By: Henry J. Fromage –

Today we have a trio of Best Actress Oscar-baity pictures on tap.  First off, Ellen Page looks to get back in the game with Freeheld, a title that already has an Oscar to its name in the form of a Documentary Short Film.  The feature will be directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who would likely rather be remembered as the woman who directed Thirteen than the recent director of Twilight and Red Riding Hood.  However, the material looks good, as Page will play a woman fighting to gain the pension of her female domestic partner and terminally ill police officer.  On another encouraging note, the screenwriter, Ron Nyswaner, has a just a touch of experience writing successful Gay Rights screenplays…

Gonna be a tough one to follow.

Charlize Theron also has just a bit of Oscar love in her past, and if she ends up starring in the film her production company just acquired, she might be due for some more.  The film is based on a Vanity Fair article, “Marie Colvin’s Private War” that recounts the life and tragic recent death of legendary conflict reporter Marie Colvin, who covered events from Kosovo to the current Syrian Civil War.

All while consistently looking like the biggest bad ass around

The last of our group has been out of the Oscar game for awhile, but you can never completely count Hilary Swank out.  In You’re Not You, she has a juicy role playing a former chef and advertising exec now crippled by ALS who hires an introverted young caregiver and begins to help her come out of her shell.  No word yet on who’ll handle that role.

But I don’t think Omar Sy has anything lined up yet.