This is one of the strongest actor fields since 1975 when Art Carney (“Harry and Tonto“) beat Albert Finney (“Murder on the Orient Express,”) Dustin Hoffman and (“Lenny,”) Jack Nicholson (“Chinatown“) and the unforgivable slight; Al Pacino for (“The Godfather: Part II“) and there are no sentimental “Nortons” in this years field.
Joaquin Phoenix‘s performance as Freddie Quell in”The Master” was in this class the least seen film of the five nominees. It was probably the one actors everywhere were in awe of. His performance is physical and expressive and when it came out in the late spring people who ran to see it warned those following suit that the film was dark; which was code for Mr. Phoenix nailed the tortured, lost soul of a man who may never understand the depth of his hellish mind and soul.
Denzel Washington‘s portrayal of Whip Whitaker in (“Flight“) may be considered the trap nominee. Is Mr. Washington’s reputation give him the benefit of the doubt in the nominations game. Well, in this particular case the performance takes him to new heights (No pun intended) and he plays flawed as well as charming and although he’s a reluctant hero his greater problem is he’s a reluctant truth sayer. He either changes and faces redemption or if not he’d be really be the lead in a film made for films sake. A bona fide star and actor are often never in the same room together at the same time; Mr. Washington once again deserves his nomination for showing us all the duality of man.
Bradley Cooper makes the transition from movie star to actor in one fell swoop in David O. Russell‘s “Silver Linings Playbook” and what a time to transition to our modern day Cary Grant. He plays Pat a bi-polar man unaware of the harm he’s caused and the real situation he’s in and the long journey ahead which is clouded to him but obvious to those around him. The good and bad news is he’s surrounded by family and a widow who acts out sexually to help her in her grieving. The spin and it’s a play on words is he and Tiffany played by Jennifer Lawrence find their turning points with all things-dance.
Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean in (Tom Hooper‘s directed and the Academy’s le grande snub # 2) Les Misérables opens the film unrecognizable and when you come to the belief that that’s really him you just watch his transformation from hapless prisoner, parolee and citizen who must live on the run and out of sight. The film had all their actors sing live and not to track. That means Mr. Jackham never stopped singing. He is the only person who could have pulled off this role to a film that took years to make and transition from stage to screen. He is physical, subtle and gives a performance the Academy would love to reward if it weren’t for the fact that:
Daniel Day-Lewis and his stunning performance in “Lincoln” as the sixteenth President seems like the most likely award “Lincoln” is to win; however, you’re talking about the Academy and a tradition and secret set of rules that never get written down because they change on an individual basis. Will the Academy let Mr. Lewis be a three time Oscar winner because they didn’t let many a brilliant actor get in that rare air. He personifies the president and is as subtle and demanding on the eyeball as his co-nominees but ultimately you believe you’re watching home movies and no one else could be more convincing.
But, my heart says Mr. Lewis but my head says that a split-vote for Mr.’s Lewis and Jackman may pull the name of a Mr. Cooper or Mr. Phoenix.
Head says: Daniel Day Lewis gets the trifecta.joaquinp
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