Oscar Countdown 2014: Best Actress in a Leading Role

This year probably has the best group of acting nominees in recent memory. Any one of the 20 men and women could win, and very little would complain if they do (only in that some are more deserving than others). Because of this, we're doing a special four-week event, in which we break down each of the acting categories and their respective nominees. This week, the competition is between five of the greatest living actresses today, who each gave shameless devotion to their emotional roles. Today, we're looking at the lineup for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Here are the nominees:

Amy Adams, American Hustle

An actress unfortunately jipped from her four previous nominations because of stiff competitors, Amy Adams continues to shine a series of film roles that push her boundaries as a performer. In American Hustle, she plays a con artist who just wants to escape her troubled past and be someone different. Adams plays someone uncomfortable with her own sexuality, using it as both a buffer, a tool, and a means to survive; the audience doesn't even know who's side she's really ever on. Will she always love and protect Irving, is she motivated by selfish desires, or has she finally found an FBI agent who understands her? It's a fascinating, complex role that Amy Adams thrives in.
OSCAR CHANCES: MEDIUM

Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Ever since Blue Jasmine premiered last August, Cate Blanchett has been a near-lock for a nomination. However, over the past few months, she's won almost every critic's prize and acting award possible, so her chances of Oscar gold seem almost certain. It's not that she's not worthy; Blanchett's Jasmine is the modern-day Blanche DuBois, a selfish divorcee reliant on money who's lost everything. Along the way, she abuses everyone who still likes her, refusing to change her horrific ways. Blanchett embodies the character beautifully, making the so-so film worth seeing solely because of her. Her only detraction, coincidentally, is her director; Woody Allen has had some bad press recently due to the reemergence of an old conflict with Mia Farrow. The Academy could be torn about this, but it's unlikely the actress will suffer for it. Blanchett won a Supporting Actress award in 2004 for The Aviator, and she's likely to add another Oscar to her repertoire next month.
OSCAR CHANCES: VERY HIGH

Sandra Bullock, Gravity

Armed with only her wits and raw emotional intensity, Gravity is essentially a one-woman show, pitting Sandra Bullock's Dr. Ryan Stone against both the enormousness of space and her own inner demons. Bullock received some flack for winning in 2009 for The Blind Side, but in all honesty that year was weak for leading women. The usually comedic actress gives arguably her best performance ever in Alfonso Cuaron's spectacular space epic. As the film is reliant on it's singular protagonist, Bullock fits perfectly in the vision of the motion picture event. She spent long days in zero-gravity environments, and had to spend hours at a time by herself. In the grand scheme of things, it's good that she did, because her acting ability shone in full force on the silver screen. She may have been alone in outer space, but Dr. Ryan Stone has become one the most beloved characters of the year.
OSCAR CHANCES: MEDIUM

Judi Dench, Philomena

Despite a Best Picture and Best Screenplay nomination, Philomena's best chance at an Oscar is through Oscar-winner Dame Judi Dench. One of the perennial queens of the dramatic arts, Dench is a beloved actress no matter what she does. And Philomena gives her the opportunity to demonstrate her maternal instincts and introduce her talented craft to a role catered to her abilities. Philomena Lee is a tough Irish Catholic woman who's spent the past half decade harboring a terrible secret: she once had a son as a teenager, and now in her old age is determined to find him. Armed with only her passion and fierce devotion to her religion, Philomena goes to America in the effort to solve the greatest mystery of her life. Dench embodies the respectful old age, playing it with hilarious anecdotes and sad memories. It's an entertaining role in a fittingly entertaining film.
OSCAR CHANCES: LOW

Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

An interesting thing about these actresses is that they're all Oscar favorites, either multiple winners or nominees. But none of them hold a candle to Meryl Streep, a nearly traditional Academy pick that seemingly has to walk through a closet to get nominated. The funny thing is that she's good enough to be nominated for everything she does. August: Osage County is an ensemble of phenomenal actors overacting, but Streep gives her typical grandiose performance as the family matriarch. Streep just won for The Iron Lady, and it's unlikely that she'll take home an Academy Award this year. However, it would be really cool to see her tie Katherine Hepburn for the most acting Oscars ever.
OSCAR CHANCES: LOW

The Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role will go to Cate Blanchett, with little room for an upset. Dench and Streep should never be counted out, but this is likely Blanchett's year to shine; there's a little bit of room for a consolation prize for the other nominees though, because their movies have much better chances to win than Blue Jasmine. Upsets include Amy Adams and Sandra Bullock, who took home minor acting prizes in the preliminaries, and who's films are riding major waves right now. They could win as a result of the popularity of their movies, but Blanchett is so much of a guarantee that it's almost stupid betting against her.

Bottom line, here are my predictions for Best Actress as of February 7th, 2013:

WILL WIN: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
COULD WIN: Amy Adams, American Hustle
SHOULD WIN: Sandra Bullock, Gravity

See you guys next week for the final acting examination- the heavily contested Best Actor in a Leading Role!!