The candidates for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (aka Best Actor) for the 80th Annual Academy Awards are:

1. George Clooney for Michael Clayton.
2. Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood.
3. Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
4. Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah.
5. Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises.

In reflection, I’m surprised to realize that I’ve only seen Daniel Day-Lewis from the above list. He was incredible as a ruthless “oil man”. I’ve seen Day-Lewis in other films including My Left Foot, and he is a consummate actor. He deserves to be on this list.