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Top 10 Oscar - Best Actor
Predictions by Peter Brown
Which 5 leading men will be nominated in the
best-actor category and which of these actors
will win the coveted Oscar for Best Actor at the
80th Academy Awards on February 24th 2008?
Here's the latest hotlist of the 10 most serious
contenders.
Daniel Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Appearing in virtually every scene in his best
work to date (and that's saying something)
Daniel Day Lewis is brilliant, and surely an
odd's on favourite for Best Actor at this year's
Oscars? Daniel Day Lewis is outstanding as oil
prospector Daniel Plainview in There Will Be
Blood, a dark and compelling story of greed and
brutality, were success far outweighs human
compassion. There Will Be Blood is an
entertaining, blockbuster of a story, driven by
a blockbusting performance from Daniel Day
Lewis.
Tommy Lee Jones, In The Valley of Elah
Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank Deerfield to
perfection In the Valley of Elah. Jones excels
as the patriotic ex-military man who now seeks
answers about his son's disappearance after a
tour of duty in Iraq. Despite strong military
resistance Hank Deerfield will stop at nothing
to uncover the truth, Tommy Lee Jones masters
Deerfield's character and his military ways to
the core, a hand-grenade of a performance, just
wait till he explodes.
Denzel Washington, American Gangster
American Gangster is the true story of 70's
Harlem drug boss Frank Lucas played by Denzel
Washington. Cool businessman or cold-hearted
killer, Washington is convincing as he sources
heroin direct from the jungle of Southeast Asia
to annihilate the competition and expand his
criminal empire. A family man yet a loner Lucas
is heading for an explosive collision with
fellow loner, corruption investigating NYPD
detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe). Watch
the onscreen fireworks when they finally meet.
Benicio Del Toro, Things We Lost in the Fire
Bencio Del Torro plays Jerry Sunborne a
recovering heroin addict to perfection in Things
We Lost in the Fire. Playing alongside Halle
Berry, Del Torro steals the show with a
performance that will have you questioning
whether he really is on drugs. You can almost
feel Del Torro's pain as he sweats and pleads
when trying to kick the habit.
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
As Sweeney Todd is the 6th film that Tim Burton
and Johnny Depp have made together (Edward
Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie &
the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride) it is
only natural that they have developed a film
making 'chemistry'. Perhaps the singing will go
against him, but as the title role demon barber
Sweeney Todd, Johnny Depp is frighteningly
realistic, with Helena Bonham Carter as his pie
making and singing accomplice Mrs Lovett,
perhaps I will grow that beard after all!
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Before the Devil Knows
Your Dead
Philip Seymour Hoffman is excellent as Andy the
corporate accountant and heroin addict who has
come up with the perfect crime. Perfect that is
until the robbery of their parent's jewellery
store goes horribly wrong. As Andy struggles to
cope with the consequences and his conscience,
Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal as a man on
the brink, is enthralling.
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
George Clooney plays the eponymous Michael
Clayton, a 'fixer' at a powerful New York law
firm. Not being adverse to a little bribery and
corruption, Michael is forced to wrestle with
his own conscience when sent to rescue the case
after his colleague Arthur (excellently
portrayed by Tom Wilkinson) suffers an emotional
breakdown. A divorcee, ex gambler with financial
problems, this is a confrontational and far more
challenging role than that of the supporting
role as Bob Barnes for which George won his
previous Oscar in Syriana. George Clooney's
powerful performance may just be enough for
another nomination.
Christian Bale, 3:10 to Yuma
Elmore Leonard's western short story 3:10 to
Yuma stars Christian Bale as the debt burdened
rancher Dan Evans offered $200 and the chance to
regain respect to escort outlaw Ben Wade
(Russell Crowe) to the Federal Court. A great
movie and Christian Bale is excellent as the
downtrodden rancher with something to prove in a
psychological and physical battle against Wade.
James McAvoy, Atonement
Whilst Atonement is not my cup of tea, there's
no doubting that come Oscar time it will be
there in force. James McAvoy plays Robbie the
working-class man falsely accused of raping an
underage aristocrat. Whilst McAvoy excels as the
shy, well-mannered son of a grounds-keeper I
can't help feeling the role restricts the full
extent of James McAvoy's talents.
Brad Pitt, The Assassination of Jesse James by
the Coward Robert Ford
As infamous outlaw Jesse James, Brad Pitt puts
in a fantastic performance. Brad Pitt swaggers
with superiority and charisma (just as I would
if I was with Angelina Jolie J ) as the myth
wanted for 17 murders and numerous robberies
tries to live up to the ever increasing price on
his head. Brad Pitt performs admirably but put
your money on Casey Affleck for best supporting
actor as he steals the show as the tormented
soul Robert Ford.
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