Kate Winslet in The Reader vs Angelina Jolie in Changeling

Kate Winslet - yes the performance in Reader encompasses all the qualities that have always drawn us to her. Her performance in Iris, in the Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind, in the Titanic, in the Reader, they all display her amazing talent. But is the performance in The Reader good enough to win her an academy award?
Kate chose a role which was different, playing a Nazi woman and trying to create a humane and compassionate reaction about her. But then so did Meryl, of a stubborn nun, and so did Anne Hathaway of a drug addict.
For that matter, what does the name Angeline Jolie make you feel?? She is the hottest stars of hollywood, and aren't you crazy about her action thriller performance in Mr and Mrs Smith, Tomb Raider and for that matter her sensuous roles in The Original Sin or in Gia?
Newsflash - in Changeling, she plays a middle aged woman and apart from a scene where she is being washed off in the asylum shower, for a fraction of second, you never see how her body looks like; in fact the kind of clothes she wears, and the way she carries herself, you never feel like thinking about how her body looks like - she is a mother, all through the movie and isnt THAT different??
Kate chose a portrait role of a woman of past era. But, so did Meryl and so did Angelina. A woman of 20s when i have now come to believe after watching L.A. confidential and Changeling that the police system was actually corrupt.
Kate got naked whenever she met her lover, younger her age, and having him read books for her and giving him a bath was a daily ritual of the role she played.
Angelina Jolie surely loses here [ :-) ], apart from that fraction of a second shower scene. Again, we can argue on both sides for necessity of that scene - director and writer may say it was needed to heighten the intensity of atrocities she had to face, and ofcourse the humiliations, and those against it may say, this could have been achieved even without a naked angelina in shower. I loved the 'scene' so i would go with the crew on this one ;-)
But yes, Angelina did appear in a scene having a naked younger boy in bath tub, giving him bath. this younger boy was however, a replacement of her son given to her, and the scene only helped her get additional evidence regarding mis-lead identity of the boy.
Kate played a role of a proud and determined woman, who wants to conceal her weaknesses. So, did Angelina and so did Meryl streep. In fact, kate's resolute nature was only to hide her illiteracy and her indulgence was to help her forget her past doings. Meryl streep portrayed a nun, whose resolute nature is to ensure that there is no wrong doing around and her indulgence was to bring the guilty to his terms. Angelina struggled and was resolute to find her son, and her indulgence was only out of her love for her son.
Kate plays a role where she is tricked into a larger punishment by her former work colleagues and seniors. Well, Angelina plays a woman who is tricked to accept an alien as her son, in front of whole city!!
kate is hopeful to find love in hearts of others for her, through out her life and takes measures for it even while in Jail. Angelina is hopeful that some day her son would return and keeps ringing the police station through out her life.
The comparisons can go on for over and i can only find that angelina scores over kate in every aspect.
If Anne Hathaway's nomination has been attributed to her being daring this year in attempting a image makeover, kate has been daring only in selection of her role. Her image of an portrait actress remains. Angelina scores in this aspect over all contenders, including Meryl, who continues to portray a seasoned lady in her field. She has turned herself into a much more mature and passionate actress with Changeling.
If Meryl is attributed with being the classy actress, lets not forget that Angelina is the most famous leading lady of this era.
If Melissa was nominated for her portrayal of a woman being ignored by a larger chunk of society, Angelina portrays the agony of a mother who has lost her only child and her only family.
You cry with angelina, when she is approached by the cops in her office to inform about her son, feeling the same tension and fear, you feel the voice of asylum inmates in your head when angelina is trying to sleep in her cell, you bless the old inmate who tries to protect angelina from shock treatment, you hate the cops, you get infuriated with the dummy boy, trying to be her son, you despise the children-serial-killer, you are with angelina and her character all the times .. she takes your mind along with hers through out the course of the movie. she rules this movie at all times.
Ask me and Angelina Jolie is the best actress of the year 2008!!