By
Peter Knegt
|
Indiewire
Wed Nov 12 14:17:00 EST 2014
The best actor race always tends to be pretty stacked, largely, and sadly, because most films that end up featured in the Oscar race are primarily about men. This year is absolutely no exception, with no fewer than 20 men in the mix. Of them, a mighty quintet has been standing firm since early September: Steve Carell ("Foxcatcher"), Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Imitation Game"), Michael Keaton ("Birdman"), Eddie Redmayne ("The Theory of Everything") and Timothy Spall ("Mr. Turner"). Of them, Keaton and Redmayne seems likely to battle it out for the win, though they have a new challenger in "Selma" lead David Oyelowo, who seems poised to knock off one of those five (probably Stall) and maybe even challenge for the win.
The shame in this is that it likely leaves a slew of very worthy work off the table. Oscar Isaac in "A Most Violent Year," Ralph Fiennes in "The Grand Budapest Hotel" or Jake Gyllenhaal in "Nightcrawler" or Miles Teller in "Whiplash," for example, are performances that would seem like shoo-ins many other years. Perhaps the tides will turn in their favor. But for now, this is where we see things standing.
Check out our predictions in other categories here.
It Will Take a Lot To Bring Them Down:
1. Michael Keaton, "Birdman"
2. Eddie Redmayne, "Theory of Everything"
3. Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"
4. David Oyelowo, "Selma"
5. Steve Carell, "Foxcatcher"
The Potential Spoilers:
6. Timothy Spall, "Mr. Turner"
7. Oscar Isaac, "A Most Violent Year"
8. Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper"
9. Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"
10. Bill Murray, "St. Vincent"
Really The Only Remaining Question Mark (But He'll Have To Stun):
11. Jack O'Connell, "Unbroken"
Dark Horses Given The Competition (But They Could Surprise):
12. Miles Teller, "Whiplash"
13. Ellar Coltrane, "Boyhood"
14. Joaquin Phoenix, "Inherent Vice"
15. Ralph Fiennes, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
16. Matthew McConaughey, "Interstellar"
17. Channing Tatum, "Foxcatcher"
18. Bill Hader, "The Skeleton Twins"
19. Ben Affleck, "Gone Girl"
20. Chadwick Boseman, "Get On Up"
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