The BAFTAs are the last stop before the Oscars and as a result, the last indication of which way Academy voters might be leaning. Judging by their tally, Redmayne appears to have the upper hand. So what led to the changing tide between the Best Actor frontrunners and what could be the deciding factors in breaking their dead heat?
Historically, dramas do better at the Oscars than comedies and with “Birdman” having been labeled in the latter genre; Keaton is at a considerable disadvantage. That being said, the Oscars also tend to award Academy veterans and a good comeback story, Keaton is armed with both. Redmayne is a first time nominee and a young one. The Academy could reason he’ll be back later in his career.
A strong wager given he’s set to star in the upcoming and long-in-the-works drama “The Danish Girl”. Oscar voters could break tradition though. Age and cumulative nominations certainly didn’t hinder Jennifer Lawrence from claiming her golden statue.
One of the deciding factors that could come into play are the
two very different roles inhabited by each actor; one an original character whose career mirrors that of its star
(Keaton’s role) and the other a depiction of a real-life individual (Redmayne’s
role).
One is an interpretation and the other an impression. The quality of Redmayne’s performance is knowable; all you have to do is watch footage of Stephen Hawking to judge the execution of his portrayal. Keaton’s role is subjective and as result, far more nebulous in nature to determine the grade of its success. Of all the possibilities, one known certainty is that the BAFTAs have provided another illuminating piece to the Oscar puzzle.
One is an interpretation and the other an impression. The quality of Redmayne’s performance is knowable; all you have to do is watch footage of Stephen Hawking to judge the execution of his portrayal. Keaton’s role is subjective and as result, far more nebulous in nature to determine the grade of its success. Of all the possibilities, one known certainty is that the BAFTAs have provided another illuminating piece to the Oscar puzzle.
“Boyhood” Poised for
Major Win | It’s the gimmicky juggernaut that’s been piling up the awards.
“Boyhood” is 2014’s answer to that other feted gimmicky feature, “The Artist” a
one-off resurrection of the silent film. The highly publicized angle of
“Boyhood” is that it took director Richard Linklater 12 years to make his
coming of age drama. Due to its unusual production, the ordinary story of an
ordinary boy and his mundane existence has been making a push for Oscar long
before its release.
At the BAFTAs the film’s star, Ellar Coltrane, seemed to
address the wariness of some pundits in his acceptance speech for Best Film. The thing is,
award caliber films are supposed to be about extraordinary people doing
extraordinary things under (you guessed it) extraordinary circumstances.
If it weren’t, a movie centered on grass growing or paint drying could be next year’s big contender. Linklater is a skilled director and he deserved wider recognition for his outstanding 2011 crime dramedy “Bernie”, a movie worthy of a much warmer awards reception than it received. Making up for its snub by rewarding “Boyhood” isn't the way to right that wrong though.
If it weren’t, a movie centered on grass growing or paint drying could be next year’s big contender. Linklater is a skilled director and he deserved wider recognition for his outstanding 2011 crime dramedy “Bernie”, a movie worthy of a much warmer awards reception than it received. Making up for its snub by rewarding “Boyhood” isn't the way to right that wrong though.
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