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: Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild

In every awards season, there is a small independent film, that gets more attention, than expected (Winter's bone, Vera Drake). This year it is probably Beasts of the Southern Wild. I usually don't like these pictures, but this one I consider one of the bests this year. The focus of its attention is the relationship between a little girl Hushpuppy and her father played by Dwight Henry.
Quvenzhané Wallis was five-year-old when she came on casting. She was lying about her age, because one of the rules to come on casting was to be at least six. She was so overwhelming, that the jury gave her this role anyway. I have to say I can't imagine anyone better in this role. Seriously, I doubt, if a child would be able to handle this role so perfectly. Many people criticise this performance, that it was not Wallis's work, but the directior's. I can't agree with them. It's true, that the director helped her a lot with building this character, but if she didn't have the talent, the director would not be able to do a thing. Therefore I will consider her performance, just like any other.
Hushpuppy is an extremely lovable character. She's a few years old girl and therefore you would say everyone loves her, because she's cute. Of course, she is cute, but that's not the only (or the main) reason I loved her performance. There is a wonderful chemistry between Henry and her (I've heard somewhere, that they really are father and daughter, so no wonder) and every Wallis's scene is a pleasure to watch (not just, but very much) because of her.
She portrays a girl, which thinks the world belongs to her. Her portrayal of a normal little girl, which has to confront some abnormal circumstances. She has to live in a world, which is not the best for a rising girl, but she also has dreams and imagination, which she shows wonderfully. Hushpuppy is a little girl just like any other, deep inside. She hates someone, when he drive her angry, but when the same person is kind to her, she loves her in a moments.
You may also say, that it didn't take her any effort to play this role, because she was playing herself, in a way. But who cares? Jack Nicholson won one of his Oscars for playing himself. I mean, why should we care about that. The only thing, we should give a damn about is that she really was perfect in front of the camera.
I can hardly choose her best scene, because she is equally great throughout all of the scenes. Probably the final scene, when the beasts finally come would probably be the best. But anyway, giving such a compelling performance in this age, is really extraordinary. Her nomination certainly is deserving. She may not win (and she probably won't), but who cares? I don't think she cares. Her nomination is a success itself and it pushed her carrier the right way. And that's beautiful...

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?