The Best Actor Ring is Heating Up!!

Finally, the last acting category to discuss; it is, of course, none other than the unexpectedly, unpredictable Best Actor. Weeks ago, and even while critics started naming their best actors, I thought there had been a consensus around a set 5 men, but with the Golden Globe and SAG nominations, it looks as though I thought wrong. The split between who everyone thinks is best, makes this category a lot more fun! 

I think this category has always been one of the main focuses at The Academy Awards, because the older generations have always loved honoring the men that run Hollywood, and, to some degree, that is still true. Any chance that the Academy gets to honor an old Oscar-less vet, they take the chance, but usually that happens in the Supporting Actor category. This year has given some old acting vets a chance to finally achieve the status of Best Actor, a thought I am sure they once entertained, but now winning an Oscar is really not on their priority list.  Rather, I am sure they are happy that directors are still giving them leading roles. Some of the other nominees are past winners, previous nominees, and newbies. Let’s discuss the lucky fellas in contention for the Best Actor Oscar, in order of likely nominee. 

1. Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave. Talk about an emotionally driven performance, Chiwetel knocks it out of the park in 12 Years. So far, he has raked in a lot of the critics’ awards, and has not missed a nomination for any big awards, so he is most definitely a lock for a nomination. I also feel he stands a really good shot at winning, which would be deserved. Ejiofor, performs in the true story of Solomon Northup, a free born, African American who, in 1841,  is tricked, kidnapped, and sold into slavery. As I have said before, the movie is a hard one to watch, but the performances are outstanding. Until I see a couple other performances, I cannot say if I want him to win or not, but I will say he is worthy, and I would not be upset to see him win! 
2. Bruce Dern, Nebraska. Dern, is one of the acting vets I was alluding to, he also has been picking up a lot of critics awards and has not missed out on a nomination for any of the big awards. I have yet to see this movie, but it too is a big contender. Dern has one previous nomination under his belt, and that was way back in 78 for supporting actor for Coming Home. He now is a lock for Best Actor, and a heavy contender that I would not be shocked to see winning. He is definitely one to look out for! 
3. Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club. Matthew has truly turned his acting career around in the last two or so years, with coming from a career destined to just be a popcorn romantic comedy movie actor with a couple action movies here and there, to now stepping up in to the big leagues. He started gaining attention last year in some indie films like Killer Joe, The Paperboy, Bernie, and an unexpected raved about performance in Magic Mike, and now he is having quite a career turn around. This year he is in three raved about performances: Mud, Dallas Buyers Club, and Wolf of Wall Street. People are really pushing for him to be nominated for supporting actor in Mud, which would be much deserved, one of the few great movies of the year in my opinion; and his for sure nomination, obviously, in Dallas Buyers Club. He has proved he can be a serious actor, and is a lock for Best Actor. He has not missed a big awards nomination and he has picked up a few critics awards. He plays in the true story of Ron Woodroof, a homophobic man who contracts the AIDS virus and befriends a transvestite, a breathtaking performance by Jared leto, who helps him in creating a buyers’ club for medicine/vitamins that are unapproved in the U.S. in the mid 80s. McConaughey gives a fantastic performance, and one that is worthy to be nominated, and again I say I would not be upset to see him win. 
4. Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips. Tom Hanks is a beloved actor and friend of the Academy, that even though I am not a huge fan of the performance, the Academy cannot resist nominating him. Hanks has the distinction of being only one of a very small group of people who have won back to back Oscars for a leading role, 1993 Philadelphia and 1994 Forrest Gump. Including his wins, he has been nominated 5 times for the Oscar, and his last nomination was in 2000 for his performance in Cast Away. This year he has two shots at a nomination, and I think he will likely get both nominations, for Captain Phillips, and the other for Saving Mr. Banks. His performance in Captain Phillips has stirred up quite the controversy, with many of the real life crew of the ship saying Hanks did not portray him correctly, that the real captain Phillips was arrogant and ignored all threats and warnings of a high jacking, which in the movie shows the opposite. Nevertheless, Hanks still delivers a fine performance, one that does keep you on the edge of your seat, but it is not until the last 10 minutes that he has his impacting moments. It is an on the edge of your seat kind of movie, but one that is emotional. Worthy to be nominated? Sure, I guess. He has not missed out on a big nomination yet, despite the lack of critics support. I can say though, that I cannot see him winning for this, at all. I can say also, that I would not be entirely surprised if he happened to be left out of the Best Actor race and shoved into the Supporting Actor race at the Oscars. So I consider him a near lock. 
5. Robert Redford, All is Lost. Another one of the acting vets I alluded to, is now looking to be nominated once again. He has only ever been nominated in the acting category once in his life, for his performance in Best Picture Winner, The Sting. He won a directing Oscar for his Best Picture Winner of 1980, Ordinary People. Other than that, his track record is not the greatest with the Academy for some reason. This year his performance in All is Lost has mixed reactions. He plays a man on a boat trying to survive some storms, but he is the only character on screen and there is no talking, it is a completely physical/emotional performance. Some have said it is an incredible performance, one deserving of a win, and others have said it is incredibly one-note and boring. He got some critics love, but was SHOCKINGLY left out of Best Actor at the SAG's and then redeemed himself at the Golden Globes. With his snub from the SAG's I now wonder if he will make it with The Academy. I thought he was a for sure nominee, but that went down fast. His fate is to be determined, but I feel like the Academy will likely nominate him, but maybe not. I would not be surprised either way. 

