Seems like some actors stick around long enough, and then get a reasonably flashy role that earns them the gold statue. I’m not saying they’re not good actors, just that sometimes it’s a “career accomplishment” thing.
So, my picks are…Samuel L. Jackson and Kate Winslet.
Go ahead - yell, disagree, howl with disbelief. Just tell me who you think will (not necessarily should ) be giving the winner’s speech, someday…
Johnny Depp, maybe even this year…
Eddie Murphy and Sarah Polley.
Having seen his latest, you might very well be right.
I would humbly like to add Paul Giamatti.
Jude Law.
One of these years, he’ll be in every movie that’s produced. Should guarantee him a win.
Actually, I think he’s a damn fine actor, and he should have won for Cold Mountain. (He didn’t, did he? I forget.)
Scarlett Johansson. But only if she gets off the “Tara Reid Career Track” asap.
Jim Carrey will get one, but only when he’s so old that people will be afraid that he’ll die without ever getting one. The “George Burns in ‘Oh God!’” phenomenon.
I’ll see your Giamatti and I’ll raise you a Buscemi.
Peter Sarsgaard and Christian Bale. Young, incredibly talented, unique, compelling, and virtuosic actors, who have both already proven themselves masters (with Shattered Glass and The Machinist respectively).
William H. Macy
The day Eddie Murphy wins an Oscar will be the day they shut Hollywood down forever.
You do realize that Samuel L. Jackson and Kate Winslet have both been nominated for Oscars, don’t you? Jackson once for Pulp Fiction and Winslet three times.
My picks:
Colin Farrell. I’ve seen a few of his actiony movies and it’s pretty clear that although he’s a wild guy in his public life, he’s an extraordinary actor. Does accents flawlessly, disappears into characters (my biggest compliment to an actor; most of my favorite actors are those who can make me forget that they are acting; we’re not talking Julia Roberts here, but the William H. Macy’s of the world).
John C. Reilly. He’s always going to play supporting, but he’s of the best.
Kate Winslet. Echoing the OP. Probably my favorite female actress today. She’s always believeable. (Except for Holy Smoke. We’ll just forget that one.)
Kevin Bacon. He’s so massively underrated and overlooked it’s unbelieveable. This guy can play anything. I know lots of people can’t stand him and the 6 degrees thing is unfortunate. I admire him. Again, he’s not the leading man type and gets overlooked. He just needs the right part.
Brad Pitt. He hasn’t won yet, has he? Yes, he looks like a boy-toy, but I think he has serious acting grit underneath. Also I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
Of course, I’m assuming that Oscars will go out to the deserving. I guess acting skills aren’t always the reason people win.
I could probably think of a bunch more but it’s late and the triplets will be up in 7 hours.
Karen
I have to second Johnny Depp.
IMHO he’s the best in the business at the moment. He picks his roles wisely.
I wonder if the OP will allow an ancillary question to be added – "Who will be given “Lifetime Oscars in their old age?”
I’ll wait for permission before answering.
Sir Rhosis
Second Peter Sarsgaard. Only a matter of time.
God help me, but Adam Sandler.
You think it’s impossible? Look at Tom Hanks or Jim Carrey. They started their careers playing moronic goofballs and now Tom Hanks is a double-Oscar winner and Carrey has been getting Oscar buzz for a few years now.
Plus, Sandler is staring in “Spanglish”, which looks like he’s still trying for dramatic roles. It’s only a matter of time.
Real Oscar:
Guy Pearce (supporting)
I hope the OP doesn’t mind. These people will win Lifetime Oscars eventually, for longevity in the business, assuming they live into their mid-70s.:
John Travolta
Brad Pitt
Jim Carrey
Patrick Stewart
Kurt Russell
Sir Rhosis
I also realize that Richard Burton was nominated numerous times and never won.
And it kinda looks like the same thing is happening to poor Julianne Moore, a great actress who was nominated for both lead and supporting actress a few years ago (perhaps the kiss of death?), and wasn’t she nominated way back when for Boogie Nights as well?
I thought of a few more potential winners, based upon their entire body of work (no, not their bodies) - Laura Linney, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Bridges, Tom Cruise (hate him, but that’s not relevant to my conjecturing).
And the Lifetime Achievement Award guessing is a great idea. Carry on.
I tell you what - I was thinking the same thing when I read the OP. The question is, will he do it with Drew Barrymore?
[sub](Win the oscar for a movie with Drew. Get your mind out of the gutter, people)[/sub]
Though I thought the trailer was less than impressive, there is good pre-release buzz about both Scorcese and DiCaprio for The Aviator. I’m not the biggest DiCaprio fan (I believe he reserves that title for himself), but I think he is talented.
FWIW, I’ve found awards from the AFI and the various guilds to be better measures of quality than the Oscars.
I’ll second Depp and DiCaprio.
I’ve recently discovered how good the former is and have thought the latter to be one of this generation’s diamonds in the rough for the past couple years. Give him another decade or so and he should have a statue or two.
I doubt Stewart will ever win an Oscar, Sir Rhosis, although Shatner winning an Emmy shows that even the highly improbable, almost impossible can happen in Hollywood so I suppose there’s some small chance of it happening.
^^^Note I said “Lifetime” Oscar. We love to give awards to those who ENUNCIATE. I can see him being wheeled onto stage at age 85 to accept an honorary award for his good loud voice and OTT Britishness.
BTW, do the Emmys have such a “You’ve been around forever, so here’s a crumb, now go home and drool” award?
Sir Rhosis