Here are the names of the lead actors and actresses who I think will wind up in the Oscar race.
Best Actor:
1. Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech.” 2. James Franco, “127 Hours.” 3. Mark Wahlberg, “The Fighter.” 4. Jesse Eisenberg, “The Social Network.” 5. Ryan Gosling, “Blue Valentine.”
Best Actress:
1. Annette Bening, “The Kids Are All Right.” 2. Nicole Kidman, “Rabbit Hole.” 3. Natalie Portman, “Black Swan.” 4. Julianne Moore, “The Kids Are All Right.” 5. Michelle Williams, “Blue Valentine.” (There was a glitch from earlier. Michelle Williams was always intended for this list. Jennifer Lawrence gets very honorable mention for he work in “Winter’s Bone.” The blizzard strikes again!)
So many other great turns: Patricia Clarkson, “Cairo Time”; Lesley Manville, “Another Year”; Lucy Punch, “You Will Meet…”; Robert Duvall, “Get Low”; Leonardo diCaprio “Inception” and “Shutter Island”; Noomi Rapace, “Girl…Tattoo”..; Aaron Eckhart, “Rabbit Hole.”
In truth, Annette Bening also deserves a nomination for “Mother and Child.” It would take the Academy a big leap, but it could be done–vote Annette as Best Actress in that film, and Julianne Moore in “Kids.” This sort of thing has happened before. And that way, Moore–who’s actually on screen more in “Kids”–has a better shot at winning.
