Counting down to Oscar: Best actor nominees

Fans waited years for Les Miserables to make its way to the screen.  The popular Broadway play has been a favorite for millions and when it showed up on screen its hero, Valjean, was personified in Hugh Jackman who displays his acting and singing chops in the film.There are few actors in modern cinematic history who can match Meryl Streep in gravitas. Meet Daniel Day-Lewis - one of few who can.  As Lincoln he mesmerizes bringing forth a character with charm, humor and wisdom, but will he take home the Oscar?In grabbing his first Oscar nomination as a recently released mental patient who tries to connect with his father through an interest in the Philadelphia Eagles in Silver Linings Playbook, Cooper shows that he's not just another pretty boy relying on good looks.  The man possesses talent to spare.View the list »
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Two newcomers join the ranks of Oscar nominees in the best actor category. Bradley Cooper earns some modicum of cred and respect with his nomination in Silver Linings Playbook, directed by David O. Russell. Cooper has been the sex symbol, but in his more recent roles he’s sought roles of emotional depth and substance.

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Surprisingly enough Hugh Jackman, despite a long career, has never had his named called on nomination morning. Portraying Valjean in Les Miserables will do wonderful things for an actor apparently.

They join vets in Denzel Washington who is now a seven-time nominee including for his role as a substance abusing airline pilot in Flight, Daniel Day-Lewis receives his sixth nomination portraying Pres. Abraham Lincoln in the much acclaimed Steven Spielberg film, Lincoln. Lastly his role as a drifter who joins a cult-like group in The Master is the third nomination for Joaquin Phoenix.

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  • In grabbing his first Oscar nomination as a recently released mental patient who tries to connect with his father through an interest in the Philadelphia Eagles in Silver Linings Playbook, Cooper shows that he's not just another pretty boy relying on good looks.  The man possesses talent to spare.
  • There are few actors in modern cinematic history who can match Meryl Streep in gravitas. Meet Daniel Day-Lewis - one of few who can.  As Lincoln he mesmerizes bringing forth a character with charm, humor and wisdom, but will he take home the Oscar?
  • Fans waited years for Les Miserables to make its way to the screen.  The popular Broadway play has been a favorite for millions and when it showed up on screen its hero, Valjean, was personified in Hugh Jackman who displays his acting and singing chops in the film.
  • Joaquin Phoenix has been an enigma the past few years keeping a low profile and playing an elaborate joke on the entertainment world by retiring from movies to become an actor.  If his role in The Master is any indication of what retirement can do for a person's work, others may want to consider it.
  • What a coincidence that the other actor who can match Meryl Streep is nominated in the same year. Denzel Washington's portrayal of an alcohol-addled pilot in Flight whose problems don't come to light until he heroically saves the passengers on the plane he's flying. 
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, Cleveland Movie Examiner

George M. Thomas reviewed movies and covered the business of movies for area newspapers for 12 years. For seven of those years, the Knight Ridder Tribune news service syndicated much of his work, including two columns. An eight-year member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), he’s...

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