There Is A Clear Front Runner For ‘Best Actor’ At The Oscars - Awards Outlook
Awards analysis is provided by Sean from @MathTeacherMovies.
There Is A Clear Front Runner For ‘Best Actor’ At The Oscars
It may still be fairly early to start thinking about the Oscar nominations, but in the Best Actor category there is a solid front runner, with five other possible nominees clipping at his heels and a few slight prospects after that so the race is easily able to take shape.
Of all of the performances that are getting Oscar buzz, the only one that has been seen by a wide audience is Cillian Murphy’s in Oppenheimer which is the main reason why he is currently the frontrunner and deservedly so as he puts the film on his back and does not work without him. It helps that this film is also the frontrunner for Best Picture.
The one film that is going to continuously battle with Oppenheimer in many of the below and above the line categories is Killers of the Flower Moon and there is no doubt that Leonardo DiCaprio will be in the running for Best Actor as someone who more often than not gets nominated for his performances and this one might be one of biggest Scorsese collaborations yet.
Paul Giamatti was someone who would frequent the awards circuit in the aughts whether it be from his shameful snub in Alexander Payne’s Sideways to his make up nomination for Cinderella Man. However, he has made film decisions lately that seem almost crazy for someone of his importance. However, he has now returned with Payne for the film The Holdovers which from the trailer seems like a definite awards showcase that highlights Giamatti’s strengths.
Bradley Cooper is both starring in and directing Maestro which got him a nomination for Best Actor previously for doing the same in A Star is Born and seems very likely he will get a nomination for this performance. There has been some light controversy for some of his makeup but that seemed to have been cast aside with ease. Not to mention, the Academy not only does not care about a performance with heavy makeup but also gravitates toward recognizing that type of performance.
Colman Domingo has been a character actor that has been due for some time for recognition and the film Rustin seems to be a definite possibility for him to receive a nomination as it covers the typical “Oscar Bait” biopic that still looks great. Not to mention, Domingo is slated to have a great year while also getting some buzz for his upcoming role in The Color Purple. It will be interesting to see if Netflix focuses more on Cooper or Domingo, but has the potential to run successful campaigns for both is a possibility.
After the success of Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell’s next film, Saltburn, is much anticipated but still a complete mystery and therefore so is the potential for a nomination for Barry Keoghan. However, the past success of both Keoghan and Fennell indicates there is a high chance that he could grab a nomination.
Ferrari and Napoleon are going to be huge films from legendary directors Michael Mann and Ridley Scott respectively and while these directors have helped many performers receive both wins and nominations, it seems that these two films will overshadow the two leads in Joaquin Phoenix and Adam Driver and yet these two are no strangers to awards success and could easily grab awards.
Kingsley Ben-Adir is playing Bob Marley in One Love which would be considered another fairly classic “scar Bait” role but playing a singer frequently gets you a lead acting Oscar and yet those patterns were more successful in previous decades. However, the film is from director Reinaldo Marcus Green who helped Will Smith grab an Oscar for King Richard.
Kingsley Ben-Adir is also due for a nomination much like John David Washington who is getting a bit of buzz for his performance in The Piano Lesson. The film is based on an August Wilson play and much like both Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom they have the potential to lead to many wins and nominations at their prospective ceremonies.
While there is a great amount of time until the nominations are announced, the race is solidifying with a great deal of room for an occasionally exciting and welcome surprise.