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Demian Bichir

I'm gonna be completely honest here and admit that I don't know anything about this actor or this movie (A Better Life). Apparently it's directed by a guy who once thought “wouldn't it be hilarious if a teenager stuck his wang in a pie,” and the actor in question is that Mexican drug dealer from Weeds. This is what happens when several different movie sites share Oscar info: one person says “I think Demian Bichir has a shot at a nomination,” another person parrots that prediction, and before you know it some guy from a movie nobody's ever heard of is acknowledged by common wisdom as a legitimate theoretical Oscar contender. Whether or not the manufactured buzz translates to anything more than an Independent Spirit nomination is another issue entirely.

The George Clooney:

George Clooney

That guy from ER is an Oscar contender, apparently. Having won for Syriana, you can't really claim that Clooney is overdue, but he hasn't won so recently that a win is out of the question. Starring in one of the best-reviewed movies of the year is an easy way to score an acting nomination (but nobody tell Daniel Radcliffe that) but Alexander Payne does not have a great track record with getting his leads nominated. Jack Nicholson was nominated for About Schmidt, but Matthew Broderick and Paul Giammati were overlooked for Election and Sideways. Still, neither of those two were as beloved as Clooney is, so it would be one of the shocks of the race (and end any speculation of a Descendants Best Picture win) if Clooney is left out.

Best Actress:

The Overdue:

Meryl Streep

“Meryl Streep is overdue?” the incredulous reader asks, incredulously. Let me ask you a question, reader: when was the time Meryl Streep won an Oscar? If your answer is “man, it's been, like, over a decade,” you are technically right, but really not even close. Despite having 15 nominations (including being the only actor to be nominated for a Wes Craven movie. Look it up, nerds) Streep has not won an Oscar since 1983. Or perhaps it's because of her 15 nominations. Streep is such an acclaimed actress that it wouldn't feel right to give her an Oscar for just being great. She has to be truly transcendent to live up to her reputation and merit another Oscar, and you can't claim that she reached that level in Julie & Julia or The Devil Wears Prada. But that could change this year when she plays Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Reviews have thus far been tepid on the movie itself, but hot hot hot on Streep. This looks like the year that the great Streep could finally claim her third Oscar.

Glenn Close

One of the hottest actresses of the '80s, Close was nominated for five Oscars in seven years. But Close is both the name and the game for her, since she never managed to actually win the Gold and hasn't really been in the game since her nomination for Dangerous Liaisons in 1989. That could change this year, as Close is playing the title character in Albert Nobbs, about a woman who passes as a man for over 30 years in 19th Century Ireland. The part is pure Oscar bait, and critics have been falling over themselves to praise Close's performance. It seems to be a two-horse race between the veterans, and will likely go down to the wire.

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