The Best Actor race has finally narrowed down to 10 potential actors after many films were delayed until 2014.
The actors who are currently front-runners to be nominated are Chiwetel Ejiofor for "12 Years A Slave," Matthew McConaughey for "Dallas Buyers Club," and "Robert Redford." All three actors have received praise for their dominating portrayals in their films.
Additionally, Tom Hanks' performance in "Captain Phillips" is being hailed as another front-runner, but many pundits are not sure if the tough subject matter will deter voters from picking him.
Two actors that will definitely struggle for the fifth place will be Bruce Dern for "Nebraska" and Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Wolf of Wall Street." Dern has a step up on DiCaprio as he won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival; many past Oscar winners have also won this award including Jean DuJardin ("The Artist") and Javier Bardem ("Biutiful").
DiCaprio's performance has not been seen because the film is not complete and will be released on Christmas Day.
However, there are a couple of actors who could surprise, as the Academy has shown in recent years that it does not mind shocking pundits. In 2011, Demian Bichir was nominated for "A Better Life" beating out heavy favorites Michael Fassbender for "Shame," and Leonardo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar." The actors currently considered longshots include Joaquin Phoenix for "Her," Forest Whitaker for "Lee Daniel's The Butler," and Christian Bale for one of his two films "Out of Furnace" or "American Hustle." Oscar Issac's performance in "Inside Llewyn Davis" is also receiving plenty of buzz.
Besides these 10 actors, there are a couple of other names with potential, but that will most likely be ignored due to the crowded year. They are Idris Elba for "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," Michael B. Jordan for "Fruitvale Station," Hugh Jackman for "Prisoners" and Daniel Radcliffe for "Kill Your Darlings."
Third Predictions
1. Chiwetel Ejiofer - "12 Year's a Slave"
2. Robert Redford - "All Is Lost"
3. Matthew McConaughey - "Dallas Buyers Club"
4. Tom Hanks - "Captain Phillips"
5. Leonardo Dicaprio - "The Wolf of Wall Street"
Potential Nominees
6. Bruce Dern - "Nebraska"
Long Shots
7. Forest Whitaker - "Lee Daniel's The Butler"
8. Christian Bale - "American Hustle"
9. Joaquin Phoenix - "Her"
10. Oscar Issac - "Inside Llewyn Davis"
Race Too Crowded For These Contenders
11. Michael B. Jordan - "Fruitvale Station"
12. Idris Elba-Mandela - "Long Walk to Freedom"
13. Daniel Radcliffe- "Kill Your Darlings"
14. Hugh Jackman - "Prisoners"