Don Cheadle for Hotel Rwanda
PRO: Hard-working character actor in Oskar Schindler-like role, saving Tutsi people from genocide; Academy voters hear word "Tutsi" and have fond association with vision of Dustin Hoffman in drag
CON: End credit song "Tu-Tu-Tutsi Goodbye" seems highly inappropriate
Johnny Depp for Finding Neverland
PRO: Great job in role as boy-loving creative type
CON: Michael Jackson backlash
Leonardo DiCaprio for The Aviator
PRO: Many wish to make it up to Leo for Titanic snub; plus, pulls off portrayal of rich weirdo who made independent movies and dated movie stars: the Quentin Tarantino of his day
CON: Hollywood doesn't think yelling "I want more cameras," is acting; Hollywood doesn't even think it's yelling
Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby
PRO: Most mesmerizing performance of Clint's many-decades-long career
CON: No baby in evidence; waited till end of credits . . . still no baby
Jamie Foxx for Ray
PRO: Gives moving performance while wearing sunglasses; extra goodwill for bravura supporting turn in Collateral
CON: The Ashlee Simpson of this category, he lip-synched half his part
Annette Bening for Being Julia
PRO: Semi-retired Mrs. Warren Beatty waited for a rare choice part; possibility voters will see "Julia" and think "Roberts"
CON: Small movie without draw of abortions or condom-swallowing; musty, Masterpiece Theatre-lite costume drama screams "vanity project"
Carolina Morena for Maria Full of Grace
PRO: Makes you feel better about your own crappy but non-condom swallowing job
CON: If your job does involve swallowing condoms, it seems a little trite
Imelda Staunton for Vera Drake
PRO: Label-conscious academy voters think they're picking their favorite designer, Vera Wang
CON: As William Donohue noted, Hollywood loves abortions, but where, oh where, is the anal sex?
Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby
PRO: She beat out Annette Bening five years ago (Boys Don't Cry vs. American Beauty); with this Golden Globe-winning performance, she'll do it again
CON: She's played men, she's played women who want to be men, she's played women who beat up other women. When is Swank going to admit it? She's Blake Edwards!
Kate Winslet for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
PRO: Fetching as always in year's most beautifully lit movie
CON: Something about it not quite . . . memorable
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