Zellweger and stolen Oscars

Rating: Null/10 (7 September 2004)

Spoilers
No, not for BJD. Renee Zellweger had a most deserved Best Actress Oscar, in Chicago, stolen by Nicole Kidman who in turn had a chance the year before (together with Zellweger for BJD) which witnessed one of the most UNdeserving Best Actress Oscars. It should have gone to Sissy Spacek for In The Bedroom that year.
Watching BJD on video for the first time three years after it was released, I had the benefit of many people's hindsight and comments. Needless to say, it was all Zellweger's show. Messrs. Grant and Firth delivered their respective required screen persona professionally, with not much to fault. Zellweger acted well in scenes against them, but even better in scenes by herself. One interesting comparison is with Charlize Theron, and it is tempting to draw an easy conclusion that in the putting-on-weight-for-the-sake-of-art department, Theron has surpassed Zellweger. I would suggest that it is not necessarily so. In a way, it's more difficult for Zellweger. Theron put on weight, plus did a number of things to her face and body, to make the character repulsive (sorry if the choice of word is too strong). Everything she did work consistently in one direction. Zellweger however had to put on weight and at the same time make herself look attractive, 'the way she is'. (And here I'm aware of the politically unwise implication of what I'm saying). Which is more difficult?
The movie is enjoyable mainly because of the acting. There are some contrivances such as the ridiculously artificial 'climax' at the end with Mark's walking away after peeping at Bridget's diary, apparently in anger, but turned out to be just to buy her a new one. In any event, I enjoy BJD enough to look forward to the sequel 'The Edge of Reason', soon to be released, I believe.