I doubt either Allen or Cruz will be nominated, the films are too small and too early. Especially Penelope since her film, is sadly getting mixed reviews even when most are praising her performance.

The New York Times:

"It is a beautifully made film - decorously composed, meticulously acted, cleanly photographed. But all of these qualities make it seem complacent and hypocritical when it wants to be honest and brave, and sentimental rather than emotionally daring. "

Rolling Stone:

"The film is a mesmerizing erotic odyssey given gravity and heart by Cruz. "

Variety:
"In his second outing as a director, top thesp Sergio Castellitto (also playing the surgeon) takes the viewer on an emotion-filled ride and brings a violently masculine perspective to the story. However, it is Penelope Cruz who gives the film's knockout performance. "

The Hollywood Reporter:
"[Cruz] gives an unforgettable portrayal of a beautifully raw and innocent woman whose capacity for love towers over all who would despoil her."

"An astonishing performance from Penelope Cruz, who speaks fluent Italian, and especially by Sergio Castellitto as the director and male lead."

""See what Cruz is capable of when not under overpowering commercial forces and with material that allows her to turn in one of her truest performances."

Don't Move opens in limiteddddd release today.

Wow. I didn't even know this had a set release date, let alone it be today.

I've been interested in this film for a long time, ever since I heard that Penelope Cruz (whom I've actually always liked) was actually good in it.

I agree, though. No real Oscar chances.

I did read somewhere that Penelope Cruz has agreed to do Pedro Almadovar's (sp?) next three films. That's probably a smart move for her. I'm not sure she's at her best in the traditional Hollywood film. Her best shot at an Oscar may actually come in a foreign film but I agree this isn't her year.

I hate to see her in so many blah roles year after year. When she has had so many great roles in Spanish (or non-english, for that matter)movies (Open Your Eyes, All About My Mother, La Nina de Tus Ojos, Jamon, Jamon, Belle Epoque) . I'm not sure if its just the language barrier or the fact that she's stuck in mostly crappy movies.

Filming begins in June for Volver her first film with Almodovar. Almodovar is one of my favorite directors (Open Your Eyes, The Others, want to see The Sea Inside). The two had grat resuls working together (Open Your Eyes) before. So I hope they have similarly good results with these new films. I just don't want to see soo many crappy movies from her when I know she's capable of doing better.

What movie is this?

It's called Don't Move.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0330702/

Wait.

Almodovar? You mean Amenabar?

Thanks! Not sure what to think of it...She is a good actress.

Hah. Yes. Like I said, he's one of my favorite directors. Just don't expect me to remember his name :razz:

While I still say a definite no...the movie seems to be recovring with critics as more reviews come in...

Los Angeles Times:

In a performance that amounts to a breakthrough, Cruz's Italia is as fiery as she is vulnerable, uneducated but possessed of the strength and wisdom of people who have survived an eternity of poverty.

Entertainment Weekly:
What does Timoteo see in the passive, bedraggled Italia? The answer is supplied by Penélope Cruz's first potent performance: She makes Italia touching in her hunger, as vulnerable as an exposed bone, a love object at once irresistible and doomed because she's so desperate to be healed. Told in a tricky flashback mode that's vivid even with a few too many temporal kinks, Don't Move is the sort of thing that Claude Chabrol was once praised for making with more pretension and a lot less less juice.

village Voice:
Don't Move is a movie of robust scenes.

Wall sTreet Journal:
Movies as strong and provocative as this one are a special pleasure.

I thought the movie was just ok (Made me want to pick up the book to see if I could understand then some character´s reactions better... if not at all) but Cruz and Castellito were pretty amazing, IMO.

Still, I agree, no Oscar chances. Too early, too small, too much to overcome.

Bumping this up because I am SURE that she will eventually get an Oscar nomination. And so this year I am turning my attention to Volver. It looks like it's already getting pretty good reviews in Spain and Variety calls Cruz's performance her best to date. So again the one thing working against her is that it's a foreign language film although since it's Almodovar that might not matter all too much. And either way I think it will be easier for her to get a nomination for a Spanish film than an English one..soo...

Along with Kate Winslet these are two actresses I'm pretty confident will be nominated this year.

Oscar and Cannes acting wins rarely overlap, but Cruz is getting some major attention, as is the film, for top awards at Cannes.

I always thought she was underrated (the problem was the english language), so I'm glad she's getting attention now.. specially from a Almodóvar movie


and she was great in Don't Move and Open Your Eyes...

penelope cruz is an awful actress, guys

bumping this thread up and turning it into a countdown to cruz winning an oscar.

In the next couple of years she'll have a supporting role (?) in Manolete from academy award nominated writer/director Menno Meyjes (The Color Purple) as well as a fourth film with Almodovar. There's also Elegy from Isabel Coixet (My Life Without Me) in which she co-stars with Ben Kingsley. So her choice in films seems to be getting a lot better after a handful of forgettable American films. With one nomination already under her belt, I think it's only a matter of time before she actually wins one

So I've decided this will be the year it finally happens for Cruz. I am predicting she will win the best supporting actress Oscar a few months from now for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Early reviews out of Cannes are singling her performance out as the standout in the film.

And so the countdown begins...

Yeah, unless VCB is totally ignored, Cruz will get Supporting Actress for this.
I'm so happy for her already.

Please let this come true!

Sounds like a nom is happening, but I somehow doubt by now that Allen will score an Oscar win with this film for anything...

The word from Cannes is positive enough that I think she could manage another nomination, though whether she can win remains to be seen.

I was looking through old threads to look at last year's winners and found this.


Looks like it's happening!

It's so odd how successful people around Tom Cruise have been Oscar wise, while he hasn't won yet:

1988 Rain Man (Dustin Hoffman wins the Oscar)

1993 The Firm (This film was with Holly Hunter, she won the Oscar for the Piano which came out later that year).

1997 Jerry Maguire (Cuba Gooding Jr. won the Oscar for his role, and Renee Zellweger had her breakout role in this film, before winning Oscar 6 years later).

2001 Vanilla Sky (Had Penelope Cruz, and he was dating her after this. There's a strong chance that she could win the Oscar this year).

2002: The Hours (Not a Tom Cruise film, but a year after their marriage ended, she won an Oscar).

2004 Collateral (Jamie Foxx starred in this with Cruise, and was in Ray later that year, which he won the Oscar for).

So based on this pattern, some actors/actresses that will be winning an Oscar soon could include Cameron Diaz, Colin Farrell, Ken Watanabe, Dakota Fanning, and Katie Holmes???

Third time was a charm.

and there stands a good chance that she'll be a double nominee this year.

Viva La Penelope.