The Unacknowledged No Makeup and Stringy Hair Award

As we move into the award season for the entertainment world, I detect a hidden subtext for the Golden Globe nominations of both Annette Bening and Julianne Moore for best actress in The Kids Are All Right. Both actresses deliver a solid performance; in this movie, or in any other movie they happen to be in. But maybe what is really being honored is the fact that two actresses in their early 50's would willingly consent to be filmed wearing no makeup, or makeup that looks worse than no makeup. Just for starters. In addition, their hair is unwashed, stringy, and in Annette Bening's case, badly chopped. Not strangely cut as in an intentionally edgy haircut, but like she cut it herself with no mirror. Both wear clothes that are unrelentingly dowdy, ill-fitting and consummately unflattering. And neither of them get a clean-up, Cinderella goes to the ball outfit or makeover to help you forget. As the award for best actress in a comedy or musical was kind of a toss up between the two, Annette Bening snagged it because her hairdo was so much worse. 

Annette Bening and Julianne Moore in The Kids Are All Right

In contrast, Jennifer Lawrence was nominated but did not win best actress in a drama award even though she also suffered through an entire movie under the same no makeup, stringy hair and unglamorous clothes look. That might be because she is 20 something and looks just great anyway. I didn't see Natalie Portman's winning performance, but I did see Winter's Bone. Jennifer Lawrence deserved the best actress award regardless of the fact that she couldn't manage to look bad even under extreme conditions.

Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone