What an interesting lineup this year!

Kate Winslet
Dakota Fanning
Meryl Streep

Sienna Miller
Cate Blanchett
Renee Zellwegger(?)
Annette Bening
Ashely Judd
Penelope Cruz

The top 3 seem to be the biggest contenders so far, though the rest of the competition looks strong too.

Winslet is like a 95% lock for a nom I'd say, I see no way how she won't at least get that, so that leaves 4 more spots.

Streep's performance is definitley good enough, and if Zellwegger can get a nom for Bridget Jones' Diary and if Diane Keaton can for Something's Gotta Give, there's no reason why the movie material would stop her from getting one here, she is friggin Meryl Streep after all.

Fanning, well the performance just might suck still, there's no guarantee yet, but the academy and Hollywood in general loves her, and this is a bait performance. If they want to give her a nom during her child star years, this would probably be the year. As long as she's just good, I see her getting one. If she's great, she can easily win.

As for the rest:

Blanchett has roles all over the place, I think she's going to get a nom or two somewhere, I would give the edge more to a supporting nom, but she's still in the race nevertheless.

Zellwegger, I don't know much about her movie, but it's a biopic and she's had no problem loading up the nominations before, she shouldn't be counted out.

Sienna Miller... just trusting Kill that she has buzz, the role seems fine for a nom, the transformation thing and all. Surprised that she would have that much depth though, we'll see. Annette Bening, well she's still due, after the two losses and all. Ashely Judd, I think the movie looks bad, but buzz is buzz, I wouldn't bet on it though. Penelope Cruz, again I wouldn't count on it, but if Volver picks up steam, mayybeeee.

As of now, I see:

Kate Winslet
Dakota Fanning
Meryl Streep
Annette Bening
Sienna Miller

As for the win, I'm gonna say it's Winslet vs Fanning for now, going out on a limb I'll say Fanning wins it in a shocker.

Don't forget Nicole Kidman for the Diane Arbus biopic, Fur, or whatever it's being called now. Early buzz is very good.

Oh, and Bening has lost 3 times. She was nominated for The Grifter in the early '90's. Great movie, btw.

Right now, I predict:

Kate Winslet, Little Children
Annette Bening, Running With Scissors
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Nicole Kidman, Fur
Ashley Judd, Bug/Come Early Morning

Dakota Fanning (Hounddog), Sienna Miller (Factory Girl), Helen Mirren (The Queen), Renee Zellweger (Miss Potter) and Penelope Cruz (Volver), among others, are also possible contenders.

I agree with that list completely.

Ditto Those are my predictions for now aswell, even though I think Ashley Judd is going to be nominated for Bug (but then again CEM seems more Oscar-y... ) and Penelope Cruz might be looking at her first nomination, indeed... (if one of these movies fails to get a clear consensus)


It seems to be between Winslet and Bening, and if the movies (or should I say the performances?) are really as good as I'm expecting them to be, I'll be happy with either one of them winning...

Ellen Page (Hard Candy) deserves a nomination. Alas, Independent Spirit Awards seem like her only chance for recognition.

Agreed.

What about Maggie Gyllenhaal for Sherrybaby? She received great reviews for the performance.

Movie is probably way too small and being released too early, but she can never be counted out, I suppose.

She deserved one for Secretary....

beyonce for mean girls

You mean Dreamgirls, right?



And I really hope that doesn't happen, I don't care how supposedly "good" she is Penelope? Yes. Beyonce? No.


well, as a matter of fact, I liked her in Goldmember... but that was different, I guess

She deserves to win.

You're right. She was perfection personified and anyone who sees her powerful performance would have to agree. I cannot wait for her next film, 'An American Crime' costarring Catherine Keener and James Franco.

Emanuel Levy is pegging Helen Mirren (The Queen) as the early frontrunner for the win. I still think nobody can touch Winslet if she delivers as early buzz indicates, and academy will choose Winslet first for a British actress, but Mirren should be close to lock up a nomination, Imelda Staunton of 2006.

This is really looking like a kick-ass year for female lead performances, after the incredible strong showings by males last year.

Oh yeah, Mirren has to be a lock.

She's such a great actress.

I really would like to see Kate Winslet finally win, though.

I think Kate is a lock to win, as long as the movie is decent. She'll surely deliver. I'm rooting for her.

SInce Helen Mirren just won an Emmy for playing Elizabeth I in a mini-series, how will that affect her Oscar chances playing Elizabeth II in a theatrical release? Will it create confusion? Or will is help her?

Either way, I think she's a great actress. She should have won for Gosford Park.

Incase I haven't said it enough, it's Katie's year!

Will she be up for the Golden Globe for the Elizabeth I performance?

Fanning won't be nominated, if simply for the fact that her mother/manager specifically are aiming for Oscars.

Winslet looks like the frontrunner, but it's all stats. I don't really think it's an exciting year in the top categories at all, and I don't personally feel like there's a TON of competition in any of the acting categories at this point. I'm just not feeling it.

Here are my predictions as of now:

Annette Bening, Running With Scissors
Dakota Fanning, Hounddog
Ashley Judd, Bug
Helen Mirren, The Queen
Kate Winslet, Little Children

http://www.moviecitynews.com/columnists ... eview.html

A few reviews that are starting to build a case for Helen Mirren in The Queen and Penelope Cruz for Volver, two actresses that I fully expect to be in the thick of things.

Who cares about Helen Mirren and Cruz? The one that should win is Ellen Page. Too bad the Academy is guaranteed to overlook her undeniably brilliant performance

The Mirren buzz continues, curtesy of Venice:

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931 ... Id=31&cs=1

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/re ... 1003086878

Sheen could join the ridiculous list of A-list Best Supporting Actors this year too, if the movie is noticed enough. Only problem there is that he's playing the still very relevant Blair, and it'd almost seem like an emmy nod to give him one for that role. Can you imagine this lineup: Eddie Murphy, Ben Affleck, Michael Caine, Jack Nicholson, and Martin Sheen. Hardy har har, wow.

It's Michael Sheen, dude, not Martin Sheen.