Broad Appeal

In Oscar history, there have been some inexplicable moments: the Streaker, Christolph Wattz’s second Oscar, CRASH?? But none was more surprising, unprecedented and downright mind-boggling than the lone Best Actress nomination for Sally Kirkland in ANNA, a film that is practically mythical (especially since it is so hard to find). Kirkland herself is the stuff of legend. From bit parts in forgettable films where only her back faces the camera (A STAR IS BORN), she somehow strong-armed her way into one of the strongest Best Actress fields ever. Yes, Sally sent personal letters to every member of the Academy. Yes, she won the Golden Globe. Yes, based on her facial expression at the ceremony, it even seems that she thought she had a chance to win. ANNA is a rarity and an oddity. The story of a Czech dissident movie star living in New York, it depicts spiritual vampirism in which one woman’s waning life force is sucked dry by a newer, prettier model. Sally speaks in Czech, bears her breasts, stuffs her face with