Thoughts on Nicole...

Is Nicole Kidman really cursed? It's not a great time to be a Kidman fan. Here in Australia, we love 'Our Nic'. She's currently on every magazine cover and featured on almost all news broadcasts thanks to her role in Baz Luhrmann's upcoming epic 'Australia' (which has been the most hyped movie in our chequered history). However it seems that the movie goddess' international profile is in dire straights. She can't seem to do any right. In Oscar terms, Kidman hasn't been unsuccessful - she has a statuette to her name for 'The Hours' (2002) and another nomination for Luhrmann's 'Moulin Rouge' (2001). It has been in subsequent years that she's taken a tumble. Her immediate Oscar-bait follow-up to 'The Hours' was the late Anthony Minghella's epic 'Cold Mountain' (2003). A film which was highly touted as this generation's 'Gone With the Wind' (a label now placed on 'Aus'). The film did not deliver to people's expectations and Nicole suffered a lot of the brunt. In my humble opinion, the film is highly underrated. An unflinching portrait of the horrors of the American civil war, the film is heavy going but also incredibly rewarding. Nicole was, however one of its weakest elements (She just seemed lost) and this would be the beginning of her descent.

Nicole has not weakened as an actress, but her films don't connect. She has been blamed time and time again for the failures of her projects, but she is by far the best thing about most of them. She was easily the best thing about 'The Golden Compass' and 'The Invasion' - two of the more notorious floperoos. Reviews for her performances have also remained strong, but this never manages to translate into Oscar success. Following 'CM' Nicole appeared in Jonathan Glazer's 'Sexy Beast' follow-up 'Birth'. The film was understandably too strange for Oscar voters, but it remains one of the best films - and definitely the most underrated - of 2004. Nicole's performance is unflinching - the close-up at the opera says everything in one shot - and it should have garnered her another nomination at least - it did not. 2005 saw the 'Interpreter' - not great - not oscar-bait. 2006 had 'Fur' - too strange and then came 2007. Noah Baumbach had just come off raves for 2005's 'The Squid and the Whale' and was now following it up with the eagerly awaited 'Margot at the Wedding' in which Nicole would play the title character. Kidman was brilliant as the truly despicable Margot and it should remain one of the high points of her career. It's the first time she'd really let loose since 'Moulin Rouge' and she doesn't hold back in making Margot as unlikeable as possible. I new the likeability was a factor, but surely such greatness couldn't be ignored? It was. The film received mediocre reviews (although the praise for Kidman was certainly there) and was completely ignored come awards season (sigh). I've become used to disappointment now, but come on ... cursed? surely not.

It seems to me that for whatever reason (jealousy over fame/beauty/success?), the Academy simply doesn't like Nicole. While still married to Tom Cruise, she made 'To Die For' (1995), 'The Portrait of a Lady' (1996), and 'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999). All were Oscar worthy and all were also ignored by the Academy (Nic did receive a GG for the former though). It was only in 2001 that she received her first nomination for 'Moulin Rouge'. The best performance of her career, it showed her entire range in one orgasmic overload of colour, light and sound. It was the combination of its undeniable quality and probably a great swathe of pity for her recent marriage breakdown that saw Kidman nominated. When she lost to Halle Berry for 'Monster's Ball' is was heart broken and it was probably regret over this decision that saw Nic nom'd again and this time triumphant in 2002. While once again incredible in 'The Hours' it was a small role and would have been much better suited to supporting with lead going to the still unrewarded Julianne Moore for 'Far from Heaven'. My hope is that 'Australia' is so great that Kidman cannot be ignored again. She has the Luhrmann factor on her side, but will also be facing stiff competition from respected Oscar veterans, default nominees and radiant new comers. I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but fans shouldn't get their hopes up. We can just be comforted by the fact that Nic will keep on striving and delivering in the future - I hope......