We've been handicapping the Oscar races all week, and you might remember when we said that behind every great man stands a great woman. But that's not to say the man doesn't stand as well — he does, and the nominees for Best Actor this weekend aren't going to let a lady take their glory. With that in mind, it's time to shine a little light into the testosterone-filled Best Actor category.
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Freeman is no newbie to awards shows — given his ripe old age of 72, the dude has received nearly enough award nominations to account for each year of his life. He has also taken home a few Oscars in recent years, winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in 2004's hard-hitting three-hanky pic "Million Dollar Baby" alongside Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. Now he's up for his fifth Oscar nomination in "Invictus," portraying Nelson Mandela, the South African president who daringly decided to support the national rugby team in the World Cup in hopes of forming a cohesive country. Boy, Morgan sure has come a long way since Easy Reader.
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
1927 marked the year war films started to become a trend in Hollywood, with the Oscar going to "Wings" for Best Picture. Over 80 years later, from "Casablanca" to "Saving Private Ryan," we're still riveted by the heart, pain and ass-kicking that war films bring to the big screen. In "Locker," Renner flips the script as Staff Sergeant William James, an "alpha male" character who thrives off risk and danger — and has more issues in his personal life than Sports Illustrated. Can Renner hold off the Jeff Bridges momentum train? This is his first Oscar nomination, and although some of the other shows have given him the prize, Oscar voters seem likely to consider him a star of tomorrow, not necessarily the best of today.
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
If Oscar were Rachel McAdams, George Clooney would be its Ryan Gosling. This year, the romance continues with yet another Oscar nomination, this time for his role as a ruthless corporate downsizer getting in touch with his inner self in "Up in the Air." The movie is about a detached man trying to make a connection — and we wouldn't be surprised to see Oscar's darling connect with the little gold guy once again on Sunday night.
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
A leading lad many times before, Firth has been in some critically acclaimed movies — but it wasn't until this year that the former Mark Darcy finally got his due. After playing so many leading men in films like "Love Actually," he switched things up in "A Single Man" by playing a gay man in the 1960s in grief over his lover. If he were to be singled out for "Single" on Sunday, it could make the veteran a singular sensation.
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
Jeff Bridges — that's all we really need to say. The Duderino has maintained an accomplished career in everything from "The Big Lebowski" to "Seabiscuit" (and of course, the apex of his thespian skills, "Stick It"). In "Heart," Bridges is broken, battered Bad Blake, a used-to-be-cool, now drunk and washed-up country singer trying to turn his life around. Bridges took his character to a whole new level by insisting to producer friend T-Bone Burnett that there should be real music attached to it, and he actually ended up doing all his own singing. The clear favorite on Oscar night, if Bridges doesn't win, there'll be a lot of angry "Lebowski" fans hurling white Russians at their TV sets. Don't worry, folks — something tells us that the Dude will abide.
The 2010 Academy Awards are almost here, and MTV News has it covered every which way — with photos, interviews, live blogs and more. Be sure to visit MTV.com on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET for our live Oscars red-carpet show, where we'll be talking to everyone from Clooney and Bullock to Kristen and Taylor.
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