There probably won’t end up being a five for five match but it’s an interesting thing to think about. While the legendary “fifth slot” is still down to two potential names, all of them are unquestionably the protagonists. Two of the strongest contenders for the win are women over 40. I’ve never seen so many strong contenders up for the prize (though it should be said and remembered that black women and other WOC have been almost completely shut out this season). What we’re seeing in the Best Actress race is unprecedented for as long as I’ve been covering it. Wonder Woman, however, keeps popping up, which tells me that there is a slim chance it will make it through to the Best Picture race, marking another milestone in the process. While only one female writer/director has broken that barrier - Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird - there are so many other provocative stories told by women that got the shaft, like Mudbound, Detroit, Novitiate, and Battle of the Sexes. Those films have taken the season by storm, so much so that there are many films starring women that won’t make the cut for Best Actress or Best Picture that star strong women. Now, some actresses have taken their fates into their own hands and more male filmmakers are writing films with women in the leads. ![]() Hillary Swank was the last to do so, winning her second Best Actress Oscar for Million Dollar Baby. As things became so bad for women as the rise of fanboy culture took over Hollywood, no film starring a Best Actress contender has won Best Picture since 2004. Not only has it been 40 years since all five Best Actress contenders starred in Best Picture contenders, but it gets even worse with the expanded ballot. The #TimesUp movement overwhelmed the Golden Globes and will likely do the same when the Oscars roll around, unless a growing backlash overtakes it. Indiewire has declared this the end of Woody Allen’s career because of the #MeToo movement. ![]() Now, it’s 2018 and there’s a new Star Wars franchise with a woman in the lead role. Diane Keaton would end up taking the top prize along with Annie Hall taking Best Picture and Woody Allen taking Best Director and original screenplay. In 1977, those four movies were Annie Hall, The Turning Point (Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft both were nominated), Julia, and The Goodbye Girl. It’s been 40 years since all five Best Actress nominees appeared in Best Picture contenders.
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