Our penultimate rundown article this week finds us in the final two acting categories. Today, we cover the Best Actor race and will follow it up tomorrow with Best Actress.

Best Actor

• Javier Bardem – Biutiful
• Jeff Bridges – True Grit
• Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network
• Colin Firth – The King’s Speech (O) (O) (O) (O)
• James Franco – 127 Hours

Runners-Up

• Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network (H)
• James Franco – 127 Hours (H) (H) (R)

KEY:

Wesley Lovell: Before precursors began releasing in early December, conventional wisdom was that this was going to be a nail biter of a race with several high profile nominees duking it out for the prize. Yet, as the dust began settling, it became clear that well respected actor Colin Firth who lost his bid for an Oscar last year to Jeff Bridges would this year triumph over his rival as the speech-impeded reluctant future King of England. With nearly every prize in sight at his formidable feet and with an endearing performance, Firth losing this Oscar would be one of the bigger shocks of the night. While most of the other actors could surprise, I think this year’s Oscar host, James Franco, could be a beneficiary of a King’s Speech backlash. It would certainly be one for the history books.

Peter J. Patrick: Colin Firth is as close to a sure thing as there has ever been in this category. Even those of us who were somewhat disappointed in the film had nothing but high praise for Firth’s George VI.

Tripp Burton: Colin Firth is as much of a sure thing as there is this year, having won most every precursor. Add in that he is a beloved actor who people seem to want to give an Oscar to, and that he is in the newly minted Best Picture frontrunner, and you can bet the mortgage on this one (though please don’t. If James Franco somehow upsets here, I don’t want to feel responsible).