Golden Globes 2012 ‘Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama' nominees

Between George Clooney's Descendants and Leonardo DiCaprio's J. Edgar the battle for ‘Best Actor’ in a drama is a tight race. So far in the awards season it appears that the odds on favorites are Clooney and Pitt for his role in Moneyball. However, a few film critics associations have selected Michael Fassbender in the same category as the winner. Clooney has already won a Golden Globe and an Oscar so tonight may be a chance to repeat his success. Pitt had a hit with Moneyball, a sports movie based on a real-life story, but the release of the film coincided with controversial statements he made against Jennifer Aniston. However, Clooney and Pitt are not the only actors vying for the trophy.

Ryan Gosling had quite a year himself with roles in Drive and his nominated work for The Ides of March with Clooney. Even if Gosling did not get named the ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ by People he did get another title from the magazine recently. People declared Gosling the world's hottest boyfriend because he's dating Eva Mendes. Gosling has been a favorite amongst those who consider themselves serious moviegoers since 2004. He has definitely been a more serious actor whose fluid shift from comedy to drama does not go unnoticed. If anything, Gosling could find himself in a dual battle with Michael Fassbender.

Michael Fassbender also had quite the year himself. In 2011 we saw him in five films and each was a very different role. Like Gosling he can switch it up so well that it is hard to typecast him. Fassbender is much newer than Gosling and only recently became a noticeable face in the United States. He previously co-starred with Brad Pitt in Inglorious Basterds in 2009 and this past summer was the younger Magneto in X-Men: First Class. Perhaps the most controversial role in 2011 for Fassbender was in Shame. His sex addict rendition of Brandon was rated NC-17 and had limited release. Despite all that the film did well in the theaters. If anything, the next-generation of serious actors in the league of extraordinary thespians definitely includes Ryan Gosling and Michael Fassbender.

Leonardo DiCaprio is long overdue for an Oscar so it's a good thing he's nominated for J. Edgar. DiCaprio played the legendary law enforcement figure that has been rumored to have been in a homosexual relationship for decades. Leonardo DiCaprio had to age several years to play Hoover from young man to elder statesmen. Directed by Clint Eastwood, J. Edgar brings some interesting character sketches of the larger than life law man. DiCaprio has definitely transformed from the young boy in Titanic to a leading man with flexibility in his acting range.