85th Academy Awards Nominees: Best Actor
Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
Hugh Jackman for Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix for The Master
Denzel Washington for Flight
John Hawkes. Gael Garcia Bernal. Jean-Louis Trintignant. Mads Mikkelsen. Toby Jones. Ben Affleck. Jamie Foxx.
We can rely on, at very least, these 7 unfortunate exhibits to prove just how strong the Best Actor category is at this year’s Academy Awards. And the great thing is that, despite the wonderful performances of these above gentlemen, the five who got the nod are no less deserving.
Plus, they’re all very different. Denzel Washington’s drug-addled alcoholic pilot shares similar traits to his two other Oscar-winning characters from Glory and Training Day. Behind a smart-talking super confident facade there lies a deep trouble and ultimately false pride, which will eventually result in his demise. Bradley Cooper is also very believable in Silver Linings as a troubled soul overcoming inner-demons. And, talking of troubled souls, Phoenix is the very epitome of a mentally and physically lost child. Accused by some critics of chewing the scenery, I found his central role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s flawed treatise as utterly compelling and just a little disturbing. While Hugh Jackman’s Jen Valjean is the role the Australian was born to play (yep, a Frenchman with an American accent), and he plays it devilishly well. Why, he’s even better than Russell Crowe.
And yet, despite the immense caliber of performances on show, somehow honest Abe still stands head, shoulders and stovepipe hat above the others. Once again, Daniel Day-Lewis has managed to metamorphosise himself from an ostensibly mild-mannered unassuming chap, to something completely unforgettable and iconic. To say that the performance for his inevitable third Oscar is on a level with his Christy Brown (My Left Foot) and Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood) is the highest and most reverential praise that I can bestow.
The measured yet authoritative portrayal of an almost legendary figure, is so beguiling, that not even the Wilkes-Booth ancestry would begrudge him the Oscar.
Daniel Day-Lewis in/as Lincoln
Who should win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Who will win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Bloscars 
February 24, 2013 at 7:31 pm
[…] Office. Robin. The Pin from Brick. The pedo from Little Children. Oh, and John Hawkes, who could well have been Oscar nominated this year in his own right. Oh, and Sally Field is reeeeeeeally […]
February 24, 2013 at 8:34 pm
What, no Denzil ‘man on fire’ pun?
February 24, 2013 at 10:30 pm
[…] Best Actor: […]
March 2, 2014 at 8:00 pm
[…] Like last year, this has been a devilishly strong category, where the proof of the statement is in those that have missed out: Tom Hanks, Mads Mikkelsen, Toni Servillo, Oscar Isaac and Joaquin Phoneix all warranted recognition, and that’s only looking at this year’s other Oscar nominated films. Bruce Dern took the big one at Cannes, Bale got a Globe, Ejiofor took home the Bafta, but McConaughey won the SAG and his status as the hottest thing in Hollywood won’t be denied tonight. […]