Best Actress 2013: Robin Weigert, Concussion

Is it me, or did Sundance 2013 appear to be overtaken by movie stars this year in a way that it hasn't been in the past?  Or, perhaps it's hard not to view it that way through the prism of searching for Best Actress contenders.  The past few years at the Utah film event have given us some fresh new names: Quvenzhané Wallis, Jennifer Lawrence, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, and Melissa Leo.  As well, there have been recognizable women, yet, known slightly more for their skill than star status: Michelle Williams, Annette Bening, Laura Linney, Julie Christie.  Now, if you're keeping score, that's nine nominations over the course of six Oscar seasons.  (Please correct me if I hav any of these wrong or are missing any.)  If 2011 had been a weaker year, we may have at least seen one with Elizabeth Olsen or Felicity Jones.  This year, we have some new faces that may put up a convincing campaign including Robin Weigert (Concussion) and Shailene Woodley (for The Spectacular Now, who narrowly missed out on a nod a year ago for The Descendants and is about to break with the Divergent franchise).  We also have a more familiar name, the talented Julie Delpy who may come close or make it into the final five a year from now, depending on the overall love for the "Before" series.  With Amanda Seyfried, we have a young actress, who, thus far, has been capable, but whose talents have been outshown by her beauty and star power.  Her film Lovelace debuted at Sundance to decent, if unspectacular reviews.  While it may be a stretch, it doesn't hurt to consider longshots like Keri Russell (Austenland) or Robin Wright (the Two Mothers' costar Naomi Watts has a much baitier project on the horizon), both of whom whose films have been purchased by distributors.

All six films have been acquired, actually.  SPC scooped up Austenland for $4M and Midnight for an undisclosed amount.  TWC's new distribution arm RADiUS-TWC bought Lovelace for $3M and Concussion for $1M.  Exclusive Releasing picked up Two Mothers for an undisclosed amount.  For shits and giggles, I also looked up their current IMDb scores: Before Midnight (9.1 with by far the most votes thus far), Concussion (7.9), The Spectacular Now (7.6), Two Mothers (6.5), Lovelace (6.2), and Austenland (5.6).  Based on sale prices and general impression, it seems that Delpy stands the best chance on paper to make it into the final five a year from now; I'd put Seyfried in second.

While Concussion received good word of mouth at Sundance, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and acquired by RADiUS-TWC, the movie collected few reviews. I guess no one saw it coming.  It will be showing in Berlin this month and already has a presence on the internet through social media.  People who saw it mostly spoke highly of it in blurbs, but they were few and far between. With its studio acquisition, that may be neither here nor there. The movie deals with a somewhat unlikeable woman (Robin Weigert) who, after an accident, develops a second life of sexual exploration beyond her relationship with her partner.  In her first feature, Stacie Passon wrote and directed the film. Rose Troche (Go Fish) was one of the producers.  

THR says that "Weigert is convincing as Abby."  SL TRIB: "Weigert ... gives a performance that's revelatory in more ways than one."  Roof Top Films: "... the wonderful performance by ... Weigert ... (best known as Calamity Jane on Deadwood) ... perfectly embodies Abby’s transformation physically and mentally in an endearing, real and beautiful way."