The Glenn Close Machine

Glenn Close won the Best Actress prize at the just wrapped Tokyo International Film Festival, adding her first competitive piece of software of the season for her Oscar-entry Albert Nobbs.  Based on the play, in which she starred in the first production in 1982, this has long been a passion project for the Oscar-less Close, despite five previous nominations and a miraculous run the 1980s that rivaled Meryl Streep.  What this means, well not terribly much-- the Tokyo International Film Festival and the membership of the Academy likely have little overlaps, but a small validation and the nice piece of ink on a future For Your Consideration ad, that is until better ones arrive.  It's the cynical nature of the industry and the hunt for statues...which is as disgusting and as it is enveloping.  Still however, it's hard not to root for an actress as remarkable as Close, whose alternating warmth and iciness have encapsulated a remarkable career.  Added points for the fact that she championed this film for more than decade, and even garnered a screenplay credit.  It all sorts of builds an assuming hopeful awareness for a film that earned mixed reviews when it debuted during the fall festival circuit.  Bring on the onslaught and ticklish fun of an Oscar dominated by Glenn Close versus Meryl Streep (whose sight-unseen The Iron Lady stands more than a fair chance merely because of it's Streepiness.)  Whatever the quality of either film\performance, one knows that the press between the friends will be priceless...