Strange Culture: Real (Reel) People Win Oscars: 2008 Edition

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Real (Reel) People Win Oscars: 2008 Edition

In last years Real (Reel) People series, we learned that when it comes to Oscar, so far in this decade, people who play lead actors/actresses in biographical films have a great chance of winning the Oscar.

Of the past 16 Lead Actor/Actress winners 10 of them have been playing real people. (That means 62.5% of winners)

In 2007 Marion Cotillard played French singer Ediath Piaf and won the Oscar for Best Actress.
In 2006 Helen Mirren played Queen Elizabeth II and won the Oscar for Best Actress.
In 2006 Forrest Whitaker played Ugandan dictator Idi Amin and won the Oscar for Best Actor
In 2005 Reese Witherspoon played country music celeb June Carter and won the Oscar for Best Actress.
In 2005 Philip Seymour Hoffman played author Truman Capote and won the Oscar for Best Actor.
In 2004 Jamie Foxx played musician Ray Charles and won the Oscar for Best Actor.
In 2003 Charlize Theron played prostitute/serial killer Aileen Wuornos and won the Best Actress oscar.
In 2002 Adrien Brody played Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman and won the Best Actor oscar.
In 2002 Nicole Kidman played author Virginia Woolf and won the Best Actress oscar.
In 2000 Julia Roberts plays the unlikely activist Erin Brokovich and won the Best Actress oscar.

The exceptions, Daniel Day Lewis (There Will Be Blood), Hillary Swank (Million Dollar Baby), Sean Penn (Mystic River), Denzel Washington (Training Day), Halle Berry (Monster's Ball), Russell Crowe (Gladiator).

I feel like 2008's possible male leads are particularly bio-pic heavy, so there is certainly a lot of potential for this trend to continue.

Reel People Post for Performances in 2008:

2007 Reel People Who's Films Are Now Scheduled for 2008 Eligiblity: