1.
Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables
Born: November 12, 1982 - Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2009 - Best Leading Actress for Rachel Getting Married (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
After making an impression as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, Miss Hathaway is just under crazy Oscar buzz thanks to her role as Fantine in Tom Hooper's adaptation of Les Misérables musical. Fantine is such a tragic meaty character: a single mother, betrayed by life, who must to sell her hair and turn into a prostitute in order to survive and to send money to her little daughter. Plus, Hathaway has one of the most iconic songs of the show and judging by the trailer, tears will be shed during her more honest version "I Dreamed a Dream" (she simply sounds truly desperate!). She has the talent, the role, the beauty and she has the voice... and according to Nathaniel Rogers from The Film Experience (who attended Les Miz first screening), " The cutest question from the crowd was a man who asked Anne if she had already cleared space on her shelf for the Oscar. The audience -- filled with AMPAS and guild members -- applauded his question. Anne didn't have to answer. But then, it's not really a question anymore."
2.
Helen Hunt for The Sessions
Helen Hunt for The Sessions
Born: June 15, 1963 - Los Angeles, California, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1998 - Best Leading Actress for As Good as It Gets (win)
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Considered by most critics a tricky part, Helen Hunt delivered a performance of true modesty and honesty as a sexual surrogate (which is something different from a prostitute!). The Sessions seduced Sundance Film Festival and took home the Audience Award and Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Acting, turning the movie into a contender for Best Picture category, which only benefits Hunt's awards hopes. In fact, she got the kind of Oscar-worthy raves and once her co-star John Hawkes one of the major contenders in the Best Leading Actor race, I can see an Oscar nomination happening for Helen. But, there's a problem: if you exclude Cast Away, Hunt has only experienced a series of critical flops since her Oscar win for As Good as It Gets, which will make some Academy members thinking twice before putting her name in a paper. So, a win may be difficult for her, but I believe she is a safe bet for a nomination.
3.
Samantha Barks for Les Misérables
Born: October 2, 1990 - Isle of Man
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
One of the most well-received casting choices of Tom Hooper's adaptation of Les Misérables musical, Samantha Barks already played Éponine in the London stage version of the show and in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables (2010) and she received tons of praise for her work. This is her cinema debut and the Academy loves to recognize debuts in the Best Supporting Actress category, making a nomination easier to happen than most prediction folks may think - this is the same category that gave Jennifer Hudson her Oscar for her remarkable acting debut in the musical Dreamgirls. Alongside Fantine, we can consider Éponine the best character in show, since all about her is tragic: her love for Marius and her death. Plus, Barks will sing the beautiful "On My Own" and I believe her voice will seduce a lot of Oscar voters. Being part of such a talented cast and of a Best Picture buzzy movie will give Barks a lot of attentions and a Best Supporting Actress nomination is extremely likely to happen to her.
One of the most well-received casting choices of Tom Hooper's adaptation of Les Misérables musical, Samantha Barks already played Éponine in the London stage version of the show and in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables (2010) and she received tons of praise for her work. This is her cinema debut and the Academy loves to recognize debuts in the Best Supporting Actress category, making a nomination easier to happen than most prediction folks may think - this is the same category that gave Jennifer Hudson her Oscar for her remarkable acting debut in the musical Dreamgirls. Alongside Fantine, we can consider Éponine the best character in show, since all about her is tragic: her love for Marius and her death. Plus, Barks will sing the beautiful "On My Own" and I believe her voice will seduce a lot of Oscar voters. Being part of such a talented cast and of a Best Picture buzzy movie will give Barks a lot of attentions and a Best Supporting Actress nomination is extremely likely to happen to her.
4.
Sally Field for Lincoln
Born: November 6, 1946 - Pasadena, California, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1980 - Best Leading Actress for Norma Rae (win); 1985 - Best Leading Actress for Places in the Heart (win)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1989 - Steel Magnolias; 1994 - Forrest Gump
After a controversial win for Places in the Heart, Sally Field never experienced another Oscar nomination since then, in spite of her more than solid work in Steel Magnolias or in the Oscar-winning Forrest Gump. This year, she portrays a 40 something years old Mary Todd Lincoln, a "complicated" first lady, the woman behind the great man Abraham Lincoln (instant Oscar-baity role), and her performance is getting a lot of critical support. In fact, this year's Best Supporting Actress race seems to do not have any locks beyond Anne Hathaway or Helen Hunt, but Field may be part of the nominees list thanks to Lincoln's Best Picture-caliber, her critical support and the lack of buzzy competitors. Since so many years have past since the last time the AMPAS recognized her, I believe it won't be hard for her to receive her third Oscar nod for Licoln.
After a controversial win for Places in the Heart, Sally Field never experienced another Oscar nomination since then, in spite of her more than solid work in Steel Magnolias or in the Oscar-winning Forrest Gump. This year, she portrays a 40 something years old Mary Todd Lincoln, a "complicated" first lady, the woman behind the great man Abraham Lincoln (instant Oscar-baity role), and her performance is getting a lot of critical support. In fact, this year's Best Supporting Actress race seems to do not have any locks beyond Anne Hathaway or Helen Hunt, but Field may be part of the nominees list thanks to Lincoln's Best Picture-caliber, her critical support and the lack of buzzy competitors. Since so many years have past since the last time the AMPAS recognized her, I believe it won't be hard for her to receive her third Oscar nod for Licoln.
5.
Scarlett Johansson for Hitchcock
Born: November 22, 1984 - New York City, New York, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2003 - Lost In Translation; 2003 - Girl With Pearl Earring; 2005 - Match Point
Hitchcock may not be the Best Picture contender some were expecting to be, but it features outstanding performances from its cast and critics (and audiences) are impressed with Scarlett Johansson's charming turn as Janet Leigh. Her character may have little to do in the movie, but Johansson is considered "stealer" and, in spite of not looking like Leigh at all, she captured her essence. Her biggest advantage in this race may be the "nostalgia factor": seeing Scarlett playing Janet Leigh playing Marion Crane in some iconic Psycho scenes such as the driving or the shower scenes may simply seduce a big couple of Academy members. Plus, Fox Searchlight may want to campaign for her since Hitchcock may be the studio's best shot for the awards season alongside Beasts of the Southern Wild and we can't forget that Scarlett Johansson already got snubed in the past more than once (the snub for her performance in Lost In Translation was something shocking) and her career is on a high spot right now due to the success of The Avengers and her return to Broadway...
Hitchcock may not be the Best Picture contender some were expecting to be, but it features outstanding performances from its cast and critics (and audiences) are impressed with Scarlett Johansson's charming turn as Janet Leigh. Her character may have little to do in the movie, but Johansson is considered "stealer" and, in spite of not looking like Leigh at all, she captured her essence. Her biggest advantage in this race may be the "nostalgia factor": seeing Scarlett playing Janet Leigh playing Marion Crane in some iconic Psycho scenes such as the driving or the shower scenes may simply seduce a big couple of Academy members. Plus, Fox Searchlight may want to campaign for her since Hitchcock may be the studio's best shot for the awards season alongside Beasts of the Southern Wild and we can't forget that Scarlett Johansson already got snubed in the past more than once (the snub for her performance in Lost In Translation was something shocking) and her career is on a high spot right now due to the success of The Avengers and her return to Broadway...
6. Amy Adams for The Master
Born: August 20, 1974 - Vicenza, Veneto, Italy
Born: August 20, 1974 - Vicenza, Veneto, Italy
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2006 - Best Supporting Actress for Junebug (nom); 2009 - Best Supporting Actress for Doubt (nom); 2011 - Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master is Joaquin Phoenix & Philip Seymour Hoffman's show and all the attentions are centered on the movie's male leads, in spite of highly-positive reactions to Amy Adam's performance. The movie's Best Picture buzz is getting weaker, since people realise The Master is a respected movie and not a loved one (just like last year's Shame) and Adam's Oscar dreams may just not come true.
7. Ann Dowd for Compliance
Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master is Joaquin Phoenix & Philip Seymour Hoffman's show and all the attentions are centered on the movie's male leads, in spite of highly-positive reactions to Amy Adam's performance. The movie's Best Picture buzz is getting weaker, since people realise The Master is a respected movie and not a loved one (just like last year's Shame) and Adam's Oscar dreams may just not come true.
7. Ann Dowd for Compliance
Born: ?? - ?? - ??
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performances: none
An unknown name, Ann Dowd made a huge impression in Sundance hit Compliance, getting huge raves for her performance. But the actress' main disadvantage may be her lack of popularity and while some say she may get a "Jacki Weaver kind of nomination" I think the movie hasn't enough shiny awards prospects in order to generate real Oscar buzz around Dowd.
8. Maggie Smith for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
An unknown name, Ann Dowd made a huge impression in Sundance hit Compliance, getting huge raves for her performance. But the actress' main disadvantage may be her lack of popularity and while some say she may get a "Jacki Weaver kind of nomination" I think the movie hasn't enough shiny awards prospects in order to generate real Oscar buzz around Dowd.
8. Maggie Smith for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Born: December 28, 1934 - Ilford, Essex, England, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1966 - Best Supporting Actress for Othello (nom); 1970 - Best Leading Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (win); 1973 - Best Leading Actress for Travels with My Aunt (nom); 1979 - Best Supporting Actress for California Suite (win); 1987 - Best Supporting Actress for A Room With a View (nom); 2002 - Best Supporting Actress for Gosford Park (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1987 - The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne; 1993 - The Secret Garden
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was released too soon in order to turn into a major awards player, but it had a very positive reception and it may be promoted as "the feel-good movie of the year" and Maggie Smith may get a Best Supporting Actress nomination, since her chances in the Best Leading Actress category for her performance in Quartet do not look THAT bright anymore. Smith benefits from Downtown Abbey's popularity, but Marigold Hotel won't be an easy sell and Fox Searchlight may want to spend its money promoting Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson in this category.
9. Helena Bonham Carter for Great Expectations
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was released too soon in order to turn into a major awards player, but it had a very positive reception and it may be promoted as "the feel-good movie of the year" and Maggie Smith may get a Best Supporting Actress nomination, since her chances in the Best Leading Actress category for her performance in Quartet do not look THAT bright anymore. Smith benefits from Downtown Abbey's popularity, but Marigold Hotel won't be an easy sell and Fox Searchlight may want to spend its money promoting Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson in this category.
9. Helena Bonham Carter for Great Expectations
Born: May 26, 1966 - Golders Green, London, England, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1998 - Best Leading Actress for The Wings of the Dove (nom); 2011 - Best Supporting Actress for The King's Speech (nom)
Oscar snubed performances: 2007 - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
It must be delicious to watch Bonham Carter playing one of the most interesting characters Charles Dickens has created, but the fact is that there's almost no buzz around her Miss Havisham in spite of the acclaimed critical reception around her performance. The Academy loves Helena out of her "crazy/weird woman" mode and her work in Great Expectations isn't just completely outside that concept.
10. Olivia Williams for Hyde Park On Hudson
It must be delicious to watch Bonham Carter playing one of the most interesting characters Charles Dickens has created, but the fact is that there's almost no buzz around her Miss Havisham in spite of the acclaimed critical reception around her performance. The Academy loves Helena out of her "crazy/weird woman" mode and her work in Great Expectations isn't just completely outside that concept.
10. Olivia Williams for Hyde Park On Hudson
Born: July 26, 1968 - Camden Town, London, England, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2010 - The Ghost Writer
It's Bill Murray's show, but Hyde Park On Hudson benefits from an enchanting Olivia Williams as President Roosevelt's wife. Williams lost a lot of traction thanks to HPOH mixed reception and Lincoln's enthusiastic reception, which features an outstanding Sally Field playing another first lady. Two first ladies in the Best Supporting Actress shortlist? It may happen, but it's just unlikely to see this year.
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