Viola Davis in 'The Help'

Odds for a nomination: A sure thing. Opinions vary over whether 'The Help' was more patronizing than trenchant in its depiction of the racial strife of the Civil Rights Era, but everyone agreed on Davis' rich, emotional, dignified, humane performance as the housemaid who is the movie's moral center. Plus, 'The Help' was the biggest box office hit of any of this year's Oscar hopefuls.