The acting category nobody cares about.

Discuss here.

Category on hold until we figure out who goes where in Invictus and Last Station is confirmed as qualifying, at least for me.

Or if The Last Station is even eligible.

This is the most frightsomely limited category this year. What a small, weak pool of candidates.

Christoph Waltz
Alfred Molina
Stanley Tucci
Paul Schneider
Anthony Mackie

Possibly (?!):
Matt Damon
James McAvoy

And two longshot possibilities that I could actually see getting nominated:
Woody Harrelson
Peter Sarsgaard

For a grand total of nine possible nominees. That is, unless someone completely unexpected jumps into the fray thanks to a critics award.
I have a feeling that if something like LAFCA or NSFC give their award to a foreign lang performance in this category (like, say, Niels Arestrup), that performance could actually stand a shot of getting nominated - the category is that weak this year.

Possibly Morgan Freeman if he is supporting.

Jude Law and others in Sherlock Holmes, Heath Ledger in Imaginarium (maybe others).

Just throwing out some to flesh out the list.

I'm not sure either Law or the Imaginarium guys have a legit chance at a nomination... I don't see the former's film as anything other than a christmas money sponge and i'm not convinced that imaginarium has any crossover appeal despite being ledger's final film.

If Plummer ends up being supporting, I'm quite positive he could win. Waltz just doesn't strike me as an Oscar winner.

Since the list is small, since SH was made with Oscars in mind in part (why get a non-blockbuster guaranteed cast like they did unless they wanted the acting to be a key part of the critical appeal) and since Imaginarium is being given a Xmas day release by Sony Classics - all those are reasons to think of them not as likely but as conceivable and possible.

Particularly again since the list is so short.

quote:

Originally posted by puxzkkx:
Or if The Last Station is even eligible.

This is the most frightsomely limited category this year. What a small, weak pool of candidates.

Christoph Waltz
Alfred Molina
Stanley Tucci
Paul Schneider
Anthony Mackie

Possibly (?!):
Matt Damon
James McAvoy

And two longshot possibilities that I could actually see getting nominated:
Woody Harrelson
Peter Sarsgaard

For a grand total of nine possible nominees. That is, unless someone completely unexpected jumps into the fray thanks to a critics award.
I have a feeling that if something like LAFCA or NSFC give their award to a foreign lang performance in this category (like, say, Niels Arestrup), that performance could actually stand a shot of getting nominated - the category is that weak this year.

I think Peter Sarsgaard is more likely than Alfred Molina at this point. Some reviews for "An Education" barely even mention Molina.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,

Assuming Plummer is a plausible lead, with Sony Classics releasing both Station and Education is would make more sense to have Plummer in lead and Sarsgaard and/or Molina in supporting, and then perhaps win both. That sort of thing can enter into the decision making process.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,

I haven't seen An Education, but I would love to see Peter Sarsgaard nominated. He should have been (and might have been close) at least twice already and feels right on the cusp. One of my favorite too.

I would love to see Stanley Tucci win for The Lovely Bones. This is the category for villains and this movie is being anticipated. But then if TLB tanks, i want a Christoph Waltz or Christopher Plummer win.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Psychadelicboy33,

Could we see some surprising nominees/contenders from films that haven't opened yet? Or films that have opened but aren't on Oscar's radar yet?

Much less than previous years (since there are far fewer contenders opening), but sure, it's possible.

There could be a young unknown actor as one of the athletes in Invictus possibly for example who we've heard nothing about yet. I assume that Freeman and Damon aren't doing a remake of Sleuth with only two actors on the screen.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seanflynn,

It's such a weak year that James McAvoy could finally land a nomination. If only "The Last Station" was released this year...

I just hope we see something...anything...soon from Invictus. It seems crazy that this movie opens in about six weeks and we've seen absolutely no footage. But I read the same sort of plan was used for Gran Torino and look how well that turned out. Going into next year's Oscars I am most hoping that Matt Damon is praised and gets nominated and all of that. And CLint has directed a couple of actors to Supporting Oscar gold so that could only help. I am hoping Stanley Tucci is great too.

I'm rooting for Anthony Mackie to get nominated for the Hurt Locker. I've been a fan of many of his underrated performances (Brother to Brother, Half Nelson).

as of now...I would predict these 5..

Christoph waltz- inglourious basterds
alfred molina- an education
stanely tucci- the lovely bones
christopher plummer- the last station
peter sarsgaard- an education

possibles

anthony mackie- the hurt locker
matthew goode- a single man
richard kind- a serious man
paul schneider- bright star

Could Brad Pitt possibly be nominated in supporting for IB? If so he could be a strong contender there. After seeing the film I don't have a problem with him in supporting. Waltz is a certain nominee.

Interesting (to me) that some have Paul Schneider on their list for Bright Star. I don't expect it to happen but thought he was good in the film.

I don't think Anthony Mackie deserves a nod. Renner's is the performance that should be nominated (different categories I know).

Is Tucci a certain nominee cause he has 2 films this year? (Julie & Julia, Lovely Bones)

Pitt should come nowhere near any award whatsoever for that particular performance.

I wouldn't call Tucci a certain nominee seeing as noone has seen The Lovely Bones yet.

quote:

Originally posted by puxzkkx:
If Plummer ends up being supporting, I'm quite positive he could win. Waltz just doesn't strike me as an Oscar winner.

Really? Immediately after walking out of the theater, I thought to myself 'We'll probably have a first nomination-first win thing here with that Waltz fella.' I think he did a tremendous job, and if he ends up being the best of the year, I will not look back on his performance five years down the road and wonder what the Academy was thinking.

So is everyone assuming that:

BEN FOSTER for the "Messenger" has no chance whatsoever? I'm told he has a very Oscar-y scene near the end.

TOBEY MAGUIRE for "Brothers" just won't have the oomph Oscar looks for?

RICHARD KIND didn't play a big enough role in "A Serious Man" to warrant any accolade?

I think the pool is bigger than we think. I do think that near the end, though, a clear frontrunner will be quite obvious.

Maybe I'm the only one who Peter Sarsgaard annoys, but there is something about his dry blank expression that gets my panties in a bunch (yeah, you read that right). However, early reviews make this seem like a livelier performance from him, and if that is the case, it would be nice for him to get a "Oscar nominee" tag before his name.

James McAvoy is another young man who deserves recognition (for pete's sake, give the kid something). Depending on "Last Station" release date, I would certainly root for him.

My predictions as of now (very subject to change):

Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Richard Kind, "A Serious Man"
Alfred Molina, "An Education"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"