Jodie Foster (“Nyad”) is being underestimated this awards season. The two-time Oscar and Golden Globes champ for “Silence of the Lambs” and “The Accused” has had renaissance, of late. She opted to take on less acting work through the 2010s as she switched her focus to directing. She reaped an Emmy bid for helming an episode of “Orange Is The New Black” and directed installments of “House of Cards” and “Black Mirror.” Two years ago, she delivered a powerhouse performance in “The Mauritanian” and won another Golden Globe for her portrayal of Nancy Hollander.
She is back in contention at the Globes tonight for her work in the Netflix biopic “Nyad.” As the stalwart Bonnie Stoll, she is the heart of the picture, which chronicles the attempts by Diana Nyad to swim from Cuba to Key West. Annette Bening portrays the marathon swimmer while Foster is her best friend and coach.
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In her sixties, Nyad is hoping to finally do what she failed to complete at age 28 at the peak of her record-breaking powers. So as Nyad goes through this ordeal, she puts her life at risk and nearly dies at more than one point in the film. Stoll is right there beside her.
Foster is essentially a co-lead in the film. She has more material than anyone else in her category with over an hour of screen time. That’s half the film. What’s more, her performance in the film has received overwhelming praise:
“Foster practically boats off with the movie. That’s because we spend so much engaging time with her, as Bonnie frets over and encourages Nyad, who is lost and distant in her mad charge toward greatness. Bonnie is our proxy, and Foster’s winsome performance sways us to her side.” – Vanity Fair
“Armed with an enviable roster of bandanas and a megawatt smile that would charm anyone, Foster is a revelation as Bonnie. It’s Foster who helps make this friendship between two aging lesbians feel so poignant.” – The AV Club
“Jodie Foster balances the centrifugal force of Annette Bening’s exploding charisma with a winning mixture of tough resilience and understated sensitivity” – Observer
“A dazzling Foster who remains show-stealing throughout” – Indiewire
The actress has backed up these raves with critics nominations nearing the double digits, including the Critics Choice Association. She even won the Columbus Film Critics Association prize. And Foster’s momentum is gaining exponentially.
Next week marks the season four premiere of the Emmy-winning anthology series, “True Detective.” Foster stars as Detective Liz Danvers. This iteration has already received exemplary early notices. This evident passion for the actress and her performance in “Nyad” shouldn’t be underestimated. There may be an upset in these waters.
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