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 