Best actress

In a year of high competition for nearly every category, Cate Blanchett is the closest thing to a lock there is.  The single greatest thing about “Blue Jasmine” is Cate Blanchett.  Her performance as Jasmine in the film is breathtaking, and the way she portrays a proud and proper woman that breaks down and rises back up again is mesmerizing.  She flows from her lies and shells to a puddle with ease within one scene.  It was a real masterful performance.

Honorable mentions: Judi Dench for “Philomena”, Sandra Bullock for “Gravity”