Oscar predictions: Best Actress

by CARLJOE JAVIER AND FRANCIS QUINA
Posted on 02/24/2013 12:22 PM | Updated 02/24/2013 12:58 PM

MAGNIFICENT MAYA. Controversial or not, 'Zero Dark Thirty' would not have been the same without Jessica Chastain. Photo from the 'Zero Dark Thirty' Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines - MANILA, Philippines - At the 85th Oscar Awards on February 24 (February 25 Manila time), the Best Actress nominees are:

1. Jessica Chastain - 'Zero Dark Thirty'

2. Jennifer Lawrence - 'Silver Linings Playbook'

3. Emmanuelle Riva - 'Amour'

4. Quvenzhané Wallis - 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'

5. Naomi Watts - 'The Impossible'

Francis Quina: I thought Jessica Chastain was amazing in "Zero Dark Thirty," and I’m going to say that she’s the one walking away with the statue come Sunday (Monday morning here in Manila).

But I wouldn’t be surprised if Jennifer Lawrence comes from behind and wins over voters with her winning performance in "Silver Linings Playbook."

Carljoe Javier: I am also going with Jessica Chastain here. She carries one of the most powerful films on her shoulders. It’s a subtle role that she inhabits, but even as her agent attempts at a veneer of toughness we are able to read her and observe how she changes over the span of the film.

She did some really powerful work here, and I would like to see that recognized and rewarded. - Rappler.com

(Rappler live blogs the 85th Oscar Awards on February 25, Monday, 5:30am.)

Read our awards season stories here:

(Carljoe Javier doesn't know why people think he's a snarky film critic who spends his time dashing the hopes of filmgoers. He thinks he's not all that bad, really. He teaches at the State U, writes books, and studies film, comics, and video games...Then again, those people could be right.

Francis Quina teaches Creative Writing, Literature, and English in UP Diliman.)