OscarWatch: Best Actor Heats up at Cannes Film Fest

The Cannes Film Fest has thrust a few Best Actor contenders into the spotlight, and though there are many months and many films to go, they seem promising contenders to be strongly considered.

The top tier nominees right now would have to be Michael B. Jordan for Fruitvale and Oscar Isaac for Inside Llewyn Davis. Both actors have already shown diversity in their work, which only adds to their heat heading into the race. Isaac, for instance, played the jailbird boyfriend to Carey Mulligan in Drive, the complete polar opposite his folk singer ex-boyfriend of Carey Mulligan (again) in Llewyn Davis. Michael B. Jordan’s notably different work on Friday Night Lights and The Wire. While Jordan’s is the more emotionally expressive role, Isaac plays guitar and sings. Both will have ended the year having turned in two of the best performances.

The other possible contenders are in films that haven’t yet screened – Bruce Dern for Nebraska, Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives.

Of those that have been seen, the other standouts have been Casey Affleck for Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, and though it’s controversial, Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic in Gatsby. Though the film was mostly trashed and it will be an uphill climb for Academy members, he gives one hell of a performance. Benicio Del Toro as Jimmy P. should also be considered though that film, like Gatsby, is a tough sit. But all he needs is one critics award and he immediately becomes a contender.

The rest of the performances this year that will be considered include:
Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street
Forest Whitaker for The Butler
Matthew McConaughey for Mud or Dallas Buyer’s Club
Bradley Cooper for American Hustle
Tom Hanks for Captain Phillips or Saving Mr. Banks
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
George Clooney in Gravity or Monuments Men
Ethan Hawke in Before Midnight
Idris Elba in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Michael Fassbender in The Counselor

It’s early yet. A lot of ground to cover between now and Oscar season, but what male leads are you most looking forward to?