In A24’s darkly comic drama If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, actress Rose Byrne dominates the screen for nearly two full hours, delivering a career-best performance that critics and awards pundits say could secure her a coveted Best Actress Oscar nomination.
Written and directed by Mary Bronstein (Yeast), the film follows Linda (Byrne), a therapist whose world unravels as she struggles with her daughter’s mysterious illness, a water-damaged home, a missing patient, and an absent husband on an extended work trip. The supporting cast includes Conan O’Brien (in a rare dramatic role as Linda’s therapist), Christian Slater (as the husband, mostly heard in phone calls), Danielle Macdonald (as the missing patient), and A$AP Rocky (as a motel superintendent).
The film has been steadily building momentum since its Sundance debut, with stops at Berlin, Telluride, and TIFF. It currently holds a 93% certified fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 82 “universal acclaim” rating on Metacritic. A24 has slated it for theatrical release on October 10, strategically placing it in the thick of awards season.
Critics have been nearly unanimous in their praise for Byrne. Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson called it “the performance of a lifetime.” Time Out’s Stephen Russell hailed it as a “tour de force of matriarchal fury,” while The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee described it as “monumental… awards-worthy work that should inspire other risk-taking directors to work with her next.”
Many reviewers compare the movie’s relentless energy and anxiety to Uncut Gems and Nightbitch, with IndieWire’s David Ehrlich giving it an A and writing that the film “vibrates with a primordial love and respect for its heroine.” However, others noted the film’s intensity may be overwhelming. The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney cautioned that “two hours of someone else’s anxiety can get exhausting.”
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Despite the divisive reactions to the film’s nonstop tension, Byrne’s performance is widely seen as its strongest awards contender. According to Gold Derby’s Best Actress predictions, she is currently ranked No. 5, behind Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good), and Emma Stone (Bugonia).
If the momentum continues, Byrne may finally receive the industry recognition that has eluded her despite a diverse career spanning comedies, dramas, and blockbusters. As Vanity Fair noted: “Rose Byrne gives the performance of a lifetime — let’s hope the Academy notices.”
