Usually it’s just one. One scene is all it takes for audiences to realize they’re in the presence of one of Those Performances, the ones people talk about deep, deep into the fabulous muck of awards season and beyond. The season culminates in the annual running of the telegenic bull that is, indelibly, the Academy Awards. This year’s nominations, honoring the best of 2006, will be announced Tuesday morning. Hollywood’s 79th smoochie to itself is Feb. 25, hosted by first-timer Ellen DeGeneres.
Each year brings more Oscar-worthy performances than the nomination ballots have the space, or the taste, to recognize. Inside you’ll find eight picked by Tribune critics Michael Phillips and Michael Wilmington: Four leading performances, four supporting. They’re all likely Oscar nominees in the making. More important, they’re all truly Oscar-worthy.
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MICHAEL PHILLIPS PAGE 6
ACTRESS
KateWinslet
“Little Children”
ACTOR
Forest Whitaker
“The Last King of Scotland”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Hudson
“Dreamgirls”
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jackie Earle Haley
“Little Children”
MICHAEL WILMINGTON PAGE 7
ACTRESS
Helen Mirren
“The Queen”
ACTOR
PeterO’Toole
“Venus”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
CateBlanchett
“Notes on a Scandal”
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jack Nicholson
“The Departed”
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INSIDE: Critics’ predictions in all major categories PAGE 5
