2011 Academy Awards: Best Actor Nominations and Predictions

When the 2011 Academy Awards nominations were announced in the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 25, 2011, there were a few surprises. As Academy President Tom Sherak and Oscar winning actress Mo'Nique read out the nominations, I felt that most were quite well deserved, but there were also some notable omissions. With only a few slots to fill for Best Actor nominations, and so many worthy performances this year, it's tough to narrow the field to five top actors. Did the Academy make the best choices for its 2011 Academy Awards nominations for Best Actor and who was overlooked in this category? Who will win the 2011 Oscar for Best Actor?

2011 Academy Awards Best Actor Nominations (and Oscar Snubs)

First, let's take a look at the 2011 Academy Awards Best Actor nominations that are richly deserved. Certainly, no one can argue with the Best Actor nod for Colin Firth, this year's favorite to win for "The King's Speech." This hardworking British actor first came to attention in films like "A Month in the Country" with Kenneth Branagh, and he really broke through and gained a following in America for his work as Mr. Darcy in the A&E miniseries "Pride and Prejudice."

Jeff Bridges is another excellent choice for a 2011 Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Bridges follows up his Oscar winning performance in last year's "Crazy Heart" with more outstanding character work as the central figure in this year's acclaimed remake of "True Grit." Jeff Bridges is carving out a niche these days playing gruff, taciturn and hard drinking characters; he's one of our finest American actors and with six Oscar nominations and one win, the Academy seems to love him.

Few would dispute James Franco's 2011 Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Renaissance man Franco (who just happens to be a painter and author as well as an actor) turned in a compelling performance playing the role of Aron Ralston in "127 Hours." James Franco is one of the most exciting actors working in film and it's no surprise that he received his first Oscar nomination this year.

The rest of the 2011 Academy Awards Best Actor nominations surprised me. Javier Bardem was recognized for his role in "Biutiful," but I was stunned that he was nominated instead of Robert Duvall in "Get Low" or Ryan Gosling in "Blue Valentine," two of the most celebrated performances of the year.

Jesse Eisenberg claimed the remaining Best Actor slot for his work in "The Social Network." Eisenberg starred as Mark Zuckerberg in the Facebook film that had everyone buzzing about a Best Picture Oscar. He gave a memorable performance; however, I wonder if he deserves the Best Actor nomination more than Duvall or Gosling.

Other Oscar snubs for the 2011 Academy Awards and Best Actor include: Leonardo DiCaprio for "Inception" and Mark Wahlberg in "The Fighter."

2011 Academy Awards Nominations: Who Will Win Best Actor?

Just like last year's awards season, this year's Academy Awards winners seem to be a foregone conclusion. During last year's awards ceremonies, the statuettes for excellence in acting were handed out again and again to the same group of actors: Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges, Mo'Nique and Christoph Waltz.

This year the clear front runner has been Colin Firth winning repeatedly for "The King's Speech," taking home the Best Actor award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Golden Globes. I feel certain that he will also receive the Best Actor award at the 2011 Oscars. Firth had the good fortune of landing two coveted lead roles in "The King's Speech" and "A Single Man" and he is amazing in both films. Last year he was nominated as Best Actor for "A Single Man" but he lost out to Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart." I believe this is Firth's year to win the Oscar.

2011 Academy Awards Best Actor Nominations will be the subject of analysis and debate right up to the moment of the actual Oscar ceremony, and everyone has his or her favorite performances. Tune in to the eighty third Academy Awards on Sunday February 27, 2011 at 8 p.m. on ABC to find out who will win Best Actor.

Source:

http://www.oscars.go.com/nominations