10 Best Actor in a Leading Role Potentials for the 2010 Oscar Awards

Crazy Heart, released December 16, 2009, is a story about a broken down, hard living country music singer who's had too many wives, too many years on the road, and too many drinks too many times, but tries to find salvation with the help of a journalist who discovers the true man behind the musician. Also starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Keane, and Rick Dial.

2 George Clooney for "Up in the Air"

Up in the Air, released December 23, 2009, is about a man who travels around the country firing people, living out of a suitcase, until this company does something he never expected: grounds him. Also starring Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, and Jason Bateman.

3. Morgan Freeman for "Invictus"

Invictus, released December 11, 2009, is a story about Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South African President, initiating a unique venture to unite the apartheid-torn land by enlisting the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Also starring Matt Damon, Julian Lewis Jones, and Matt Stern.

4. Tobey Maguire for "Brothers"

Brothers, released December 4, 2009, is a story about a young man who comforts his older brother's wife and children after he goes missing in Afghanistan. Also starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, and Clifton Collins, Jr.

5. Colin Firth for "A Single Man"

A Single Man, released November 6, 2009, is a story that centers on an English professor who, after the sudden death of his partner, tries to go about his typical day in Los Angeles. Also starring Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, and Matthew Goode.

6. Robert Downey, Jr. for "Sherlock Holmes"

Sherlock Holmes, released December 25, 2009, is the story of Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson as they engage in a battle of wits against a nemesis whose plot is a threat to destroy all of England. Also starring Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, and Mark Strong.

7. Daniel Day-Lewis for "Nine"

Nine, released December 25, 2009 is a story about famous film director Guido Contini as he struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as his engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother. Also starring Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, and Nicole Kidman.

8. Matt Damon for "The Informant"

The Informant, released September 18, 2009, is a story about how the U.S. government decides to go after a agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre. Also starring Lucas McHugh Carroll, Eddie Jemison, and Rusty Schwimmer.

9. Jeremy Renner for "The Hurt Locker"

The Hurt Locker, released June 26, 2009, is a story based on Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat and mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb. Also starring Anthony Mackie, Guy Pearce, and David Morse.

10. Sam Rockwell for "Moon"

Moon, released January 23, 2009, is a story about Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.