Isn’t it funny how Oscar races can evolve over the span of just a few weeks? Since awards season first began in late December, we’ve seen several key races completely change course, sometimes more than once.

When the first batch of critics prizes were handed out, it looked like most of the major categories would be a battleground for “Lincoln” and “Zero Dark Thirty,” with the former holding the edge for old-school Hollywood charm and the latter benefiting from its status as the best-reviewed film of the year.