The best actress race is a real cat fight this year, and the claws came out yesterday. David Poland of Movie City News reported that Cate Blanchett was actually being campaigned for best actress, not supporting, for "I'm Not There." By the end of the day, she was back in the supporting category (wise move, studio). But that doesn't help us much.

There are always a flood of actors competing. But this year, there are also a record number of women who could slip into the top five. Let's take a look:

We've got the neurotic writers. Nicole Kidman in "Margot at the Wedding" and Laura Linney, who gives the most brilliant performance of her career in "The Savages."

We've got the struggling artist, Marion Cotillard in "La Vie En Rose."

The princess (Amy Adams in "Enchanted") and the queen (Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth II").

The wise-cracking teen, a female version of Holden Caufield, played by Ellen Page in "Juno."

The veteran, Julie Christie for her performance in "Away From Her."

Keira Knightley should be swept in with "Atonement," don't you think?

And the most famous face of all, Angelina Jolie, who was unfairly ignored by audiences for her best performance yet in "A Mighty Heart."

Nine names, four will fall out. If I was predicting today, here's who I think would make the cut, in no particular order: (1) Laura Linney, (2) Julie Christie, (3) Keira Knightley, (4) Marion Cotillard, (5) Amy Adams