Oscar Nominees: Best Actress in a Leading Role

My predictions: 4/5, picking Tilda Swinton over Glenn Close
My ballot: Come back next week!
The nominees: Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Viola Davis (The Help), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

So the inclusion I predicted happened – Rooney Mara – but not at the expense of the disclusion I thought would occur – Glenn Close – leaving out instead Tilda Swinton, whose film I went to see this past weekend in anticipation of it being nominated. Oh well. Mara being here is interesting, because though it did receive five nominations, it couldn’t muster mentions in Best Picture, Best Director, or even Best Adapted Screenplay. Davis’ film also didn’t do too well, receiving only acting nods (three) and a solo Best Picture big. The other three nominees are accompanied only by costars or makeup nods (both in Close’s case). This is a decent list, though I wouldn’t personally include some of these women at the top of my list, to be released next week!

My current bet to win: It has to be Streep.