Why It's Desperate: It's a film about a strong female character triumphing over adversity played by Jennifer Lawrence, but more to the point, it's a film from the guy Oscar nominations can't help but gravitate towards: David O. Russell. His last three films have been nominated for Best Picture alongside a slew of acting awards (even winning a few), and it's clear that he's gunning to scoop up a ton more here (with a supporting cast including Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper), while Lawrence is in card-carrying Oscar mode, hoping to win her second. Will It Succeed?: Surprisingly probably not. The reviews to date have been unexpectedly mixed, with Lawrence receiving a measure of praise but the script and direction being indifferently-received. Lawrence may still earn a nod because it's a fairly soft year and there aren't many complaints about the quality of her performance, but it won't be winning anything.