MovieChat Forums > Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (2009) Discussion > The reason Thomas didnt win an Oscar...

The reason Thomas didnt win an Oscar...

posted 16 years ago by izmank
22 replies | jump to latest

I loved Christin Scott Thomas' performance in this movie. She was so believable, said too many words without saying anything, and I think she deserved the Oscar more than Kate Winslet even with her two great performances combined together. But I think the only reason Thomas didn't get it is because the ending was not belieavable. It lowered her chances big time. There is no way that nobody knew and said anything about it. Everybody, especially her husband knew that their son was terminally ill. That's probably why she was released after 15 years. Had it been a cold-blooded murder, she would have stayed in prison for the rest of her life. So how come her family didn't know? And if her sister didn't know why did she not want to give birth? I think it suggests that she knew and feared that the same thing could happen to her child too. I think the director wanted to make the scene with "us" finding out "what happened" more dramatic by adding the sister into "us" and seeing the events unfold through her eyes. At the end I felt like the whole movie was about the revealing of why she did it, even though the entire movie was about her struggles to get back in life.

[–] allfunandgames 16 years ago

Um, actually no one else knew. She was a doctor, noticed a symptom, and did the test herself.

I'm sure others will post on this subject too, but in the meantime check out this link, including a handy translation of key points by a French speaker:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068649/board/flat/138118542

[–] ladylavende 15 years ago

I'm going to venture a guess and say that Thomas didn't win the Oscar because it was a French film, and a relatively low profile one at that, at least when you compare it with Kate Winslet's well-publicized turn in The Reader. Thomas probably gave the performance of the decade, but sadly in a movie that few will actually see.

A wed wose; how womantic! http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=8093247

[–] Rupert_B 15 years ago

Uh...the reason Kristin Scott Thomas didn't win an Oscar is because she was not nominated for one.

The real question is why she wasn't nominated for an Oscar, for it surely is an Oscar-worthy performance, much more compelling than Jolie or Leo this past year--the others (Streep, Winslet, Hathaway) would be strong contenders. (She was nominated for a César (the French Oscar), but did not win.)

[–] DaVooz 15 years ago

She was nominated for an Oscar in 1997 for The English Patient . But you are right Rupert_B she wasn't nominated an Oscar in 2009 for Il y a longtemps que je t'aime . I also think you and the OP are right that was an Oscar-worthy performance.

Next to being nominated a César (2009) like you said she was however nominated a BAFTA award (British Oscars) and a USA Golden Globe, and Kristin Scott Thomas did win the European Film Award (2008) for Il y a longtemps que je t'aime .

@ OP - just click Awards http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068649/awards to see a couple of other nominations and wins for Il y a longtemps que je t'aime .

[–] modernmonk 15 years ago

Kristin was norminated for "the English Patient" in 1996, but Frances McDormand (Fargo) won.

[–] DaVooz 15 years ago

@ modernmonk - You are right. Sorry for being sloppy. the English Patient was released in 1996, and won Oscars in 1997 though. So did Fargo : released in 1996, won Oscars in 1997. (So it says on the IMDb pages; if that is incorrect, please notify IMDb through Update button.)

Click Academy Awards 1997 http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_Awards_USA/1997 for details on Oscars;

Click Academy Awards 2009 http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_Awards_USA/2009 for details on Oscars;

Click Awards http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068649/awards to see nominations and wins for Il y a longtemps que je t'aime ;

Click Awards http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000218/awards to see nominations and wins for Kristin Scott Thomas;

Click Awards http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116209/awards to see nominations and wins for the English Patient , and

Click Awards http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116282/awards to see nominations and wins for Fargo .

[–] yoo 15 years ago

Uh...the reason Kristin Scott Thomas didn't win an Oscar is because she was not nominated for one.

One more reasons why she didn't win: Her name was not in the envelope.

[–] DaVooz 15 years ago

Yo, I'm sloppy, but you're funny yoo.

[–] storm-7 15 years ago

Why group Leo with Jolie? IMO she was the best of the five nominated (although I agree that KST should have gotten a nomination, and probably should have won).

[–] DaVooz 15 years ago

(on topic again) in 2009 was maybe also the Academy had difficulties with themes of euthenasia and that the lead actress was Kristin Scott Thomas whose character killed her own son?

ladylavende wrote: I'm going to venture a guess and say that Thomas didn't win the Oscar because it was a French film, and a relatively low profile one at that, at least when you compare it with Kate Winslet's well-publicized turn in The Reader. Thomas probably gave the performance of the decade, but sadly in a movie that few will actually see.

[–] ecjones1951 15 years ago

I don't think it was the subject matter or type of role that cost Scott Thomas the Oscar, which I think—having seen all the other Oscar-nominated performances of 2008—was absolutely the best of the year. IMO, Anne Hathaway's was the performance that could have been justifiably overlooked in favor of Scott Thomas.

The Academy can accept actresses in unsavory or controversial roles; just ask Hilary Swank (twice) and Charlize Theron, and Nicole Kidman for that matter, who won her Oscar for playing Virginia Woolf, a suicide.

I think it may have been something so dopey as the Academy's not wanting to admit that the best lead actress performances two years running were in foreign language films!

[–] DaVooz 15 years ago

The Academy can accept actresses in unsavory or controversial roles; just ask Hilary Swank (twice) and Charlize Theron, and Nicole Kidman for that matter, who won her Oscar for playing Virginia Woolf, a suicide.

True, Hilary Swank in 2000 for Boys Don't Cry (1999) and in 2005 for Million Dollar Baby (2004); Charlize Theron in 2004 for Monster (2003); Nicole Kidman in 2003 for The Hours (2002).

I think it may have been something so dopey as the Academy's not wanting to admit that the best lead actress performances two years running were in foreign language films!

Are you referring to Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaff in 2008 for La môme (2007) (La vie en rose)? Didn't think of that, you may be right...
Kristin Scott Thomas should at least have been nominated for Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (2008).

[–] ecjones1951 15 years ago

Yes, Marion Cotillard gave a brilliant performance in a movie practically no one saw. (La vie en rose grossed only about $10 million in the U.S.) It's nice to see the Academy recognize performances in little-known or narrowly distributed movies, but it's too bad more people don't take the time to find and see these movies and the great acting in them.

[–] schuhj 15 years ago

Agree.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] gwen_christie 15 years ago

Why do you think that is? It is a wonderful film with a great performance by Kristin Scott Thomas.

[–] jeffandsarah-1 15 years ago

Because America still do not like the France, ces't la vie.

[–] agera 15 years ago

I'm not a fan of Scott Thomas but thought her performance in this movie was brilliant, inspired and utterly compelling. I don't think her acting is uniformly good (for one thing, she lacks a flair for comedy) but in really intense drama like this, she's at her best, a best that I can't imagine being bested.

I don't think I'll ever forget the look of suffering in her eyes.

[–] mptnla 14 years ago

I've only ever seen her in The English Patient, which I liked and forgot about. This performance makes me want to put her on my "to be watched" list. I thought this was a fantastic performance and definitely worthy of an Oscar nod.

"...and I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids."

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] oakcourt 13 years ago

I watch anything she is in mainly because I like and respect her as an actress, testiment enough for me! It's not everything getting an Oscar but it seems more glamarous and important getting a Cesar (sorry if that is spelt incorrectly). The French make good films, plus it is far more credible for an actress to be bilingual as well. Have I done a good enough job of promoting her? Also how dare she look so good with little or no make up - sooo unfair :))

[–] 13 years ago

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