UPDATE #2: Steve Pond at The Wrap has confirmed the film is eligible and did not have a qualifying run at the end of 2009. The reason it was included on the reminder list is because that list “is compiled before the end of the year, and does not always accurately reflect the films that end up qualifying.” Mystery solved.
UPDATED: In Contention‘s Guy Lodge has just pointed out Frankie and Alice was included on the Academy’s list of 274 films eligible for Oscar consideration last year, which would insinuate it had some kind of qualifying run in 2009. As Lodge points out, a film can have only one Los Angeles County qualifying run, which would render the film ineligible. I’m sure the details will be revealed soon enough as to whether this was a clerical error or if the film is truly ineligible.
Deadline‘s Pete Hammond is reporting Freestyle Releasing is prepping a December 17 New York and Los Angeles Oscar qualifying run for their upcoming drama Frankie and Alice starring Halle Berry as a young woman struggling with multiple personality disorder, torn between who she is and a racist Caucasian alter-personality that preys upon her mind.
The film is already set to bow at the AFI Fest on November 9 with Berry in attendance as a centerpiece attraction for “A Conversation With Halle Berry.” Hammond also reports he’s heard 10,000 DVD screeners will go out to the entire Academy, critics groups, SAG Nominating Committee and others. The move is being compared to that mounted by Fox Searchlight last year, which ended up winning Jeff Bridges an Oscar for Crazy Heart. Unfortunately, the comparison only ends with the last minute push as Bridges wasn’t facing such stiff competition in a category overloaded with qualifiers. I’d say it sounds more like the last minute push for Michelle Monaghan’s performance in Trucker, which went pretty much nowhere.
If Berry’s performance were to stand a chance she would have to outshine the likes of Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right), Natalie Portman (Black Swan), Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), Anne Hathaway (Love and Other Drugs), Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine), Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham) and Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right). And that’s just for starters. If this was a supporting actress push it would make far more sense as that field seems to be wide open at the moment, that is until I get final confirmation Lesley Manville will indeed be pushed for Supporting Actress rather than lead for Another Year, because if that ends up the case Manville has got that category sealed up. Then again, at least Berry would stand a better chance at a nomination.
As for Frankie and Alice, I posted a small article on the film way back in April 2008 when a director was yet to be named. It turns out White Noise helmer Geoffrey Sax took up directing duties with Stellan Skarsgard, Chandra Wilson and Phylicia Rashad co-starring alongside Berry.
We can’t count Halle out, but at this point I’m certainly not expecting much. The film will hit the top 20 markets on February 4, 2011.
