Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind

PRO: Even we who didn't dig him in Gladiator were converted by his boyish, Redfordesque charm

CON: Back-to-back wins extremely unlikely.

Sean Penn in I Am Sam

PRO: One of Hollywood's strongest actors, who has consistently delivered terrific performances in risky movies ( She's so Lovely, The Thin Red Line.)

CON: We know what you do with her when she's eight. It's what you do with her when she's twenty-five that worries us.

Will Smith in Ali

PRO: Smith displays strong kinetic flair in movie named after co-creator of Felixes (obvious suck-up factor).

CON: De Niro casts a big, big shadow.

Denzel Washington in Training Day

PRO: We have a special place in our hearts--and our apartment--for the suave Mr. Washington, a weak-knee factor possibly shared by voters.

CON: Not a blockbuster movie, so must build momentum fast; lost Golden Globe to Crowe.

Tom Wilkinson in In The Bedroom

PRO: Heartbreaking, possibly the best performance; although British, does flinty, Affliction-like suffering in New England to a T.

CON: So wait, you and your wife are mad at each other?

Best Actress 2001

Halle Berry in Monster's Ball

PRO: Strong performance in nuanced story; takes off top, giving us nudie fodder in poor year for it.

CON: Pepsi Twist commercials raise horrifying possibility of acceptance speech by cross-dressing Barry Bostwick.

Judi Dench in Iris

PRO: Dame Judi--who always has a shot--makes a moving descent into Alzheimer's.

CON: We forget.

Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge

PRO: Toughest job of any of the actresses, to be moved by Bernie Taupin lyrics.

CON: Dizzying musical buries her with its high-school-meets-MTV quality.

Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom

PRO: Golden Globe winner for strong, non-glam performance as middle-aged mom and wife; the contender to beat.

CON: Fades a little in second half of movie.

Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones' Diary

PRO: Starving voters will feel Zellweger's post-wrap dieting (she only had one Reese's peanut butter cup in a month) deserves award.

CON: Twenty pounds ain't gravitas; movie too early and too light to get serious consideration.

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