A Closer Look at Best Actress

Natalie Portman - Black Swan 

(Second Nomination: Previously nominated as Best Supporting Actress in 2004's Closer)

There's not much reason to look closer at Best Actress as Natalie Portman has the wonderful fortune of basically having reign over the category. Her performance in the maddening Black Swan has resonated with critics, audiences and awards groups alike and this young actress (who has been working forever) finally delivers an iconic role as Nina - a ballerina who goes to desperate lengths for perfection. Portman luckily couldn't have been anymore perfect in the role. Glance over the other contenders (some predict a Bening "career-win", I still don't think they love her) but let Portman be your main focus.

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right

(Fourth Nomination: Previously nominated as Best Actress in 2004's Being Julia and 1999's American Beauty and as Best Supporting Actress in 1990's The Grifters)

  Annette Bening is Oscar royalty. She's married to Warren Beatty and she's even like the Governor or something of the Acting Branch. She is always fantastic and got career-best reviews in The Kids Are All Right and was able to take everything she's great at (bitchiness, neurotic, motherly) and combine it all in one giant critically acclaimed performance. She would be a major threat to win in any other year but the thing with Bening has always been: bad timing. This year all eyes are on Natalie Portman.

Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

(Second Nomination: Previously nominated as Best Supporting Actress in 2005's Brokeback Mountain) 

  Blue Valentine was a movie you heard about all damn year. Its famous war with the MPAA after they slapped it with an NC-17 rating kept it in the news - but the real story was the staggering work of its actors Oscar nominees Michelle Williams & Ryan Gosling. This is a nomination that confirms the Academy has taken notice of Williams work over the years. She's been a consistently strong and reliable source of acting mastery in smaller little-seen indie films and this is their way of saying, "We approve." Williams is arguably the best performance of the bunch but I don't think she'll be able to dethrone the Swan Queen so better luck next time (and there will be a next time, Williams is starring in an upcoming film as freakin' Marilyn Monroe.)

Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole

(Third Nomination: Previously won for Best Actress in 2002's The Hours and nominated as Best Actress in 2001's Moulin Rouge!)

Nicole Kidman is an acting legend. She's got the same respect as many of our great actors and actresses have. Yet, the Academy has oddly failed to notice her over and over as this is only her third nomination in a career that should have already received six, seven, you get the picture. But finally, finally Kidman was noticed again for her amazing performance in Rabbit Hole as a woman unable to let go of the death of her child. Already a winner, Kidman is there to enjoy the ride of being recognized and she has the least shot at winning this.

Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone

(This is Jennifer Lawrence's first Academy Award nomination.)

Jennifer Lawrence is a Kentucky native (represent!) who blew onto the Sundance scene in the icy Winter's Bone as Ree Dolly, a young girl who has to search for her missing father in order to save her family. Lawrence gives the most quiet performance of the five women nominated but shows a steely reserve that the Academy cannot resist amongst Best Actress nominees. I'm not sure what to think of her post-Oscar career just yet because she's already making bad choices (starring in X-Men franchise!) But hey, so did Ellen Page and she's still considered someone to watch out for.

WHO YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR IN YOUR OSCAR POOL:

Natalie Portman. There's no other option.