The possibility of winning the Oscar and the Razzie in the same year is becoming very real indeed... (and there's a first time for everything, afterall...):


" . . . Demi Moore as a drunken lounge singer, and Sharon Stone as the hotel beautician. All are superb. I would say Stone is a revelation, but her acting chops have always been superior; too often in the tall shadow of her glamour. Here she allows herself to look startlingly harsh. Free of vanity, she walks off with the movie. Her scene with Moore is one of the most compelling interplays between two mature leading ladies I've ever seen." (I totally agree btw - she's always been underrated because of some of her choices)

Liz Smith, New York Post

__________

Roger Friedman, eheh:

"Her performance in "Bobby," Emilio Estevez's film about the day Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles at the Ambassador Hotel, is going to win her Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Sharon plays the hotel's hairdresser, who is also married to hotel manager, played by William H. Macy. In many ways, she is the anchor of the multiple-character drama, and she does her job with unexpected skill. "


"Stone nearly steals the movie with an understated turn as a hotel hairdresser. It’s the best work she’s ever done and should get her lots of award attention. Put her now on the short list for Best Supporting Actress ..."


_____________

"The upcoming movie Bobby will remind everyone (including, we hope, Oscar) that she's an amazing actress."

By James Patrick Herman Senior Entertaiment Editor
In Style Magazine.

_____________

"The cast are uniformly terrific, but stand-outs include Stone, Moore (their scene together is fantastic)..."


Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

_____________

"Standouts are Stone and, surprisingly enough, Lohan. Both add raw emotional resonance to their complex characters and involving stories."


Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

I feel like they're going to have to nominate Bobby for something, and I think it's best chance is probably a Best Supporting Actress nomination fore Sharon Stone.

Yep, she's the one I have listed in my predictions for a nomination. Poor Demi Moore.

bobby will geta best pic nom. it has the most effective finals scenes ive seen since united 93, and before that, i cannopt remember a film.

Rinko Kikuchi *needs* to be nominated. 2006's Kilcher.

I totally agree with you.

*Updated*

Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel
Sharon Stone, Bobby

1. Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
2. Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
3. Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
4. Vera Farmiga, The Departed
5. Angelina Jolie, The Good Shepherd

6. Emma Thompson, Stranger Than Fiction
7. Maggie Gyllenhaal, World Trade Center
8. Adriana Barraza/Rinko Kikuchi, Babel
9. Carmen Maura, Volver
10. Shareeka Epps, Half Nelson

Commentary Here.

I think Shareeka Epps is appearing on enough articles, nominations lists, awards and stuff to be in serious contention... especially given the (surprising) weakness of the category this year.

This is a somewhat...strange...category this year.

Right now:

Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel
Vera Farmiga, The Departed

I'm still thinking Sharon Stone has a shot... (might be wishful thinking )


Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel
Sharon Stone, Bobby


alt: Shareeka Epps, Carmen Maura

Newsweek's review of Dreamgirls:

With her powerhouse voice, Hudson turns this Henry Krieger/Tom Eyen song into a heartbreaking yelp of anguish so potent one preview audience gave it a standing ovation. That's not supposed to happen in movie theaters.

Has there ever been so much buzz for a supporting performance?

I can't really think of one in recent memory.

I also cannot fathom who else could possibly come close to eclipsing Hudson at this point in the category. It feels like about as much of a sure thing as previous supporting winners like Jennifer Connelly and Catherine Zeta-Jones were.

Speaking of Connelly, if reviews pick up for Blood Diamond, she may sneak in. I'd put her on a shortlist of 10.

You know who should really be nominated for Best Supporting Actress?

Emily Blunt for The Devil Wears Prada. I don't know why they're not campaigning her more, she was completely hilarious.

Pre-Globe predictions:

Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Catherine O'Hara, For Your Consideration
Emma Thompson, Stranger Than Fiction

Hudson is Lockity Locked here for a nom and thisclose to a win, barring a major Dreamgirls backlash. Blanchett (Notes) and O'Hara are close to locked as well (However, O'Hara is apparently Lead at the Globes, so watch out). Thompson is also gaining speed. And Breslin SERIOUSLY needs to get more awards before she can be considered close to a lock.

As for those waiting in the wings. Of the Babel girls, Kikuchi probably has the edge over Barraza, as she's younger, has a disability and apparently gets naked/flashes random dudes, always a plus with men in the Academy. Vera Farmiga still has a shot at riding the Departed train to a nom, like Marcia Gay Harden with Mystic River or Queen Latifah with Chicago. And if Breslin somehow gets forgotten, Shareeka Epps might take the Child Actor slot.

Supporting Actress sometimes have completely random winners like Marcia Gay Harden and Marissa Tomei, so I think it's possible that a nominee with no pre-cursor love can end up winning.

Is there any merit to this after her Golden Globe nomination?

Why not? The supporting categories only have 5 people unlike the leading ones

And she was awesome

And the category, other than Jennifer Hudson, is pretty up in the air

AND SHE WAS AWESOME

LA Times had a feature article written about Emily Blunt recently, so that will only serve to help her momentum, especially after the coming DVD release date. With all the momentum Prada has been getting, I don't think Streep will be its lone Oscar nomination, so Blunt definitely makes sense.

I mean, really, Prada cannot be ignored with its: excellent reviews and box office (almost 80% at Rotten Tomatoes and $125M domestically), a DVD release two days ago, placement on the top 10 on both AFI and NBR lists, Best Picture nomination, consistent buzz for Streep, etc.

"The details of your incompetence do not interest me."

Yeah, unfortunately I really doubt she is going to be recognized. Count the Globe as a blessing.

Rinko Kikuchi better take the damn Oscar home. I'm so sick of Oscar overlooking the breakout stars of the year - "But they have a whole career ahead of them!" - when they are often the most memorable aspect of the film they made a standout. Babel, The New World, and, yes dammit, The Crying Game (my version of the panacea). These players won't be back in a Hollywood production because they are anything but Hollywood. That's why they are so fresh, so great. They need to be cherished when they pop up, which is hardly enough.

I like the Emily Blunt nomination a lot; I thought she was pretty hilarious.

But yeah, in terms of Oscar, I don't think Prada is going any further than Streep's nom.

I wouldn't count out Blunt as easely... she reminds me of Joan Cusack somehow




Locks:

Hudson
Blanchett
Kikuchi


Then we have:

Barraza
Blunt
O'Hara
Breslin
Stone
Thompson
Epps


I'm predicting:


Hudson
Blanchett
Kikuchi
O'Hara
Blunt

Yeah

You may recall Joan Cusack got a nomination in this category for In & Out nine years ago.