1.
Christopher Plummer for Begginers
Born: 13th December, 1929 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2010 - Best Supporting Actor for The Last Station (nom);
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1999 - The Insider;
Oscar factors: Raved performance in raved movie + Playing a old man who assumes his homossexuality + Solid career + Respected name in cinema industry + Fresh past Oscar nomination + Being old (the AMPAS may not have another opportunity to recognize him)
2.
Max von Sydow for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Born: 10th April, 1929 - Lund, Skåne län, Sweden
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1988 - Best Leading Actor for Pelle the Conqueror (nom);
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1973 - The Exorcist
Oscar factors: Being directed by Stephen Daldry + Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close's Best Picture buzz + Playing a man who builds a strong friendship with a child + Being a respected actor + Being old (the AMPAS may not have another opportunity to recognize him)
3.
Albert Brooks for Drive
Born: 22nd July, 1947 - Beverly Hills, California, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1988 - Best Supporting Actor for Broadcast News (nom);
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Oscar factors: Playing a badass villain (AMPAS loves bad guys) + Drive's Best Picture buzz + Great, great performance + Not being part of a great project since Finding Nemo + Career comeback
4.
Ben Kingsley for Hugo
Born: 31st December, 1943 - Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1983 - Best Leading Actor for Gandhi (win); 1992 - Best Supporting Actor for Bugsy (nom); 2001 - Best Supporting Actor for Sexy Beast (nom); 2004 - Best Leading Actor for House of Sand and Fog (nom);
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1993 - Schindler's List
Oscar factors: Hugo's Best Picture Oscar buzz + Being directed by Martin Scorsese + Playing a toy shop owner who's a neglected cinema legend + Kind of character audiences love + Overdue for another nomination + Acting reference
5.
Patton Oswalt for Young Adult
Born: 27th January, 1969 - Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Oscar factors: Revelation/fresh face + Being directed by Jason Reitman + Funny character + Great comedy chops + More than holding himself when sharing the screen with Charlize Theron
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6.
Nick Nolte for Warrior
Born: 8th February, 1941 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1992 - Best Leading Actor for The Prince of Tides (nom); 1999 - Best Leading Actor for Affliction (nom);
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Oscar factors: Playing a man with a drinking problem and ghosts from the past + Critically acclaimed fighting-family-drama + Kind of character audiences love + Overdue for another nomination + Estabilished name in cinema industry
7.
Kenneth Branagh for My Week With Marilyn
Born: 10th December, 1960 - Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1990 - Best Leading Actor for Henry V (nom);
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1995 - Othello;
Oscar factors: Playing a Hollywood legend + Solid career + Holding himself alongside Michelle Williams + My Week With Marilyn's media attention + Being overdue for another Oscar nomination
8.
John Hawkes for Martha Marcy May Marlene
Born: 11th September, 1959 - Alexandria, Minnesota, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2011 - Best Supporting Actor for Winter's Bone (nom);
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Oscar factors: Being a fresh Oscar nominee + Martha Marcy May Marlene's critical acclaim + Disturbing performance as a cult leader + Scene-stealer + AMPAS might be completely "in love" for him since Winter's Bone
9.
Viggo Mortensen for A Dangerous Method
Born: 20th October, 1958 - New York City, New York, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2008 - Best Leading Actor for Eastern Promises (nom);
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2005 - A History of Violence; 2009 - The Road;
Oscar factors: Playing Sigmund Freud + Nuanced and mysterious character + Sharing the screen alongside Michael Fassbender and Keira Knightley + Solid body of work + Popular actor + Being directed by David Cronenberg
10.
Niels Arestrup for War Horse
Born: 8th February, 1949 - Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2009 - Un prophète;
Oscar factors: Oscar snubed performance in Un prophète + Great career + War Horse's Best Picture buzz + May be the movie's best chance in acting races + Playing a grandfather living during the WWI + Respected name, specially in France
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