To Leslie - A small film with a "giant heart"

A SMALL FILM WITH A "GIANT HEART" that grossed only $23,000 in its short theatrical run has become a darling of Hollywood stars hoping for an Oscar nomination.

In To Leslie, Andrea Riseborough plays a woman dealing with alcohol addiction after winning a large lottery prize a few years ago. Leslie is impoverished and living on the streets after being left penniless, before moving back in with her 20-year-old son and living with him on the condition that he refrains from drinking.

Leslie ends up living with her sister after being kicked out for drinking and stealing, but she is forced to go through a series of transforming and terrible events on her journey to sobriety.

The picture cost around a million dollars, and director Martin Morris said that he couldn't even afford to advertise it, therefore it had a limited theatrical distribution.

However, the picture, which also stars Marc Maron, Allison Janney, Andre Royo, Owen Teague, and Stephen Root, has become an unexpected favorite of Hollywood heavyweights who want it to receive the attention it deserves.

Cate Blanchett, considered one of the absolute favorites to win the best actress Oscar for Tár, spoke in favor of the film during her speech at the Critic's Choice Awards, calling it a "masterpiece" and adding that Riseborough deserves to "win every award there is and all those that have not yet been invented".

Kate Winslet also praised her performance as "one of the best performances she's ever seen in her life", while Amy Adams felt her role was "amazing" and characterized it as "soul-transforming".

Riseborough offered a "brave and unsparing performance," according to Jane Fonda, and "the most fully dedicated, emotionally deep, physically excruciating performance he's seen in a while, extraordinarily raw and completely devoid of performance tricks," according to Edward Norton.

Jennifer Aniston praised her performance as "wonderful," while Helen Hunt said, "If you're voting for roles, wait till you've seen Andrea Riseborough."

It remains to be seen whether the film's critical acclaim will carry over to the season's top prizes, but if it doesn't, it won't be due to a lack of big-name acting backing.

Post by Bryan C.