2015 Oscar Predictions: Best Actor – Cumberbatch’s Game Improves, Carell Taps Out

Michael Keaton (Birdman) keeps his #1 ranking here (only receiving 1st and 2nd place votes) but The Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) is making his move, jockeying up 9 points to land at #2 and doing a virtual flip-flop with Steve Carell (Foxcatcher). The once strong contender tumbles nine for 3rd place.

Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) builds on the strength of his film’s reception at the Toronto Film Festival and breaks into the top 5 at #5. Only Erik and David are held back from voting him, opting instead for Unbroken‘s Jack O’Connell and American Sniper‘s Bradley Cooper, respectively.

Jason is the lone holdout in voting for Selma‘s David Oyelowo, but it also falls in line with his lack of confidence in the film across the board. Like David, his fifth spot is for Cooper.