Final Oscar Predictions: Best Actor

Will Win: Jean Dujardin - The Artist

It’s really funny how this category went from being rigid to completely fluid within a matter of days. For the longest time, George Clooney was the frontrunner for The Descendants, but there were always grumblings of a Dujardin upset. His SAG win proved momentum, but now even Brad Pitt or Gary Oldman (hey, let’s not forget Demian Bichir) could sneak in a surprise win. It’s all up in the air, but a major guild win signals to me that Dujardin is going to win, especially since it’s hard not to recognize the film without giving props to its charming leading man who has to carry the whole film solely on his expressive facial features. It’s a daunting task that I think he’ll be rewarded for.

Should Win: Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

This is a really weird category for me. It’s one of the few in which none of my personal selections, including Michael Fassbender who should have won for his haunting work in Shame, are nominated. However, all the people who are gave great performances in their films and I wouldn’t mind any of them winning. If forced to pick one, though, I’d give it to Oldman by a hair. That’s mainly because not only is he doing fine work in this film, but he’s also showing us how restrained he can be and still be mesmerizing to watch. Oldman has been an actor who has been quite theatrical in the past, and to watch him take such cold and calculated steps to unveil a character that is still engrossing is a fantastic job an actor can provide. I’ve admired Gary Oldman for a very long time, and making him an Oscar winner for this role would be a pleasant thought.