Wow! Look! A real race!
Denzel Washington, American Gangster
James McAvoy, Atonement
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson’s War
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild
Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
The Locks: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood), George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
And that’s it baby! Oh, we have plenty of great performances to go around, but make no mistake, after these two chums it’s every man for himself.
Almost.
I don’t really consider Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman legitimate candidates at this point. No one has seen The Savages and no one is knocking down walls to pump up Hanks’ cause. I’ll add James McAvoy to that list as well since Atonement has been so damn quiet until the Golden Globes.
Everyone else left is a serious contender. If you’re counting at home, that leaves Hirsch, Viggo, Depp, Gosling and Denzel. Part of me wants to say Hirsch, Viggo and Depp. Another part of me is feeling Depp, Denzel and Gosling. How about Viggo, Denzel, Depp? Or Gosling, Viggo, Hirsch? So many interesting flavors!
One thing is certain, Depp’s cause was given new life Globe night, even if it’s all in my head. In fact, I’m picking Johnny boy to be the number three. I’m liking Viggo for my number four. I think some Academy folk regret not nominating him for Lord of the Rings and/or History of Violence (also, in my head). Finally, I’m riding the Into the Wild wave and picking Emile Hirsch to round out the final spot because the Academy loves them some Sean Penn.
To recap, the Academy will nominate the following for Best Actor:
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Spoilers that give me the most pause: Denzel and Gosling.
