INDIANAPOLIS — Just a little more than two weeks away from the 91 Academy Awards and there is a lot of buzz around the women nominated in both actress categories.
One could argue that the women nominated for this year's Academy Awards acting categories out-performed the men. Particularly, when you also consider a handful of amazing performances that were left out.
One first-timer that seems to be the favorite: Regina King.
King has won multiple Emmys. It feels like this could be her year, after a gripping performance in 'If Beale Street Could Talk.'
Marina De Tavira plays mom 'Sofia' in 'Roma.' A star of stage and screen in Mexico, she's very deserving of her first Oscar nomination.
Amy Adams in 'Vice' earns her fifth supporting actress nomination. She's great as Lynne Cheney, but Christian Bale owned that movie - and it will leaves Adams in his shadow.
I'm splitting my pick among a pair of former Oscar winners - Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Stone and Weisz are equally amazing in 'The Favorite' it may not be fair to pick two to win, but for me, either of them is the best of this bunch.
Be honest... when you saw that trailer for 'A Star Is Born' you thought, "Gaga. Oscar."
That's my pick for Best Actress, and probably the easiest pick on my entire Oscar ballot. There is some interesting competition into this category.
Yalita Aparico was the surprise of the lot, earning a nomination for 'Roma.'
Olivia Coleman in 'The Favorite' and Melissa McCarthy in 'Can You Ever Forgive Me' would each win an Oscar in many other years. Just not this one.
Glenn Close is up for Best Actress for a seventh time. Although, she is zero for six. The star of 'The Wife' has been scooping up a ton of awards already, and I wouldn't be shocked is she won.
But it feels like the entire movie year has been leading up to Lady Gaga's Oscar moment.
I saw more than 100 movies last year and 'A Star Is Born' was the only one to leave me speechless.
Gaga will sing on Oscar night too, and if that was the whole show, I'd be fine with it.
The 91st Academy Awards will air on ABC on February 24, 2019 beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern.
If you would like to freshen up on the nominated films before Oscar night, Regal and AMC have offered Indianapolis movie-goers a chance at participating theaters.
