Berlin

Well so far Berlin has bought us nothing really in terms of news as to who we should be keeping a beady eye on in 2009.

Here is some of the noteworthy news.

'The Young Victoria' was met with a cheer, but not deafening. The film is liked and is said to be emotional, and that can go very far in terms of box office and awards.
Notices for Emily Blunt are very good so if it is another weak year for lead actresses we could easily see her in the race (I am hoping to see some blistering female performances this year).

"Blunt’s controlled portrayal of the young woman’s fractionally different attitudes to the two main men in her life is one of the pic’s major delights."

'London River' about the bombing of London in 2005 and is said to be an affecting film with a strong central turn from Brenda Blethyn, who has been noticeably absent from the Oscar roster of late. This is unlikely to be her return. The film is said to have some major script problems, mainly with cliched dialogue.
Pity, as I do love me some restrained Blethyn (rarely seen I know)

'Rage' was doomed right when Screen International posted this review:

"It's just as well Jude Law looks good as a transsexual. Because there's little else on offer for the audience in Sally Potter's amateurish and self-indulgent fashion-industry satire and murder mystery, except perhaps the emotion that gives the film its name."

Full review here

'Mammoth' was met with a loud resonating 'DUD' and no praise was throw the way of its two stars Michelle Williams and Gael Garcia Bernal.

'The Private Lives of Pippa Lee' which boasts a cast of Robin Wright Penn, Keanu Reeves, Julianne Moore, Alan Arkin,Winona Ryder, Maria Bello and Monica Bellucci is said to be a very flawed film with "Cardboard characters and severe problems of tone fatally " (Variety). It has been picked up for distribution so perhaps there will be an audience. There is supposed to be a terrific performance from Julianne Moore in an elongated cameo.

Lastly, 'Cheri' was to be Michelle Pfeiffer's welcome embrace back into Oscar consideration. However the film has not been favourably reviewed, and Pfeiffer's awards chances can be considerably hurt by this type of review from Variety

"Still impossibly beautiful as she approaches 50 -- too much, in fact, for the role -- Pfeiffer has elegance to spare. However, she's not quite up to the nuances of Hampton's dialogue or the inner feelings of a retired courtesan awakened by a spoiled, moody boy. (It's a role that may have been better attempted by Jessica Lange, (one of the exec producers.)"

When a reviewer suggests another actress for the role while reviewing you, things ain't good, although Screen International was much kinder

However Kathy Bates has been said to steal the film and has the type of praise that can easily last till the end of the year:

"Bates is the only cast member to inject a sense of real bitchiness and vivacity into the dialogue, with her handling of lines to Lea like, "Don't you find that when the skin is a little less firm, it holds perfume so much better?" an ongoing pleasure." - Variety

Bates is well liked when it comes to awards season and should be able to hold up a fight.
Plus director Stephen Frears has a great track record with getting his actresses nominated (6 and counting)
It will be interesting to see how this will translate, and specifically what is made of the lead performance once everyone gets a look.

Best prospects for Oscar 2010:

Kathy Bates - Best Supporting Actress for 'Cheri'
Emily Blunt - Best Actress for 'The Young Victoria'

Yet to be seen is Parker Posey and Demi Moore in hot indie director Mitchell Lichtenstein's two-sisters drama 'Happy Tears' but don't expect too much.