Saturday, September 20, 2008

September Best Actor Oscar Round Up - A Crowded Year

Overall, this years film season seems like it is lacking in the "front runner that everyone is excited about" category. Yet surprisingly, there is a lot of mystery, big names, and unique possibilities in the best Oscar race.

Many of the best actor contenders are playing bio pic roles this year, which gives them an extra boost...but like most years, as time progresses new names and new films start to pop up on the list (Mickey Rourke, Clint Eastwood), while early contenders seem like distant memories (Hugh Jackman in Australia, Ralph Fiennes in The Reader).

One of the biggest changes in the Oscar landscape recently has been the discovery that Robert Downey Jr.'s role in The Soloist, probably places him in the lead category, with Jamie Foxx's role going supporting. With the success of Downey's other roles (Iron Man, Tropic Thunder) this more prestige role seems like something that might give Oscar a reason to give him some love.

I have long thought that this year belongs to Frank Langella, and these September predictions still place him in the top 5, and unless America gets politiced out by Oscar time, I think his performance as Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon will put him in position for Oscar gold.


Without further ado...my September Best Actor Academy Award predictions...
Like I said, a crowded year, and Del Toro's spot is the one I had the most challenge filling because this two film role has had such mixed reviews, and so many delays!

8 Other names I wanted to included on the top 5 list...

Names I could have included, but just can't see making the cut in a crowded year include Hugh Jackman (Australia), Josh Brolin (W), Will Smith (7 Pounds), Liam Neeson (The Other Man), Brendon Gleeson (Churchill at War), Leonardo DiCaprio (Body of Lies).

3 comments:

crackers and cheese said...

The other night, I saw Burn After Reading and during the preview for The Soloist, my first thought was, "Wow! Robert Downing Jr. is really making a comeback this year!" They also showed previews to Milk and Frost/Nixon, both of which look like compelling stories and performances that I look forward to seeing.

On a side note, the people next to me started laughing when the name of the film "Milk" was announced. It is a strange name and doesn't lend you to think anything of the plot, but I didn't think that it was laughable. Do you think that homophobic "Milk" jokes are going to become the next Brokeback Mountain jokes?

Anonymous said...

Off topic, but tag.

Barry said...

My picks are:

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler