Oscar Predictions: Did Melissa Leo Ruin Her Chances?

ew.com:

Since my last round of predictions, two major Oscar-related events have taken place. The Writers Guild Awards were handed out to The Social Network and Inception, and Melissa Leo released her own (now controversial) campaign ads. Though Leo has been applauded by some for her chutzpah, I've talked to a few Academy members who now say they're less likely to vote for her after the faux-fur-filled photos.

Read the whole story: ew.com

Comments

[judgeinmillvalley]

02:07 PM on 02/22/2011

So what does an ad have to do with the performance? The Oscars are all about the campaign--glad handing and careful press. This is a disgusting story--that now they won't vote for her because of the ads?

[Slrute]

01:05 PM on 02/15/2011

I saw the articles about Melissa Leo campaigning for the Oscar before I saw the movie, 'The Fighter'. I didn't read the articles so I had no idea who Melissa Leo was, or for which role in which movie she was campaigning, but my initial reaction to the 'campaigning' was that it was in poor taste.
When I did see 'The Fighter' (this past weekend), not only did I still not know who Melissa Leo was, I completely forgot I was watching 'acting' whenever Melissa Leo graced the screen.
Now my reaction to her campaigning for the award isn't that it is in bad taste, it's 'why oh why do you think it's necessary for you to campaign?!!
MELISSA LEO FOR THE WIN!

[mallsta]

12:37 PM on 02/15/2011

She will now by synonymous with the word "consider," LOL.

[alicam]

10:31 AM on 02/15/2011

Advertising for consideration is really tacky and should be banned. This country doesn't need anymore lobbying. That said, Leo is a very good actress. (I remember her from Homicide). And she looks really good now; looks like she had some work done.

[judgeinmillvalley]

02:08 PM on 02/22/2011

Alicam, whatever the ads, isn't the award all about the performance? And if you believe that, you can line up for some bridges.

[WakingLife]

02:48 AM on 02/15/2011

The "problem" last year was that Mo'Nique didn't campaign enough.

Now Melissa Leo is doing too much?

[blukazoo]

04:23 PM on 02/14/2011

Seems a little desperate, but I don't know if it can hurt her chances.

[Anne Mccormick]

01:31 PM on 02/14/2011

who knows? i suppose we'll all find out when the awards are announced

[brueso10]

01:10 PM on 02/14/2011

Melissa Leo is an 'actor's actor'- meaning that her talent and dedication to her craft are apparent to actors and she delivers. Since actors are the ones who vote for actor Oscars, they're not going to be as effected by the catty comments of the sideline quarterbacks. She still might not win, but if she doesn't, it isn't going to be about this.

[onionboy]

01:42 PM on 02/15/2011

And if she wins, it will be for last year's performance in Frozen River. That's where she really got to shine.

[pbnyc59]

03:21 PM on 02/15/2011

When picking the nominees people only vote for their field, actors for actors, writers for writers, ect. The best picture is the only field open to all. For the Oscar win in two weeks all 5,500 members vote in all categories. Not just actors for actors, like with the nominees.

[bdinchi]

09:31 AM on 02/14/2011

I don't think there will be any surprises on Oscar night. She's won all the major acting awards in the supporting actress category (Golden Globe and SAG). So, I'm pretty sure she'll win the Oscar, too (SAG and Oscar acting voters are the same people!).

[alicam]

10:38 AM on 02/15/2011

If the same people vote for SAG and Oscar, why not just eliminate one. Hollywood is so full of itself. I hate all these award shows. A bunch of snotty, overpaid, self-important wannabe thespians patting each other on the back. They all suck--Oscar, SAG, Writer's Guild, Golden Globes, etc). Get a life, Hollywood, and some talent while you're at it.

[pbnyc59]

03:12 PM on 02/15/2011

SAG is the Actors union, only actors vote and are awarded. The Oscars are in all film categories.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

03:02 AM on 02/14/2011

Do a test. Ask Academy voters what they hate the most.....the rapist Roman Polanski, or Melissa Leo wearing fake fur.

[Craig 212]

02:37 AM on 02/14/2011

The performances are the only things that should be judged, but that's never the case.

[tster1965]

10:13 PM on 02/12/2011

I haven't seen The Fighter yet, but have seen Melissa Leo in many TV shows over the years. She is a terrific actress.

[alicam]

10:39 AM on 02/15/2011

Remember Homicide?

[jdrourke]

08:27 PM on 02/12/2011

Let me say this, Academy Voters: if you don't vote for Melissa Leo because of what she is wearing, then you're an embarrassment to the Academy and to yourselves. The Oscars should be about performance, not politics.

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/

[lippp]

10:05 AM on 02/13/2011

The Oscars have never been about performance. It is an entertainment disguised as an award show. There are so many worthy, unsung performances but they don't get the backing of the industry. Case in point, watch "Nowhere Man". You won't find a false note in that film. Most people have never heard of it. Yet, Inception, which is a popular, but overrated, film filled with eye popping, but confusing special effects and story line, is up for best pic. Explains how Julia Roberts won years ago. Over Meryl Streep, I believe. So just sit back with friends and some pizza and enjoy the glitz. But take some time to scour what actually is out there if you want to enjoy cinema art and achievements.

[pbnyc59]

12:29 PM on 02/13/2011

Streep was not nominated when Roberts won, though they were both nominated in 1990.The Oscars were started by the film studios to build interest in selling their product. While sometimes winners are very deserving, as Melissa Leo is, many times they are not, like Maresi Tomei winning over four great actresses that year.

For me the show is about seeing clips of actors and films I love, watching some great and bad speeches and mindless escape from the real news of the day.

[alicam]

10:40 AM on 02/15/2011

Not just performance, but popularity, too.

[LMPE]

04:31 PM on 02/12/2011

I don't know what ads they're talking about. I just know that Melissa Leo put on a really intense performance in "The Fighter".

[skybar]

04:13 PM on 02/12/2011

Hopefully, the Academy will base their votes on the performance, not an ad campaign. I would hate to think they're THAT shallow.