Early Oscar Contenders: Best Actor

by Helen Earnshaw | 12 September 2013

All Is Lost

Which actors are going to be battling it out for the Oscar in 2014? That is the question on everyone's lips as a wide range of movies have been getting the critics super excited in recent weeks.

We have already look at the possible Best Picture contenders, and now we are looking at the actors who could find themselves in the running; and boy are there some fantastic performances on the horizon.

- Robert Redford - All Is Lost

Robert Redford is back this November with All Is Lost, which looks set to be one of the most challenging films of his career.

J.C. Chandor has penned the screenplay and is in the director's chair, while Redford is the only actor on the cast list.

Redford will play a sailor in the film who must battle to survive after his boat collides with a shipping container.

This is a character movie in the purest sense as we follow Redford's battle for survival and see him stare mortality in the face.

It's a tour de force performance from the actor and it is great to see him delivering this sort of performance.

- Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club

Over the last couple of years we have seen Matthew McConaughey completely change the direction of his career.

Dallas Buyers Club looks set to cement him as a major acting force, as he teams up with Jean-Marc Vallée.

He has lost a whopping 38 pounds to take on the role of Ron Woodroof; a man suffering from Aids. The film follows Woodroof as he starts to bring in medications that are restricted in the U.S.

With Dallas Buyers Club under his belt the revitalisation of McConaughey's career is complete; it is no surprise that everyone is raving about this film.

- Hugh Jackman - Prisoners

Hugh Jackman received his first Best Actor Oscar nomination earlier this year for his performance as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, and he could be on course for a second.

Prisoners will see him return to the big screen as a father whose daughter has been kidnapped. He must decide whether or not to turn to vigilantism in a bid to find her.

Prisoners is a dark and gripping crime drama that sees Jackman deliver another tense and tortured performance.

The movie made its debut at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month and seems to be winning over the critics.

- Leonardo DiCaprio - The Wolf Of Wall Street

It's always exciting when Martin Scorsese teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio for a new film - The Wolf Of Wall Street is their latest project.

The movie is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

DiCpario will take on the role of Belfort and this haa had Oscar project written all over is since it was announced that the two were reuniting.

The Academy love a good biopic performance so don't be surprised to see DiCaprio's name in the mix... but is this finally going to be his year?

- Chiwetel Ejiofer - 12 Years A Slave

Just about everyone is raving about 12 Years A Slave, a movie that sees Steve McQueen return to the director's chair.

The movie tells the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York who is abducted and sold into slavery.

This is another biopic project that I expect to see be a major awards contender and Chiwetel Ejiofer takes on the role of Northup.

It is an unflinching performance from Ejiofer and this looks set to be the role that really propels him to superstardom - he has been there or there about's for a few years.

It's a totally engrossing, brutal and emotional story and the excitement is growing and growing.