Does anyone know how actors end up in lead or supporting actor categories for award shows?
I mean, why were Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in the lead category for Babel where Adriana Barraza was in supporting? She certainly had a bigger and more pivotal part than Cate, anyway, who spent 90% of the movie practically unconscious.
And more to the point, why was Beyonce in the lead category when Jennifer Hudson was in supporting? 
I'm glad that it gave Jennifer Hudson better chance to win, (since she didn't have to go up against Helen Mirren) but she was definitely the lead of Dreamgirls -- which I finally saw tonight.
She was a revelation. I'd heard she was good, but she actually made me cry. And I don't get how anyone could say Effie isn't the protagonist of that movie. How does that put her in a supporting role category?
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Okay, posted about five minutes ago and realized my mistake already...
Brad was nominated as a supporting actor... and Cate was also nominated as supporting, but for Notes on a Scandal, not Babel.
That makes sense... Although I might argue the "supporting" bit for Notes on a Scandal, too. Sure, Judi Dench was the protagonist of that story, but I would have called Cate's role a "lead".
Go figure.
Oh, and some good news for movie lovers. The Last King of Scotland is being re-released, at least up here in Canada. I saw a trailer tonight in Toronto and just saw an ad on a Calgary TV station.
It had a limited release back in October or November, but I don't think many people saw it. Forest Whitaker's Golden Globe win should get more people out to see that movie. He was amazing. So was James McEvoy -- one of my new favourite actors. (he was in 3 films I saw at the festival this year. McEvoy, that is...)
I can't wait to see The Queen and Elizabeth I. I love Helen Mirren. Did you see her working the cleavage? She looked great. I've often wondered about supporting roles when the actor steals all the scenes from the main character.
I think the producers actually have a say as to which category their actors can be nominated in. I head that they wanted Jennifer Husdon in the supporting category because she'd have a better chance at winning. I found that interesting.
And I believe Anthony Hopkins still holds the record for an Oscar winner in the Best Actor category with the shortest on screen time. It was something like 20 minutes.
Christine, I'm sure you're right. The producers must get a say. It just seems to me that if a role is clearly the main character of the story, and the actor is in 90% of the scenes... it isn't a supporting role.
Great for Jennifer Hudson, though.
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