Academy Awards 2014 Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominees predictions: ROUND 1

• BEST ACTOR

1. Robert Redford for All Is Lost

Born: August 18, 1936 - Santa Monica, California, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 1974 - Best Actor for The Sting (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1969 - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

COMMENT: Like him or not, Redford has a huge fanbase (and my aunt is just one of those people who's crazy for him!) and he got the biggest raves from his career during this year's edition of Cannes Film Festival thanks to his performance in All Is Lost. It's a "one man show" movie, with Redford being the only person on-screen, but it seems he delivers... Now, let's translate it to Oscar predictions language: we know how much the AMPAS loves to honour members of Hollywood royality once in a while and Redford's last and only nod for acting happened 39 years ago (but, as a director and a producer, he got his last two nods in 1995), so considering how iconic his name is, I believe he may be one of the biggest contenders for a Best Actor nod. I can see the Globes nominating him (Globes love superstars) and the same can be said about the indie awards and critics' circles prizes... He has the raves, he has the fanbase, he has a reputation, he already has an honorary Oscar at home and he has a huge pre-award season Oscar buzz. I can see it happen, definitely. 

2. Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club

Born: November 4, 1969 - Uvalde, Texas, USA

Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none

Oscar snubed performance(s): 2012 - Magic Mike

COMMENT: Last year was a kind of breakthrough year for Matthew McConaughey, artistically speaking, and between all the critical praise he collected for a multiple number of turns in different movies, he became a contender for Magic Mike... So, this year he's under the radar and he promises to deliver a couple critical praised performances in a couple of potential critical praised movies, with Dallas Buyers Club looking as the best acting vehicle for him, by far. Under the direction of Jean-Marc Vallée, McConaughey plays an HIV-positive man who goes on a battle against medical estabilishment and pharmaceutical companies at the same time he deals with the subjects of prejudice and homossexuality. Plus, for playing this part, he went under an extreme physical transformation (he lost a LOT of pounds) and the AMPAS loves dedicated actors. So, considering the movie's subject, McConaughey's acting habilities, his resurgence as a serious actor and the movie trailer, I've high hopes for his performance in this one and given the huge Oscar buzz around him right now, I believe he will end the year as a major Oscar contender and get a Best Actor nomination in 2014.

3. Steve Carell for Foxcatcher

Born: August 16, 1962 - Concord, Massachusetts, USA

Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none

Oscar snubed performance(s): 2006 - Little Miss Sunshine

COMMENT: John du Pont, an American paranoid schizophrenic multimillionaire who ended convicted of the murder in third degree of a golden-medal wrestler: juicy, right? In Foxcatcher, Carell will play du Pont and the man behind the camera is Bennett Miller, the same man who directed Capote (and gave Philip Seymour Hoffman a Best Actor Oscar win) and Moneyball (giving Brad Pitt a Best Actor Oscar nomination), so, things look promising for Carell, don't you think? Known for his great comedic chops, Carell already showed some dramatic depht in his supporting turn in Little Miss Sunshine, but it seems the biggest challenge of his career so far comes in Foxcatcher. Set for a Christmas release, Oscar voters will have his turn in their minds for sure and once this man can act and the director of the movie knows what to do with his leading men, Carell can have some Oscar hopes, because things seem to be going fine for him.

4. Michael B. Jordan for Fruitvale Station

Born: February 9, 1987 - Santa Ana, California, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none

COMMENT: Only 26, which means he stills really young for a nomination in the Best Actor category (trivia says he would become the 10th youngest ever to be nominated), but will the AMPAS be able to ignore what will be considered one of the best performances of the year? Michael B. Jordan did some impressive work in a couple of T.V. series and in Chronicle, but he simply excells himself in Ryan Coogler's Sundance winner Fruitvale Station, playing Oscar with a heart, creating a multi-dimensional complex human being. The movie is one of the current main Best Picture contenders and B. Jordan will certainly get a couple of breakthrough performance awards for sure and indie awards are likely to fall in love for him during awards season, but will he be able to get nominated for Best Actor? Well, there's specially strong competition in this category this year, but if he campaigns during Oscar season and if the movie manages to get a Best Picture nomination, I can see the Academy members using some of their votes in Fruitvale Station's leading man. It's possible, but it won't be easy...

5. Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street

Born: November 11, 1974 - Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 1994 - Best Supporting Actor for What's Eating Gilbert Grape (nom); 2005 - Best Actor for The Aviator (nom); 2007 - Best Actor for Blood Diamond (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2006 - The Departed; 2008 - Revolutionary Road; 2011 - J. Edgar; 2012 - Django Unchained

COMMENT: Call me crazy for putting DiCaprio in the fifth place of my Best Actor nominees predictions, but predicting his fourth nomination is like "fool's gold"... after Revolutionary Road, J. Edgar and Django Unchained between box-office successes, it's not clear what DiCaprio has done to the AMPAS to be punished this way. But, no matter what, DiCaprio looks great in The Wolf of Wall Street trailer and since he's working with Martin Scorsese, who can always pull great performances from him (Leo's two best turns happened in The Aviator and The Departed), I truly believe DiCaprio will be part of this year's award season, for sure. But, will he finally get nominated? Well, I don't know... At least he won't suffer from internal competition in the same category (like what happened in Django Unchained) or a category placement confusion (à la The Departed), since it's known he's the one and only leading actor of the movie. Personally, I don't expect nothing less than great from him for The Wolf of Wall Street.

6. Christian Bale for American Hustle

Born: January 30, 1974 - Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK

Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 2011 - Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter (win)

Oscar snubed performance(s): 1987 - Empire of the Sun; 2000 - American Psycho

COMMENT: In his last two movies, David O. Russell gave eight (!) Oscar nominations to his actors and judging by the movie trailer, acting nods are likely to happen to American Hustle, with Christian Bale looking simply awesome playing his part. But will a re-teaming with O. Russell give Bale his second nomination? Well, it may be interesting seeing Bale in a comedy tone and his physical transformation to play the part will not hurt his Oscar chances for sure, but his competition also looks so strong! A nod might happen if the movie gets an enthusiastic reception and if the AMPAS likes him outside the "this is drama" mode. I really don't know...

7. Joaquin Phoenix for Her

Born: October 28, 1974 - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 2001 - Best Supporting Actor for Gladiator (nom); 2006 - Best Actor for Walk the Line (nom); 2013 - Best Actor for The Master (nom)

Oscar snubed performance(s): 2008 - Two Lovers

COMMENT: When I watched Her's movie trailer, I got a similar vibe to Bill Murray's in Lost In Translation from Mr. Phoenix and guess what... he looks sweet in this one. After playing the cruel Roman emperor Commodus, the drug-addicted Johnny Cash and an alchoolic Naval veteran in previous Oscar nominated turns, playing a damaged sweet man just screams "Versatility!" to the AMPAS, for sure. He's one of the best actors working today and Spike Jonze always pulls great performances from his actors (I'm sure you remember people from Being John Malkovich and Adaptation). I can see Phoenix going far in the awards season, but I guess it all depends in Her's Best Picture and/or Best Original Screenplay chances.

8. Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave

Born:  July 10, 1977 - Forest Gate, London, England, UK
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2002 - Dirty Pretty Things

COMMENT: He's a great actor and he's waiting for the right part for his definitive breakthrough performance and I'm sure his role as Solomon Northup is juicy material and that he will certainly deliver an Oscary performance, but considering the ugly way the AMPAS snubed Fassbender for his two previous collaborations with Steven McQueen, it sounds unlikely having Chiwetel Ejiofor nominated when there's another black actor (Michael B. Jordan) running for a place in the same category with the major Best Picture contender of the moment (don't get me wrong, the Academy can always nominate both, but I just don't see them having two young black actors in the same nominees shortlist).

