Yesterday, we wondered if 14-year-old, up-and-coming actress Hailee Steinfeld could steal the Best Supporting Actress Oscar from "The Figher" costars Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Today we turn our gaze to the Best Actress race where Annette Bening ("The Kids Are All Right"), Nicole Kidman ("Rabbit Hole"), Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone"), Natalie Portman ("Black Swan") and Michelle Williams ("Blue Valentine") will duke it out for the honor. According to Oscar watchers, it's really a two-woman race between veteran Annette and the younger Natalie.
"The race for Best Actress has been primarily a horse race between Natalie Portman and Annette Bening," Nicole Sperling of the L.A. Times explained. "Annette has been a three-time nominee, she's never won."
"I really think it does come down to the veteran versus the younger actress again," agreed Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood. "Annette Bening, earlier in the year, everyone thought this would be her year. She had lost twice previously in this category. This is a great role. Plus, she plays a lesbian. It's topical. It's got a lot of meat to it."
MTV News' own Eric Ditzian also said the race was down to Natalie and Annette, giving the edge to the prima ballerina. "Natalie Portman has had the momentum pretty much the whole way through. I would be, frankly, surprised if she doesn't end up winning," he said. "What Natalie Portman accomplished in that movie is insane. She trained as a ballerina for 10 months, having never done it before. And when you see her up on the screen, it's such an amazing and convincing portrait of a woman going through psychological disintegration."
Now that you've got the deets on the Best Actress nominees, press play on the video above to hear our experts weigh in on the Best Actor race (hint: C-c-c-c-colin Firth, FTW!)
Who do you think will take home the Best Actress statuette?
** Hollywood Crush Twitter