YouTube/WTOP
Should Win: Barkhad Abdi
If I were voting, I would go with Barkhad Abdi for "Captain Phillips." Abdi could have been a cookie cutter, xenophobic boogeyman, but instead turned his Somali pirate into a sympathetic figure of desperation fueled by globalization. And who doesn't love Abdi's rise from limo driver to Oscar contender?
Could Win: Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender channeled Ralph Fiennes in "Schindler's List" to create a terrifying villain in "12 Years a Slave," leaning on his slaves' heads like fence posts. If "12 Years" goes on a run, you could see Fassbender ride the wave.
Will Win: Jared Leto
Jared Leto is practically a lock for his cross-dressing role in "Dallas Buyers Club." Leto was great years ago in "Requiem for a Dream," but took a hiatus from acting to pursue music. Expect Oscar night to be a triumphant return for Leto.(YouTube/WTOP)
