Oscar Nominees 2012: Best Actor We assess the pros and cons for this year’s Academy Award nominees Tweet
	1   2   3   4   5	Back	5 of 5
Brad Pitt (Moneyball) Why It Will Win   Over the last decade or so, Pitt’s managed to transform himself from pretty boy star to serious Hollywood producer and actor (still pretty, though). And as one-half of the world’s most famous couple, he is reasonably well-exposed.   This is a great performance as a real-life figure – always a good Oscar play – and on a subject that America knows well. And it’s his third nomination; he’s due, y’all!   Anyone who spends that much screentime eating and still has that figure is clearly a great actor.      Why It Won't Win   It’s only his third nomination; there’s plenty of time and there’ll be more to come. Pitt’s career has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. Also, the bastard comes home to Angelina Jolie every night: he doesn’t need an Oscar too.   His character hasn’t been as buzzed about as either Clooney or Dujardin, and the film’s been criticised for playing fast and loose with some of the facts, which may hurt his chances.   They’ll probably hold off and give him something next year for World War Z.
	1   2   3   4   5	Back	5 of 5

Have Your Say
Register or login now to let us know what you think.

Your Comments

1	Brad Pitt
	It’s only his third nomination; there’s plenty of time and there’ll be more to come. Pitt’s career has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. Also, the bastard comes home to Angelina Jolie every night: he doesn’t need an Oscar too I LOL'd, bravo Empire! :D More
	Posted by Zubi Q on Sunday February 19, 2012, 13:55
2	Jean Dujardin
	I know SAG's always a good indicator, but he's also won Globe, BAFTA & Best Actor at Cannes which must surely count for something? More
	Posted by mrsstifler on Tuesday February 14, 2012, 16:12
3	Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
	Dear Empire you say - He’s won Best Supporting Actor previously, but it seems odd that such a huge figure in the town doesn’t also have a Best Actor statuette. Is this correct as I don't remember Jean Dujardin winning? Cheers, Al. More
	Posted by Alan Hill on Tuesday February 14, 2012, 12:07
4	Gary Oldman's pissed.
	Gary Oldman to win because he's "Batman's best friend?" For an actor as talented and brilliant as Gary, I wouldv'e thought Empire could have come up with a better reason than THAT. I mean, jeez. More
	Posted by TheMovieAddict101 on Monday February 13, 2012, 21:23
5	Anyways.
	It really should be Dujardin taking home the main price. I didn't think Clooney's turn was all that terrific in "The Descendants" and though I acknowledge that Oldman delivered a very fine perfomance I just don't see him win. In my opinion it's either Clooney or Dujardin and then my sympathies are with J.D. More
	Posted by maleachi on Sunday February 12, 2012, 15:32
6	Jean Dujardin
	The third argument "Why it will win" (which should be "why HE will win", surely) has been copied from Clooney's page. Also, he's not only won the SAG award, but also the Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy/musical. More
	Posted by Dropje on Sunday February 12, 2012, 10:52
7	If being in Harry Potter means you won't win an Oscar...
	...then that's pretty much it for the majority of the British Film Industry at the Oscars for at least a decade. More
	Posted by kickpuncher on Saturday February 11, 2012, 12:41
8
	I haven't seen all these movies so I can't really have a say. But having seen and liked the artist I can't understand why or how he got a nomination. It is not a bad performance but it is very theatrical. Like he is acting infront of little children. Over dramatic. I understand that the role demands smt like that becuse it is a "silent movie" but I've seen him before and it is the way he is acting. The movie as a whole actually although I liked it the moment I heard about the nominations I LOLed because this movie, charming as it is. Should not be up there. Why did it get any attention to begin with? because it is made the way movies were made 100 years ago? I understand that they want to give an academy award to Pitt and Oldman cos they own it to them but the movie with Oldman was terrible. I loved the one minute movie version of it on the empire competition by the way! The cast was great but it was one of those movies you forget and nobody who watched it will see it again.More
	Posted by smakris04 on Saturday February 11, 2012, 08:18
9	Best Actor
	It's a travesty that Gary Oldman has never even been nominated, so it'd be great to see him win, but Clooney's performance in The Descendants really was terrific, and considering he's never won Best Actor I think he deserves it. More
	Posted by Whistler on Friday February 10, 2012, 20:17
10
	If there was any justice it would Oldman and it wouldn't be one of those here you are for your body of work Oscars like Marty got for the Departed it would be an award for arguably one of if not the finest performances of his career. Oldman is riveting and the fact Alfredson and Hardy or Cumberbatch aren't up for their respective awards goes to show the Academy don't know jack! My favourite film of last year and simply a masterpiece! More
	Posted by agent cooper on Friday February 10, 2012, 19:58
11	jean dujardin - Empire makes mistake!
	he hasn't won best supporting actor before, has he?? for what? surely, that's wrong as this is his first proper english language film, and Oscar does really like foreign speaking movies (hence the token category) More
	Posted by Count Karnstein on Friday February 10, 2012, 19:40
12	Not to be picky but...
	Shouldn't that say 'Why HE will win'??? More
	Posted by MissOrange on Friday February 10, 2012, 18:37

CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
		The Beginner's Guide To Monsters University's Newcomers Let director Dan Scanlon and producer Kori Rae be your guides
		Exclusive: Will Yun Lee On The Wolverine He'll admit to playing Kenuichio Harada - but does his character have another name?
		David S. Goyer And Zack Snyder On Man Of Steel Secrets Spoiler warning: The writer and director spill some super-sized beans...
		The Empire Podcast: Joss Whedon Special Much ado about Avengers 2...
		Full Q&A: Steven Spielberg And George Lucas On Hollywood's Future 'We're in a mess but of the chaos will come some amazing things'
		Man Of Steel Interviews: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Zack Snyder, Michael Shannon & Antje Traue The cast and director of the Superman reboot spill the beans...
		Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer Breakdown What happens when the chat hits the fan?

Get the Empire iPad edition today Subscribe and save up to 44% on annual digital subscription Print & digital packages Buy single issues Subscribe to Empire magazine today Get six issues of Empire for £15 and save up to 37% All subscription offers

Follow @empiremagazine