Weinstein is also behind the Academy Award prospects of Judi Dench, who proved she could defy Oscar's age-old curse against age by winning best supporting actress for "Shakespeare in Love" in 1998. In the past 20 years, she's the only actress over age 50 to prevail in any acting category, lead or supporting.

Now Dench is angling for her first win in the lead race with her humorous role as a British theater owner fighting for the right to show nudity on stage as a way to perk up World War II soldiers in "Mrs. Henderson Presents." But Dench faces another Oscar curse — this one against comedy.

Still, if voters are open-minded to lighter fare this year, we could see a surprise nomination for Cameron Diaz portraying a floozy who must suddenly take life seriously in "In Her Shoes."

And if Jennifer Aniston gets good reviews in "Rumor Has It," she will probably get nominated at the Globes for portraying a woman who finds out that her parents may be the illicit real-life lovers who inspired "The Graduate."

That could give the former Mrs. Brad Pitt the same profile Nicole Kidman enjoyed with award voters when she won for "The Hours" soon after being dumped by Tom Cruise. Academy voters couldn't resist giving Kidman a hug in the form of a statuette in 2002.

Another overdue actress who would appreciate a hug from the film academy is Joan Allen. She has three Oscar nominations to her credit (for "The Contender," "The Crucible," "Nixon") but no wins.

Allen could be nommed again, this time for portraying a sassy suburban housewife jilted by her hubby in "The Upside of Anger." Unfortunately, the film was released so early in 2005 it may have trouble reconnecting with voters.

Allen's best hope is recognition by one of the film critics' groups, which has happened before. She's been honored twice by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and once by the National Society of Film Critics. A nod from one of those groups this year could revive her Oscar chances.

Another star who may have shined too early in the year is "Cinderella Man" star Renée Zellweger. She's unlikely to land kudos from critics' groups, which tend to prefer art-house fare over big commercial productions.

But Zellweger's role as a boxer's wife beaten down by financial hardship during the Great Depression packed such an emotional wallop that voters may still feel it at Globes and Oscar time when the DVD will be in wide release.

It doesn't matter that Zellweger previously won best supporting actress (for "Cold Mountain"). Voters may believe she's now worthy of lead honors.

Previous best actress winners probably won't have to worry about being penalized for earlier victories. Certainly Hilary Swank proved last year that a recent win is OK.

Charlize Theron, who bagged an Oscar for "Monster" two years ago, is back in the hunt with "North Country," in which she portrays a miner who fights back against sexual harassment on the job. (The Times review of the film says Theron "does more genuine acting than she's ever done before.")

Former winner Gwyneth Paltrow will have a tougher time nabbing another Oscar with "Proof." Initial buzz was strong for her role as the daughter of a famous mathematician who believes she may have inherited his insanity, but the film received a weak reception by critics and moviegoers. Still, it's possible Paltrow's popularity among voters could be strong enough to generate a nomination.

At least there's a formal Oscar campaign behind long shot Paltrow. That's more than can be said for poor Julianne Moore, whose "Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" got overlooked because her managers believed her best Oscar shot was for "Freedomland," a film recently bumped to 2006.

Variety called Moore's rendition of a jingle-writing housewife in the 1950s "a fascinating performance that again shows she's among the best American actresses onscreen," but it may be too late to play catch-up.

DreamWorks has begun screening "Prize Winner" for award audiences, but unless the studio backs that effort with "For Your Consideration" ads, a potential winner could turn out to be a tragic loser.

If that happens, perhaps the whole best actress derby should just be canceled. It just won't feel like a real Oscar year without Moore, a perennial contender for something.