The spoilers, the ones to look out for, the ones gaining attention: 

1. Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street. If there is justice in the world, Leo will win an Oscar someday. He is overdue for a win, and has been turned down with so many great performances. I personally think he should have won his first time up to bat for his supporting performance in What's eating Gilbert Grape?, that performance put Leo on the map, then Titanic set him up to be a worldwide super star. He also received two other nominations for his leading work: The Aviator, would have been another worthy win, and Blood Diamond. Unfortunately the Academy just keeps brushing him off, with more snubs than any other actor in recent memory. There are two unforgivable Leo snubs, and that is for his leading performance in Revolutionary Road and his supporting performance, which should have won him an Oscar, in Django Unchained. This year though, Leo is back, and seems to be hitting it out of the park with The Wolf of Wall Street. Martin Scorsese and DiCaprio are a solid team, and if ever Leo wins an Oscar, I would like it to be from Scorsese collaboration. DiCaprio plays a New York Wall Street conman who becomes a millionaire and takes some turns down some dark roads with drugs and sex, until the IRS guys start catching on. The movie has received raves all across the board, but it has taken a big hit with its release to critics and major film groups. Critics honored it in small categories, but not everyone was able to see the film in time for voters to give it their top prize. The SAG completely shut it out, because they did not get their screeners until the day before voting. The Golden Globes, like they do every Leo movie and performance, ate it up. So I personally think Leo is a dark horse for a nomination and for the win, I truly do. I am crossing my fingers, hoping to die, sticking a needle in my eye, that he will at least get nominated! Here is to hoping-Cheers. 
2. Forest Whitaker, The Butler. I will keep this short. He got nominated at the SAG's, so that keeps his name in the hat. Other than that all I have to say is........no, just no, please, no.
3. Joaquin Phoenix, Her. Her has become one of the biggest surprises of awards seasons. It has swept a lot of critics’ awards for picture, writing, and directing...but so far no love for Phoenix, other than a filler spot nomination at the Golden Globes. He is not one for awards, and always looks uncomfortable being there, so I am sure he could not care less. I am so looking forward to seeing this movie, and I am sure I will love Phoenix's performance, but he will have to fight for a nomination to knock out some stiff competition, which he is not likely to do. He still deserves a spot on the list. 
4. Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis. Turn back the clock to this past February, and Isaac was thought of as a shoe in nomination. I guess the competition got pretty hard fast, and slowly Isaac has been left with little to no mention. He won few critics’ awards, and like Phoenix, also got filler nomination at the Golden Globes. His movie is also one that everyone loves, due to the music and of course the directing by the Coen brothers. I cannot see him being able to break into the top five, but who knows, the Academy loves the Coens and their actors. 
5. Christian Bale, American Hustle. I have always admired Bale's work, because he will do pretty much anything to get into character, no matter if it requires him to gain or lose an excessive amount of weight. He just always surprises me. He won Best Supporting Actor in 2010 from a different David O. Russell film, The Fighter, and if he fights hard enough and The Academy falls in love with it, he could be a contender a second time for an O. Russell film. There is a chance, but like the other people on this side of the list, he will have to fight, and fight hard. I could see it happening, but it is a very slim chance, that just seems so unlikely. His Golden Globe nomination helped for sure, but will that do it? We will have to wait and see. 
6. Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Had Elba not got nominated at the Globes, he would not have made this list, but he did, and so it goes. I had no intention of ever watching this movie, so if he starts showing up more, only then will I take notice. I do not see him coming close to the Oscar, but again I say, more surprising things have happened with Oscar nominations. He got attention, but I do not think it will be lasting. 

You could really make a case for any of these gentlemen to be nominated, and I really could not argue with you-save for Forest Whitaker. I expect a shock or two when The Academy announces their nominees in January; a lot can happen between now and then. So many worthy contenders, it is so difficult to choose just five. I will hope for the best, and that the best they choose are worthy to be called The Best. Let the avalanche continue.