George Clooney for The Descendants
He may be hated by most men (like me), but Clooney is an undeniable movie star, with a great presence in front of the camera and an AMPAS darling, and playing a father with some problems in his relationship with is children while his family in on the rocks seems a really juicy, Oscar-worthy kind of role. Payne already gave a big couple of Oscar nods to his movie's actors (Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Thomas Hadden Church, Virgina Madsen...) and this year's may be Clooney's time. He already is an Oscar winner (Syrianna) and got two other nominations (Michael Clayton and Up In the Air), he's really popular, he can act, the role seems promising and he has the Academy members' love! He only needs a good critical reception, because he has all the rest to get his 4th Oscar nomination. It's an obligation seeing him as one of the strongest contenders for a Best Actor nod!
Leonardo DiCaprio for J. Edgar
People are already talking about the Oscar DiCaprio will take home for portraying J. Edgar Hoover in this year's J. Edgar by Clint Eastwood. In fact, DiCaprio is overdue for a win, no matter what people say. For some he's just the pretty guy who starred Titanic alongside Kate Winslet, but he already proved his talent and acting chops in a big couple of other movies (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Catch Me If You Can, The Aviator, The Departed, Blood Diamond, Revolutionary Road, Shutter Island and Inception). He got some Oscar snubs last years, but the guy is THE movie star of his generation, he's very charismatic and he already worked with some of the best directors alive. Plus, early reviews of some scenes of the shooting, say he was terrific as Hoover and that he seems to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance. This man has everything to get the nomination for Best Actor, he only need the rave reviews! About his chances of winning the prize, it's possible, but competition is competition and the movie wasn't even released as the others contenders'!
Michael Fassbender for A Dangerous Method
Whatever happens in the upcoming awards season, Fassbender has already estabilished himself as a great actor this year and as one of the "must watch" Hollywood faces (this year he appeared in Jane Eyre and X-Men: First Class and he'll be seen in Shame and A Dangerous Method, all Oscar contender movies in different categories), but it seems that his Oscar chances are increasing... Playing Carl Jung in A Dangerous Method seems a juicy role, specially when the movie is about his love story with Sabrina and his relationship with Freud and how psychonalisys was born, and the AMPAS loves biopics. But such a promising role, such a promising performance, may enter in competition with Shame (who seems to be about porn and it's directed by Hunger's director, the same man who put Fassbender's star shining bright). But it seems that A Dangerous Method is a much more Oscar-friendly motion picture, so Fassbender may get a Best Leading Actor Academy Award nomination for his work easily, he just needs the movie will be acclaimed, because rarely his acting is less than amazing!
Joseph Gordon-Levitt for 50/50
A great actor from the new generation of actors, Joseph Gordon-Levitt have been collecting interesting parts and interesting performances since he was a child actor and he have been received praise for that. He has Oscar chances this year with 50/50 a comedy-drama about a guy who discovers he has cancer and that must learn how to live with his health problem. It seems a great part and early reviews from the first screenings say it is a really funny movie, with full of sense dramatic moments and a great performance from Gordon-Levitt. After a great career in the independent cinema, a disturbing performance in Mysterious Skin, a charming performance in (500) Days of Summer, an appearance in the last year's Inception and a part in the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises, the Academy may want to help Gordon-Levitt's career getting even better by nominating him this year in the Best Actor category, but it is a comedy and they use to prefer movies with a less light tone... He has the chances, he and the movie only need the raves!
Ryan Gosling for The Ides of March
Certainly, he is one of the best actors working today and he's only 30. After getting an Oscar nod for his amazing performance in Half Nelson, the AMPAS snubed his post-Oscar-nod outstanding performances in Lars and the Real Girl and Blue Valentine (how could they not nominate him for Blue Valentine when that was his best performance ever and one of the best performances of 2010, if not the best performance of 2010?). He may not work a lot, but when he works, he does the best that's possible with every character and so it's expected in The Ides of March. His part is by far the most meaty one and the movie isn't THAT indie production type of movie that's easily ignored by the Academy. In fact, the Oscar voters may want to nominate him this year as a way to apologize the previous snubs and, let's be honest, Mr. Gosling deserves it for his consistent acting quality. Plus, the movie is directed by George Clooney and it's about politics and the AMPAS love politics and... George Clooney! Gosling has a big chance this year, for sure...
in consideration: Matt Damon (We Bought a Zoo); Jean DuJardin (The Artist); Woody Harrelson (Rampart);
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