SAG Predictions: Best Actor in a Leading Role

This year, the Screen Actors Guild announces its picks one day before Golden Globe nominations are revealed, which means it will be considerably tougher to predict the nominees without that helpful handicap of knowing ten likely contenders beforehand. Without knowing all that much, here are my best guesses for SAG’s five inclusions in this category.

Last year’s nominees:
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Robert Duvall (Get Low)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King’s Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)

Let’s start with the almost-guaranteed nominees. George Clooney (The Descendants) and Leonardo DiCaprio are sure to claim a spot, and I would be shocked if Jean Dujardin (The Artist) didn’t pop up here, despite his French nationality. Ryan Gosling managed to get recognized for “Lars and the Real Girl,” so I have a feeling that he’ll be honored for one of his two performances, probably in “The Ides of March” over “Drive.” After that, things get highly competitive. Woody Harrelson (Rampart) and Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy are good bets, as is Brad Pitt (Moneyball). Watch out also for Michael Fassbender (Shame) or Michael Shannon (Take Shelter), both of whom could upset with an Oscar nod if not nominated earlier.

Current predictions:
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Leonardo DiCaprio
Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March
Brad Pitt (Moneyball)