1.
Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
Born: April 29, 1957 - Greenwich, London, England, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1990 - Best Leading Actor for My Left Foot (win); 1994 - Best Leading Actor for In the Name of the Father (nom); 2003 - Best Leading Actor for Gangs of New York (nom); 2006 - Best Leading Actor for There Will Be Blood (win)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1997 - The Boxer
Oscar chances comment: Playing a political figure is always Oscar-baity, but when we are talking about one of the most famous American presidents such as Abraham Lincoln played by the always great Daniel Day-Lewis, things get even more serious. Steven Spielberg's upcoming biopic Lincoln is drawing big expectations in the Oscar predictions foruns for a big couple of reasons, but while biopics aren't a guarantee of Best Picture nomination, they are a good vehicle for talented actors getting Oscar nominations. Day-Lewis has been away from the Oscar predictions lists since 2007, when he won an Oscar for There Will Be Blood (2009's Nine doesn't count) and, in fact, this man doesn't work a lot and we don't see him every year in a movie, but when he works, he emmerges himself into the character and gets raves. So, it's normal to have him in consideration in this Best Leading Actor Oscar race... In normal conditions, he would be a contender for a win, but he already has two golden men at home and getting a third may require a "Meryl Streepish" number of Oscar nominations.
2.
John Hawkes for The Surrogate
Born: September 11, 1959 - Alexandria, Minnesota, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2011 - Best Supporting Actor for Winter's Bone (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2011 - Martha Marcy May Marlene
Oscar chances comment: Hawkes seems to be getting a solid reputation as a serious actor, specially when he seems to be in contention for an Academy Award year after year since 2010, when Winter's Bone was released. This year, Hawkes stars another Sundance Film Festival hit - The Surrogate - where he plays a frustrated polio-stricken man with an iron lung who wants to loose his virginity. He received universal praise for his performance, a remarkable and touching one in spite of all the character's physical limitations. The Surrogate sounds a bit like Alejandro Amenábar's Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside), but about the will of living instead of the will of dying, which will call the Academy members' attentions, for sure. Hawkes is establishing himself as a major actor and after getting an Oscar nod two years ago for Winter's Bone and after getting snubed last year for Martha Marcy May Marlene, I believe awards will have some consideration for him this year and Academy Awards may be no exception.
3.
Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master
Born: July 23, 1967 - Fairport, New York, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2006 - Best Leading Actor for Capote (win); 2008 - Best Supporting Actor for Charlie Wilson's War (nom); 2009 - Best Supporting Actor for Doubt (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1999 - Flawless; 2000 - Almost Famous; 2007 - The Savages
Oscar chances comment: One of the most serious actors in the business, Philip Seymour Hoffman has been getting some Academy's recognition he deserves after his Oscar-winning performance in Capote, after being snubed for a couple of memorable acting work. This year, Hoffman stars Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, where he plays a "charismatic intellectual" with a faith-based organization that begins to catch America - sounds like a juicy role, right? In fact, Paul Thomas Anderson's movies were strong acting showcases and an Oscar vehicle for a lot of actors like Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise or Daniel Day-Lewis and The Master promises to be no exception for its leading actor. Hoffman is very talented and I believe the acting material he has to "deal with" this year will allow him to deliver a charismatic and memorable performance and since the Academy's members seem to like him, I see an easy Oscar nomination for him.
(image from The Ides of March)
4.
Bill Murray for Hyde Park On Hudson
Born: September 21, 1950 - Wilmette, Illinois, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2004 - Best Leading Actor for Lost In Translation (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1998 - Rushmore; 2005 - Broken Flowers; 2010 - Get Low
Oscar chances comment: After almost winning an Oscar for his unique and subtle performance in Sofia Coppola's Lost In Translation, Bill Murray never got an Academy Award nomination again, in spite of his strong acting work in movies like Broken Flowers or Get Low. This year, he stars Hyde Park On Hudson, directed by Roger Michell (the man who directed Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in Notting Hill and Peter O'Toole in his Oscar-nominated performance in Venus), where he plays Franklin Roosevelt. I don't know if there's a room for two good actors who portray two Presidents of the United States of America, but both Day-Lewis and Murray are getting solid Oscar buzz around their performances (when they were not even seen, yet). To be completely honest, I think that Murray may not get nominated this due to the fact of being seen as (mostly) a comedy actor, but the fact is that he has been asking for a second nomination too long and he already proved he has great dramatic chops, so there's hope for him: he's playing an American president, for God's sake!
5.
Hugh Jackman for Les Misérables
Born: October 12, 1968 - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Oscar chances comment: He's one of the most loved actors in Hollywood, a kind of male Sandra Bullock, and one of the most talented performers on Broadway, so having him leading the cinema adaptation of the musical stage show Les Misérables generates some serious Oscar buzz for him. Jackman never got an Oscar nomination, but he never had an Oscar-baity role... "Wolverine" has a good reputation, has acting talent and is able to sing, and since the role of Jean Valjean is a really meaty one and since Tom Hooper's (The King's Speech) adaptation of the beloved musical epic is getting some serious Oscar buzz in a big couple of categories, including Best Picture, I think I'm not wrong when I say Jackman is closer than never from becoming an Oscar nominated actor.
6. Terrence Stamp for A Song for Marion
Born: July 22, 1938 - Stepney, London, England, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1963 - Best Supporting Actor for Billy Budd (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 1994 - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; 1999 - The Limey
Oscar chances comment: Stamp leads what may be a moving portray of cancer and one of the most heart-warming movies of the year. In A Song for Marion, he plays a grumpy old man who joins a choir after his wife is stricken with cancer, which seems to be his best chance to get a second Oscar nomination since The Limey: the AMPAS such loves movies about people dying with cancer and movies about starting a new life/surpass the tragedy and Stamp leads this one!
