An L.A. Times conversation between Justin Chang and Glenn Whipp gives us additional details on this last Sunday’s LAFCA vote.
It turns out that “Killers of the Flower Moon” star Lily Gladstone had plenty of votes in both the Lead Performance and Supporting Performance categories — she won neither, no doubt due to this vote split.
In September, Apple announced they would campaign Gladstone as Lead Actress. A total surprise move on the streamer’s part. She was a cinch to win Supporting Actress. Now, she’s up against this towering performance from Emma Stone in “Poor Things.”
Gladstone’s screentime in the 206-minute ‘Killers’ was timed by X user Matthew Stewart, and she’s in the film for 56 minutes. This means Gladstone is in less than a third of the 3½-hour movie. Then again, her Lily is the heart and soul of ‘Killers.’
Gladstone’s performance in ‘Killers’ is very much a supporting turn. It helps that her sad-eyed performance as Lily Burkhart is absolutely sublime. In fact, Lily is the emotional center of the story. It somewhat makes sense to campaign her as “Lead,” but it nevertheless makes the Oscar much harder for her to win.
That’s why this isn’t a case of "category fraud,” Gladstone going Lead is a tougher hill to climb for her. Actual “category fraud” is when a clear Lead goes Supporting since that gives them a boost with more screentime in a category that’s meant to be for performances with limited screentime.
Regardless, this year’s Best Actress category will no doubt be between Stone and Gladstone. Afterthoughts like Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), Margot Robbie (“Barbie”), Sandra Huller (“Anatomy of A Fall”), Annette Benning (“Nyad”) Greta Lee (“Past Lives”) and Natalie Portman (“May December”) will have to fight it out for the #3–5 slots.
If you remember, Universal tried the same tactic last year with Michelle Williams’ ‘Fabelmans’ performance. She was a cinch to win Supporting Actress, but then the studio decided to submit her as Lead. She got nominated, but never had a chance of winning. I believe Gladstone’s performance to be of a much higher quality than Williams’. Gladstone can win.
The source material, for the uninitiated, is Arrowhead Game Studios' co-op shooter — muscle in power armor defending "Super Earth" from bugs and robots in a war game.