Best Leading Actress 2012

5. Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
This is not a bad performance by Chastain. She is trying to do, what she can, but the film just doesn't give her many acting opportunities. This character could've been played as a strong and self-minded young woman, but Chastain never knows, what she wants to do. Sometimes she is trying to go with this portrayal, but then she takes a step back and portrays Maya as a shy and unexperienced woman. There are some fine seen, but in the rest of the film she is just too lackluster...

4. Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
This is a very enjoyable performance by Lawrence. She definitely enjoys playing Tiffany and so do we enjoy watching her. It's a quite remarkable performance that is going to be iconic, in my opinion. Some of her scenes are really powerful, but on the other hand there are some extremely overacted moments, which are just too unnatural and which are taking her the points away.

3. Naomi Watts - The Impossible
Though in the second part of the film she doesn't have many things to do, the first half can easily give her so many points. She shows the motherly love flawlessly and we are completely with her. We care about her and her children. The scene of the tsunami is the best of the film also because of her. You will certainly remember this portrayal a long time after watching the film.

2. Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild
I never thought that such a young girl will ever be able to give so complex performance. Every scene is a joy to watch, because of her. The is the soul of the film, which is - by the way - also very great. Her chemistry with Dwight Henry is just fabulous and their common scenes are wonderful. Her portrayal of a little naive, but strong girl, which thinks that the world is spinning around her is so great, that some older actresses should learn from her.

1. Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
An old likable lady and a little likable girl were fighting for my win, with the first one winning, finally. Her character gives her many acting opportunities and she uses them perfectly. There's just no way you won't like this performance. Her chemistry with Trignant is also very great and helps her a lot. I know she is not going to win, but she definitely should.

My Nominees:
1. Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
2. Quvenzhané Wallis - Beats of the Southern Wild
3. Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone
4. Naomi Watts - The Impossible
5. Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook

Best Leading Actress 2012: Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty

I usually like films based on true events. This one, unfortunately, makes the exception. Apart from really going into depth of this topic, it just says some stories of finding some unknown people, which we don't absolutely care about. Never mind that, it has its place at the Oscars anyway.
I never couldn't get rid of the feeling that Mark Boal included Jessica Chastain's character Maya in the script because her character just was there when it happens. You may say I'm insane, because she really is the leading role, but no one lets her go into the depth of her character. It's a very strong character, which would very probably be excellently played and used. But here it just misses the emotions. Chastain has nothing to do with it. Many scenes she is in, she just there to be there.
But not to be so negative, I have to say that there are a few (something about three) scenes, in which there is something to play and Chastain handles them perfectly. But that's too small for a two and a half hour-lasting film. In the rest of her scenes she is not bad, but could be much better.
To make it absolutely clear, I think, this character could've been very hopeful. The script and the directing of the film just doesn't want to focus on one character perfectly and deeply, but chooses focusing on every character a little bit, instead. And that's the reason, why the film misses the emotions. Even the last scene misses them. If it's so, Chastain couldn't do much with it and she does, what she can, but I just cannot get off the feeling, that another actress would do more with it. Not much more, because she could have not, but more. (I hope you understand, what I'm trying to say.)
It was not a bad performance. It was just a wasted character. And that's a pity. And I also think, this types of roles don't fit this Jessica Chastain. It's a very complicated and very dramatic character for her. I liked her more more in The Help, which didn't want so complicated performance from her.
The chances of winning an Oscar: I think they're very big. She might be the second after Lawrence. And if she doesn't win this year, then she'll win someday. That's for sure...

Next Year: Best Leading Actress 2012

The Nominees:
Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook (predicted winner)
Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty
Naomi Watts - The Impossible
Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild

I'm going to finish best supporting actress 1945 soon, but for some time I'm putting it under ice. It may took some time to do best leading actresses of this year, because of the school, but I'll do my best. So, please, comment. Who was snubbed? How would your nominees look like? Who would you like to win? Who do you think I'll let win? And how do you think I'll rate these performances?