The latest rankings place both stars ahead of Andrew Scott, John Malkovich and John Turturro, setting up an early contest that brings together major stars and ambitious performances. According to Variety, its Awards Circuit predictions reflect the current state of the awards race and are subject to change as the season develops.
Tom Cruise and Matt Damon Set the Pace for a Competitive Oscar Race
Cruise sits at No. 1 in the latest prediction for his performance in “Digger,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s upcoming satirical black comedy. The film casts Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a wealthy oil tycoon who attempts to present himself as humanity’s savior while dealing with the consequences of a disaster he helped create. Warner Bros. Pictures is scheduled to release the production on October 2.
Source: IMDb
The project also marks Cruise’s collaboration with Iñárritu, who directed the Oscar-winning “Birdman” and “The Revenant.” The ensemble includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.
Damon ranks second for his work in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” The epic adaptation of Homer’s poem features Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca who attempts to return home after the Trojan War. The film also stars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya and Charlize Theron.
“The Odyssey” has already established itself as a major commercial and critical success. Following its July theatrical release, the title has grossed more than $1.1 billion worldwide and become Nolan’s highest-grossing movie.
The rest of the current top five includes Andrew Scott in “Elsinore,” John Malkovich in “Wild Horse Nine” and John Turturro in “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.” Variety’s rankings are updated weekly and are intended to represent the state of the competition rather than definitive outcomes.
