By Greg Jorgensen
Bangkok, Feb 25 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Nominees: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart; George Clooney, Up in the Air; Colin Firth, A Single Man; Morgan Freeman, Invictus; Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker.

The 2010 Best Actor list is populated with four well-known dramatic heavyweights and one new guy who’s probably still a bit dumbfounded that he’s included among such notaries.

This is a category that’s hard to call, because each one of these performances is a perfect example of the skill and nuance that must be held in front of the camera at all times in order to create such unique characters.

Freeman’s turn as Nelson Mandela was fantastic, but Freeman is always fantastic; for him to win he should be partnered with an equally astounding movie and the press it generates. Invictus was great, but not astounding. Both Firth and Clooney have been generating heat for their performances, but neither one is a breakout role, which leaves the new guy and a Hollywood heavyweight.

Before Hurt Locker, Renner was most recognizable as the bad cop from SWAT, but he knocked it out of the park in 2010 with a subdued but intense performance worthy of his nomination. However, after winning the SAG Award, the Hollywood Foreign Press Award and several rounds of critic’s awards, Jeff Bridges is on a streak, one which will likely finish at the podium on March 7.

Greg Jorgensen has been scouring the back alleys and lurking in the movie theaters of Bangkok since 2001. His biggest regret is getting a Gold Class ticket for Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones.

Who do you think will win the best actor? Let us know via the comments below.