The Gold Standard: Oscar races heating up in acting categories

Forest Whitaker, “Lee Daniels’ The Butler”; Michael B. Jordan, “Fruitvale Station”; Joaquin Phoenix, “Her”; Oscar Isaac, “Inside Llewyn Davis”

Hugh Jackman, “Prisoners”; Idris Elba, “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”; Christian Bale, “Out of the Furnace”; Ethan Hawke, “Before Midnight”; Ralph Fiennes, “The Invisible Woman”; Steve Coogan, “Philomena”

Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”; Christian Bale, “American Hustle”

Mark Wahlberg, “Lone Survivor.” In a movie year filled with survivors’ tales, Wahlberg’s turn as an embattled Navy SEAL in Peter Berg’s upcoming war film is every bit as good as Tom Hanks’ lauded work in “Captain Phillips.” The academy has nominated Wahlberg just once (deservedly for “The Departed”), overlooking performances that were understated (“The Fighter”), iconic (“Boogie Nights”) and marvelously funny (“I Heart Huckabees”). He deserves to be in the conversation.

This category is always competitive, but this year it is crowded beyond belief with great work. Even the narratives behind the performances are exceptional with career-best turns by two 77-year-old actors (Robert Redford and Bruce Dern), as well as Matthew McConaughey’s continued career makeover and the way Joaquin Phoenix once again belongs in any discussion of great acting with his one-two punch of “The Master” and “Her.” When nominations are announced, there will inevitably be talk of snubs. But when the choices are this impossible, someone’s feelings are bound to be hurt.

Brie Larson, “Short Term 12”; Adèle Exarchopoulos, “Blue Is the Warmest Color”; Bérénice Bejo, “The Past”; Kate Winslet, “Labor Day”

Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight”; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Enough Said”; Greta Gerwig, “Frances Ha”; Paulina Garcia, “Gloria”

Amy Adams, “American Hustle”

Louis-Dreyfus, “Enough Said.” No, she doesn’t really need any more awards. But watching Louis-Dreyfus trying to figure out which version of her boyfriend is the one to believe (and invest her heart in) in Nicole Holofcener’s warmhearted comedy once again reminds us that she’s a wonderfully affecting actress as well as a reliably funny one.

The five leading contenders have all won Oscars, either in lead or supporting roles. That’s going to be a tough group to crack, particularly for worthy women like Larson and Exarchopoulos, who don’t have the luxury of being backed by studios with deep pockets.

Daniel Bruhl, “Rush”; James Gandolfini, “Enough Said”; David Oyelowo, “Lee Daniels’ The Butler”; Chris Cooper, “August: Osage County”; Harrison Ford, “42”; Matthew McConaughey, “Mud”

Josh Brolin, “Labor Day”; George Clooney, “Gravity”; Geoffrey Rush, “The Book Thief”; Casey Affleck, “Out of the Furnace”; Jake Gyllenhaal, “Prisoners”

Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”; Jeremy Renner, “American Hustle”; Jonah Hill, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

McConaughey, “Mud.” Yes, he’s winning attention and acclaim right now for his transformative turn in “Dallas Buyers Club.” But that doesn’t mean voters should forget his work earlier this year in Jeff Nichols’ “Mud.” McConaughey was both effortlessly charismatic and believably pathetic as a fugitive returning home on a fool’s errand to reclaim the love of his life. Becoming the 12th actor to win two nominations in the same year would be a fitting way to reward McConaughey’s dedicated career turnaround.

Fassbender, Hanks and Leto head a category that could be significantly overhauled should both David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” and Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” land with the kind of impact of their directors’ best work.

Margo Martindale, “August: Osage County”; Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”; Melissa Leo, “Prisoners”; Sarah Paulson, “12 Years a Slave”

Léa Seydoux, “Blue Is the Warmest Color”; Carey Mulligan, “Inside Llewyn Davis”; Julianne Nicholson, “August: Osage County”; Jennifer Garner, “Dallas Buyers Club”; Adepero Oduye, “12 Years a Slave”

Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”

Scarlett Johansson, “Her.” Academy members resisted Andy Serkis’ motion-capture work in “The Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” It’d be nice, though, if they’d free their minds and nominate Johansson’s delicate and bewitching vocal turn in Spike Jonze’s “Her.” Playing Samantha, a computer operating system with the ability to think and feel, Johansson inhabits one of the year’s most complicated characters. Certainly no one owns a bigger arc.

Newcomer Nyong’o and the ultimate brand name, Oprah, lead the list of potential nominees. Roberts could well earn her first nomination since her 2001 lead actress win for “Erin Brockovich,” though she’ll have to surpass fellow cast member Martindale, a well-liked actress among her peers. Squibb, Hawkins and Spencer delivered three of the most distinctive turns of the movie year, and the trio have earned the, um, privilege of eating their share of chicken dinners at award events in the coming months. Bon appétit!