Ok, don't get me wrong, Jamie Foxx was great in Ray, but I don't understand why every time they talk about the Oscars on TV, right after they talk about what Chris Rock will do, its nothing but "Jamie Foxx is a shoe in" "If Jamie Foxx doesn't win its a travesty!!!" Where did all this come from? Like I said, he was great, but was he really so great to just forget about the other nominees?? I have a suspicion that this hype was purely created by the media so that when Don Cheadle wins they can a) talk for a few days about how Jamie Foxx got screwed over then b) talk for a few more days about how far we've come now that two black actors were battling for such a high award.

Anyways enough with the rambling...so does anyone else share my feeling, that Jamie Foxx really shouldn't be considered a shoe in? I think its kind of odd that 4 of the 5 up for Best Actor (Don Cheadle, Johnny Depp, Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio) all played real life people. Has that ratio of nominees happened before? Of all of them Don Cheadle was the best. I know its a personal opinion, but his performance just did it for me over everyone else.

Ray Charles is more known than Paul Rusesabagina was to the general masses. Ray Charles died last year. Ray Charles was blind.

Jaime Foxx is considered a Shoe in because he pretty much won every other award leading up to the Oscars.

"Hype created by the media"

Considering what your name is, I really am surprised that you would even bother bringing up what television can do to ones impression of a character. Jaime Foxx also has a Will Smith level of charm. In the other awards shows he has lite up the crowd when he got on stage, That is exactly what awards voters want. To expect the voters to sway a different way is not logical. Chris Rock had a bit about "The Media". The Media isn't creating some false hype behind it. You have your factors to why Ray Charles and anyone who plays Ray Charles (very well, mind you) would win this.

This is an opinion. Do not try to pass it off as fact. Don Cheadle was good. All of the nominees were good. But when it comes down to it. The race is well out of the hands of both Depp and Cheadle and if anyone has a chance for it besides Foxx, it would be Leo or Eastwood. But given the track record of how many Foxx has won leading up to Oscar night, it is Foxx as a lock.

I think Don Cheadle is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. That said, I don't think Hotel Rwanda has been his best work.

Plus, I agree with Jack in that more people know who Ray Charles is and he has a lot of sentimental backing with his recent death. Plus, since Charles was more well known, more people can recognize how well Foxx transformed himself into Charles.

Just remember that a few weeks ago, the same pundits and prognosticators were saying that Paul Giamatti was a lock for a nomination and would be a serious contender for the award.

Though I don't think Cheadle has a chance (though I think he's one of the most underrated actors around) if there is to be a Foxx upset, I really hope it's by Cheadle.

I've been rooting for Cheadle ever since seeing Hotel Rwanda and, while Foxx was great, I didn't change my mind after seeing Ray. But I don't think Cheadle really has much of a chance. Best Actor was such a strong category this year that they could have had ten more than deserving nominations and three or four deserving winners.

Been liking him since Out of Sight.

i liked him in boogie nights.

Cheadle so deserves it. Hotel Rwanda is an amazing movie. But I've accepted that he won't win.

Don Cheadle has been incredible in everything I've seen him in. He truly should win the Oscar this year. Don't get me wrong, I felt that Foxx was awesome in Ray however, Don's body of consistently outstanding work Vs. Jamie's body of mediocre work with three stand out performances (Ali, Collateral, Ray) clearly puts Cheadle in the lead in my book.

I was impressed by Cheadle back when he was in Picket Fences, and after seeing Hotel Rwanda, I'm completely rooting for him to win. I doubt he will though; he doesn't have the 'press the flesh' talent of Foxx, who has been on every awards show and talk show lately this side of cable access.

Hey man I'm you with you, I would love to see Don Cheadle win but it just ain't gonna happen.

I liked him in "Boogie Nights" but it has bothered me that when he is in other movies (like Oceans 11) his name is never mentioned and he is largely ignored.

Why are you saying Im trying to pass saying "Of all of them Don Cheadle was the best" as fact and not opinion?? Did you even bother to read my whole post? The next thing I say is "I know its a personal opinion..."

Out of Sight, Boogie Nights, Traffic...Don Cheadle gets an Oscar nom and still gets no love. Oh well, he's still one of my favorite actors.

So a bunch of great roles and an oscar nomination equals getting no love? Isn't an Oscar nomination for a movie he had the starring role in, I don't know, a good thing and a recognition of his work? I may be missing something...

You may have said that, but you keep on going on and on about how he is getting no love, and Jaeufraser makes a good point. Critical praise and Oscar Nomination in itself are grounds that he is getting much love. If there is anyone we should be bitching about getting assed out and not recieving that "love" it's Paul Giamatti. But glad you didn't find any fault in the other logical connections I made as to why Don will not win tonight.

Perhaps I was blinded by that whole Media conspiracy theory to notice.

Don't forget Devil in a Blue Dress and A Lesson Before Dying. Such a great actor. So unappreciated.

I thought Don Cheadle was superb in The United States of Leland, but he seems to rapidly getting typecast into those kind of roles now.

When I was talking about getting no love I was thinking in terms of just the 5 nominees, not acting in general. You're right the nomination itself is getting love, but after the nomination its like he got lost in the shuffle as everyone singled out Jamie Foxx as the clear cut winner. I guess this can be traced to Hotel Rwanda being rather small compared to the other pictures the Best Actor nominees represent, not to mention Cheadle going up against popular figures like Depp and DiCaprio as well as a classic figure like Eastwood. I wouldn't like it to be so, but I can understand how Cheadle ends up lost among the other stars.

Anyways, when talking about getting no love in general, I'm with you. Paul Giamatti definitely gets no love. He's got a great body of work with little recognition so far. If it were up to me Johnny Depp wouldn't have been a nominee and Giamatti would be instead. Hmmm I wonder if there is a space for write in nominees on the Oscar ballot?

I haven't even seen Hotel Rwanda and I was rooting for Cheadle, more because I have always thought Cheadle was underated, and have liked him in everything i have seen him in. I think if anyone shouldn't have been nominated it is Eastwood (for best actor), and Giamatti should have gotten the nomination instead.

Haven't seen Ray so I can't comment on Foxx.

I remember first seeing him as "Rocket" on Colors. Scary guy.

I'll always think of him as the DA on Picket Fences. He was great on that show.

Don't forget the promos Cheadle cuts for the NFL.


He was my favorite character in Boogie Nights.

He's still not talked about or as hyped nearly as much as the less talented Jamie Foxx. When people mention great African-American actors you will rarely hear Cheadle's name come up.