Brad Pitt, "By the Sea"(01 of22)
Open Image ModalJoseph Gordon-Levitt, "The Walk"(02 of22)
Open Image ModalJohn Cusack, "Love & Mercy"(03 of22)
Open Image ModalAndrew Garfield, "99 Homes"(04 of22)
Open Image ModalTom Hardy, "Legend"(05 of22)
Open Image ModalTom Hardy loves acting with a handicap. A mask covered his face throughout much of his two highest-profile movies so far, Max in "Mad Max: Fury Road" and Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises." And in "Legend," he plays twin gangsters! That sounds like a surefire awards strategy -- but the Academy has actually been surprisingly nonplussed by dual roles in the past. The only actor to get a nomination for playing twins is Nicholas Cage, for "Adaptation," and he lost to Adrien Brody. The general reaction to "Legend" has been pretty lukewarm, so it's probably a long shot. But don't feel too bad for Hardy. There's a good chance he'll score a Best Supporting Actor nomination for "The Revenant." - JS (credit:Universal Pictures)
Ian McKellen, "Mr. Holmes"(06 of22)
Open Image ModalIan McKellen has never won an Oscar. Not once! That's crazy. Will "Mr. Holmes" change his luck? Probably not. It just hasn't made much of a splash since its July release. That's sort of a shame -- because it's actually an interesting, fresh take on the Sherlock Holmes saga, and McKellen is as good as he's ever been in the lead role. Also, given that Michael Fassbender feels like a lock for a nomination for "Steve Jobs," McKellen's inclusion would mean that two of the five nominated actors would have played Magneto in the "X-Men" movies. Alas. Let's hope this legend gets more juicy parts in years to come. - JS (credit:Roadside Attractions)
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Southpaw"(07 of22)
Open Image ModalTom Courtenay, "45 Years"(08 of22)
Open Image ModalAbraham Attah, "Beasts of No Nation"(09 of22)
Open Image ModalGéza Röhrig, "Son of Saul"(10 of22)
Open Image ModalMichael B. Jordan, "Creed"(11 of22)
Open Image ModalMichael B. Jordan has grown up before our eyes. He first caught our attention in the pilot of "The Wire," when he was the only kid in his posse who knew that Alexander Hamilton was not a president. And he secured a permanent place in our hearts in the finale of "Friday Night Lights," when he told Eric Taylor, "You changed my life, coach." (TBH, I'm getting teary-eyed just remembering that moment.) At 28, Jordan has become one of our most promising actors. He was unjustly snubbed at the Oscars two years ago, when the Academy failed to nominate his stellar performance in "Fruitvale Station," which was directed by Ryan Coogler. But now they have a chance to rectify that mistake: Jordan has teamed up with Coogler again for "Creed," the latest installment, bizarrely, in the Rocky Balboa saga. He plays up-and-coming boxer Adonis Johnson, the son of Rocky's erstwhile rival Apollo Creed. The "Rocky" connection is a mixed blessing. It will surely help fill theaters, raising the profile of the movie. And the original "Rocky" won the Oscar for Best Picture. But some consider that win -- over "Network," "Taxi Driver" and "All the President's Men" -- an embarrassment to the Academy. So voters might be loath to return to that well. Michael B. Jordan certainly feels like a future Oscar winner, but this might not be his year. - JS (credit:Warner Bros.)
Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"(12 of22)
Open Image ModalSamuel L. Jackson, "The Hateful Eight"(13 of22)
Open Image ModalSteve Carell, "The Big Short"(14 of22)
Open Image ModalMichael Caine, "Youth"(15 of22)
Open Image ModalMichael Caine is amazing. You know? It's easy to take him for granted, but he nails every scene he's in. He's won two Oscars, so it wouldn't be fair to say that the Academy doesn't appreciate him. But his last nomination was in 2003. We really wish that he'd been nominated for his affecting performance as Alfred in one of the "Dark Knight" movies, but since it's too late for that, we'd happily settle for a nod for "Youth." Caine rocks as retired conductor Fred Ballinger in Paolo Sorrentino's first movie since "The Great Beauty." It may not be the showiest performance of the year, but it's one of the most carefully attenuated and moving. - JS (credit:Fox Searchlight)
Will Smith, "Concussion"(16 of22)
Open Image ModalWill Smith -- once the Greatest Movie Star in the World -- has been chasing Oscars for a while now. He was nominated for "Ali" back in 2002 and again for 2006's schmaltzy "The Pursuit of Happyness." And "Concussion" may just be his most awards-baity movie yet. He plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, the real-life Nigerian forensic pathologist who discovered that playing pro football can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It's a more reserved, serious role than most people expect Smith to take on, and he shines in the movie. He even pulls off a decent Nigerian accent. The main issue is that people don't think "Concussion" is very good -- but plenty of actors less well-liked than Smith have managed nominations, and even wins, for mediocre films. - JS (credit:Columbia Pictures)
Johnny Depp, "Black Mass"(17 of22)
Open Image ModalTom Hanks, "Bridge of Spies"(18 of22)
Open Image ModalWhen Steven Spielberg makes a movie, the Oscars pay attention. The same goes for Tom Hanks, who was left out of the nominations last year for “Captain Phillips,” a far more nuanced role than “Bridge of Spies.” But Spielberg’s Cold War drama, in which Hanks plays an American lawyer negotiating the release of Soviet captives, is the sort of grand, traditional storytelling that now feels like an anomaly in Hollywood. Some critics have called “Spies” Spielberg’s best work since “Saving Private Ryan,” which feels generous (have they seen “Lincoln” or “Catch Me If You Can”?), but it’s not completely misguided. Hanks gives a reliable performance, even if it's more understated than many of his peers'. The movie played well at its New York Film Festival premiere and has performed decently at the box office, which means Hanks could lock up the sixth nomination of his career. - MJ (credit:DreamWorks)
Matt Damon, "The Martian"(19 of22)
Open Image ModalEddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"(20 of22)
Open Image ModalMichael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"(21 of22)
Open Image ModalLeonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"(22 of22)
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