The Hollywood Reporter Actress Roundtable: 2012 Oscars

Have you watched this year's Film Actress Roundtable from The Hollywood Reporter?  It's a good watch.  What I took away from it is that Amy Adams is very passionate about protecting her daughter from the paparazzi, that her often sweet exterior conceals.  Sally Field had the best stories (but also the most years in the industry), even though she rambled on sometimes.  She definitely had the best moment when she described how she had to fight to keep the role of Mary Todd when (presumably, though he doesn't name him) Liam Neeson  left Lincoln.  Marion Cotillard managed to get a director hired on a small project a few years back, only to learn how inept he was.  Rachel Weisz has avante-garde theatrical routes.  Naomi Watts hates to audition.  Anne Hathaway, the only non-mother in the group, wasn't as annoying as she can be during interviews (perhaps the group element had something to do with it).  She also claimed to have written a spy screenplay written with Field in mind.  I'm also liking Helen Hunt more and more.  I wasn't as excited as previous years, so I waited a few days to see it, but I'm glad to have finally viewed the hour-long segment.

I suppose it had something to do with the top-heavy Supporting Actress group.  Breaking down the numbers, out of the seven women, we probably have four of the likely supporting actress nominees (Anne Hathaway, Helen Hunt, Sally Field, Amy Adams), one of the likely lead actress nominees (Marion Cotillard), one who has a shot at lead (Naomi Watts), and one who has a very faint chance of getting into the lead race (Rachel Weisz).  Usually, the participant profile leans the other direction.  Perhaps it has something to do with some of the lead actress prospects this year not fitting into makeup of the panel.  I can't imagine how a six-year old (Quvenzhané Wallis) would add to the discussion.  And French actress Emmanuelle Riva hasn't done any English-language films, so perhaps her absence is a language-barrier issue.  Eventual winner Natalie Portman was involved two years ago, but last year's winner Meryl Streep was absent, so Jennifer Lawrence may have not been able to schedule it in while doing the Silver Linings promotional tour (which may suggest that an interview like this does very little for The AMPAS or the movie-going audience).  That would leave Keira Knightley and Helen Mirren, both of whom whose films also just opened and are probably actively involved in drumming up press.  Is it suspect that Jessica Chastain wasn't in attendance?  Or Judi Dench, Meryl Streep?  Pauline Collins?  Maggie Smith?  Jacki Weaver?  I'm surprised by Weisz presence over Chastain, only in terms of perception related to the race.  How have the previous years fared on prognostication?

2010
Lead winner Natalie Portman and fellow nominees Annette Bening and Nicole Kidman, as well as supporting nominees Helena Bonham Carter and Amy Adams.  Hilary Swank was also pushing for recognition in Conviction at the time.  Left out: Michelle Williams, Lawrence, Hailee Steinfeld, Weaver, and winner Melissa Leo.

2011
Lead nominees Viola Davis, Glenn Close, and Williams, as well as eventual supporting winner Octavia Spencer.  Charlize Theron was a near-miss for the lead category, as well as I'm sure Carey Mulligan was, as they were both quite brilliant.  Left out: winner Meryl Streep, Rooney Mara, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Janet McTeer, and Bérénice Bejo.