Oscar Contest - Category Highlight - Best Acting Awards

February 19, 2006

With the Oscars less than a month away and our contest well under way, there's no better time to take a closer look at some of the nominees. Today we'll look at the Best Acting Awards.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Judi Dench in Mrs. Henderson Presents
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: Four previous nominations including one win.
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for SAG and Golden Globes.

Felicity Huffman in Transamerica
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: None
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for Independent Spirit Awards and SAG, won Golden Globe.

Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: None
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for Golden Globes.

Charlize Theron in North Country
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: One previous Oscar win.
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for SAG and Golden Globes.

Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: None
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Won SAG and Golden Globe.

Notes:

• This is mostly a two horse race between Felicity Huffman and Reese Witherspoon.
• Reese Witherspoon did win the SAG award, but Oscar voters tend to like Cross-Dressing / Gender-Bender roles.
• Keira Knightley also has a legitimate shot since Oscar voters also like Costume Dramas, but this is likely not her year.
• Judi Dench is the sentimental favorite, but Mrs. Henderson Presents wasn't her best movie and she's already won an Oscar.
• The same can be said for Charlize Theron and North Country.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: None
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for Independent Spirit Awards and SAG, as part of the cast. Also won SAG and Golden Globe.

Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: None
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and SAG, (twice).

Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: None
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and SAG, (twice).

Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: One nomination
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for SAG. Won Golden Globe.

David Strathairn in Good Night and Good Luck
Previous Oscar Nominations / Wins: None
Previous Nominations / Awards for this performance: Nominated for Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and SAG, (twice).

Notes:

• If I were one of the nominees in this category, I wouldn't even bother preparing an acceptance speech as Philip Seymour Hoffman is practically money in the bank at this point.
• On an interesting note, four of the five actors each received nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and two SAG awards.
• Terrence Howard actually has three SAG nominations including one win for Best Cast for his work in Crash.
• While Joaquin Phoenix didn't earn as many nominations, he has a slightly better shot at winning as Oscar voters also like BioPics and he did take home the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.

I hope this helps you pick your predictions in our contest. And remember, this is our biggest contest yet with plenty of prizes including...

Two for the Money

Academy Award winner Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey star in this adrenaline-charged thriller about the sexy, high-stakes world of sports betting, where fortunes can be made and lost with a flip of a coin. When Brandon Lang (McConaughey) becomes the prot�g� of sports gambling's power player, Walter Abrams (Pacino), he swiftly becomes the golden boy of the high-rolling world for consistently picking football winners. Now, with millions on the line, he finds himself in a deadly game of con-versus-con with his new mentor. Also starring Renee Russo and Jeremy Piven (TV's Entourage), TWO FOR THE MONEY sizzles with intense, non-stop thrills!

- C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: Walk the Line, Brokeback Mountain, Pride & Prejudice, Good Night, and Good Luck, Capote, Hustle & Flow, North Country, Mrs. Henderson Presents, Transamerica