Oscar Buzz for Mo'Nique

That's right. Its April, only 9 months from the 2010 Oscar Nominations being announced. Most films that will be honored haven't even seen daylight, yet the 41 year old former phone sex operator turned comedian is already garnering Oscar buzz for her role as an abusive mother in Lee Daniel's Precious. 

The Film Experience blog has announced it's monthly Oscar predictions and Mo'Nique has topped the Best Supporting Actress list. "Everyone who I've spoken to who has seen this says 'it's not just hype. She's in'. We'll trust them".  Now the list changes every month but last year Film Experience correctly predicted three-out-of-the-five eventual nominees in April.

Mo'Nique already won the Special Jury Prize for acting at the Sundance Film Festival. Precious also won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance, has been picked up for distribution by Lionsgate, and will receive additional promotional assistance through Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Tyler Perry's 34th Street Films. All of which will create a big release and hopefully ensure Mo'Nique's buzz lasts throughout the year. 

Let's not forget, Lee Daneils has a knack for making films that garner Oscars for black women. In 2001, he produced Monster's Ball which made Halle Berry the first African-American woman to win Best Actress. 

My, this month seems all about Lee Daniels doesn't it. At least it's well deserved. Precious is set premiere nationwide on November 9th, 2009.

 

Morgan Freeman is also garnering buzz for playing inspirational leader Nelson Mandela in Clint Eastwood's biopic The Human Factor. There is also some talk of Djimon Hounsou for The Tempest and Sophie Okonedo for Skin.