FYC: Gretchen Mol as "Bettie Page"

Next week @ The Film Experience I'll be counting down the 5 most likely Oscar Nominees from the releases we've seen from January to Jun. At week's end I'll do a revamp of my "year in advance Oscar predictions" to mark the halfway point. But as a preview let's talk about a performance that didn't make that list.

For Your Consideration:
Gretchen Mol as The Notorious Bettie Page
I think that Gretchen's people and the folks at Picturehouse ought to plop some money down on this as an early campaign. Some of you may be chuckling 'He's really lost it now!' so perhaps I should explain. You'd be smart to dispel any foolish notions that a film released in April that grossed under $2 million and that didn't win rave reviews has too many strikes against it for Oscar consideration. That just doesn't happen. At least not for a star without a built in Academy fanbase.

Silly to imagine, right?

So why do I think they should waste their promotional dollars? Longterm investment in her career. Short term investment in the film's DVD rental/sales life. You need buzz to get traction in the year-end awards races and with the right campaign Gretchen Mol could harness the power of her "career changing performance" into at least some Golden Satellite / Independent Spirit style action. And think of how fun a campaign could be for the right brilliant strategist....

Read the Rest...

Return and discuss in the comments.

tags: Oscars, Academy Awards, Bettie Page, Gretchen Mol, Awards, film, cinema