Two performances seem to be untouched so far with Oscar followers that I think need to be considered as serious contenders for a nomination. Both come from long-time Hollywood performers who have yet to make it to the Oscars.
Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side. After a much stronger than expected opening this weekend, Bullock has started to garner attention as a possible dark horse nomination. She had her biggest opening weekend ever, topping her earlier this year appearance in The Proposal. For the past decade, she has been probably the only actress in Hollywood who has been a consistent box office magnet. She is much beloved in Hollywood, a likeable personality who hasn’t had many chances to show her chops (except perhaps in Best Picture winner Crash). Futhermore, the Best Actress category is overly populated with young breakthrough actresses bursting onto the scene and older, respected actresses. Bullock is the only hot young star in the picture, and with the box office to back her up, this may finally be her chance.

Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones. As the reviews start coming in on the disappointing side for Jackson’s film, Tucci’s chances may be drifting away as Bullock’s are solidifying. His is a real juicy role in an awaited, major December release. His murderous neighbor seems similar to roles that have finally gotten actors like Jackie Earle Haley to the auditorium in the last few years, and is the kind of character role the Academy is drawn to. Add in that he has been around forever but has not had a real solid chance until this year. Add in that, like Bullock, he also had a box office success this summer (Julie and Julia, which could also garner him a nomination in The Lovely Bones falls apart) and that he has probably worked with 75% of the Academy at some point, and I think he is the darkhorse Supporting Actor nominee everyone is forgetting about. Slight problem: if Mark Wahlberg is being pushed in the Supporting category also, he could be overshadowed by his own cinematic adversary.