Best Actress: Annette Bening — Kids Are All Right — stern, intelligent yet moving and likeable — it takes a real pro to accomplish that with such style and verve Nicole Kidman — Rabbit Hole — heartbreaking but resilient — a perfect balance between broken and fixed — it is so joyful to
watch a character so succinctly communicated Lesley Manville — Another Year — heartbreaking with closeup
after closeup of vulnerability and grasping hope — truly a fragile and pulsating performance Julianne Moore — Kids Are All Right — courageous and oh so human — sexy and vulnerable in an earthy way — her struggles with herself are the
heart of the movie and she carries it magnificently and warmly Natalie Portman — Black Swan — the tour de force this year — the crazy, emotionally volatile core of a crazy, emotionally volatile
film — some wonder if it might be «easer» to play such big emotions but the incredibly thin wire she has to traverse in such an extreme environment is daunting and she makes it work and gives us believability and solicits true sympathy in the middle of a fright fest — a truly accomplished achievement