Natalie Portman win the Best Actress Academy Award this February

I would very much like to see Natalie Portman win the Best Actress Academy Award this February for her transformative and transcendent performance in "Black Swan." However, there is a big blockade in her podium path and that's the critical response to "No Strings Attached," a January rom-com co-starring Ashton Kutcher. http://nataliaportman.blogspot.com/

History shows that an Oscar frontrunner can be derailed by releasing a box office bomb during The Academy's voting period. The best example of this occurred at the 2006 ceremony when Eddie Murphy lost the Best Supporting Actor statue to Alan Arkin.

Although Eddie's work in "Dreamgirls" was an astounding reminder of what a tremendous dramatic actor he is, 2007's widely hyped "Norbit" (ads were omnipresent throughout January) was an astounding reminder of how far his comedic output had fallen in recent years.

Now, there is a big difference between slipping into bed with Ashton Kutcher and slipping into a lingerie-clad fat suit. Plus, the actress has garnered such goodwill in the industry over the years, even if "Phantom Menace" came out tomorrow, Natalie could still hear her name called on February 27.

Especially if we replicate the unspoken, industry-wide contract that saw nearly everyone completely sidestep "All About Steve" when talking about Sandra Bullock's stellar 2009 cinematic season.

Finally, let us not forget that this concern could all be for naught if "No Strings Attached" turns out to be the first great romantic comedy of the next decade.