Colin Firth, Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 2010 Oscar Nominees Luncheon held this afternoon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. This year’s five Best Actor nominees are in the running for the following films: A Single Man (Firth), The Hurt Locker (Renner), Crazy Heart (Bridges), Invictus (Freeman), and Up in the Air (Clooney).
George Clooney has been the US critics' favorite, but Jeff Bridges has the awards season momentum thanks to his Golden Globe and SAG Award wins, in addition to awards from several critics' groups including the Broadcast Film Critics Association. Bridges, whose film career spans about four decades, is the favorite to win the 2010 Best Actor Oscar. This is his fifth nomination in the acting categories, and his second as a lead actor. He has never won.
Clooney won a best supporting Oscar for Syriana four years ago. He was also nominated as Best Actor for Michael Clayton. Morgan Freeman won a best supporting actor Oscar for Million Dollar Baby five years ago. He's been nominated a total of five times; this is Freeman's third nomination as a lead actor. Jeremy Renner and veteran Colin Firth are Oscar newcomers.
Photo: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.
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