61 Comments

1. 1
   

   Other Ryan says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 10:48am

   Not to say I would vote for him, but no Sam Worthington?
2. 2
   

   unlikelyhood says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 10:48am

   I voted for Firth, but I’ll be happy with anyone other than Bridges or Clooney. They could do those roles in their sleep – I think they might have.
3. 3
   

   Jimmy says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 10:52am

   I’d say christoph Waltz, then long, long gap and then Firth.

   But the Oscars will go to Bridges and Harrelson….
4. 4
   

   John says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 10:55am

   Best performance? Colin Firth by a margin.
5. 5
   

   Amanda says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 10:55am

   I dont know if he deserves to win over everyone else but Matt damon for the Informant at least deserves to be nominated..mainly over Clooney and Freeman. And um NO to Worthington, he is a terrible actor.
6. 6
   

   Daniel says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 10:59am

   =/

   Willem Dafoe in Antichrist.
7. 7
   

   Zach says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 10:59am

   Worthington? Please. You sooner should have included Jamie Foxx for The Soloist (remember?).

   Also, LOL @ James McAvoy somehow getting only -1% of the votes!
8. 8
   

   guany says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:07am

   Hard to decide between Renner and Copley, but I’ll guess go with the latter here seeing how he needs some help.
9. 9
   

   Justin says:
   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:11am

   Nicolas Cage In the Bad Lieutenant gave what i think is the best performance of the year.
10. 10
    

    Someone says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:11am

    Tom Hardy gave the best performance this year – in BRONSON.
11. 11
    

    Dah says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:13am

    In terms of challenging performances that actually accomplish something difficult, I’d nominate Rockwell, Firth, Stuhlberg, Renner and Copley.
12. 12
    

    DaneM says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:18am

    @Jimmy (#3):

    Have you been paying attention to this website and its news stories? Waltz is almost a lock for Best Supporting Actor. Harrelson has a chance, albeit a small one, for the upset.

    I think we are looking at the Best Supporting Actor going to the year’s best villain for a third straight year. Anton Chigurh. The Joker. Colonel Hans Landa of the SS. They should rename the BSA category “Best Villain”.
13. 13
    

    Zach says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:22am

    The last time a noble character won in Supporting Actor was Morgan Freeman.

    Speaking of black people (I know…a wow-worthy segue), Precious topped the NAACP nominations, no surprise there (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b160658_precious_boosts_its_image_racks_up.html).

    How anyone could think Copley is remotely worthy of an Oscar is beyond me. You can be a fan of the film, but you’ve got to be kidding regarding the performance. Fanboys need to open their eyes a bit.
14. 14
    

    Sam Juliano says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:24am

    I just cast my vote for Colin Firth, who gave the year’s best performance in a leading role in the haunting A SINGLE MAN.
15. 15
    

    Dah says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:25am

    Huh? You’re cracked, Zach. The guy was spot on with the comedy and the drama, not to mention the improv.
16. 16
    

    j says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:25am

    Firth’s is my favorite performance of the year in any of the 4 categories. I’m pleasantly surprised he’s leading.
17. 17
    

    James says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:28am

    Sharlto Copley deserves an Oscar nomination. Best performance in a mockumentary ever. I thought District 9 was more absurd than cutting-edge, but Copley was terrific.

    I voted for Jeff Bridges because after monitoring the Oscars for more than a decade now and also going retrospective with all the previous Oscars, I’ve come to think that the word ‘deserves’ doesn’t always refer to the best performance or achievement for a given film year. Sometimes, or even a lot of times, you look at a person’s body of work and say, ‘Yeah, give that person an Oscar.’
18. 18
    

    James (Cinemaniac86) says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:31am

    Zach, you’re retarded for bashing Copley. If you didn’t care for it, fine. But his eyes are wonderfully expressive. And he conveyed so many conflicting emotions, like in the documentary, when he was trying to be Mr. Perfect, but beneath the surface, you could sense the anger and frustration emerging. And it was such a vanity-free performance, too, as his character took quite a few assholic turns.

    Anyway, I voted for the best: Michael Stuhlbarg! ♥ But you misspelled it, Ryan. And I think this list oughta be redone, because excluding Tom Hardy and not even having an “Other” is a downright shame. Please?

    ETA: @this other James: You’re completely missing the whole point here. You’re supposed to vote for who you felt gave the best performance. Not who you think should win the Oscar.
19. 19
    

    Zach says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11:32am

    He was good and displayed some range, but nothing close to the kind of performance that I (or the Academy) would ever honor.
20. 20
    

    Pilgrim says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:08pm

    Colin Firth got my vote for excelling in very challenging material, and bringing something to the screen this year that few others have.
21. 21
    

    Ken says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:10pm

    Not enough people saw Moon because Rockwell would have about 300 of the current 490 votes.
22. 22
    

    Larry says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:17pm

    Colin Firth, all the way. While I’m happy to see that Jeff Bridges might finally nab an Oscar after all these years, does anyone else think it’s a little ironic that he’ll do so playing a washed-up singer like Robert Duvall did to win for “Tender Mercies”? And Duvall is even in “Crazy Heart.” Oscar is nothing if not predictable…
23. 23
    

    filmgoer10 says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:17pm

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt deserves recognition for his wonderful performance in one of the five best films of the year “500 days of Summer”.
24. 24
    

    The Natural says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:25pm

    No way is Bridges losing this one. A masterclass performance full of candid, robust emotion.

