Swank's 'Amelia' Performance Gets First Oscar Kiss

Twelve women have earned 26 of the 82 Academy Awards for Best Actress, but only one of them - Katharine Hepburn - has more than two Oscars in that category. Her fourth win was for On Golden Pond. It is not outside the realm of possibility that Hilary Swank could make history with her third Oscar in ten years thanks to her work in Amelia, due in theaters this weekend. While Hepburn was nearly 62 when she picked up Oscar number three (The Lion in Winter), Swank is only 35 and seems likely to receive a nomination for portraying the legendary Amelia Earhart, although I had not really considered her a front runner, precisely because she's won twice already. If Meryl Streep can't win three... But in its review of Amelia, The Hollywood Reporter says Swank just might have the inside track:

"Freckle-faced, prairie-voiced and fiercely independent, Hilary Swank's depiction of aviator Amelia Earhart in Mira Nair's biographical film Amelia is of a high order. It ranks with recent real-life portrayals of Ray Charles by Jamie Foxx and Truman Capote by Philip Seymour Hoffman and could be similarly awards-bound."

One review doesn't boost her to the front of the line, but that's not bad company to keep. Of course, the film does come from Fox Searchlight, which has managed to do OK in the Academy Awards derby over the past several years. Plus, the voters do love their bio-pics. Although there's not a dearth of potential nominees in this category - especially with the heat being directed on Carey Mulligan for An Education - previous winners/nominees tend to stand out in an even pack, which gives Swank an advantage if there's no clear-cut winner.

Comments

[Wickedlycool]

SHIT! IF SWANK WINS ANOTHER OSCAR I WILL SLIT MY WRISTS!

[Reality Check]

You'll slit your wrists if Swank wins another Oscar? Swank was brilliant in Million Dollar Baby--totally convincing. Why would anyone be surprised if she wins again for playing Amelia, another fiercely determined, independent female? It doesn't hurt that she looks as closely the part as Jamie Foxx did Ray Charles. Get your knife ready.

[george]

she seems to shine most in roles that are boyish and "rough" like in her two previous Oscar winning performances. she's good but seems limited in range. She may get nominated but I doubt that she'll get a third win - unless its a jaw-dropping performance, particularly if it would mean snubbing Meryl yet again. so perhaps the knife can safely stay in the kitchen drawer.

[Yavor]

not this time, it's simply one review, and the previous comment was quite relevant, she is a limited actress and she shouldn't have won in 2004, Kate Winslent, who shouldn't have won for The Reader this year totally deserved her oscar for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; Miss Masculine was helped by the fact that Million Dollar Baby suits the rather conservative academy voters' taste. I'm absolutely sure she'll get nomination and twice as sure she'll loose :) just wait and see.

GO MERYL!!!

[MerylLove]

Im with Wickedly cool. If Swank gets her 3rd Oscar before Meryl the world is officially over and i too will slit my wrist! Meryl has been robbed of her Oscar many many times already. Give her her freaking well deserved Oscar already!!!

[mr mike]

meryl all the way...she deserves it,,hilary will get another shot. no one is better than streep.

[Get The Big Picture]

I've now seen the film; Swank's not winning shit.

[Cheryl]

And the winner is...MERYL STREEP!!!! Meryl as Julia Child was without a doubt THE BEST!!!! Meryl...all the way to the Oscars!