For weeks kudos pundits have been predicting an easy victory for Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose") at the Golden Globes considering her many advantages. Just like at the Oscars, Globe voters are suckers for nominees who portray real-life characters with backstories full of doomed love, tragic careers and drug addiction. In this case it probably helps that voters are members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association judging an important new French actress portraying legendary chanteuse Edith Piaf.

But Cotillard has been out front for some time and Ellen Page is coming on fast as "Juno" is proving to be a breakout hit that's up for best comedy/musical picture at the Globes and will probably be nominated for best picture at the Oscars. Members of the HFPA, remember, are journalists who track the hottest new Hollywood stars for their newspapers back in Oslo and Cairo. Page is a big story for them right now while she's burning bright. Can she beat Cotillard?

And speaking of celebrated ingenues, what about Amy Adams ("Enchanted")? Oh, yeah: one other advantage that Adams and Cotillard share is also a plus for other nominees Nikki Blonsky ("Hairspray") and Helena Bonham Carter ("Sweeney Todd"). Voters swoon over stars who sing in this category.