The 89th Academy Awards is only a couple months away, and it was recently confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel will be the host. Since 1929, the world gathers to find out what the prestigious film academy believes are the best movies and performances of the year.  Last year, we saw Spotlight take home the Best Picture Award and Leonardo Dicaprio win his first Oscar for his role in The Revenant.  This year, we have seen several great performances, but there is no clear favorite for many of the categories. According to early polls, these are some of the front-runners for Best Actor:

Ryan Gosling in La La Land

Gosling is well known in the world of famous actors, but not everyone knows that Gosling is a talented singer and dancer.  In La La Land, he and Emma Stone star in what will surely be known as one of Hollywood’s modern great musicals.  Gosling’s performance is emotional and artistic.

Denzel Washington in Fences

Set in 1950’s Pittsburgh, a former Negro League player, now working as a waste collector, struggles to provide for his family and come to terms with the events of his life.  Washington impresses as always, but this time his role is at the top of the list when it comes to Best Actor at the Oscars.

Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea

Casey Affleck is the younger brother to Ben Affleck.  Casey has appeared in several Oscar-contending movies over the years including The Assassination Jesse James, Gone Baby Gone, Good Will Hunting, and Ocean’s Eleven.  In Manchester by the Sea, he plays a blue collared man troubled with an unfortunate past and ridden with grief from the passing of loved ones. When his brother passes, he has to make the choice on being the guardian of his brother’s teenage son.  In order to take custody, he would have to move back to Manchester, the town which was the source for his troubled past.  Affleck’s emotion, realness, and grittiness in this role puts him at the top of the list when it comes to best actor candidates.

Andrew Garfield in Hacksaw Ridge

Andrew Garfield emerged onto the scene taking the film industry by storm.  He has appeared in about fourteen movies that for the most part went under the radar; but lately is the star of high budget blockbusters.  Hacksaw Ridge is a Mel Gibson movie that hit theaters on November 2nd, 2016.  Garfield played the lead role in Gibson’s movie; a medic that faced tough circumstances during WWII.  It made $41.4 million in the box office.

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