Academy Awards 2019 nominees predictions - BEST ACTOR (Early Predictions)

BEST ACTOR

What an amazing year it promises to be for the Best Actor race: we have Dic Cheney (aka Christian Bale), Neil Armstrong (aka Ryan Gosling), Freddie Mercury (aka Rami Malek), Forrest Tucker (aka Robert Redford) and a fictional character Detective Ron Stallworth played by John David Washington leading the competition right now. And while I believe there is too many "real-life" personalities being portrayed on-screen this year (with Malek's work being the potential weakest contender here due to production problems/controversies in spite of having nothing to do with him, because I think he looks and acts like [a lost brother of] Freddie!), truth is the AMPAS loves biopics. Bale is a safe bet not only because he's an estabilished name in Hollywood but also because of the talent involved in Backseat (he's working with The Big Short director!!!!) and the same could be said about Gosling (he stars the next Damien Chazelle's movie, who's fresh from Oscar glory). Redford is a living legend and it's hard to believe he has only been nominated once for acting and audiences/internet has realised he deserves another nom suddenly (remember that shocking snub for 2013's All Is Lost?), which can happen given the buzz around the movie, the amazing trailer and having David Lowery behind the camera. Finally, the little Washington shines in Cannes hit Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman and if the movie manages to stay "this hot", he will benefit from the movie's success and get an Oscar nom.

Other contenders are:

Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born - Cooper goes Eastwood mode (or Redford mode) by directing and starring a new adaptation of A Star Is Born and judging by the trailer... the man can sing! The AMPAS has already nominated him three times in a row (2012's Silver Linings Playbook, 2013's American Hustle and 2014's American Sniper), which means Oscar voters like him (a lot!). To be honest, I don't think we need another adaptation of this musical tale, but the trailer gave a good vibe and if manages to be a big hit, I believe the Academy will go for him for a fourth time easily.
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity's Gate - Van Gogh, his madness and the events that led to the famous hear incident... Dafoe delivered the best performance of his career (so far) last year in The Florida Project and got an Oscar nomination for his work. So, since he's fresh from Oscar love, can he score his second nod in a row? AMPAS loves portrays of madness and biopics... Let's wait to see this one.
Lucas Hedges, Boy Erased - After his Academy Award (spectacular) performance in Manchester by the Sea and last year's fine turns in Best Picture players Lady Bird and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Mr. Hedges seems to be living one of the highest points of his young career. This year, he plays a young man who assumes to be be gay and then he's pressured into attending a gay conversion therapy - JUICY, right? Considering the AMPAS has been embracing LGBT-themed movies (like Moonlight or Call Me By Your Name), if Hedges triumphs again, his chances are not that slim (I know he's really young, but AMPAS has already showed love for him before).
Hugh Jackman, The Front Runner - X-Men made him a worldwide movie star, his Broadway adventures proved he's a real artist and Les Misérables gave him an Oscar nomination. This year, Jackman goes for a more serious turn in Jason Reitman's upcoming The Front Runner by playing Gary Hart, a presidential front-runner to White House who faces an extramarital affair scandal. Considering Reitman has already directed Ellen Page, George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick in Oscar nominated performances and Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Garner or Charlize Theron in Oscar-worthy turns, so I'm confident about Jackman's work in this one.
Joaquin Phoenix, Don't Worry He Won't Get Far on Foot OR You Were Never Really Here - Phoenix is one of the most brilliant actors working these days: from Don't Worry He Won't Get Far on Foot, to You Were Never Really Here, to the upcoming The Sister Brothers, 2018 seems to be a Phoenix-generous year. He won the Best Actor prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival for You Were Never Really Here and I consider his performance truly brilliant and award-worthy... BUT... Don't Worry He Won't Get Far on Foot can be an easier sell for the AMPAS. In Don't Worry, he plays a disabled man who suffered a life-changing accident and fights to stay sober - the perfect kind of role that often wins golden naked man to actors (and he got snubed for 2013's Her). But let's wait... he can be a victim of vote spliting!

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