For our twelfth Rundown article, we have an award that, until recently, was quite the competition. After the jump, you’ll find our winner and runner-up predictions for Best Actor as well as general commentary about the race. Tomorrow, we’ll cover the only top tier prize where there’s still a doubt as to who will win.

Best Actor

Winner Predictions

• Demian Bichir – A Better Life
• George Clooney – The Descendants (New)(R)
• Jean Dujardin – The Artist (New)(R) (New)(R)
• Gary Oldman – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy
• Brad Pitt – Moneyball

Runner-Up Predictions

• Jean Dujardin – The Artist (R)
• Gary Oldman – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy (R)
• Brad Pitt – Moneyball (R)

(color and symbol key at bottom of page)

Wesley Lovell: What was once a two-man race has suddenly shifted gears positioning an also-ran as the presumptive favorite. After wins from both the Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy Awards, Jean Dujardin has steadily risen as the nominee to beat. George Clooney and Brad Pitt duking it out for the heartthrob vote will result in neither taking the prize and allowing the hot foreign comic to take the prize. Of course, we could see a sudden reversal at the last minute if they feel they are being pressured to recognize Dujardin. However, with Best Picture resting solely on Dujardin’s capable hands, not giving him the prize might seem like an insult. After all, what would the film have been without him?

Peter J. Patrick: I think Jean Dujardin’s charm will win the day with dark horse Gary Oldman a long-shot possible upset winner. I don’t think either George Clooney or Brad Pitt gave us anything really new in their respective films and aren’t likely to make it to the podium despite their early prominence in the race. Demian Bichir is along for the ride.

Tripp Burton: The smart money right now is on Dujardin, who seems to be taking every award in sight for his silent performance in The Artist. Still, I can’t help but feel that one of the two Hollywood megastars will finally win their Best Actor prize next Sunday night. Clooney has the Golden Globe victory and a writing nomination, while Pitt has the critics’ awards and a producing nomination. My guess is Clooney wins this time around, but Dujardin or Pitt wouldn’t shock me.

KEY: