And the Oscar Goes To…Acting Nominations

Did any particular actor impress you over the course of 2019? Do you have a favorite heading into the Academy Awards?

If you’re wondering which movies you still want to watch prior to the big night, check out our reviews of the films whose cast members have a shot at the acting world’s most coveted golden statuette.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Cynthia Erivo is nominated for her role as Harriet Tubman In Harriet. We consider her role one of the best performances of the year, in a superb family film, highly recommended for teens.

In another family-friendly role, Saoirse Ronan plays the beloved Jo March in Greta Gerwig’s acclaimed adaptation of Little Women.

Renée Zellweger delivers a heartfelt performance as Judy Garland in the biopic, Judy. Not suited for kids, we think this is an excellent movie for adults who appreciate strong dramatic performances.

Charlize Theron undergoes a remarkable transformation in her role as Megyn Kelly in Bombshell. With excessive levels of profanity, we don’t recommend this film for teen viewers, but we believe it has an important message about sexual harassment.

Scarlett Johansson delivers a heartfelt performance in the divorce drama, Marriage Story.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Scarlett Johansson has two shots at an Oscar; her second being as the Nazi-defying mother in Jojo Rabbit.

Kathy Bates plays the mother in Richard Jewell and shines as she fights for her son.

Laura Dern steals the show as the conniving divorce lawyer in Marriage Story.

Florence Pugh is nominated for her role in Little Women, but our editor found her performance unsatisfying.

Margot Robbie depicts a vulnerable young Christian employee in Bombshell, who sees her illusions shredded when she is harassed by Roger Ailes.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Jonathan Pryce is dazzling in his turn as Jorge Bergoglio (the future Pope Francis) in The Two Popes.

Joaquin Phoenix plays The Joker with unhinged menace, in a film that ultimately feels hollow.

Adam Driver watches his life unravel along with his marriage in Marriage Story.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a fading movie star in Quentin Tarantino’s violent, glossy Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood.

Antonio Banderas stars in Pain and Glory, which was not reviewed by our website.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Tom Hanks brings empathy and compassion to his role as Fred Rogers in one of our favorite movies of the year, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

Another of our favorites, The Two Popes, also gives Anthony Hopkins a brilliant role as Pope Benedict XVI.

Netflix’s production, The Irishman, launches two well known cast members into nominations: Joe Pesci and Al Pacino.

Brad Pitt has yet another shot at the golden statuette with his role as a stunt double in Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood.