To Leslie - 1 nomination

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Andrea Riseborough

Leslie is the very definition of down and out. She is a raging alcoholic, yearns for a relationship with the son she abandoned and left with her mother in law Nancy, she's been kicked out of her residential motel, and her avocation is letting people down. In search of support, she appeals to her young adult son to allow her to stay with him to which he consents with the provision that she doesn't drink. When he discovers that she has violated his only rule, Leslie's son calls Nancy who takes Leslie home. The massive errors in judgement don't end there until she is finally sleeping outside a local motel where she gets a job and a place to live.  She develops a nice friendship with Sweeney who slowly helps her turn her life around.

This film has received a lot of attention primarily for the unlikely nomination of Andrea Riseborough over two African American actresses who the industry fully expected to be nominated; and for the incredible performance itself.  Fellow actresses across the industry led a no-funds campaign for Riseborough, citing the lack of funding available for small, independent films without large PR budgets to even begin an Oscars nomination campaign.  The performance is bone shaking and heart breaking.  Riseborough is loud and quiet at all the right moments, and the movie itself is a good one.  It's not flashy, the performance is solid, and frankly, I'd sooner punt Ana de Armas and her performance in Blonde to slide in Danielle Deadwyler for Till way before I'd bump Andrea Riseborough.  This is not an easy movie to watch, it's tough to hang in there while Leslie figures it out, but that makes the outcome even more satisfying in the end.  I'm glad To Leslie has gotten Oscars attention, and it's sad that more performances in small films don't get the attention that they deserve.