I dunno, I don't think "super strong praise" has really classified her reviews so far. I certainly think she's getting a lot of very good notice, but it's not like she's being compared to Claire Danes in Homeland in every review. It also seems to be a more subtle performance relatively free of "actressing." I wouldn't call JLaw's performance histrionic or anything but it's certainly showy.

We'll have to see what happens. I think Chastain and Lawrence are both fantastic, and it's really cool the race will probs come down to the two of them.

Jennifer Lawrence should win just for wearing those yoga pants for most of the movie.

Poor Viola Davis would've had this race sealed up in about 5 seconds if The Help had come out this year. Oh well.

Truth.

I think Jennifer Lawrence is still better than Viola Davis. Though both performances were fantastic.

Chastain is definitely in now.

Predictions:

Jessica Chastain
Jennifer Lawrence
Helen Mirren
Naomi Watts
Quvenzhané Wallis

Alt.: Marion Cotillard

I believe Cotillard is stronger than Watts and Wallis.

This category sort of gives me a headache. There's 7 people in contention, it seems:

Chastain
Cotillard
Lawrence
Mirren
Riva
Wallis
Watts

2012 was Lawrence's year. She more or less single handedly headlined a $400 m film, and is getting outstanding reviews for Playbook. There's just far too much momentum. Could very well see a Catching Fire trailer be released some time early in the new year, which will only make her even more high profile.

The Academy isn't full of Hunger Games fan girls, though. Jessica Chastain is also a highly prominent figure and could easily win. Both Lawrence and Chastain are prior nominees. It would also be a way to reward Chastain for her incredible two-year run, which won't be lost on industry voters, even if films such as The Debt, Lawless, Take Shelter, and The Tree of Life were not huge mainstream hits.

It's a damn shame Rachel Weisz isn't in contention for The Deep Blue Sea. Such an incredible performance. She is almost becoming undervalued. So gifted.

P.S. is anyone else really looking forward to Quvenzahne Wallis this awards season? Not only does she deserve an Oscar nomination but she is a cute, adjusted little girl and I feel like she'll be so charming.

She's already been so adorable and fantastic, I can't wait for the red carpet interviews.

The precursors have made this category a mess just like Supporting Actress.

Lawrence and Chastain are mortal locks. Watts seems to be cementing a pretty solid position too. The other two nominees will come from a field of Wallis, Riva, Cotillard, Mirren, and I guess Weisz. Who knows.

I'm guessing we'll see Lawrence, Chastain, Watts, Cotillard and Wallis, unless Mirren's placeholder/filler nod status bumps out Q.

I hope Mirren is nominated. She is great in Hitchcock.

JLaw steps up the Oscahhh campaign: she'll be hosting SNL on January 19.

Lawrence won't win. Far, far, far, far too young, and part of a mainstream franchise. The academy will not allow her to be seen as a good actress. She may get a nom, but I even doubt that.

Uh, what?

She was already nominated for Best Actress two years ago for a film that had like 1/50th the buzz Silver Linings Playbook has.

Yeah, your point? She didn't win. And that was BEFORE the franchise shite. My post stands.

Your post is stupid.

Anyway, moving on.

You need to learn how the Academy works.

If Jessica Chastain doesn't win, Jennifer Lawrence is winning. End of discussion. Stop trying to act different just to be cool, it doesn't work. It makes you look like an attention seeking idiot.

You mean the Academy that time and time again gives the Best Actress Oscar to attractive, high-profile actresses in their 20s and 30s (i.e. Natalie Portman, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Reese Witherspoon, Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron)? Just because she's the star of a franchise means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. That is an idiotic argument.

If she's going to lose the Oscar, she's going to lose it because Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty wins it. Not for some other mysterious reason you've invented.

I hope Lawrence wins, she was better than Chastain. Though Chastain was good too, but mot as terrific as the hypoe suggested to me.

I think Chastain will win if the Academy really loves Zero Dark Thirty and it pretty much sweeps, if not it's Lawrence's to loose.