We’ve officially hit the new year, a fresh slate with nothing to define it. And before anything has the chance to leave its mark, we do what we always do — look backward. During award season, pop culture decides what to remember about the previous year.
Whether you have a genuine appreciation for the art of cinema, use Letterboxd as a means of getting a hot date, oddly enjoy watching a ceremony full of individuals who have infinitely more money than you or you couldn’t care less, you’ve likely seen the clip of Ke Huy Quan’s heartfelt acceptance speech at the 95th Academy Awards.
Quan transformed what it means to win an Oscar in just six words: “Mom, I just won an Oscar!” It transformed from a golden statue into an embodiment of the people and the work that brought the art to the spotlight. This March, another group of artists will have the chance to take home an Oscar.
You may gravitate toward one category over another, but I’ve always been most curious about the best performances. It’s also become tradition to guess who will win what, so here are my predictions for the winner of Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners” [BOLD]
In “Sinners,” Michael B. Jordan was tasked to do twice the work by playing twins and he rose to the occasion. When Jordan first appeared on screen, I immediately looked up how production managed to make the twins’ appearance look seamless. It turned out to be an interesting combination of classic cinema techniques like the split-screen approach and impressive new technology like the halo rig, which works as it sounds.
They strapped a halo like contraption onto the actor’s head, which has somewhere between 10 to 12 cameras positioned around the ring. These cameras captured a 3D model of the actor’s head, allowing it to be superimposed onto a stunt double. This enabled the team to film certain scenes that otherwise would’ve been impossible if they had solely utilized the split-screen technique.
And while Jordan certainly captivates and his dual role is impressive, it is undeniable that post-production plays a significant role in bringing the role to life. Additionally, his performance didn’t move me as much as I had hoped. I found myself craving more emotion, something with greater impact, considering the movie centers around the twin dynamic. But the writing consisted of one-liners that, to me, didn’t quite land. For those reasons, despite a compelling effort, I do not believe Jordan will take home the award this year.
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another” [BOLD]
The next nominee, Leonardo DiCaprio, is notorious for falling short at the Oscars despite an array of remarkable performances. However, DiCaprio finally broke the curse with “The Revenant” at the ceremony in 2016, where he gave one of his best performances. Will DiCaprio once again break the curse of not winning an Oscar that took him over 20 years to shake?
This year, with “One Battle After Another,” DiCaprio had the chance to show the world that this so-called “curse” was never real to begin with. He certainly has a chance, with a role perfectly suited to him. At this point in his career, it feels picture-perfect for DiCaprio to play a deadbeat revolutionary.
It certainly isn’t a flashy performance. DiCaprio leans into his small expressions and clear signs of tension, such as constant body movement or the dire need to smoke or hit his vape and it certainly makes the viewer feel uneasy as well. While DiCaprio certainly did perform very well, considering he’s had far superior performances and lost before, I don’t expect him to take home an award this year.
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon” [BOLD]
If a midlife crisis is in my destiny, I hope to do it the way Ethan Hawke does in “Blue Moon.” Portraying songwriter Lorenz Hart, Hawke captures the struggles of a man who finds himself trapped in an uncomfortable present as he tries so desperately to cling to the past — a time in which he was considered a titan of the musical industry.
Hart is a broken — yet somehow extremely self-absorbed — man and Hawke doesn’t make the two qualities feel contradictory, but instead unifies them into one. It’s through Hawke’s vivid facial expressions, up-and-down tone and professional “yapping” skills that the character is deemed fragile, without entirely stripping him of his ego. I believe Hawke does an outstanding job in this role and he is a strong contender for Best Actor in a Leading Role. However, he certainly has some competition.
Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent” [BOLD]
Because his 2024 film “Civil War” was so great, I was eager to watch Wagner Moura as the lead in “The Secret Agent,” something I believe he was destined to do. Moura delivers an extremely convincing performance of a man under constant threat, yet never lets the audience forget he’s human.
He’s not necessarily some badass who will take out anyone that comes his way. He’s simply human, allowing the audience to easily sympathize with his character. When confronted with a real threat, he acts in a way I think anyone would. You can see the fear visually, not through his actions or his dialogue, but in his face.
For me, there’s a particular scene that comes to mind. Moura’s character has a shot of whiskey with those he has recently started to consider family after realizing he’s in danger. When he acknowledges the threat from the group, he learns that many others among the group are experiencing the same thing.
While the audience realizes Moura plays the lead role, he also acts in a way that he could be any one of those other members of the group. He doesn’t necessarily stand out, but that’s the point. While I notice and expect Moura to progress as an actor, I’m just not sure the role was impactful enough, especially if portraying a raw version of humanness. Thus, while Moura certainly does an excellent job, I do not expect him to take home an award this year.
Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme” [BOLD]
Will the winner of White Boy of the Year from NBA player Anthony Edwards’ Believe That Awards take home the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role this year?
Timothée Chalamet has been on a hot streak lately and, following the release of the highly anticipated “Marty Supreme,” it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. In the film, Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, an arrogant, self-absorbed, cocky young man who does not hesitate to use others to get what he wants.
If Mauser were real, he very well would be a living nightmare. However, as the film progresses — though Mauser is still incredibly immature — the audience begins to see cracks in the character. While his character does begin to change, it is ultimately left up to the audience to decide the extent of that change, a very compelling feature of the film that Chalamet delivers exceptionally well by leaning into the little things.
Throughout, the audience can see raw emotion on his face in each scene. It’s a performance that doesn’t exactly feel like one. I believe some of the best performances come not just from actions, but through expression and the little things. Therefore, I certainly believe that Chalamet is a frontrunner to win Best Actor in a Leading Role this year.
Even though only five people were lucky enough to be nominated for this award, it’s important to note all the art that circulated around the globe this past year and to continue to appreciate the craft of making it. While I look forward to what’s in store for 2026, for now, let us declare a winner for Best Actor in a Leading Role for 2025.
For me, it is a tight race between Hawke and Chalamet. While both actors give compelling performances, it would be a stupid decision to go against the wave that is Chalamet. At the 98th Academy Awards, I expect that Chalamet will finally be considered one of the greats. Stay tuned, as next time, we will predict the winner of Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Ronan Goddard is a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law. [ITALICS]
Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the staff editorial. [ITALICIZE]