another dimension to this film. Lady Gaga obviously shines with every lyric she sings, and while her performances are fantastic, this was expected. However, she truly does bring Ally to life, and she captures the uncertainties and emotional turmoil of this character perfectly. Lady Gaga shines on her own, but every scene she has with Bradley Cooper is what truly secures her the nomination. Their chemistry in the film is magnetic, and they truly bring the best out of each other’s performances.

5) MELISSA MCCARTHY, CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?

This is Melissa McCarthy as you have never seen her before, and she is perfect in this role. The role allowed her to still showcase some of her well-known comedic chops, but it used it in a different way than her past roles. She is not stupid or silly; on the contrary, her lines are witty, caustic, and somehow makes her character endearing despite her prickly exterior. McCarthy delivers on the more dramatic moments as well. She and Richard E. Grant are magnetic on screen as an unlikely pairing, and between her interaction with him and the cat, this nomination is well-received.

Since we have given some thoughts on each nominee, who do we think will be taking home that golden statue?

Our Pick: At the end of the day, I think the category will go to Glenn Close. Admittedly, there is still a chance that Lady Gaga or Olivia Colman will swoop in with an upset, but overall, Glenn Close has been rocking this category. Having seen The Wife, she is mesmerizing on screen and makes the drama worth a watch.

So, stay tuned next week as we discuss the nominees from one final Oscars category!