Best Actor

Mark 2006 as the year Philip Seymour Hoffman went from “You know … that guy,” to a name people recognize. While he’s built a career giving solid performances in peripheral roles in such acclaimed films as Magnolia and Boogie Nights, Hoffman’s dead-on portrayal of journalist Truman Capote in Capote is finally earning him the recognition he deserves.

Next in line are the brooding performances by Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix in Brokeback Mountain and Walk the Line respectively. While Ledger received much of the early buzz in this category, Brokeback has failed to pick up any major honours for its performances despite all its recognition for the film as a whole. It’s the opposite story with Phoenix, whose hype has only grown following his Golden Globe win for best lead performance in a musical or comedy.

To Terrence Howard and David Strathairn we say, “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Though Howard’s breakout performance as a pimp-turned-rapper in Hustle & Flow is earning him some much deserved respect, his nomination alone came as a minor surprise – making a win unlikely. As for David “who’s that?” Strathairn, despite excellent reviews and a perfect nomination record, he lacks the name recognition necessary to take home the Oscar.