The 5 Most Vulnerable Best Picture Candidates

An Education

Tomatometer: 94%

The Odds Against It: On its face, An Education is the least vulnerable film on this list -- it can boast a sheaf of good reviews and a sure-to-be-nominated performance from Carey Mulligan. However, the film's been somewhat lost since its release, supplanted by movies that people are really, really passionate about. (By contrast, An Education peaked at Sundance last year and, upon its actual release, had to contend with too many pundits that compared its central underage seduction to the also-in-the-news Roman Polanski.) Can Lone Scherfig's film get a second wind, or is it danger of being one of those movies that people assume is fine, yet never really lobby for?

In Its Favor: Unlike a film like Avatar, An Education plays just as well on TV, which is where plenty of screener-blessed Academy members will be watching it. Also, let's face it: Hollywood is filled with insecure Anglophiles. An Education's top tier British cast is one Dame Judi Dench shy of total catnip.

Final Prognosis: Safe, but could use a jolt.

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