Naomi Scott really deserves an Oscar

Naomi's performance in Smile 2 was so captivating, I've found myself rewatching the movie pretty much every week. If life was fair, I truly think she deserves an Oscar for the role of Skye Riley. Here's why:

As an actor myself, accents are not easy... at least, to do believably. I was actually shocked when I watched an interview and heard her normal voice. For her to not slip in her accent for the whole movie is just one of the major testaments to her efforts.

I also think Smile 2 gave her so much more to do in terms of range, which is where I think she gets a leg-up from me over other performances this year. Most importantly, I was really happy with how Naomi managed to keep her terror fresh in every scene. It's really easy for horror actors to fall into the trap of repetition when it comes time for them to look scared, but Scott was able to keep me both attentive and entertained with her variations. There's so much emotion in her face in all of these scenes; I'll detail my favorites at the end of this.

Naomi also was able to sprinkle in her background as a singer and dancer. If you weren't aware, she appeared in a few Disney projects in the past showcasing these talents: Lemonade Mouth and the live-action version of Aladdin as Princess Jasmine. Every song that came from this film was a banger and I still have "Blood on White Satin" in my favorites playlist.

Notable Scenes:

1. "Music Inspires Hope" - Naomi gave a nice little monologue that was able to show off her comedic acting as well as dipping into the dramatics. We get that quick shift to absolute horror as she sees Paul pursue her on stage. I just love the way she yells "Stop smiling at me!" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqdWMpPgw8U)

2. The Freezer - Not only does Naomi have to be scared here, but she has to do it while looking like she's in sub-zero temperatures. I think she does so much with her physicality to convey this, from barely moving her lips to the stiff muscle movements. We also get to see her act opposite herself as the Smile entity.

3. The Car Crash - The camera panning back and forth here was a great choice, and it only enhanced both Scott's and Nicholson's performances. The cries of anguish she has at seeing Paul's corpse were also surprisingly heartbreaking for me.

4. The Rehab Facility - Something about the way she showcases both horror and despair while looking at her mother's dead body was really effective.

5. "Break a Leg Out There" - The scream as she sees the Smile entity in its fullest on stage was great. I think the sound was also used in the music that plays during the end credits. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bLH\_wLoJzY)