It's too bad, I feel like something is wrong in the Actress categories..... Every year it seems like the Lead Actor and Supporting Actor categories are awash with potential candidates, and then the Lead/Supporting Actress categories always feel ho-hum, less memorable..... probably something to do with the general sexist bent of most commerce/art/movie-making. I'm pretty sure women are just as capable of acting as men.

When viewing movies, how often do I think to remember, "Wow, that chick had a really solid supporting role in her 23 minutes of screentime!"

For this year off the top of my head:
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood ( I actually did make a mental note of her performance )
Saiorse Ronan, Grand Budapest ( she's damn good, sweet and true )
the daughter, Interstellar
Birdman's wife, Birdman's daughter, Birdman
Imelda Staunton, Taking Woodstock (or since that didn't come out this year..... Pride)

As far as Tilda Swinton in Snowpiercer..... I do remember my face doing a "what the fuck?" motion when I first saw she was nominated by some critics groups..... felt like a ridiculous farce of a performance..... but it WAS memorable and distinct. I may have to revisit that film, when I can get myself to do so.

Haven't seen Gone Girl yet, so can't comment on Carrie Coon. (though if the score is anywhere near as memorable, throbbing electro human emotional as Social Network..)

Though I generally would agree, the leading actress category is actually really strong this year. Not only have at least our of the nominees delivered really strong performances (I have yet to see Still Alice), but we have also had Mia Waskikowska with a terrific turn in Tracks and Essie Davis doing a great job in The Babadook as wel as Hilary Swank actually being damn great in The Homesman. While several of them have not been in contention, I for myself, can easily find many worthy leading actress performances.

It goes without saying that leading actor is overstuffed too.

However, as far as supporting actor is concerned - I think it is equally weak this year to supporting actress or maybe just slightly stronger. Norton and Simmons obviously deserve to be there and I guess I would have nominated Duvall, but certainly not Hawke. I haven't see Foxcatcher yet, but seriously, outside of these no one else really comes to my mind as deserving.

the Best Actress category this year is very, very solid. Pike and WItherspoon's performances both seem like they'd win in less competitive years.

Good point. I haven't seen ANY of these movies yet, that might be a factor. Yet still: Actor considerations tend to be from highly visible movies, Actress nominations less-so (Still Alice? Badabook? Homesman? Tracks? Wild? Two-Days One Night? versus: American Sniper, Foxcatcher, Birdman, Grand Budapest, Genius-homo/Genius-invalid movies, sorry I love movies but don't live in a big city nor do I keep up to date on worthwhile performances)

I do think Simmons is IDEAL and deserving material here, Norton also very very good, but Hawke was only 'expectedly solid,' he's done better work elsewhere. Haven't seen the other performances.

I admit my ignorance in discussing this now, I really need to see GG and Wild.

All-time classic

Actresses that I made a mental note of in 2014 were Sally Field, Essie Davis, Mia Wasikowska, Rosamund Pike, and Lorelei Linklater. All the rest were just 'actresses in films', and the nominees for Best Actress and Supporting Actress in this year's Oscars were just 'actresses in Oscar films'. Nothing special for me, unless I hadn't seen them yet.

Your love for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is weird, dude.

I have my reasons.

YES! That one occurred to me and happenchance I forgot to list her previously. That'd make my 5:

Pat Arquette and
Lorelei Linklater, Boyhood
Saiorse Ronan, Grand Budapest Hotel
Mackenzie Foy, Interstellar
Amy Ryan and
Emma Stone, Birdman

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Dorothy Atkinson, Mr. Turner
Marion Bailey, Mr. Turner
Sandrine Kiberlain, Violette
Melanie Lynskey, Happy Christmas

Does Marc Webb have some private gay orgy photos of yours?

I actually think the line up in quite strong. The only one I feel is undeserving is Laura Dern.

1. Emma Stone
2. Meryl Streep
3. Keira Knightley
4. Patricia Arquette
5. Laura Dern

Knightley did absolutely NOTHING in The Imitation Game. I like her a lot, but she was a non-factor in her film.

Knightley is a terrible actress. I haven't seen the film, but I presume she's just included because the film is respected, not because of her performance.

That's it, David is not gonna bottom for you for the next three months. Enough is enough.

I'm already on a 2-monther for hating The Zero Theorem.

Damn man, time to pull out those shirtless Sly pics again, it's jerk-off-time.

Mod gave me permission to post porn! That^ was just a teaser.

You must have shot your load several times before you were physically able to press "submit"

Sharon Stone and Kurt Russell turn me off.

Keira Knightley is damn gorgeous though. Too bad she smokes.

Gorgeous for a 16-year old boy.