6. Steve Carell - Foxcatcher
The Film: Based on Olympic Wrestling Champion Mark Schultz's autobiography, revolving around John E. duPont (Steve Carell), who ends up murdering his long-time friend, Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo).
Why He Could Win: It's an utterly demented and totally different role for Carell to be playing; the real duPont was a paranoid schizophrenic multimillionaire, and so gives the actor a chance to harness both his comic and dramatic chops all at once. Though roles in the likes of Little Miss Sunshine have proven that Carell can play it straight, he's never had a premise as meaty and as potentially dark as this. Plus, Carell is well-liked throughout the industry, so who wouldn't want to give the guy a gong?
Other Talent: Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave, Oscar nominees Bennett Miller (director), Dan Futterman (writer) & Mark Ruffalo.