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In any case, it appears that at least one of these wrongs has a high a chance of being corrected this year should Julianne Moore triumph in her portrayal of an aging woman suffering from deteriorating mental capacities in Still Alice. All critics and bloggers believe that she is currently the one to beat. Let’s not forget Moore’s stunning performances from Boogie Nights to The Hours to Children of Men and Far From Heaven. That she is in the box office smash Mockingjay this year also does not hurt one bit. The march to the podium seemingly began, indeed, with her National Board of Review win.

The field becomes a complete wasteland after that. Not only does Moore not have a serious contender, it is hard to even come up with five names. The New York Film Critics Circle awarded Marion Cotillard for both Two Days, One Night, and The Immigrant. I wrote in my coverage of this year’s New York Film Festival that Two Days is strong, and I sincerely hope Cotillard gets a nod for that role. But, like Mr. Turner, the movie is quite small. The other movie for which she was lauded by New York, The Immigrant, screened in New York in 2013. To put it bluntly, the movie is not very good, even if Cotillard dazzles as usual. Don’t expect to see that among the nominees.

As for others: Felicity Jones is one we have mentioned and some believe Shailene Woodley has a chance for The Fault in Our Stars. Sentimental as that performance is, it is hardly one for the ages.

More likely challengers are Reese Witherspoon for her portrayal of a woman on a journey to rediscover herself in Wild or Jennifer Aniston for her turn in Cake, which won her critical acclaim in Toronto. I haven’t seen either, but the roles seem prime for an Oscar nomination and Aniston certainly has proven in the past (The Good Girl) that she has, no pun intended, the goods.

Beyond that, Rosamund Pike would make a very worthy fourth or fifth slot nominee for her chilling portrayal as Amy Dunne in the brilliant but rapidly fading Gone Girl, and I have heard good things about two-time winner Hilary Swank’s performance in The Homesman. The Academy clearly likes her enough to give her two full wins, so don’t count her out.

I also particularly enjoyed Jessica Chastain’s mysterious and emotional performance in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, but that movie is likely at the bottom of most Academy members’ screeners. Still, Chastain is rapidly rising the ranks into Moore-like status in the number of fantastic roles she turns in without a win. Her performances in Interstellar and A Most Violent Year are also solid, and could together lead to a nomination combination like the year she was up for The Help. I think her time will come eventually.

Next up: Golden Globe and SAG nominations.

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