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So lets take stock of whats habitually the most dramatic of the four acting races: Best Actress!
As we get into the thick of the season, two women appear to have pulled ahead.
But this is also a race thats seensome shocking upsets, so prepare for expectations to be upended.
The best explanation is that herNyadperformance hit the sweet spot for the Academys meat and potatoes voters.
Finally, dont overlook the fact that, as one writer-director told me, People vote for their friends.
Bening, who is on the Academys Board of Governors, has a lot of friends.
(Though given the juries … truly, who knows.)
The arguments for Stone are legion.
She turns in a showy, physical performance, making a difficult transformation look effortless.
(It must be said that not everyone finds itquite so uplifting.)
Still, shes won before, andnot that long ago.
While thats not always a deal-breaker for voters, it does cut down on Stones Whynow?
She plays second fiddle to Leonardo DiCaprios character.
Shes absent for long stretches in the films final act.
She doesnt wow you with a transformation.
One womans performance is voter catnip; the other has the perfect narrative.
Whichever triumphs will be a sign for where the Academy is heading as it approaches its centenary.
An Oscar for Casting!
Starting with the 2026 ceremony, the Oscars willhand out a trophy for Best Casting.
Maybe this is the Academy getting them back for snubbing Greta Gerwig?
So far, that varies by precursor.
Two other ceremonies give prizes just to the casting director.
(They also have a Zeitgeist Award.)
I like the addition, not least because it gets us back up to a nice round 24 categories.
Thatd be a win for everyone.
(Except for the Shorts filmmakers, but they knowwhattheydid.)
Perfect Daysis about as unimpeachable a piece of art-house cinema as youll see.
(Whose first chairman, incidentally, was asuspected war criminal.)