    My line-up in order of preference:

    1. Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
    2. George Clooney, Up in the Air
    3. Matt Damon, The Informant!
    4. Sharlto Copley, District 9
    5. Max Records, Where the Wild Things Are

    I have not seen A Single Man yet.
25. 25
    

    The Natural says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:28pm

    Oh by the way you totally need to add Max.
26. 26
    

    Allie says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:36pm

    Ken, I agree with you. Sam Rockwell is definitely not getting the attention he deserves for this movie :[
27. 27
    

    James says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:52pm

    I’m glad that nobody’s pushing for Brad Pitt in Basterds, I mean, the accent was OK, but did he have to protrude his lower jaw? — that he couldn’t pull off!

    Looming Best Actor locks: Clooney; Renner; Freeman; Firth; Bridges, oh that’s already 5, WHY ARE WE STILL DEBATING?
28. 28
    

    Ripley says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 12:52pm

    Colin by a large margin, my favorite lead performance of the year man or woman.
29. 29
    

    Casey says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 1:04pm

    I havent seen colin yet

    so for now I have to go with bridges
30. 30
    

    jacob says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 1:11pm

    My vote would be for Joaquin Phoenix in Two Lovers. I saw it as a much more charming and layered take on a character similar, in a way, to the one played by Firth in A Single Man
31. 31
    

    Joseph says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 1:29pm

    There is no doubt that Colin Firth´s performance is the best of the year!
32. 32
    

    Clayton says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 1:56pm

    Viggo
33. 33
    

    Dominik says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 2:02pm

    Lluis Homar at least deserves a nomination for his wonderful, subtle and heartfelt portrayal of a blind screenwriter who recalls his affaire with Penelope Cruz in “Broken Embraces”!
34. 34
    

    503jesse says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 2:02pm

    Rockwell was impressive!
35. 35
    

    Kay says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 2:16pm

    Out of those choices, JGL.
36. 36
    

    Jake D says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 2:32pm

    I haven’t seen a lot of the frontrunners, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Viggo Mortensen (who I voted for) are among the few great performances by lead actors I have seen this year.

    Granted, I haven’t seen Firth/Bridges/Renner yet, but sheesh, I can name a half dozen great female lead performances I’ve seen, but the men…not quite so hot IMO. I think it’s the guys having the weak year.
37. 37
    

    Samu says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 3:05pm

    I’m happy to see Sharlto Copley and Sam Rockwell get so many votes. Both are by far the best forgotten performances by male actors this year. Firth’s performance is good but vastly overrated. Lots and lots of moping.
38. 38
    

    MJB says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 3:43pm

    I agree with Jacob about Joaquin Phoenix in Two Lovers. Where is the love for this performance? Shamefully ignored – just like Ben Kingsley in Elegy last year. Regardless, it’s a toss-up between Colin Firth and Joaquin.
    Would love to see a surprise nominee in the mix come Feb. 2 – Phoenix, Sheen, Stuhlbarg, Holbrook, Rockwell, or Copley.
39. 39
    

    FromChelseaManhattan says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 3:50pm

    Since people already stopped talking about Invictus, is it possible for Morgan Freeman not to get nomination???
40. 40
    

    Simon Warrasch says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 3:52pm

    Colin Firth – A Single Man
    Ben Foster – The Messenger
    Willem Dafoe – Antichrist
    Sotigui Kouyate – London River
    Nicholas Cage – The Bad Lieutnant: Port of Call – New Orleans

    Runner up: Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker
    Andrew Garfield – Boy A
41. 41
    

    Manuel says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 4:02pm

    Colin Firth!
42. 42
    

    DBibby says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 4:21pm

    Wow. Great to see Colin Firth’s stunning performance leading this poll so convincingly. I couldn’t agree more- my favourite performance of the year, leading or otherwise.
43. 43
    

    brandz says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 5:14pm

    i too voted for Colin Firth. easily the standout performance of the year. i also liked Julianne Moore. i thought she was perfectly cast.
44. 44
    

    jennybee says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 5:15pm

    Hal Holbrook gave the best performance, hands down, but I can’t blame you guys for not voting for him. The eight other votes he’s gotten in this poll so far are probably just about the only people who saw the film. In another economy, the film would have been picked up by a much bigger distributor. The one that it had did what it could on almost no budget.
45. 45
    

    Noah R. says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 6:05pm

    Sam Rockwell all the way but Tom Hardy in Bronson is a close second.
46. 46
    

    Dave says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 7:28pm

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt was my favorite out of these… although I haven’t seen any major contenders except for Clooney who was great but the role was just Michael Clayton redux, but better.
47. 47
    

    larry says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 8:39pm

    Meryl Streep wins here easily.
48. 48
    

    LucyD says:
    Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 8:53pm

    This poll is for the Best Actor Performance of 2009.

    COLIN FIRTH

    No debate.
49. 49
    

    Ziyad Abul Hawa says:
    Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 12:49am

    Colin Firth, breathtaking.
50. 50
    

    Dillon Lon says:
    Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 1:12am

    Colin Firth, definitely… what a performance!