Jess! I don't think Meryl should win because she is overdue, but because she gave a brilliant performance in Julie & Julia (and also in It's Complicated, but there is no way that film would be considered by the Academy at any level, of course).

For the 15 Oscar nomiations - it is NOT an obligatory Meryl slot, she is just that good. That's why it is so sad she hasn't won on any of the last 12 occasions. I'm not saying anybody robbed her of an Oscar, but being nominated so many times without winning is a result of Academy voters (and also the audience) taking for granted the steadily delivered great-to-brilliant performances by Merly Streep, so nobody actually considers the real possibility of her winning. It is sad, and happens all the time to subjectively judged performances (unlike a run race, e.g.).

There are great performances by Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe this year, but I think they have to prove themselves with more roles until they get the award. Only the two of them can be in the final race with Meryl and she has already proven that it is not only this particular role she can play very well but she is a versatile actress who is indeed excellent in yet another film, Julie & Julia.

Mark my word? To begin, I am not sure where this so-called backlash would come from? Because neither critics or fans vote for the Oscars. And the AMPAS have always had their own selective rules of reward - and that's the thing that makes them interesting. It is actually her fellow actors within the Academy who has decided to give Meryl Streep a record 15 nods. And I do not see the Oprah comparison? The Emmy’s have nothing to do with the Oscars. Different set of voting rules altogether. And a talk show host is vastly different than an actor playing different roles in different films. The only actor I have ever heard of trying to withdraw his name from contention, was George C. Scott for Patton – and he ended up winning Best Actor that year. Meryl Streep has received some of her best critical precursors since Sophie’s Choice. Julie and Julia has made a lot of money at the box office. And at 60, she is considered one of the most bankable actresses working today.

Who's going to win: Meryl
Who should win: Meryl or Carey Mulligan

I'm just hoping there isn't going to be some terrible mishap like last year's Kate Winslet win (whoever thought her portrayal of an Eastern European was incredible obviously hasn't seen "Sophie's Choice").

The awards have become about who's overdue or who knows who or who campaigns the best, but if it came down to who really deserved their award for their individual performance it would have to be Carey Mulligan. But I'm okay with Meryl winning, because she's always amazing and "Julie & Julia" without her would have really sucked.

I think Meryl will finally get her 2nd lead and 3rd Oscar this time. Love you Tom! You are so great!

"Doubt"
"The Devil Wears Prada"
"Adaptation"
"Music of the Heart"
"One True Thing"
"The Bridges of Madison County"
"Postcards from the Edge"
"Ironweed"
"Out of Africa"
"Silkwood"
"A Cry in the Dark"
"Sophie's Choice"
"The French Lieutenant's Woman"
"Kramer vs. Kramer"
"The Deerhunter"

Add "Julie & Julia" (and "Angels in America", though cable, not theatrical). Need I say more? But I will. Even though some weren't "Oscarworthy", there were brilliant bits in each of her "losing" performances. I don't even think some of Hepburn's nominated/winning performances come close in quality ("On Golden Pond"? 'nuf said.) And Meryl shows up to each ceremony! It's been a long, long -- too long a -- time since "Sophie". 27 years.

My only fear is the Marion Cotillard-over-Julie Christie "babe/newcomer" factor. While Cotillard's was certainly a wonderful performance in "La Vie en Rose", Julie was the favorite going into the awards, too, and wasn't she overdue, too?

I think Meryl Streep is going to take it because she should have won for both Doubt and Adaptation, but Sandra Bullock should come in and steal it because she should have been nominated for and won for her amazing performance back in 2005. Gabourey and Carey still have a long career ahead for both of them because these are their debut roles and the Oscar voters will never give a newcomer Best Actress or Actor, and I don't know who else is going to get nominated, but Meryl Streep is going to win for It's Complicated because she deserved at least 3 more Oscars other than the two she won over her 33 year career.

I want Gabby to win!! First, she's pitch perfect. Second, when is Gabby ever going to get another role like Precious? Honestly, Hollywood will make her lose 300 pounds before they give her anything of substance. Tyler Perry will put her in his movies, but Hollywood doesn't take him seriously, so they in turn don't take his actors seriously. Just like they have the Latin Grammys, maybe it's time to have the Non-Hollywood-Insiders Oscars and get some fresh, different faces, backgrounds, and abilities up on that stage.

I would like to comment on winning on the wrong movies, how can we explain Kate Winslet's win last year for The Reader? I preferred her performance for Rev Road. Whether its for It's Complicated or Julie & Julia, this is the right time for Meryl Streep.

I take exception to another comment made here. It is true that Katharine Hepburn said that you always win for the wrong movie. It is also true that was the case with Hepburn with at least two of her four wins and it is certainly true of Bette Davis' two wins and probably a number of others (Jessica Lange in Tootsie and Blue Sky for one!), but it is not true of Streep. She has won one supporting and one leading Oscar each and she emphatically deserved both. While I would have preferred to have seen her win for a few other roles since then, her performance in the lightweight Julie & Julia would not fit into Hepburn's statement either. Because her role here does not require great depth has nothing to do with the fact that her performance is literally flawless.

I love Meryl to bits , so can never do wrong , But this is Sandra's year. the film is hanging on and grossing more than anyone thought it would. And its all because of her performance.Carey is no Hepburn. even though critics have said she is. Audrey was a one and only . Carey can't touch her

If "It's Complicated" makes a killing at the B.O., that will certainly help Meryl's chances as well. Not to mention that her co-stars from the movie are hosting the Oscars.

A few months ago, when an Education and Precious were just out and the buzz was on those films, I thought that, once again, Streep was gonna lose. And there was still the unknown factors of Saiorse Ronan in The Lovely Bones, Hilary Swank in Amelia, and the actresses in Nine.

Now, with the dust settled, it seems clear to me that Streep is the front runner.

First and foremost, Streep was great in Julie and Julia, and was popular with the public as well as critics.

Second, Streep has huuuuuuge goodwill and sentiment behind her. The standard take on Streep at the Oscars now is that she is way overdue for another leading Oscar win.

Third, in previous years, there has always been someone who seemed more deserving at the time, or who had more buzz. Winning an Oscar is all about timing -- who happens to be your competition this year. This year, I don't think that Streep has any serious competition. People who want to give Precious an award will vote for Mo'Nique. I don't think there are many people who will want to tick "Precious" in two acting categories. And let's face it, Gabourey Sidibe is just not typical Oscar fodder. It's hard to know what kind of career she will have after Precious. As for Carey Mulligan, she is too new. This performance, full of charm, definitely has "it's an honour just to be nominated" written all over it.

The Streep steamroller has begun. She'll win and get a standing ovation for a career in which she has excelled at heartbreaking tragedy and high comedy.

As a Meryl Streep fan I am always pulling for her, don't want to sound stupid but please help me understand these numbers that these critics are giving to these actresses, what they mean??