Annette Bening and Hilary Swank Oscar battle again? Again?!!!

Oh no, here we go again. Maybe. Could be. Possibly. Who knows?

One of the great contemporary Oscar night acting rivalries could be revving up for a third go-round if everything falls into place -- a big "if" at this point.

That's right. Annette Bening and Hilary Swank could be facing off  for a third time in the best actress race, something that appears to happen every five years like clockwork.

In 1999 it was Annette for "American Beauty" and Hilary for "Boys Don't Cry," resulting in Swank's first win. Then in 2004 it was Annette for "Being Julia" which wasn't enough apparently to ward off Hillary's second win for "Million Dollar Baby."

Swank is already being touted this year for her turn as flying ace Amelia Earhart in the Oct. 23 Fox Searchlight release, "Amelia" directed by Mira Nair. No media has seen it yet and it's not on the festival circuit, but Swank's PR reps are already trying to drum up buzz by telling some key players important to any Oscar campaign that this is her best performance ever.

Now word out of the Toronto International Film Festival is that Bening has delivered one of her best ever performances in Rodrigo Garcia's new drama, "Mother and Child." The story of three very different women dealing with pregnancy and adoption earned a rave from Roger Ebert and blogger Jeffrey Wells. Wells is a writer not exactly known for his embrace of chick flicks, but he raved about Bening's performance and her Oscar prospects should the film find a distributor in time for a year end Academy qualifying release.

Therein lies the rub as many films are angling for distribution out of Toronto and so far just a handful have been picked up, including Weinstein Company's purchase of "A Single Man." Tom Ford's film is said to have a real lead actor contender in Colin Firth.

Should "Mother and Child" find a buyer quickly and get a 2009 Los Angeles release date then it could be "game on" for a Bening/Swank rematch, especially in light of the rather thin best actress prospects so far.

As we wrote from Telluride, the lineup looks sure to include Meryl Streep in "Julie and Julia," newcomer Carey Mulligan in "An Education" and now Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious," another newcomer gaining well-deserved momentum. Should their films gain distribution, veterans Helen Mirren in "The Last Station" and  Brenda Blethyn in "London River" could also enter the race. Abbie Cornish in "Bright Star" and Penelope Cruz in "Broken Embraces" remain possibilities and if Marion Cotillard's role in "Nine" is large enough word is she's in the running.

Two past Oscar winners in a certain must-see this fall are also deserving of attention but not getting it. Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger will finally see their long-delayed film, "The Burning Plain," hit a handful of  theatres Friday after it was picked up by Magnolia Pictures for limited theatrical release and On Demand. They both deliver explosive performances in this powerful, compelling and shocking drama that should keep audiences hooked from beginning to end, but they probably won't have much chance to see it unless they order it up on their cable system. That usually doesn't bode well for awards.

This sparse lineup full of question marks even at this point could mean there's a realistic chance  for the Bening/Swank-every-fifth-year grudge match to color the race once again. If so, this time Bening could have the upper hand (aside from the fact that a third Oscar for Swank seems almost inconceivable). Since her two stinging losses at the hands of Swank, she has become the ultimate Academy insider elected by her fellow actors to rep them on the AMPAS Board Of Governors. And in another show of acting prowess she will also be prominently appearing on stage at the Geffen Playhouse in "The Female of the Species" right as final ballots are sent out in early February.

Take that, Hilary!

Photo: Annette Bening, left, and Hilary Swank / AP / Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[TeeKay]

Think "Amelia" would be much better served as a film if Hilary took the approach that she is very honored and grateful to have received Oscar nods for her previous roles- and then working hard to ensure the film gets a director, or cinematography nomination, and what about seeing her two gifted costars Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston get a little recognition?

[Himers]

That would surely make for an exciting race again..but I do think either one of them will have enuff stamina to fend off the Great Meryl this year. Now that she is sayin she is going to take a rest, the Academy will finally bestow on her a much deserved 3rd Oscar (especially after last year's loss to Kate Winslet) and for the steady and brilliant work she have given this past decade..AMazing. She is the goddess of Acting Barnone and Julie & Juila so far has been one of the most delightful films to experience this year and a box office surprise to boot! As for the rest of the lineup, all worthy of mention, all worthy of attention and accolades but will pale in comparison to Streep's work this year.

[george]

Maybe good to note that Streep did not contend in both times that Swank and Bening faced off. Too many unknowns to predict with any confidence that both will be nominated next year, but it seems assured that one of the nominees will be Meryl.

[debrah]

I'm getting sick of Meryl Streep and this attitude that "OMG she made a movie! Let's give her an Oscar nomination" Meryl Streep is one of the greatest actresses ever. True. But I feel that she could give any performance and people go "Oscar" and another actress could give a performance equal to or better than hers and get ignored.

People need to get over the Meryl Streep mystique. Most actresses would have gotten a Golden Globe nomination at best for The Devil Wears Prada and Julie and Julia. And her performance in Doubt was hammy and overwrought.

[dude]

It isn't just "people" who "go Oscar" over Streep's work: it's fellow actors, who have nominated her a record number of times, and SAG members who chose her "hammy and overwrought" work in DOUBT the best of last year. Both Streep and Swank have won twice, indicating that their work has resonated with voters more so than that of Bening, who "has become the ultimate Academy insider" but hasn't yet connected as well with moviegoers. The reason Streep is considered "one of the greatest actresses ever" is because she delivers. So does Swank, who has that intangible movie-star quality that carries a movie. Both of her Oscars were well-deserved IMHO.

[Aaron]

I totally agree that Hilary deserved her two Oscars! In my opinion, she won for two of the strongest female performances of the decade (and that says a lot, considering I also loved Annette Bening in American Beauty).

[JR Jake]

I am not much of a movie/TV buff, however both women are incredibly gorgeous and extremely talented. Hillary has definitely come a long way and is one of the most beautiful women alive, if you ask me. Both are great people as well. They are both winners.

[Jill B]

I am obviously in the minority but I didn't care for either of Hillary Swank's performances. She seems to only be able to do the "tough girl trying to overcome odds" roles. Put her in anything else and she bombs (remember her latest romantic venture, PS I Love You? Don't worry no one else does either. It was awful.)

Contrast that with Ms. Streep. You may not consider all her roles Oscar-worthy but she rarely, if ever, makes a wrong decision about which roles to take.

[alex]

Oscar for Pffeifer please¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