Toughest major category to call this year.  Let’s get to it.

The nominees for Best Actress in a Leading Role are…

• Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
• Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
• Emmanuelle Riva in Amour
• Quvenzhane Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Naomi Watts in the Impossible

Who Should Win: Ahhhhhhhhhh.  Mannnnnnnnnn.  It may be the only major win for this film, and it was a genuine lead role in a genuine solid film, so I’ll pick Chastain here.

Who I Want to Win: As in ‘Who I’ll be cheering for?’ If you have to ask…

Who Will Win: My gut tells me that this is the official Hollywood coronation of young Miss Lawrence.  Right face, playing the Game to perfection right now, can be setting herself up for a real run at Meryl’s career (which she’s implied she might want to do).  We shall see.

Back to the Ac-Tors tomorrow…