It's that timeeeee again. I know it's only January 2 and some of you probs haven't seen everything you wanted to yet, but you can hold off or edit later. Fun fun fun.

My winners are in bold. I'm just gonna have 10 nominees for Picture because why not.

BEST PICTURE
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

BEST DIRECTOR
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Steven Spielberg, War Horse
Tate Taylor, The Help

BEST ACTOR
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Drive
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

BEST ACTRESS
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Albert Brooks, Drive
Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life
Alan Rickman, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Corey Stoll, Midnight in Paris

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
50/50
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
Source Code
The Tree of Life

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Descendants
Drive
The Help
Hugo
Moneyball

BEST PICTURE
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Jane Eyre
Like Crazy
Melancholia
Restless
Shame
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse

BEST DIRECTOR
Tomas Alfredson, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Steve McQueen, Shame
Steven Spielberg, War Horse
Lars von Trier, Melancholia

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Craig, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Tom Hardy, Warrior
Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter

BEST ACTRESS
Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia
Felicity Jones, Like Crazy
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Saoirse Ronan, Hanna
Mia Wasikowska, Jane Eyre

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Benedict Cumberbatch, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Colin Farrell, Fright Night
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Melancholia
Mélanie Laurent, Beginners
Carey Mulligan, Shame

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Beginners
Melancholia
Restless
Shame
Take Shelter

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Jane Eyre
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse

I'd argue that Gainsbourg is just as much lead as Dunst. The second half is hers, after all.

It's a big role and a fair argument, but, similar to the Shannon/Chastain dynamic in Take Shelter, I feel Dunst's performance dominates the picture (and sets its tone), and she is therefore the true lead.

Maybe in the first half. Gainsbourg clearly dominates the second half.

I mean, von Trier even splits the film into two chapters, one named for each sister. I don't think he intended for one to be lead over the other.

And the Take Shelter comparison is off. That entire film is from Shannon's perspective. Not so in Melancholia.

I honestly don't feel Gainsbourg dominates the second half. I know the chapter is named after her character, and we definitely see more of her personality (and her ability to process and cope with the impending doom vs. her sister), but to me Dunst's Justine is still the most powerful presence in the movie.

trixster, out of curiosity, where would you place these performances in terms of lead vs. supporting:

Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter
Michael Fassbender, Jane Eyre

To me these are three other examples of major performances which, despite their complexity and size, are still supporting turns in relation to their counterparts.

EDIT: Didn't see the post right above this one.

I'd argue there are passages in the movie, such as the third-act sequence in the shelter, where you are seeing the events more from Chastain's perspective than Shannon's. But I'd still call her overall performance one of a supporting nature.

The difference is that each of those films is clearly told from the perspective of the main character. Melancholia splits time between two perspectives (and literally divides its narrative in half).

Dunst may deliver a stronger performance (something else I don't agree with, but I digress), but I really don't think Gainsbourg is in a supporting role. Kiefer Sutherland, Stellan + Alexander Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt, etc. are the supporting actors.

But whatever.

Noble argument, but I still don't agree. Apologies.

So best supporting actress Christina Hendricks?