With all the hub-bub regarding Cate Blanchett's supposed lead actress push for "I'm Not There," the conversation about Best Supporting Actress being a vacant category has caught on even more.

This is an idea I tossed around right after the festival circuit.  Conventional wisdom took hold, others took umbrage with the notion, but the fact remains, the category is up for grabs.

Anyway, today, Poland is talking up Kate Winslet as a possibility in "Romance & Cigarettes," a film that has been floating around for what seems like two years now and got a quiet release this year.  In the comments section of his blog, Poland says:

"Also, Sony will be sending out Romance & Cigarettes with their studio DVD package. And there is a push going on. The film has done excellent business in NY, is opening LA, and John Turturro is fighting the good fight. It is a bit of a reach, but Winslet is Winslet, it is a breathtaking performance, and it is, as so often, a thin year for woman's roles."

Yeah, it's definitely a reach.  But the category is dry.  Sure, there are a lot of performances worth talking about, but none of them find themselves in the derby due to this factor or that.

Anything is worth a shot at this point.