Oscar Predictions 2014: Who Will Win Best Actress?

Can't it just be Oscar night already?!



With the momentous evening almost here, Moviefone will be releasing a set of staff predictions each day this week (in countdown fashion) for the six major categories. So far, we've brought you Best Picture and Best Actor, and now we turn our attention to a race with some heavy hitters: Best Actress. Other than Amy Adams, all the lovely ladies up for the award have taken home an Oscar at some point in their careers, but there's a clear frontrunner this season...



We've already given you the beat on the Best Actress nominees, so now let's break down our favorites to win the award. Here, we've listed the actresses we expect to win, and then, more importantly, who we think should win.



Tim Hayne

Who Will Win: Cate Blanchett. Despite the controversy surrounding director Woody Allen's personal life, "Blue Jasmine" star Blanchett is pretty much a lock at this point. She's won the BAFTA and Golden Globe, and odds makers have given her a more than substantial lead.



Who Should Win: Cate Blanchett. Her performance in "Blue Jasmine" is a knockout and may be my favorite of the year, and there are very few actresses of her caliber working in Hollywood right now. Even her closest competition -- Amy Adams, for "American Hustle" -- is considered a dark horse.



Alexis Moore

Who Will Win: Cate Blanchett. Let's just call it like it is: Cate Blanchett is a lock for this one. She's won every precursor award there is to win with not even a whisper of an upset by her fellow nominees. As the titular Jasmine in "Blue Jasmine," Cate is a woman unhinged and I personally loved watching every minute of it. If you plan to win your Oscar pool by making unexpected choices in some of the categories, don't take a gamble on this one. You've been warned!



Who Should Win: Cate Blanchett. Cate is one of those actors who consistently deliver solid, quality work. Her latest is no exception, and when stacked against the year's other performances I truly think she's the most deserving.



Jonny Black

Who Will Win: Cate Blanchett. Blanchett is an absolute tour-de-force in Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine," and none of the other actresses can come close to challenging her this year. In my mind, the runner-up would be Amy Adams, who is outstanding in "American Hustle" and undoubtedly turns in one of her best performances, but Blanchett is simply on another level. There's been discussion that the Woody Allen-Mia Farrow saga will hurt the film's chances of receiving any awards, though I'd be absolutely shocked if it affects it at all.



Who Should Win: Cate Blanchett. I'm going to keep this one short and sweet. She's absolutely phenomenal. There have hardly even been whispers of an upset, but I want to commend Bullock for what was supposedly a difficult and unique shoot, highly rehearsed and choreographed.



Eric Larnick

Who Will Win: Cate Blanchett. Like Leo, it's Cate's time. Meryl has enough, Amy Adams is still perceived as young enough to wait her turn. Unless they decide to shock everyone by giving it to Dench as a career achievement award, but "Philomena" just isn't her biggest or best work.



Who Should Win: Cate Blanchett. Cate deserves it for more than just tenure; she's always been an under-rated chameleon disappearing into a variety of different characters, and none of the other nominees this year carried a film with as bombastic a performance as Blanchett's.



What's your pick? Tell us in the comments below, and find out which star wins Best Actor when the Oscars air live Sunday, March 2 at 7 ET / 4 PT on ABC.



Related Articles : Oscar Predictions 2014: What Movie Will Win Best Picture?, Oscar Predictions 2014: Who Will Win Best Actor?





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