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Alec
Baldwin
The Cooler
is intense performance as Shelly
Kaplow, the oh-so-nasty casino boss in The Cooler is the
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first to net him an Oscar nomination despite
years in the business. Baldwin presents a portrait of a violent Director of
Operations at the Shangri-La Hotel whose personality runs hot and cold,
bouncing from vicious to sentimental. Often cast as a lead, Baldwin seems to
relish his supporting role to
William H. Macy’s Bernie Lootz. His energetic turn as this ruthless
operator may give him an edge on Oscar night as well as reestablish his
presence in Hollywood.
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Benicio
Del Toro
21 Grams
lready an Oscar winner for his
performance in Traffic
(2000), Del Toro may score big again for his
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role as an abusive ex-convict. In this stark,
character-driven drama, Del Toro is electrifying as Jack Jordan, a man who has
found religion, only to question why he believed, when he is involved in a
horrific traffic accident he is responsible for causing. "He has to re-evaluate
everything he believed in," says Del Toro. His portrayal as a man wracked with
guilt and remorse could easily make him a winner again.
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Djimon
Hounsou
In America
oviegoers first noticed Hounsou in
his memorable role as Cinque, leader of the slave revolt,
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in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad. He
delivers another intense performance as the intimidating artist dying of AIDS
who lives downstairs from the central family in the dramatic In America.
Though his door is covered in warning signs, Christy and Ariel, the two little
girls who live above him (Sarah and Emma Bolger) don’t let that stop them from
befriending him. Hounsou told Tribute it was easy for him to relate to
the film since he too had come to America to pursue a dream. "I came alone
without any family members, so it was an extremely challenging journey. I felt
that essence in this story."
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Tim
Robbins
Mystic River
s Dave Boyle, Robbins paints a
portrait of an emotionally scarred man, haunted by a devastating
childhood
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trauma. He nearly steals
the film out from under the rest of the heavyweight cast, including fellow
nominee Sean Penn.
With shoulders perpetually hunched and brow furrowed, he creates a visual image
of a tormented man in pain. Speaking about working with such a great cast,
Robbins told Tribute, "You wake up in the morning and you really look
forward to going to work." His controlled performance could explode for Robbins
and win him the gold. This is Robbins’ first acting Oscar nod. He also received
a Best Director nomination for Dead Man Walking in 1995.
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Ken
Watanabe
The Last Samurai
hough Watanabe has been playing
samurais in Japanese movies and television shows for many years, the role
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of warlord Katsumoto is his first part in an
American film. It certainly won’t be his last. Director
Edward Zwick chose him for the role of the ancient warrior who befriends
Captain Nathan Algren (Tom
Cruise), because he projects a quiet intensity, while still managing to
be intimidating, powerful and ferocious. "It was a complex role and Ken
delivered a performance of deep emotionality, humor and great poise," said
Zwick. "I cannot imagine the movie without him." This is Watanabe’s first Oscar
nomination.
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