The Holy Trinity of Acting Nominations

When an actor has been nominated by the BFCA, SAG, and Golden Globes, aka the holy trinity of acting nominations (in terms of key precursors for the Oscars), it almost always means they are headed towards an Oscar nomination. You have the critics, the industry, and journalists all represented there. Now, there are definitely exceptions with Mila Kunis last year as a recent example of someone who was nominated for all three, but failing to garner an Oscar nomination. In any case, this year 13 actors find themselves in this position and all of them seem very likely, if not locked, for an Oscar nod.

You'd think they'd be a little happier?

Actor: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, Leonardo DiCaprio

Actress: Michelle Williams, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Tilda Swinton

Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Kenneth Branagh

Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer, Berenice Bejo

If anyone is in a weak position, it's DiCaprio, but he's in a Clint Eastwood film, playing a famous person while wearing tons of prosthetic make-up, and is "due." Now, there are a few actors that just missed out on getting the holy trinity by just one organization. They all technically are still in the conversation for an Oscar nod, but some definitely have higher chances than others.

Michael Fassbender, Ryan Gosling, Charlize Theron, and Albert Brooks all missed out on SAG nominations, perhaps because their films aren't as accessible as other films. Though in the case of Gosling, he received three different nominations (two of them Golden Globes) for three different films which puts him in a more precarious position than others. The Descendant's Shailene Woodley also failed to register with the SAG, but her youth and the fact that she's nominated along with her ensemble makes it more understandable.

Glenn Close and her Albert Nobbs co-star Janet McTeer were both snubbed by the BFCA which seemed even more egregious since the organization nominates 6 per category. Jonah Hill also missed out with the BFCA. Finally, Nick Nolte and Melissa McCarthy failed Golden Globe nominations. Perhaps the HFPA didn't find either of them "Hollywood" enough?

In any case, all of them still have a good a chance as any other actor in the same or worse position they're finding themselves in now. The only almost sure bet with this group is for Albert Brooks to get nominated, but again who knows?

On the outside with realistic chances are actors such as Carey Mulligan, Vanessa Redgrave, Armie Hammer, Patton Oswalt, Elizabeth Olsen, Gary Oldman, and Michael Shannon.