SAG Nominees: Best Actress in a Leading Role

My predictions: 3/5, picking Riva and Knightley over Mirren and Watts
Who’s missing? Keira Knightley (Anna Karenina), Emmanuelle Riva (Amour)

This category definitely bolstered a nominee that I certainly didn’t expect - Naomi Watts (The Impossible). After seeing at least three trailers for the film during a quintuple-feature extravaganza at the movies yesterday, I was very much not convinced that this was going to be an Oscar movie, but I do find Watts to be extremely talented, so I guess she might be able to go all the way. Also given a boost is Helen Mirren (Hitchcock), whose film didn’t receive the warmest welcome upon its release. Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) is in good company with two costars and her ensemble nominated, and she’s joined by a nominee from last year, Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), and a nominee in 2007, Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose). This will likely not be the eventual Oscar list due to the ineligibility of Quvenzhane Wallis here, but it’s probably not too far off.

Who could win? It’s difficult to say with no obvious frontrunner. Maybe Chastain?