
Demián Bichir

A Better Life



George Clooney

The Descendants



Jean Dujardin

The Artist



Gary Oldman

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy



Brad Pitt

Moneyball



Ty Burr says ...
It's a tight race between Clooney and "Artist" star Jean Dujardin, but the former is the king of a company town, and he has never won a best actor Oscar. He gives a very good performance, but Pitt delivers subtler work in "Moneyball." Shame about "Shame" and Fassbender.
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Will win
George Clooney, The Descendants -
Should win
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
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Shouldn't be here
George Clooney, The Descendants -
Was robbed
Michael Fassbender, Shame

Wesley Morris says ...
Not an inspiring group. The admittedly wonderful Jean Dujardin already has Hollywood worried about a Roberto Benigni-esque acceptance speech, and what lots of people see as new ground for Clooney felt, to me, like a summer rerun. No Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling, Michael Shannon, or Mortensen? But Pitt's soul did give its first performance, which is significant, as too many people never believed he had one.
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Will win
Brad Pitt, Moneyball -
Should win
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
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Shouldn't be here
George Clooney, The Descendants -
Was robbed
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method