'King's Speech,' 'Social Network' seek Oscar glory

BEST ACTOR:

Colin Firth earned his first Oscar nomination for last year's "A Single Man," and some who have seen him as George VI in "The King's Speech" think Oscar voters should just hand him the best-actor prize. Often playing glibly sardonic characters in the past, Firth is mesmerizing as the stammering king, striking a wonderful balance between imperious and wretched.

There's plenty of glibness to be had among other contenders, including Jesse Eisenberg's savagely biting Facebook founder in "The Social Network"; James Franco as a one-man force of nature, playing a climber trapped alone in a canyon in "127 Hours"; and Paul Giamatti in the life story of a crusty producer of schlock TV in "Barney's Version."

Other possibilities: Ben Affleck, "The Town"; Javier Bardem, "Biutiful"; Jim Broadbent, "Another Year"; Matt Damon, "Hereafter"; Leonardo DiCaprio, "Inception"; Stephen Dorff, "Somewhere"; Michael Douglas, "Solitary Man" or "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"; Robert Duvall, "Get Low"; Aaron Eckhart, "Rabbit Hole"; Ryan Gosling, "Blue Valentine"; Sean Penn, "Fair Game."

Still unseen is last year's winner, Jeff Bridges, in "True Grit," and the male cast of "How Do You Know," Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson.

BEST ACTRESS:

Natalie Portman is an unholy terror in "Black Swan," which takes the give-your-all-for-dance commitment of "The Red Shoes" to deeply disturbing places. A past supporting-actress nominee for "Closer," Portman gives herself over completely to her role as a goody two-shoes ballerina whose menacing dark side emerges as she prepares for her dream role in "Swan Lake."

Annette Bening dominates "The Kids Are All Right" as the acerbic authoritarian in a family of lesbian parents, whose household unravels after they meet the sperm donor who fathered their children. Julianne Moore as Bening's spouse also has Oscar prospects, though she could end up in the supporting category.

Other possibilities: Anne Hathaway, "Love & Other Drugs"; Sally Hawkins, "Made in Dagenham"; Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"; Diane Lane, "Secretariat"; Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"; Helen Mirren, "The Tempest"; Carey Mulligan, "Never Let Me Go"; Ruth Sheen, "Another Year"; Hilary Swank, "Conviction"; Naomi Watts, "Fair Game"; Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine."

Still unseen are past winners Gwyneth Paltrow in "Country Strong" and Reese Witherspoon in "How Do You Know."

SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Andrew Garfield is just starting his blockbuster career in the title role of the next "Spider-Man." After acclaim and honors for the British drama "Boy A," Garfield also may be getting his first taste of awards season, Hollywood style, with excellent supporting roles as the betrayed co-founder of Facebook in "The Social Network" and a boarding school youth with a grim destiny in "Never Let Me Go."

"The Social Network" co-star Justin Timberlake also has prospects, playing the Napster creator who comes between the two best friends behind Facebook.

Other possibilities: Pierce Brosnan, "The Ghost Writer"; Vincent Cassel, "Black Swan"; Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Inception"; John Hawkes, "Winter's Bone"; Bob Hoskins, "Made in Dagenham"; Dustin Hoffman, "Barney's Version"; Tommy Lee Jones, "The Company Men"; Bill Murray, "Get Low"; Sam Rockwell, "Conviction"; Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"; Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech."

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

British actress Lesley Manville is a veteran of such Mike Leigh films as "Vera Drake" and "All or Nothing," but she is little known in Hollywood.

That's changing with Leigh's "Another Year," in which Manville is the mirror reverse of Sally Hawkins' eternal optimist in the director's 2008 film "Happy-Go-Lucky." Manville is heartbreaking as a lovelorn woman who sees everyone around her getting at least some of what they want, while she perpetually holds an empty glass.

While reviews are mixed at best for Tyler Perry's "For Colored Girls," the ensemble drama does offer some excellent performances, with Loretta Devine and Kimberly Elise among the standouts.

Other possibilities: Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"; Marion Cotillard, "Inception"; Minnie Driver, "Conviction"; Cecile de France, "Hereafter"; Greta Gerwig, "Greenberg"; Gemma Jones, "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger"; Keira Knightley, "Never Let Me Go"; Mila Kunis, "Black Swan"; Ellen Page, "Inception"; Rosamund Pike, "Barney's Version"; Sissy Spacek, "Get Low"; Olivia Williams, "The Ghost Writer."