In a nutshell: Based on the book by Bernhard Schlink, a teenage boy has an affair with an older woman in his town -- reading to her and sleeping with her, the usual -- only to find out years later that she’s a former concentration camp guard. Cue internal turmoil.

Why it could win: Kate Winslet is due for an Oscar and unless an upset occurs, it’s already hers. Her presence in a movie that’s about one of Oscar’s favorite subjects, the Holocaust, doesn’t hurt things either.

Why it could lose: Besides Winslet’s strong performance, there hasn't been that much attention thrown on the film and if it hadn't been released so late in the year, who knows if it would have gotten a nomination at all. Also, with the economy tanking and jobs disappearing left and right, voters are probably more apt to go with a certain feel-good crowd pleaser than this heavy drama.

More on The Reader:

• Kate Winslet biography
• Movie image gallery
• Book review

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