ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE …the nominations go to:
Demian Bichir for “A Better Life”
George Clooney for “The Descendants”
Jean DuJardin for “The Artist”
Gary Oldman for “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt for “Moneyball”

Alex: I have to go with George Clooney on this one. He’s just so damn dreamy and really, what’s not to like about him? Dude can act! Besides, Tom Hanks wasn’t nominated or else I’d have gone with him as my winner.

Denise: Man, I have SO got to see Warrior!  Ahem.  Okay.  I’m so amazingly happy to see Bichir get a nod for his amazing performance in A Better Life, but again, earlier-in-the-year films usually get left in the dust by the flash of newer releases.  DuJardin was brilliant, but if the Academy wants words and emotion, Clooney for The Descendants.

Matthew:  Tom Hardy in Warrior – enough said!

Tatiana: Definitely George Clooney.

Rock: Clooney! It’s such a lock, bet the mortgage.  It took ‘Michael Clayton’ for me to stop thinking of Clooney as just anotherr walking head shot.  His ‘head down, eyes up’ approach to acting always ticked me off, and ‘Clayton’ showed that he could grow up and express range – ‘Descendants’ he goes all the way.  Love, loss, betrayal, family pressures, money, dealing with teen angst – the entire gamut was on display and he rose so strongly to the occasion.

Score Card…

Alex – George Clooney
Denise – George Clooney
Matthew – Tom Hardy
Tatiana – George Clooney
Rock – George Clooney