9. Bruce Dern for Nebraska
Born: June 4, 1936 - Chicago, Illinois, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 1979 - Best Supporting Actor for Coming Home (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1974 - The Great Gatsby

COMMENT: Winner of the Cannes Film Festival Award of Best Actor at this year's edition, I didn't quite know who Dern was beyond his appearances in Monster and Coming Home, but then I discovered he was Tom Buchanan in 1974's adaptation of The Great Gatsby (sorry, I'm kinda young). Buzz from Cannes was huge and people are predicting him. While I know I should place him higher thanks to "Alexander Payne directed performance" factor, I want be cautious: Nebraska itself didn't get universal praise and there are questions about his category placement, while it is said he's going to be campaigned as a lead, but still...

• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1. Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave

Born: April 2, 1977 - Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none

Oscar snubed performance(s): 2008 - Hunger; 2011 - Shame

COMMENT: One of the best and most interesting acting treasures working today, Fassbender has already estabilished himself as a serious and beloved actor, with an enviable career and two snubed Oscar-worthy performances. I truly believe he missed an Oscar nomination for Shame for this close (it was one of the ugliest snubs in the last ten years), but things seem promising again for him thanks to the role of a cruel slavers owner - we all know how Oscar voters love evil supporting character. He looks great in the movie trailer as so looks the movie itself, so, if 12 Years a Slave manages to become a serious Best Picture contender I can see Fassbender getting his Oscar first nomination easily (you know, something "great" is expected from him in this part, from the worst point of view). Plus, since he's a true star now and once he is a victim of a controversial snub for Shame, I can see the AMPAS' members feeling "kind of" obligated to vote for him.

2. Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club

Born: December 26, 1971 - Bossier City, Louisiana, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2000 - Requiem for a Dream

COMMENT: Will the Academy see Jared Leto as more than a singer with an "affair with the acting art"? This man impressed me and a lot of people and respectable critics in Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream and he got Oscar traction at the time, but ended with no Academy Award nomination. This year, Leto seems to be back to the Oscar game as a transgender woman infected with HIV, which sounds great, but after watching the trailer, it looks wonderful. While I'm conscious it's a kind of risky predicting a nomination for Leto at a time people seem more focused on McConaughey's Oscar hopes, I can see this singer/actor getting raves (since he has already proved to be more talented than a lot of Hollywood movie stars) and being caught in the potential heat around Dallas Buyers Club and/or McConaughey's turn and ending as an Academy Award nominee.

3. Tom Hanks for Saving Mr. Banks

Born: July 9, 1956 - Concord, California, USA

Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 1989 - Best Actor for Big (nom); 1994 - Best Actor for Philadelphia (win); 1995 - Best Actor for Forrest Gump (win); 1999 - Best Actor for Saving Private Ryan (nom); 2001 - Best Actor for Cast Away (nom)

Oscar snubed performance(s): 2002 - Road to Perdition

COMMENT: Walt Disney was and still is a beloved real-life personality and it has been a long time since the great Tom Hanks got an Oscar nomination for the last time or even an Oscary performance. He looks quite sympathetic in Saving Mr. Banks movie trailer and considering the enthusiasm around the movie and having him as Mr. Disney, I can see the AMPAS falling in love for him again, easily. Hanks is a gifted comedy actor and mesmerizing with the right dramatic material and considering how "feel-good" is watching him during the movie trailer, I can believe the buzz turning into solid Oscar traction. He used to be one of the favorite sons of the Academy during the 90's and he stills being seen as a figure of huge respect in this industry, so playing Disney in Saving Mr. Banks may give him a kind of comeback. My biggest concern is seeing the movie not getting enough critical praise (and then great performances won't get the recognition they deserve, like what happened with Bill Murray in Hyde Park On Hudson).

4. Mark Ruffalo for Foxcatcher

Born: November 22, 1967 - Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA

Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 2011 - Best Supporting Actor for The Kids Are All Right (nom)

Oscar snubed performance(s): 2000 - You Can Count on Me

COMMENT: Most talking around Foxcatcher is about Steve Carell, but there's Mark Ruffalo, who plays the athlete and long-time friend du Pont murders... Well, Ruffalo may disappear from the screen too early, but what if he manages to be remarkable? He's a very good actor and if he plays his part in a sympathetic way, I can see audiences (and Oscar voters) feeling pitty for his character, which may translate into Oscar traction. There's some buzz around his turn as David Schultz and once he transformed his body in order to play the part, Ruffalo is a solid contender in this year's Best Supporting Actor race. After too many years without being recognized by the AMPAS, he got nominated for The Kids Are All Right and considering Bennett Miller is the one who directed him in this turn, I can see voters going for him again. I guess hee can start dreaming about his second Oscar nomination...

