Looking Ahead. Best Actor 2009

This year looks to be as jam packed as last year was with great lead performances from men.

Right now we have some SERIOUS front runners and it is only March. Who will crop up unexpectedly?

Leonardo DiCaprio – “Revolutionary Road”
Looks like a walk, but once again the man has two big roles up this year. This seems like the most challenging, but the Academy also went for his “Blood Diamond” role over “The Departed” . Doh!

Leonardo DiCaprio – “Body of Lies”
is the other one. This will probably be more flashy than his other big role so it could upset.

Brad Pitt – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Not sure sure on this one, but everyone else is predicting him. Brad is often a let down when he plays lead. (Fight Club aside….but that was always Nortons movie)

Hugh Jackman – “Australia”
The Academy love to embrace at least one new face. And this looks like it could be an iconic performance from Jackman. As long as he can match the acting chops he showed in "The Fountain" then he is in with a fantastic shot!

Ralph Fiennes – “The Reader”
Has been long absent from the Academy radar, and this could see him embraced again. Then again it looks like Kate Winslet will have the juicy role in this.

Jamie Foxx – “The Soloist”
Ugh…not again. I will have to give director Joe Wright the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he is doing.

Tom Cruise – “Valkyrie”
Judging by the advance trailer this looks like it will not happen. He looks awful.

Sean Penn – “Milk”
Another bio-pic just not as well know in the public consciousness as Ray Charles or Johnny Cash, but still enough to make him awards bait already. Playing gay never really hurts when getting nominated….just being gay does.

Viggo Mortensen – “The Road”
Too soon to embrace him again? This does look like a juicy role, but Mortensen can often be to subtle (ie good) in his performances to warrant loads of attention.

Liam Neeson - "The Other Man"
As a jealous husband in a Richard Eyre film, Neeson could finally be seeing his name as a nominee again. The role sounds ripe with possibilities.

Edward Norton – “Motherless Brooklyn”
He plays a detective with Tourettes Syndrome (I can hear some of you groan). He also directs it!

Daniel Craig – “Defiance”
There is the advanced buzz that this is a disappointing Zwick film (is there any other sort?). Perhaps the actors can out shine it. Early reviews suggest this may be the case, but I never hold out hope with Zwick films but he has luck with actors.

Jake Gyllenhaal or/and Tobey Maguire – “Brothers”
Both I say are far too young for this, but if I had to bet, I would say Jake walks away with the better performance.

Ben Kingsly – “Elegy”
Sounds bloody juicy on paper to me! However the man does, on occasion, have a tendency to over-act.

Will Smith – “Seven Pounds”
This is an apparently inspirational and moving story and we know how everyone loves Will. The Academy could easily show him love again.

Will Smith and or Kevin Spacey – “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Spielberg, this could be huge, but production delays could see it easily pushed to 2009.

Sasha Baron Cohen – “Bruno”
Another outing for one of his characters to the big screen. Can his Gay Austrian fashionista make it all the way, and do what Borat could not? It seems highly unlikely, but you should never count him out. He almost got in a two years ago.

Bruce Willis – “PinkVille”
This Oliver Stone directed film focuses on the investigation of the My Lai Massacre, an event in which several hundred Vietnamese civilians were killed by U.S. soldiers. If Stone can get back to his former glory, and Willis emote this could happen.

Philip Seymour Hoffman – “Doubt”
The Academy have a new found love for Hoffman. A love which should see him through this next round. I can see this nomination happening easily.

Tommy Lee Jones – “In The Electric Mist”
Sounds a little strange on paper. It is about a detective in the deep South is led into a series of surreal encounters with a troop of Confederate soldiers. It is apparently a Ghost story, but Jones can make even the slight work well.

Frank Langella – “Frost Nixson”
The man won a Tony for the role, and he could easily slip into the lead if his work is as good. There will be left over good will for "Starting Out in the Evening" plus it is a bio-pic of an easily recognizable figure…this should be a breeze.

Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna – “Rudo y Cursi”
Directed by Carlos Cuaron (writer “Y Tu Mama Tambien”) directs this story about two siblings who rival each other inside the world of professional soccer.

Benicio Del Torro – “The Argentine/Guerilla”
Yet another real life performance, and one that is sure to be electrifying. Del Torro is one of those actors that is consistant, and unless the material is a let down or it meets not so great reviews (like “Things We Lost in the Fire” this year) he should sail in without a problem. The only question is how good is the film, and will both pics be released this year...if they are which will he get nominated for? If "Guerilla is pushed to 2009 then they may save rewarding him till then.

Clive Owen – “The International”
Mr Sex on Legs stars as an Interpol agent who attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution's role in an international arms dealing ring. He co-stars with Naomi Watts.

Morgan Freeman – “The Lonely Maiden”
Known for playing noble men, perhaps the chance to shine in a heist comedy could do him wonders. We was wonderful in “Nurse Betty”.

Dustin Hoffman – “Last Chance Harvey”
The Academy loves him, but he has not been Oscar worthy for some time. This is a comedy/romance starring Emma Thompson who has also been off the radar for a while.


If I had to put five down right now, I would have to go with:

Leonardo DiCaprio – “Revolutionary Road”

Sean Penn – “Milk”

Edward Norton – “Motherless Brooklyn”

Frank Langella – “Frost Nixson”

Benicio Del Torro – “The Argentine/Guerilla”