9. Benedict Cumberbatch - The Fifth Estate
If you don't know who Benedict Cumberbatch is, you are most likely American, but regardless of your nationality, if you're unfamiliar with the name now, you won't be by the end of this year. Mr. Cumberbtach is scheduled to appear in no fewer than five films that are set for release in 2013, including Oscar hopefuls such as Twelve Years a Slave and August: Osage County, as well as more populist blockbuster fare, such as the imminently approaching Star Trek Into Darkness. Cumberbatch's best shot at Oscar glory this year though will most likely be The Fifth Estate, a biopic about controversial WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange. Cumberbatch stars as the pasty-white Austrailian hacktivist along with Daniel Bruhl, who plays Daniel Domscheit-Berg, WikiLeaks co-founder and former friend of Assange. The film is being written by a former writer for the television series The West Wing, and if that isn't enough to draw comparisons to The Social Network, as did the Aaron Sorkin-penned film, The Fifth Estate is said to focus significantly on the dissolution of friendship between the WikiLeaks co-founders. In other words, it sounds like the type of high drama the could appeal to members of the Academy's acting branch. Another thing working in Mr. Cumberbatch's favor (other than his talent, obviously) is the fact that he is portraying a real life human being. Quickly glance over recent, or even historical, Oscar nominated and winning performances and you will definitely find a bias towards actors playing "non-fiction" roles. If the movie turns out to be a dud, which is a distinct possibility considering Bill Condon (Twilight: Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2) is directing, then Mr. Cumberbatch may end up on the outside looking in. Something tells me though this performance may be able to transcend the film itself.