Is J-Lo Oscar-Bound For ‘Hustlers'?

It’s fair to say that whatever you think of Jennifer Lopez’s acting career, there is no doubt that none of her past films have captured the imagination of critics and audiences the way her latest project has. “Hustlers,” in which Lopez plays Ramona, the top dancer for New York strip club Moves, has hit the sweet spot both critically and commercially, giving Lopez not only the best reviews of her career, but also the biggest opening weekend for a live-action film she has starred in ($66M), thus excluding her turn in 2012’s “Ice Age: Continental Drift” (a great shame). As the magnetic Ramona, she takes Constance Wu’s Destiny under her wing and begins to show her the ins and outs of what life as a high-end stripper can be.

Without spoilers, and whatever anyone thinks of the film, it can’t be denied that this is a career-defining performance for Lopez. So, can this performance really lead Lopez to Oscar glory?

In short, yes. From Streisand to Sinatra, and Cher to Jennifer Hudson, the Academy has a long-standing history of not only nominating those from the world of music, but also handing them golden statuettes. Though that being said, the last winner of that ilk was Jennifer Hudson for supporting actress in Bill Condon’s “Dreamgirls” in 2006. And in a year of lesser performances, Lady Gaga may well have walked away with the prize at this year’s ceremony. But is Lopez the favourite?

In what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Oscar races across the board, Lopez faces stiff competition in the supporting actress category. And with most of this year’s contenders having now screened, it would seem Lopez’s stiffest competition will come in the shape of two-time nominee Laura Dern, for her seemingly sublime performance as a lawyer in “Marriage Story.” The scales also tip into Dern’s favour as she is both overdue an Oscar, and she also sits as a governor on the Academy’s acting branch, though it’s unclear if that would really have an impact.

Nevertheless, Lopez will (by all accounts) at the very least, land herself a place in one of the top five supporting performances of the year and her increased exposure as an actress, even if it is some 20 years after many thought it would be, could lead to similar acclaim in the future.