Oscar 2014 Best Actress Predictions: Is Cate Blanchett Losing Steam?

Cate Blanchett looks like she will not sweep the Best Actress race as many pundits predicted she would.

The actress failed to win key awards at the Gothams and the National Board of Review. On Monday, at the Gothams the actress was a secure winner as she faced no Oscar candidates. However, Brie Larson, who is considered a long-shot for an Oscar nomination, went home with the award for her role in "Short Term 12." On Wednesday, Blanchett failed to capture the National Board of Reviews' Best Actress prize, losing to Emma Thompson for "Saving Mr. Banks." However, she did win the New York Film Critics award for Best Actress for her role in "Blue Jasmine." The constant losses prove that Blanchett's performance is not as loved as many expected. However, it is also important to note that the Gotham's prize is new, so it does not have much effect on the Oscars.

Meanwhile, the NBR has failed to predict a Best Actress winner since 2006 when Helen Mirren won for "The Queen." As a matter of fact, the organization has picked actresses who do not even getting nominated. For example, in 2010 Lesly Manville won for "Another Year," and in 2011 Tilda Swinton won for "We Need to Talk About Kevin."

NYFCC has also failed to predict the Best Actress winner a number of times. Out of their last seven winners, only one winner has went on to win the Oscar (Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"). However, unlike the NBR, six of the seven were nominated for the Academy Awards. The only winner who did not get nominated was Sally Hawkins in 2008 for her role in "Happy Go-Lucky."

Blanchett can re-validate her front-runner position on Sunday if the Boston Film Critics and Los Angeles Film Critics give their Best Actress awards to her. However, if she fails, the Best Actress race could become unexpectedly wide open.