I have just watched this film and I hope it gets a wide release and people actually go and see it, if only for Frances O'Conners amazing acting and raw emotion. Such a brilliant performance by all involved, but she really steals it.
If it was an American film I think she'd be up for best supporting Actress at the Oscars, she is that good.
You might lose with me, but you will never win without me!
I agree, she is amazing! Have always liked her, she brings great truth to everything. She's mind blowing here. Hope she gets a lot more roles after this.
Agree also that most of the cast are fantastic in this film, but was disappointed by the film as a whole. I'm glad I saw it because of the cast, but I don't think the filmmakers really asked themselves why they were making it, or what they were trying to communicate to the audience. Sadly, a very common problem in Australian films.
A very middle class view of poor people (where was the humour?!), and as an audience member all it really gave me was two hours of unrelentingly depressing behaviour and a slightly smug feeling of "I'm glad my life isn't that appalling." Same feeling I could have got hanging out at the pokies or at a homeless shelter. While it was moving at times, the screenplay was too overwrought to be moving as a whole. Audiences need much more for their investment in a night out and their time and money.
It doesn't matter if the film is American or not.
Last year a British production "Slumdog Millionaire" scooped the oscar pool and we've seen Australian productions do very well at the Oscars as well eg. Babe, Piano, Shine, and Australian actors like Crowe, Kidman, Rush, Blanchett.
To get Oscar consideration you need to have a 1 week release in either Los Angeles or New York before 31 December 2009.
If "Blessed" gets this release this year - then it will be eligible for Oscar consideration.
The next thing that is needed is a strong marketing campaign. It couldn't hurt Frances O'Connor to ask her publicist to take out ads in Variety and the like promoting her as a "Best supporting Actress" candidate.
Frances will also have to do a lot of schmoozing on the talk and radio shows in the US. She is based in Los Angeles now - so distance wouldn't be a problem.
I'm seeing this film this week and from all I've read it is a very strong film and O'Connor's performance is indeed Oscar worthy.
I'm betting she will be nominated - and possibly win - the Best Actress award at the 2009 AFI awards.
I agree I liked her in Mansfield Park, and found out that she was in more movies that I've seen than I thought.
shareFrances O'Connor was great in this one, but she got an auspicious role. There's another msterful job done in this film, and that's by the young actress Eva Lazzaro who played Stacey.
Back to O'Connor. After I saw her in Mansfield Park and in this film, I thought she'd be a genius, like Molly Parker whom she reminds me of for some reason and who pulls off nicely every one of her roles. But then I watched Iron Jawed Angels (Hillary Swank, Frances O'Connor, Julia Ormond and Molly Parker) and Frances O'Connor in it kind of, well, sucked.
no i am db
Frances O'connor's performance is nothing short of brilliant....Amazing film with some memorable performances.
shareAustralian films are great, if you are into Australian films.
Most Australian film goers seem to need Hollywood and American accents. I guess it is 50 years of conditioning by TV media and theater chains that are only interested in dollars.
I think 30 seconds of cuts would have resulted in an M-15 rating and more pleasant viewing experience.
And Francis, she has never given a bad performance.
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That's her fine English heritage coming out right there. What a beast.
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