We’ve made it through the end-of-year holidays and, at this point, there appear to be four solid Best Actor contenders in the mix for the 2022 Academy Award. Two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”), two-time nominee Will Smith (“King Richard”), Andrew Garfield (“tick, tick…BOOM!”), and Benedict Cumberbatch, whose only nomination to date was just six years ago. The question remains, however, who fills out the remaining slot?
There appears to be a four-way tussle between Bradley Cooper (“Nightmare Alley”), Peter Dinklage (“Cyrano”) Clifton Collins, Jr. (“Jockey“), and AMPAS favorite Leonardo Dicaprio (“Don’t Look Up”) And the rest of the field also includes previous nominees and winners such as Joaquin Phoenix (“C’Mon C’Mon) and Timothee Chalamet (“Dune”). Or could this be the year or Simon Rex (“Red Rocket”)lands their first Oscar nomination? Ponder. [Updated Jan 3]
BEST ACTOR
Likely
Will Smith, “King Richard”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”
Andrew Garfield, “tick, tick…BOOM!”
Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Bradley Cooper, “Nightmare Alley”
In the Mix
Peter Dinklage, “Cyrano”
Clifton Collins, Jr., “Jockey”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Don’t Look Up”
Simon Rex, “Red Rocket”
Joaquin Phoenix, “C’Mon C’Mon”
Timothee Chalamet, “Dune”
2022 Contenders and Predictions
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
International Film