Glenn Close’s Oscar Chances
I’m slightly puzzled as to why some Oscar bloggers continue to believe that Glenn Close can win the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in “Albert Nobbs,” which has a new trailer. Just because you cross-dress doesn’t mean you step to the podium. As to the notion that, with 5 previous noms, Glennie is way-overdue: well, that’s true, but “overdue” isn’t sufficient for grabbing the gold. Glennie’s case would be helped if the movie were strong enough to result in a Best Picture nom, but the reviews for it out of Telluride were mixed at best. (Even when women win Oscars in movies that weren’t Best Pic-nommed — Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank in “Boys Don’t Cry” — the movies themselves generally have strong reviews.) There was more collective excitement for the performance of Janet McTeer than for Glennie’s. (Oddly, McTeer barely registers in the trailer: is someone trying to crowd out her chances?) Having said all this, I’m not fool enough to say Glenn can’t win. If Meryl is once again overlooked, and the Academy doesn’t recognize the greatness of Viola Davis in “The Help,” then Glenn could step to the podium. It would save the Academy from having to give her a Lifetime Achievement award a few years hence.
