YOU KNOW IT’S a crazy year when the potential dark horse is . . . Meryl Streep? Well, that’s how we see it, since everyone else in the field makes a compelling case. Surely Sandra Bullock has to be seen as a frontrunner, not only for a fine performance as an adopt-a-mom in “The Blind Side,” but also because that film has earned stupefying amounts of money. Then again Gabourey Sidibe has been getting Oscar buzz ever since “Precious” hit theaters, a film voters will surely want to reward. And when it comes to sheer versatility and quality, one shouldn’t count out the always-dependable Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” or Carey Mulligan “An Education.” (For Mulligan there’s also the cute-as-a-button dark-horse factor, which has led to its own Oscar shocks in the past, e.g., Anna Paquin.) As for Streep, Our admiration runs eternal, and her performance in “Julia & Julia” was as good as it could have been – but the film was a light role in a film lighter than a soufflé. We’ll recommend placing your bets on Bullock, but a little hedging won’t hurt as this race will be closer than many think. 2/7/10.
THE MARKET: Will this nominee win the Academy Award for Best Actress? Trading will close at 5 p.m. PT on March 7. If this nominee wins the award, shares are worth $100. If this nominee doesn’t, they’re worth $0.
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