Best Actor

THE TIME WAS JUST RIGHT FOR RIZ AHMED

We didn’t realize that Riz Ahmed, 38, was already an established star in the UK in 2016 when he filmed HBO’s The Night Of, in which he played a young man accused of murder. It was a very impressive introduction in the US. (He also happens to be a rapper back home known as Riz MC) He had more film roles here and even more in England in the last few years before Sound of Metal, which we saw during the pandemic on Prime. An excellent little movie. But during an ordinary Oscar year, it probably would have been overlooked with so many bigger more publicized films. So the pandemic WAS helpful, and so was the recent and extreme pressure in Hollywood to embrace diversity. Perfect timing! Riz is the first Muslim nominated for Best Actor. And it IS about time.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA: Riz arriving at the Toronto Film Festival 2019

“THE HURT LOCKER’S” JEREMY RENNER WILL BE NEEDING MORE THAN ONE TUXEDO

This face might not look familiar now, but as the award show season accelerates, he will be EVERYWHERE. (Maybe you remember him as “Dahmer.”) Not a lot of people saw “The Hurt Locker” – perhaps because the subject matter is so painful, but it is easily one of the most important films of the year. We had to literally be dragged to see it and it wasn’t fun, but the movie is brilliant and Jeremy Renner is up for Best Actor in just about every competition. He’s already won The National Film Critics award (as did the movie) and that’s just the beginning.