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Oscars form guide: Who will win Best Actor?

It’s a field of strong contenders for the Oscar for Best Actor, but was Adam Driver’s Marriage Story performance or Leo’s lead role in Once Upon a Time strong enough to oust Joaquin Phoenix as Joker?

Who will win the Oscar for Best Actor? It’s a strong field. Picture: AFP
Who will win the Oscar for Best Actor? It’s a strong field. Picture: AFP

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE

Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory

Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Adam Driver, Marriage Story

Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes

Antonio Banderas went close to his career best in Pain and Glory. Picture: AFP
Antonio Banderas went close to his career best in Pain and Glory. Picture: AFP

REHEARSE THAT FAKE SMILE:

Banderas went close to a career best, but it won’t be enough to get him to the podium.

Acting nominees from foreign-language movies need some box office to boost their profile. Didn’t happen in this case.

Pryce was solid, but playing a pope is a soft kill for most actors, what with all the standing still and sitting down.

Was DiCaprio really the lead actor of Once Upon a Time? Discuss.

Adam Driver is getting scary good, scary fast, but he’ll have to wait to win. Picture: Getty
Adam Driver is getting scary good, scary fast, but he’ll have to wait to win. Picture: Getty

DESERVES TO WIN, BUT WON’T:

The second-best performance of the past calendar year couldn’t even crack it for a nomination: Adam Sandler inUncut Gems.

While Sandler didn’t go as deep into the don’t-go-there zone as Joaquin Phoenix, his was a braver, more finely crafted work of acting than any of the rest.

The ever-improving Adam Driver will win this category next time he is nominated. Getting scary good, scary fast.

Joaquin Phoenix accepting his SAG award.
Joaquin Phoenix accepting his SAG award.

AND THE WINNER IS …

Joaquin Phoenix. It only took minutes in the company of Phoenix’s compelling and chillingly complete take on the title role to realise we were in the presence of greatness.

In terms of mind, body and spirit, Phoenix conveyed a devastating state of damage on all three fronts.

A towering feat of acting that is well above any of his rivals (or for that matter, many past recent winners).

READ MORE:

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR A FIELD OF GREATS

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Originally published as Oscars form guide: Who will win Best Actor?

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/movies/leigh-paatsch/oscars-form-guide-who-will-win-best-actor/news-story/04fe2e5d4cffb6efac7b8a8d94615516