Oscar Predictions: Best Actor in a Leading Role

At this point, the major contenders that remain:
DENZEL WASHINGTON, AMERICAN GANGSTER
JAMES MCAVOY, ATONEMENT
VIGGO MORTENSEN, EASTERN PROMISES
EMILE HIRSCH, INTO THE WILD
RYAN GOSLING, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
GEORGE CLOONEY, MICHAEL CLAYTON
JOHNNY DEPP, SWEENEY TODD
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Outside shots:
TOMMY LEE JONES, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
FRANK LANGELLA, STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING

Daniel Day-Lewis is an absolute lock in this category. Depp and Clooney seem to be fine, much as I would love to see Clooney get shafted for anyone else (except Denzel). Both Mortensen and Gosling have popped up at the BFCAs, Globes, and SAGs which comes as somewhat of a surprise but I highly doubt that Gosling can go the distance. McAvoy could come back in after devastating snubs for “Atonement” leading up to the
Oscars. Hirsch missed out on a Globe nod but came back with a SAG nod. Much as I would love to predict either Jones or Langella, I think I will for once have to be realistic in my predictions. My alternate is Jones.

VIGGO MORTENSEN, EASTERN PROMISES
EMILE HIRSCH, INTO THE WILD
GEORGE CLOONEY, MICHAEL CLAYTON
JOHNNY DEPP, SWEENEY TODD
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, THERE WILL BE BLOOD