Bradley Cooper’s turn as America’s most lethal military sniper and Reese Witherspoon’s portrayal of a woman on a journey of self-discovery should win this year’s top acting Oscars, in the view of Americans surveyed in the annual Reuters/Ipsos Oscars poll.
Twenty-eight per cent of respondents said Cooper, a four-time Academy Award nominee, should win best actor for his depiction of Navy Seal Chris Kyle, in the Clint Eastwood-directed American Sniper, based on the late Kyle’s autobiography. That was more than the percentage of respondents who saw the movie.
Cooper, 40, is also a producer on the Iraq war film that has become a huge commercial success, while stirring up a heated national debate about the role of snipers, the accuracy of Kyle’s accounts and the Americans’ views of the war.
The Iraq war film has become a huge commercial success while stirring up debate
The second most favoured for best actor is Michael Keaton for his portrayal of a washed-up actor attempting a comeback in Birdman. Twelve per cent of respondents picked him in the online survey of Americans conducted February 9 to 12.
Frontrunner Eddie Redmayne, the British actor who has picked up numerous awards this season for his role as physicist Stephen Hawking, was the first choice for five per cent of respondents, 46 per cent of whom said they were unsure who should win.
In the best actress category, 13 per cent chose Oscar-winner Witherspoon for her lead role in Wild, author Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir of overcoming heartbreak on a solo trek along the gruelling Pacific Coast Trail.
In second place with 12 per cent is Rosamund Pike for her turn as the young wife with a dark side in Gone Girl, director David Fincher’s film based on the bestselling thriller.
Nearly 60 per cent, however, said they were unsure who should win best actress.
The poll previously revealed that American Sniper was the overwhelming favourite to win best picture, with 26 per cent of respondents behind it. It is also the film seen most by respondents, with 22 per cent to 18 per cent for Gone Girl.
The Academy Awards will be handed out on February 22 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, whose 6,100 members will complete voting on February 17.
The poll surveyed 948 Americans online.