Oscar Watch: Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees:
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005)
Terrence Howard for Hustle & Flow (2005)
Heath Ledger for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Joaquin Phoenix for Walk the Line (2005)
David Strathairn for Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)

This really is the year of the actor. There were so many wonderful leading performances by men this year, I'm sure it must have been hard to narrow the category.

Should Win: Hoffman (hands down)
Will Win: I'm going to take a chance and say Hoffman (here's hoping)

Heath Ledger gave a phenomenal performance in Brokeback. But, I don't know if anyone could top Hoffman as Truman Capote this year. Possibly not even Capote himself! I'm a Hoffman fan anyway, and a HUGE fan of In Cold Blood. So, I'm not sure I'm all that biased. In the voters minds, I'm pretty sure it will go as follows....Hoffman, Ledger, Phoenix. I'd have to tie Phoenix and Ledger. Walk the Line was the biggest snub this year in my opinion. Wonderful movie, wonderful performance by both Witherspoon and Phoenix. Straithairn was also very convincing as Murrow, and the cinematography in ...Good Luck was beautiful. Unfortunately, the performance wasn't as eye catching as the rest. And, while I always enjoy Howard, I am at a loss as to why he is nominated. Hustle and Flow was good but not great, as was Howard. This year, hopefully, the Oscar will go to the much-deserved Hoffman.