During awards season there are always a few films that do not get the attention they deserve. For many in Hollywood, this year’s overlooked film is To Leslie. However, a last-minute grassroots campaign earned Andrea Riseborough an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, though there has been some controversy surrounding the announcement.

To Leslie follows a woman six years after winning almost $200,000 in the lottery. Having spent most of it on alcohol and squandered the rest, she now lives a vagrant lifestyle. She lives in motels and remains homeless for much of the time while continuing to drink. The film watches her as she attempts to reconcile with her son, find a job, and deal with the consequences of her actions.

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Along the way, we get glimpses into what her life was like before her fall. The ripples of her actions ring loud among those she has hurt. When she makes attempts to get back on her feet we can see the real struggle and how there are no easy solutions when a person gets so low. However, she is not alone. There are people ready to help and people she can put her trust in. These are the ones that inevitably do their best to help her back on her feet. Whether she does the right thing is up to her.

The film was directed by Michael Morris (Ark), and was released in October 2022. It featured Andrea Riseborough in the title role with supporting roles from Marc Maron (GLOW), Allison Janney (Lou), Owen Teague (I See You), and Andre Royo (The Wire). Writer Ryan Binaco has stated the script was based on a semi-autobiographical experience.

Riseborough’s Oscar-Worthy Performance

     Momentum Pictures

Regardless of external factors, Riseborough’s performance should not be overlooked. Her portrayal of Leslie as a vulnerable woman whose misery seems to be solely in her own hands is remarkable. It is a film that will ask you to consider the plight of an individual and then follow them down to see if your original take was valid and whether they deserve sympathy or not.

There are a number of reasons the performance has been critically acclaimed. The raw emotion of the character is displayed throughout the film as Riseborough channels turmoil and inner pain in a way that is not often seen in cinema.

The Campaign for Best Actress

     Momentum Pictures 

To Leslie had very little Oscar buzz as it was not widely seen by many people. As a truly dramatic film, it did not receive the same press as a movie like The Banshees of Inisherin, which boasted a gaggle of high-profile types such as Colin Farrell, who himself was nominated for Best Actor.

The Academy does not often recognize films that have not had wide appeal. This is often due to obvious moves by studios to make sure that Academy members are aware of their films and that they are top-of-mind when award seasons roll around. It is important for studios to pick the films they feel have the best chance of winning, often putting films back into theaters to create more buzz.

For a movie like To Leslie, much of the public was unaware of the film until Andrea Riseborough received her nomination. It appeared that To Leslie would be something that would appear on streaming in the “since you’ve watched…” category for people who enjoy the tough-to-watch fare.

That being said, a number of high-profile Hollywood individuals saw the film and decided that it deserved recognition. Specifically that Andrea Riseborough deserved recognition. This group, which included Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Ed Norton, Jennifer Aniston, and even Gwyneth Paltrow succeeded in their efforts to get Riseborough on the ballot.

The world from inside this circle was that Riseborough’s performance was a tour de force and that these people were putting the spotlight where it belonged. Not everyone has a chance to see all the movies in a given year, and they wanted to make sure that the Academy members were not only aware of the movie but aware of what they may have missed.

Securing the Nomination

In the entertainment industry, there is always a scandal brewing, or at least we are meant to think it is. In this case, some people believe that what these stars did broke some rules. They call into question the fact that their phone calls to Academy members may violate rules and some are even making bolder accusations. On Instagram, Chinonye Chukwu (director of Till) posted this statement: “We live in a world and work in industries that are so aggressively committed to upholding whiteness and perpetuating and unabashed misogyny toward Black women.” This was in response to the fact that Riseborough’s appearance in the Best Actress category may have knocked out Danielle Deadwyler (Till) and Viola Davis (The Woman King). Whether this is true remains to be seen, but the accusation stands.

While this may seem like an issue that will garner attention from the entertainment industry, it has already been stated, and should be repeated, that these are tactics the studios have been using for decades. Oscar campaigns are just that, and much like any other campaign, there are candidates who get left by the wayside. Big-name backers always seem to pull the strings and in this case, it may have had an uncalculated effect on other possible nominees.