Christian Bale for The Fighter
Bale is one of those actors who are very overdue for an Oscar nomination, specially when he has such a great body of work with amazing performances in every movie he does. He has the talent, he has the previous critical acclaim, he's well-known, he's overdue for an Oscar and he plays a (ex)boxer in The Fighter: he has everything to get a nod for Best Supporting Actor this year, specially after all the critical praise the movie got. In fact, Bale have been collecting awards since the awards season began: between a lot of critics organizations awards, Bale is currently nominated for a Golden Globe of Best Supporting Actor, for two SAG Awards (Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Ensemble Performance) and for two Critics' Choice Awards (Best Acting Ensemble and Best Supporting Actor) and he won the National Board of Review of Best Supporting Actor. I think the Academy will recognize such an amazing actor this year, giving him a nomination and giving him the Oscar (yeah... he will the Oscar!).
Andrew Garfield for The Social Network
Garfield is becoming a respectable and well-known face in the cinema industry, specially after this year. He wasn't already a strange face for the British audiences, but after the acclaimed Never Let Me Go and, mostly, David Fincher's The Social Network, Garfield is raising as a big promise for the cinema. His performance in The Social Network gave him raves from the critics and the Hollywood Award of Breakthrough Actor (also for his performance in Never Let Me Go), and he was nominated for a lot of awards including a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award, but missed a SAG Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor BUT he was nominated for Best Ensemble Performance for being one of the cast members, which may keep between the final 5 of the Oscar race. Plus, he benefits from the "OSCAR FAVORITE TO BEST PICTURE" factor because of the Facebook movie and there's also another reason that the Academy may have to nominate him: he will be the next Peter Parker in the upcoming untitled Spider-man reboot and the Academy may want to recognize him before he becomes globaly famous. At the moment, Garfield is a strong contender to a nod.
Jeremy Renner for The Town
He received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for The Hurt Locker last year, but it seems that Renner may be recognized again this year for his amazing performance in Ben Affleck's The Town. The movie received a lot of raves and between them there were a lot of compliments to Renner's performance and the cast's in general. He have been nominated for a lot of awards, including a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and a Critics' Choice Award and some critics associations' awards too, but Renner seems the contender who may loose his place between the Academy's 5 chosen to John Hawkes (who really deserve a nomination) easier, not because of not delivering a great performance but for being already a last year's Academy Award nominee.
Mark Ruffalo for The Kids Are All Right
With such an highly praised reception, The Kids Are All Right seems to become the responsible movie for some of the best reviews that some actors have ever received and one of them is Mark Ruffalo. In fact, Ruffalo is another Oscar overdue actor and it seems that, this year, the Academy will recognize some actors and actresses that were snubed in the past and he will be between the chosen likely. According with the critics in general, Ruffalo delivers an ordinary performance as a sperm donnator who estabilished contact with his unknown children who live with their lesbian mums. His performance has already given him a SAG Award nod, a Critics' Choice Award nod, several critics organizations' awards nominations, an Independent Spirit Award nod and New York Film Critics Circle prize of Best Supporting Actor. He has a great body of work, is a very capable actor and made part of THE indie movie of this Summer, so an Oscar nod is well-deserved, but it's not guaranteed...
Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech
In The King's Speech, Rush plays the king's speech therapist, having a kind of co-leading role in this one. Critics loved his performance, like all the cast's in general, but Rush's character is a really showy one and a kind of funny scene-stealer and it seems that his chemistry with Colin Firth is great too. In fact, Rush was already recognized by the Academy, so it can be great for him in the way that he's already loved by the voters, so he'll get a nod, at least. This "season" he was nominated for a Golden Globe, a SAG Award a Critics' Choice Award, a several number of critics organizations awards and he won the British Independent Film Award of Best Supporting Actor. He also benefits from the movie's sucess in the way that it is a BIG contender for a Best Picture win alongside The Social Network, so it seems fair to say that a nod seems guaranteed for Mr. Rush.
in serious consideration: John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
in consideration: Sam Rockwell (Conviction)
in serious consideration: John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
in consideration: Sam Rockwell (Conviction)
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