The Eyes of Tammy Faye - 2 nominations

 

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling Stephanie Ingram Linda Dowds Justin Raleigh

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Jessica Chastain

The Eyes of Tammy Faye has been sadly overlooked by audiences for the little gem that it is.  The film follows Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker from their young years all the way through the scandals that plagued them and brought them down as a power preacher couple.  Jessica Chastain was beyond amazing, capturing Tammy Faye's voice and perky nature, and the film gives us a great behind the scenes look at what could have been happening while they built their evangelical empire.

This might be the first and only time that the makeup is practically its own character, but that was also true for the real Tammy Faye whose over the top eyelashes and disco makeup were her signature look.  Chastain is a naturally beautiful woman and the makeup transforms her.  Even Andrew Garfield's face (who plays Jim Bakker) morphs in such a way that he really does look a lot like the real person. 

The Eyes of Tammy Faye isn't a splashy enough film to get a lot of attention, and the PR campaign for it was pitiful.  That's a shame because the movie is a goddamn (pun intended) delight.

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Molly's Game - 1 nomination

Adapted Screenplay, Aaron Sorkin

Molly's Game is the (based on a true) story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chasten)  a former Olympic athlete who got into the world of high stakes poker servicing Hollywood stars, superstar athletes, high powered business people, and ultimately (and she claims unknowingly), the Russian mob.  The laws about what makes her actions legal versus illegal seem to skate along a very thin edge, but Bloom claims that for the majority of her decade running tables, all of her actions were completely legal.  As the Russian mob begins to get involved, the FBI takes an interest in Bloom, ultimately raiding her apartment in the middle of the night.  Her lawyer, Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba) seems to be the only one on her side.

The writing on this film is phenomenal.  It's precise, it's tight, it's engaging.  It's Sorkin.  I'm a Sorkin groupie (West Wing forever!), and this movie exemplifies why.  He managed to take a topic about which I know less than nothing (I don't even know how to play poker), and I both understood what was happening and I was on the edge of my seat.  Jessica Chastain was almost certainly on the short list of Best Actress nominees, but this film didn't quite break through the way the other nominees' films did.  It is also just a matter of time for Idris Elba's first Oscar nom.

At any rate, I would not only recommend this film, but I intend to watch it again.  It was excellent.