Talent

The race for best actress is on resulting in a range of emotions from the women nominated for the silver screen’s biggest prize. This book examines each actor in the time period leading up to the Academy Awards.

Told from alternating viewpoints, the psyches and emotions that come from these five actors are thoroughly examined, with self aggrandizement and insecurity coming through loud and clear. For the most part, each of the women go through a myriad of internal emotions, from doubt to extreme excitement, as they have their feelings seeming broadcast for all of the public to see. It’s only on the outside that they remain staid and silent.

I found this book alternatively interesting and confounding. The constant worrying about who would win was sometimes frustrating even as each woman was filled with a sense of intense purpose that allowed her to build up her confidence to the level that she felt she actually deserved to be feted by the academy.

Having worked in the entertainment industry, the events of this book certainly seemed realistic. All that glitters is not gold and there is so much more that lies behind the curtains than the audience is ever aware. While Hollywood looks glamorous from the outside, there is an often dark side that affects those that work there, leaving them to lead less than perfect lives—even though things look rosy from the outside. It was definitely uncomfortable at times but ultimately an interesting read. Two stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback

If you're an awards junkie who spent high school in the aughts reading The Film Experience in the library and trolling the Gold Derby forums, this is the book for you. If you like Anne Helen Petersen's writing on celebrity and female stars, this is the book for you. If you listen to The Big Picture and The Town religiously, this is the book for you. As a person who does all of those things, this was definitely the book for me. I love the Oscars, I love movies, and I love stars and what it means to be a star - and this look at the business, emotions, strategy, and role the awards season plays in Hollywood was a lot of fun. There's a few if you know, you know mentions - Telluride, Hollywood Reporter/Variety features, and various precursor awards come to mind - but even if you don't know, it would still be a lot of fun. I thought the way the actresses were each treated was very well done, and the competition between them was enjoyable to watch, as was the discomfort of the entire process. Definitely recommend to oscar buffs and movie fans!

This was incredibly compelling and you could definitely see the author's depth of expertise here in the characterization. I like how each character belied simple 1:1 comparisons to potential real-life counterparts. I did expect a bit more character evolution for some -- we spent a lot of time with Bitty, but I don't feel like we saw her change. Jenny, by contrast, felt like she was barely a character. But I really enjoyed reading this and would read anything else from this author.