Let's hear it for the girls

Ok – sporadic posting resumes.

I just have to comment on how exciting this Oscar race is shaping up. Especially in terms of the Best Actress race – and I mean the race to a nomination.

We actually have a plethora of serious contenders to choose from for what has been already seen.

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right' *
Carey Mulligan - Never Let Me Go'
Hilary Swank - Conviction' *
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone' *
Julia Roberts - Eat Pray Love'
Julianne Moore - The Kids Are Alll Right' *
Lesley Manville - Another Year' *
Michelle Williams - Meeks Cutoff'
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine' *
Naomi Watts - Fair Game' *
Natalie Portman - Black Swan' *
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole' *
Rachel Weisz - The Whistleblower'
Robin Wright - The Conspirator' *
Sally Hawkins - Made in Dagenham' *
Tilda Swinton - I Am Love'
Chloe Moretz - Let Me In'

All of those actresses are contenders (the * depicts the more serious threats at this point – and even so, the ones without the mark have still gotten the types of reviews that would usually land them in the race as serious contenders in other years).

And looking on the horizon there are still films to come out that have buzz, but are not yet seen so these could also be seriously in the mix:

Anne Hathaway - Love and Other Drugs'
Diane Lane - Secretariat'
Gwyneth Paltrow - Country Song'
Keira Knightley - London Boulevard'
Kirsten Dunst - All Good Things'
Reese Witherspoon - How Do You Know?'

What a wonderful year for the ladies!

If anything, 2010 has proved that for film enjoyment of the average Joe who cannot afford to do the festivals, you need to save up and clear your calendar for the end of the year.

What started out as a flimsy year is shaping up to be wonderful. Phew!