Best Actress 2013: Nicole Kidman, Grace of Monaco

Now that Deadline reports TWC is finalizing details on a distribution deal with Grace of Monaco, it appears that Nicole Kidman will be throwing down for lead this year instead of next.  Harvey Weinstein may be funding the campaigns for what might be the two frontrunners for Best Actress.  My initial hunch was that it would be another year before Grace of Monaco hit.  Filming wrapped not too long ago.  And it was not unheard of for a movie to prepare for such a lengthy post-production period.  In fact, Nicole Kidman's The Hours wrapped early Spring 2001 and didn't hit theaters until over 1 1/2 years later.  Director Olivier Dahan finished La vie en rose about this time of year and then debuted his film a year later in Berlin, with a Spring opening that maintained buzz for the rest of its release year.  And, I figured Kidman wouldn't go against her Hours costar Meryl Streep, as well as her bestie Naomi Watts--who is also playing a princess--in a year top-heavy with Best Actress biographies.  She's more fearless that we anticipate.  Still, even based on a real-life figure, was Grace Kelly such a compelling figure off stage?  On screen, she was a movie star with a special quality that induced gawking.  But, the perceived lack of the extreme drama Oscar loves to lap up instills little faith that the wait will be worth it for Kidman.  And, with lensing finished, will she quit the Botox now that it's no longer necessary for her to look 32 years of age in the context of her artistry?  And, how much mileage will her detractors get out of making a big deal of the gap?  And, how shrewd were the timing of the distribution announcement and first official pictures?

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