5. Bradley Cooper for American Hustle

Born: January 5, 1975 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 2013 - Best Actor for Silver Linings Playbook (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): none

COMMENT: I wouldn't say he was going to become an Academy Award nominee by the time he started to appear in cheesy rom-coms, but thank God he managed to get challenging parts in good projects... Will his second collaboration with David O. Russell give him his second (and second) Oscar nomination in a row? In American Hustle he plays a federal agent who teams with an ex-con and his lover in order to fight corruption, which may not sound like anything Oscary, but we have the "David O. Russell factor", so he must be under serious consideration. While the cast is shinny and it is difficult to predict who will shine brighter and who will be in the shadows, I believe Cooper will deliver another performance with high tons of charisma like he always does. American Hustle is one of the most serious Best Picture contenders, so Cooper certainly benefits from this, just like the other cast members... Maybe he's a co-lead (the third person in a lead trio composed by Bale, Adams and himself), so maybe his screen-time is his best advantage against the internal competition of Jeremy Renner.

6. Jeremy Renner for American Hustle
Born: January 7, 1971 - Modesto, California, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: 2010 - Best Actor for The Hurt Locker (nom); 2011 - Best Supporting Actor for The Town (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): none

COMMENT: It will be delicious watching Renner playing a corrupt politician under the direction of David O. Russell, but I've some doubts about the effect of his blockbuster choices in his Oscar chances... Did being part of box-office sensations hurt Renner reputation as a serious actor? I want to believe it helped him, but there's also the internal competition issue and once Cooper promises to have more screen-time... Or will Renner be a scene-stealer? The man has enough charisma and talent in order to be remarkable with just a couple of minutes, for sure, but I have to wait and see...

7. Tony Danza for Don Jon

Born: April 21, 1951 - Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none

COMMENT: He got enthusiastic reviews for his performance as the father of a porn-addicted young man in Joseph Gordon-Levitt directorial debut and most critics agree he's hilarious and he shines bright in Don Jon, but last reviews seem to be more about the movie leads and they do not spend a lot of lines praising Danza's work. The AMPAS doesn't have problems about nominating comedic turns in the supporting categories and there are a lot of reviews to be published soon about Don Jon, so let's wait and see if the brief raves can turn into award traction.

8. Matthew McConaughey for The Wolf of Wall Street
Born: November 4, 1969 - Uvalde, Texas, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2012 - Magic Mike

COMMENT: He's funny in The Wolf of Wall Street movie trailer and he's living a sweet moment in his career after a kind of "breakthrough year" in 2012, but is he just funny in Scorsese's upcoming? He's charismatic and he shines in comedy easily, but considering he's also a strong contender in the Best Actor category for Dallas Buyers Club will he be able to manage two Oscar nominations in the same year? Well, it is possible, but it doesn't sound likely to happen, so I believe the AMPAS will be paying more attention to him in Dallas Buyers Club than in The Wolf of Wall Street.

9. Channing Tatum for Foxcatcher
Born: April 26, 1980 - Cullman, Alabama, USA
Previous Oscar recognition in acting: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none

COMMENT: Call me crazy for having a "not serious actor" in consideration, but I do think Tatum has acting potential and he was quite solid in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, 21st Jump Street and Magic Mike. Tatum described his work in Foxcacther as something like the most difficult one he has ever experienced, so is his part more complex than most folks are expecting? I am serious when I say I can see him surprising everyone in Foxcatcher. He plays the man who deals with the murder of his brothers... it can be a good role for awards recognition!

* Damon/Murray/Goodman/Dujardin for The Monuments Men - Who will pop? Is there any showy role or it is a balanced ensemble piece? A lot of questions, but little is known, right now...