Oscar controversy: What is the debate about Andrea Riseborough?

LOS ANGELES — Nothing — not even Tom Cruise’s snub or Austin Butler’s Elvis Presley’s protracted twists — caused a stir around this year’s Oscars with a nomination for best actress. for British actress Andrea Riseborough.

Riseborough was unexpectedly nominated for her portrayal of an alcoholic single mother in Texas in the little-watched indie drama “To Leslie,” a choice that shocked Oscar pundits and has since attracted a lot of attention. scrutinized from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. grossing $27,322 at the box office, “To Leslie” and Riseborough made a lot of noise.

The problem is Riseborough’s campaign. Though many of the contenders are supported by staging campaigns paid for by their own studios, Riseborough rose to the Oscars thanks in large part to the grassroots efforts of “To Leslie” director Michael Morris. and his wife, actress Mary McCormack. They urged the stars to watch the film and held a screening or praised Riseborough’s performance on social media. And a lot of them did.

So what’s the big deal? Cronyism in Hollywood is not exactly news; it’s more or less the way it works. But Riseborough’s nomination — and the strong reaction it generated — has disrupted this year’s Oscars season, with potential consequences for the Oscars in March and the bids of all those who can. the prospect of winning an Oscar in the future.

For about 15 years, Riseborough, 41, appeared regularly in film, television and the London stage, but it was sometimes difficult for her to register because of her chameleon performances. She appeared in the film “Happy-Go-Lucky” (2008) by Mike Leigh. She made an impression as Riggan’s girlfriend in Birdman (2014).

She played Stalin’s daughter in “Stalin’s Death” (2017). In “Mandy” (2018), alongside Nicolas Cage, she played his character’s kidnapped girlfriend. Riseborough has had several other notable roles in 2022, including David O. Russell’s “Amsterdam” and the role of Mrs. Wormwood in “Matilda the Musical”. She’s been doing acclaimed work in the adventure indie genre for long enough that an Oscar vote for her might be due in part to her modest workload.

Hardly anyone expected Riseborough’s belated campaign to actually land her a nomination. However, it is not completely out of the left field. Riseborough’s performance in “To Leslie” was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. But she is not expected to make the list that is often considered the most difficult category to enter this year. Riseborough is nominated alongside Cate Blachett (“Tár”), Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”), Ana de Armas (“Blonde”) and Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere at Once”).

“I was in awe,” Riseborough told Deadline shortly after the nominations were announced. “It’s hard to believe that’s possible because we’re really not racing for anything else. While we’ve received a lot of support, the idea that it’s actually possible still seems a bit far-fetched.”

Two critically acclaimed performances were disqualified: Viola Davis on “The Woman King” and Danielle Deadwyler on “Till.” The fact that the most underrated in this category are all Black women has been a topic of discussion. “Till” director Chinonye Chukwu, in an Instagram post, suggested that the system was faulty. “We live in a world and work in industries that are committed to supporting whiteness and maintaining an unwavering misogynist attitude toward Black women.”

Almost every acting contender participates in some kind of Oscar campaign to help highlight their performances and get voters to see their films. It’s a game to be played. Playwright and screenwriter Jeremy O. Harris noted on Twitter: “People don’t realize that what the actresses did for Andrea Riseborough happened in private nightly for months from October until October. every movie/performance (have) a chance.”

There are rules that limit the types of events that can be held and even the amount someone can send promotional emails to academy members during the voting period. Most campaigns have veteran strategists behind them and a substantial amount of money. However, Riseborough’s promoters have managed to get her attention without such support. Instead, they count on A-listers to spread the word.

Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Adams and Courteney Cox all hosted screenings for the film. “You should win everything,” Winslet told her in a virtual Q&A. Other stars such as Edward Norton, Susan Sarandon, Mira Sorvino and Rosie O’Donnell have heaped praise on her on social media. Riseborough supporters saw in the campaign — no Sunset billboards, no “For Your Consideration” ads, only poignant Rolodex — a groundbreaking way to disrupt the traditional Oscar ceremonies. system. In a deleted post, actress Christina Ricci wrote of the backlash to Riseborough’s nomination: “So only movies and actors who can afford the campaigns deserve it. recognize? Feeling elitist and exclusive and frankly very out of date for me.

There is no public evidence that Riseborough or anyone acting on her behalf has clearly violated academy regulations. The screenings and confirmations that have fueled Riseborough are the norm. Some speculate that Riseborough may have received a boost because of the strong passions of her supporters, who may have made her their front-runner.

But if the academy finds that anyone who has violated the rules contacts members of the academy “directly and in a manner beyond the scope of these rules,” the academy’s board “May take any corrective action or evaluate any penalty, including disqualification,” according to academy rules. “Furthermore, any academy member who has authorized, performed, or activated a campaign activity determined by the board to have undermined the content or spirit of these regulations may be subject to suspension. membership only or expulsion from the academy.”

Oscar nominations are rarely canceled but it does happen. In 2014, composer Bruce Broughton, nominated for best original song, was disqualified after it was revealed that he had been emailing music department members to draw attention to song submission. At the time, Broughton, the former governor of the academy, was a member of the music branch executive committee.

The Academy did not comment on Riseborough’s nomination. But on Friday, it announced that it would be conducting a review of the campaign processes around this year’s nominees “to ensure that no guidelines have been breached and to keep us informed.” whether there may be a need to change the principles in the new era of digital and social media. contact.”

The academy added: “We believe in the integrity of our nomination and voting processes, and support true grassroots campaigns for outstanding performances.