Andrea Riseborough may not be a name familiar to the average moviegoer.
But chances are, your favorite actress from that movie you love knows exactly who she is. They want her to win an Oscar.
It’s a weird story, frankly — starting with “To Leslie,” a small indie film released in limited October, about what happens when a single mother wins the lottery and runs out of money. Riseborough played the titular Leslie, and her performance was widely hailed by critics as one of the best of her career.
Just last week, Riseborough was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, her first Oscar nomination.
But there are questions surrounding her nomination, which comes after a public push by several of Hollywood’s biggest names — think Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Adams. Now, without specifically mentioning Riseborough or “To Leslie,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has said it is looking into the process of this year’s campaign to make sure no rules were violated. (Contacting Academy members to promote films or solicit awards is prohibited.)
So dim the lights and cue suspenseful music. Here’s everything you need to know:
‘Fur Leslie’ Opens to Critical Reviews, But Little Attention
Until recently, most Americans hadn’t heard of “To Leslie.” The film, which premiered at South by Southwest in March, grossed just $27,000 during its limited run.
That changed this month when some of the biggest names in the film industry threw their support behind the film. Paltrow praised the film on Instagram, saying Riseborough should win every award, including “everything that hasn’t been invented yet.”
Adams, who moderated a conversation with Riseborough and director Michael Morris, called the film an “amazing feat of filmmaking.”
Kate Winslet, Jennifer Aniston, Edward Norton, and Charlize Theron have all publicly supported the film, either by screening or hosting discussions.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, other actors posted almost the same statement Stand up for the movie, calling it a “little movie with a huge heart.” Some people liken it to copy and paste work.
Riseborough’s grassroots movement isn’t new
While the celebrity-backed campaign isn’t strictly a grassroots campaign, the ones promoting Riseborough and “For Leslie” are similar to grassroots campaigns. It’s rare that a celebrity lends this type of support to a film they’re not in, which makes Riseborough’s meteoric rise unique.
But this isn’t the first time the actor has publicly tried to push the Oscars himself. Ten years ago, actress Melissa Leo had her own photoshoot and shot her own “For Your Consideration” ad. At the time, Leo was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 2010’s The Fighter.
“In a way, the whole award process was pimping,” she told The New York Times in 2011. Leo would go on to win the award.
Industry observers point out that canvassing is often an attempt to level the playing field — in this case, to draw attention to a small-budget, lesser-known film. The difference now is social media, making this push public rather than behind closed doors.
However, not every actor has the connections Riseborough has. Critics of the nomination point out that Viola Davis (“Queen”) and Danielle Deadwiler (“Till”), two black actresses considered frontrunners, were not nominated for the award . (Both films also drew larger audiences at the box office.)
Diversity issues in colleges have long been discussed and dissected. While Riseborough was not at fault for the snub, some pointed out that the campaign behind her showed just how strong it can be to have well-known white friends.
Academy survey sparks more talk
On Friday, the Academy announced it was “reviewing the campaign process” for this year’s nominees, according to a statement obtained by CNN.
The Academy did not single out Riseborough or the celebrity push for her nomination. But a lot of people are connecting the dots.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Christina Ricci, star of the Emmy-nominated show “Yellow Jackets,” called the Academy’s decision on the vetting process “very backward.”
“It seems very funny that a ‘surprise nomination’ (meaning it didn’t take a lot of money to position the actress) for a really great performance is being investigated,” she wrote, according to Deadline. “So just the movie and the cast Being able to afford these events deserves recognition? Feels elitist and exclusive.”
Whether Riseborough’s nomination will actually be overturned is far from certain. There is precedent — in 2014, composer Bruce Broughton was nominated for an Oscar for the title song “Alone Yet Not Alone,” but was later disqualified from the race.
Regardless of celebrity backing, Riseborough faces stiff competition from the likes of Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Cate Blanchett (Tár).
With the scrimmage over, one thing’s for sure: You’re going to need more popcorn.
CNN
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