Oscar chances comment: Stamp leads what may be a moving portray of cancer and one of the most heart-warming movies of the year. In A Song for Marion, he plays a grumpy old man who joins a choir after his wife is stricken with cancer, which seems to be his best chance to get a second Oscar nomination since The Limey: the AMPAS such loves movies about people dying with cancer and movies about starting a new life/surpass the tragedy and Stamp leads this one!
7. Brad Pitt for Killing Them Softly
Born: December 18, 1963 - Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 1996 - Best Supporting Actor for Twelve Monkeys (nom); 2009 - Best Leading Actor for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (nom); 2012 - Best Leading Actor for Moneyball (nom)
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2006 - Babel; 2011 - The Tree of Life
Oscar chances comment: Pitt seems to be building a strong reputation of serious actor as he gets older, maybe it's a way to compensate the sex symbol status (you know, people older and the sex symbol status becomes weaker and weaker...). Last year, Pitt had one of the best years of his career, delivering his two best performances ever and, this year, he reunites with Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James.............) again in Killing Them Softly, playing a point man for a hitman: interesting role, talented director, good actor, brilliant career... Why not another Oscar nomination for Pitt?
Oscar chances comment: Pitt seems to be building a strong reputation of serious actor as he gets older, maybe it's a way to compensate the sex symbol status (you know, people older and the sex symbol status becomes weaker and weaker...). Last year, Pitt had one of the best years of his career, delivering his two best performances ever and, this year, he reunites with Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James.............) again in Killing Them Softly, playing a point man for a hitman: interesting role, talented director, good actor, brilliant career... Why not another Oscar nomination for Pitt?
8. Tom Hardy for Lawless
Born: September 15, 1977 - Hammersmith, London, England, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Oscar chances comment: After being the scene-stealer of Inception, more than holding himself alongside Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, delivering an electrifying performance in Warrior and getting the villain role in The Dark Knight Rises, Hardy stars a western where he plays the older brother of a family of out-laws... This man is pure acting talent and he promises to shine in Lawless (previously titled The Wettest County) and be under the radar of most Academy's members! The AMPAS is just waiting from the right role in the right movie to give this rising star his first Oscar nomination...
Oscar chances comment: After being the scene-stealer of Inception, more than holding himself alongside Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, delivering an electrifying performance in Warrior and getting the villain role in The Dark Knight Rises, Hardy stars a western where he plays the older brother of a family of out-laws... This man is pure acting talent and he promises to shine in Lawless (previously titled The Wettest County) and be under the radar of most Academy's members! The AMPAS is just waiting from the right role in the right movie to give this rising star his first Oscar nomination...
9. Jamie Foxx for Django Unchained
Born: December 13, 1967 - Terrell, Texas, USA
Previous Oscar acting recognition: 2005 - Best Supporting Actor for Collateral (nom); 2005 - Best Leading Actor for Ray (win)
Oscar snubed performance(s): none
Oscar chances comment: Foxx has been away from the Oscar races since 2004/2005 (when he got nominated for Collateral and Ray), but things may change this year once he stars Tarantino's revenge tail - Django Unchained. Foxx plays Django, a former slave who tries to rescue his wife from a cruel plantations' owner, which sounds like an heroic part. Tarantino's leading men's tend to have good roles, but John Travolta (Pulp Fiction) is the only one who got a Best Leading Actor Oscar nod for a Tarantino movie. If Foxx outstands himself from the rest of the cast, I believe the AMPAS will nominate him for such a hard task...
Oscar chances comment: Foxx has been away from the Oscar races since 2004/2005 (when he got nominated for Collateral and Ray), but things may change this year once he stars Tarantino's revenge tail - Django Unchained. Foxx plays Django, a former slave who tries to rescue his wife from a cruel plantations' owner, which sounds like an heroic part. Tarantino's leading men's tend to have good roles, but John Travolta (Pulp Fiction) is the only one who got a Best Leading Actor Oscar nod for a Tarantino movie. If Foxx outstands himself from the rest of the cast, I believe the AMPAS will nominate him for such a hard task...
10. Sam Riley for On the Road
Born: January 8, 1980 - Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK
Previous Oscar acting recognition: none
Oscar snubed performance(s): 2007 - Control
Oscar chances comment: Sam Riley totally sold me his performance as Ian Curtis (the singer of Joy Divison) in 2007's Control, so I believe he's able to deliver a fantastic performance as Sal Paradise in Walter Salles' On the Road, where he plays a man who starts a journey to left who he used to be and discover who he is (such a poetic role!). Salles pulled great Oscar-buzzy performances from Gael García Bernal and Rodrigo De la Serna in The Motorcycle Diaries and he directed Fernanda Montenegro in her Oscar-nominated performance in Central Station, so I don't expect less than a great performance from Riley and I believe the AMPAS will have him for consideration.
Oscar chances comment: Sam Riley totally sold me his performance as Ian Curtis (the singer of Joy Divison) in 2007's Control, so I believe he's able to deliver a fantastic performance as Sal Paradise in Walter Salles' On the Road, where he plays a man who starts a journey to left who he used to be and discover who he is (such a poetic role!). Salles pulled great Oscar-buzzy performances from Gael García Bernal and Rodrigo De la Serna in The Motorcycle Diaries and he directed Fernanda Montenegro in her Oscar-nominated performance in Central Station, so I don't expect less than a great performance from Riley and I believe the AMPAS will have him for consideration.
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