Up close: How Brad could be nommed for lead actor
Paramount Vantage just gave us the rundown of how names appear in the closing credits of "Babel," which opens in theaters on Nov. 10. Thus, this is the same way they'll appear under the heading of "Babel" in the reminder list sent to members of the academy's acting branch when they vote on Oscar nominees.
Brad Pitt
Cate Blanchett
Gael García Bernal
Kôji Yakusho
Adriana Barraza
Rinko Kikuchi
Since movies appear alphabetically, "Babel" will be near the top of the reminder list. And since Brad's name appears at the top of that list, many voters are likely to put him in the lead race instead of supporting. Since actors are listed in the order in which their names appear in a film's closing credits, this is surely how "Whale Rider" star Keisha Castle-Hughes was recently nommed for lead actress even though she — like Brad — declared in the supporting race.
(Photos: Newmarket/ Paramount Vantage)
That's some asinine logic. Castle-Hughes was nominated in lead because she was overwhelmingly the lead of her film, it had nothing to do with billing. They made the switch because it was where she belonged. Academy members aren't going to see Brad billed first and assume he's lead. They'll have seen the direction of the campaign and where other awards shows placed him and that's where they'll put him. Whale Rider is a completely irrelevant example to this situation. The obvious precedent for this situation is George Clooney (what do you know, first billed) in Syriana last year.
Posted by: Nick | October 20, 2006 at 10:39 PM
brad pitt has a really strong chance in supporting.
Posted by: sara | October 19, 2006 at 07:19 AM
True, but they didn't have at least five other actors in the film with equally sizable/stand-out roles. Anyway, hats off to you for making a bold prediction---I look forward to seeing it play out!
Posted by: Scott Feinberg | October 19, 2006 at 03:39 AM
Yes, I've seen the movie, but Brad has a lot more face time than Nicole Kidman and Anthony Hopkins who both WON in the lead races!
Posted by: Tom O'Neil | October 18, 2006 at 10:18 PM
Tom, have you SEEN the movie? It is basically equally divided into three storylines with several characters sharing each of those. I hate to be repetitive, but since you are making another post about this matter, on what basis can you claim Pitt or any of the ensemble will be considered lead when they are all small, supporting roles weaved together? This is not to take anything away from Pitt's performance, but anyone who sees the movie and then votes will be thinking the same thing when they fill out their ballot. I just want to understand your reasoning...
Posted by: Scott Feinberg | October 18, 2006 at 05:39 PM