Nominees: Actor in a Leading Role

  1. Bryan Cranston, “Trumbo”- Bryan Cranston plays Dalton Trumbo, a 1940s screenwriter who has been blacklisted for his communist views. “Trumbo” highlights the struggles of those jailed and blacklisted to survive financially and professionally. This is Bryan Cranston’s first Oscar nomination.
trumbo
Photo Courtesy of Bleeker Street Media
  1. Matt Damon, “The Martian”- Upon being stranded on Mars, Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon is forced to find his own means of survival until the next manned mission to Mars, which won’t be for another four years. This is Damon’s fourth Oscar nomination (“Invictus,” “Good Will Hunting”) “The Martian” is also up for the Oscars for Best Picture, Visual Effects, Sound Editing,Sound Mixing, Production Design, and Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Photo Courtesy of Fox Movies
Photo Courtesy of Fox Movies
  1. Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant” Nominated for 12 other Oscars (Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Picture, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Costume Design, Sound Mixing, Visual effects, Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Sound Editing), “The Revenant” is one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters this year. Lead actor DiCaprio, who has six past nominations under his belt (Actor in a Leading Role, “The Wolf of Wall Street;” Best Picture, “The Wolf of Wall Street; Actor in a Leading Role, “Blood Diamond;” Actor in a Leading Role, “The Aviator;” Actor in a Supporting Role, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”) plays a 19th century frontiersman, Hugh Glass, who is attacked by a bear and left to die by those with him on the expedition.
Photo Courtesy of Fox Movies
Photo Courtesy of Fox Movies
  1. Michael Fassbender, “Steve Jobs” Based on the career of the past Apple CEO, “Steve Jobs” shows both his achievements and inner struggles, dealing with his ego and past relationships that eventually take a toll on his health. In the past, Michael Fassbender has been nominated for Actor in a Supporting Role for “12 Years a Slave.”
  1. Eddie Redmayne, “The Danish Girl”In 1920’s Copenhagen, Eddie Redmayne plays Einar Wegener, one of the first people to undergo sex-reassignment surgery. Transitioning to a woman named Lili Elbe, Redmayne faces both support and prejudice while finding who she is. Redmayne won Actor in a Supporting Role for “The Theory of Everything” in 2014.
Photo Courtesy of Focus Features
Photo Courtesy of Focus Features