Andrea Riseborough's Best Actress Oscar nomination for 'To Leslie' has prompted a lot of questions and possibly now an investigation into the process.
But, chances are, your favorite actor in that one movie you love knows exactly who she is. And they want her to win an Oscar.It's, frankly, a strange tale -- one that began in October with the limited release of a small-time independent film called "To Leslie," about what happens when a single mother wins the lottery and runs out of money. Riseborough plays the titular Leslie, in a performance widely praised by critics as some of the best work of her career.
This month, that changed when some of the biggest names in film threw their weight behind the movie. Paltrow praised the film on Instagram, saying Riseborough should win every award, including "all the ones that haven't been invented yet." Meanwhile, on Twitter, other actors have posted almost identical statements supporting the film, calling it a "small film with a giant heart." Some have likened it to a copy-and-paste job.Though a celebrity-backed campaign isn't strictly a grassroots effort, the push for Riseborough and "To Leslie" is akin to one. Rarely do celebrities come out with this type of support for a film they don't star in, making Riseborough's rapid ascent unique.
Industry-watchers have noted that soliciting votes is often done to level a playing field -- in this case, bring attention to a small-budget, little-known film. The difference now is social media, making this push public rather than one done behind closed doors. The Academy didn't specifically mention Riseborough, or the very public celebrity push for her nomination. But many people are connecting those dots.
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