Anderoo has already started a thread for picture predictions, so let's continue with best actor predictions. List alphabetically five choices for best actor and five alternates and the movie(s) for which they will be nominated.

TOP 5:

1. Eric Bana (Vengeance)
2. Colin Farrell (The New World)
3. Ralph Fiennes (The Constant Gardner or The White Countess)
4. Nathan Lane (The Producers)
5. Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line)

ALTERNATES:

1. Matthew Broderick (The Producers)
2. George Clooney (Syriana)
3. Russell Crowe (Cinderella Man)
4. Benecio Del Toro (Che)
5. Robert Redford (An Unfinished Life)

Eric Bana (Vengeance)
Colin Farrell (The New World)
Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line)
Russell Crowe (Cinderella Man)
Benecio Del Toro (Che) - If that actually gets made...

I hate to bump my own thread, but now that the 2004 race is over let's have some gutsy predictions. I know this is crazy but it will be interesting to see how close someone might come a year from now.

You think Collin Farrell will be able to live down Alexander in one year? I think that will taint him too much to get an Oscar this year.

If the New World is the front-runner like I think it will be, he could easily get in. Did anyone really think Hilary Swank would be a two-time Oscar winner this year after she did The Core? Or that guy from In Living Color would get 2 nomination in one year and win? ANYTHING is possible.

I think Che is now scheduled for 2006. I may be mistaken.

I think Colin Farrell has a good chance
Joaquin Pheonix can pull it off, he's one of today's most underrated and underestimated actors
Eric Bana: it all depends if he can deliver. IF he does, ti will be a no-brainer.
George Clooney: dont' some people think it's about time at least for a nod?
??

I haven't really looked into the actors in the oscar films of this year and truth be told I see only 1 or 2 of those mentioned in this thread thus far, including my list being nominated. We'll just have to see.

From the early screening reviews i've seen of Walk the Line it seems as though Phoenix has done a fantastic job, hell he even actually sings in the movie. I know it seems crazy - but im calling it in already and saying Phoenix takes it almost as easily as Foxx took it this year.

Toby Jones - Every Word is True. Good english stage actor, fascinating and different subject, good director.
Eric Bana - Spielberg's movie
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
Sean Penn - All the King's Men
Fiennes - The White Countess. Ivory directing, writer of novel remains of the day did the script.

And possible:
Jake Gyllenhal - Jarhead. Jake is young, maybe he'll grow as an actor, great supporting cast, good director, topical subject.

Personally I think it was dumb to reveal the look of Walk the Line so early, it will make it seem less fresh when it opens.
Colin Farrell has no chance at a nomination, he's not a real actor, no depth.
Eric Bana is a good actor and I'd like to see him get nominated for something.
There must be one or two movies with minority lead actors that we're overlooking.

Not only do I completeley disagree with your Farrell statement (His work in Phone Booth is underrated. From all the bad reviews of Alexander, it seems that Farrell stood out to be one of the few decent features of the movie; and I believe his performance in Home at the End.... was one of the 10 best last year while I have yet to see his critically acclaimed Tigerland)
But you actually then immediately go on to state that Eric Bana is a good actor and deserves something.... ya judging by Hulk and Troy? Arguably the biggest disappointments of their respective years?
Now I'm not saying Bana is a bad actor, I too, think he has great potential and thought he was one of the very few good things in both those bad movies. But comparing him to Colin Farrell and with that downplaying Farrell's abilities.... that's just preposterous to me. Sorry.

Hmm I think you misunderstood, my fault for not going into more length when it's obvious some actors like Farrell and Bale have fan clubs on this forum. I don't think Bana is a great actor, and he's not even one of my favorites, but he seems to be growing and getting better and I just don't see that with Farrell. SWAT and The Recruit are Farrell's speed. Obviously this is just my opinion, I don't expect or try to convince you. I thought Phone Booth was absolute crap, personally.

Neither Farrell and Bana are truely great actors, both havnt really been in many things or had great roles/scripts - but from both of their best performances Farrell's being Phone Booth and Bana's being in Chopper, i'd easily say Bana takes the cake as the superior actor, hell he was better in Troy then Farrell was in Alexander. Bana even with his weak roles you can tell he has acting chops, not trying to diminish Farrell - but I dont see him being anything more then just a good solid actor, which is fine.

Gah I forgot Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He's on a roll lately and we can't count that out even though it's not an arthouse film.

Neither was Pirates, so he has a good shot.

George Clooney- Syrianna
Phillip S. Hoffman- Capote
Collin Farrel- The New World/Ask the Dust
Ken Wattanabe- Memoirs of a Geisha
Ralph Fiennes- The Constant Gardner/The White Countess

Alternates:
Joaquin Phoenix- Walk the Line
Russel Crowe- Cinderella Man
Jake Gyllenhaal- Brokeback Mountain/Jarhead
Peter Sarsgaar- Jarhead/The Dying Gaul
Steve Martin- Shopgirl

And...
Ben Kingsley- Oliver Twist
Johnny Depp- The Libertine
Eric Bana- Vengeance
Heath Ledger- Brokeback Mountain
.
.
.
.
Matthew Broderick- The Producers

Not too sure yet, but I'd say Joaquin Phoenix has a great chance for at least a nomination. I'd also like to see Depp get a nomination, that is if Willy Wonka is as good as his other work.

Somebody from a Clint Eastwood film.

Hmm, Joaquin Phoenix just checked himself into a rehab clinic for a drinking problem. Yep, he's winning an Oscar this year. Hollywood is going to rally behind him so he doesn't end up like his brother.

All this Phoenix talking. I want him to get a nom, but I think people are musician biograthy-ed out. His nom will suffer due to Ray's success. Mind you, that's only if he did a good job in the first place. He might also just do a bad job, in which case I wpon't blame Ray. If he does a great job and we don't hear from him, then I'll pull out this "oversaturation" card.

I have to say, of all the movies I've seen so far, none have totally stood out for acting (maybe Fever Pitch, but that's different).

Seems the best actor race might have an early front runner with Russell Crowe in Cinderella Man. He's getting great reviews from critics that really matter, like Kenneth Turan. He's the year's only real contender so far.

Two words:


Russell Crowe


(I'm almost certain that he'll be a lock)

Bumping for fall......watch out for Ralph Fiennes. I think it's his year.

World War 2 epics are much more oversaturated.

The day Nathan Lane gets an Oscar nom is the day that I commit seppuku!

after reading the reviews on the constant gardener, i dont see how fiennes doesnt get a nomination.

Viggo Mortenson (History of Violence)
Ralph Fiennes(The Constant Gardner/The White Countess)
Joaquin Phoenix(Walk the Line)
Peter Sarsgaar(Jarhead)
Eric Bana(Vengence)

Ralph Fiennes (The White Countess)
Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain)
Cillian Murphy (Breakfast on Pluto)
Sean Penn (All the King's Men)
Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line)