I'm just going to post a link to Sasha Stone's 'Unpacking Best Actor' article from Awards Daily. She says this about Michael's performance in Steve Jobs:
What Fassbender does with his role in Steve Jobs is nothing short of one of the most vibrant, exciting works by any actor this year. You can say he doesn’t resemble Steve Jobs. You can say you don’t like the character. But you can’t say it isn’t one of the best performances of the year. He’s brutal. He pulls no punches and you can’t take your eye off of him. So if you’re going to say he isn’t even going to be nominated? I’m going to need a little more reason than box office.
And she's right. At the present, until the Fassbender Fans report in to this poll (hint), Leo is in the lead in this fun cinephile fan poll. But Fassbender is a close second. Emotional fatigue of being taunted by Oscar for over a decade has made fans pull behind Dicaprio, and I sure as hell don't blame them, but these same people cannot deny the utter brilliance of Fassbender - they can try, but they will fail.
Nearly every nomination that Leonardo Dicaprio has received, I have supported him, prayed for him, and wished he would win. So that's why it's going to hurt this year too see him lose again, as well as it would be painful to see Michael lose when he so rightfully would deserve to win, fair and square. I'm anxious to see Leo in The Revenant next month, a dreary old timey Western revenge story on steroids. I already know this is going to be a blockbuster, because, it's starring Leonardo. No one has seen The Revenant yet, but all those who staunchly support Leo have already voted him as the best actor. How can they do that? Just blind faith I guess. How many of those Leo blind supporters will actually go see Jobs or Macbeth, if just to truly compare both performances? Probably not many. The fan bases of Dicaprio and Fassbender could not be more different than oil and water.
But I have seen Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs, AND I'm going to see him in Macbeth sometime in December. Voters in the Academy will have TWO Michael Fassbender films to view which will help them determine if this Irish/German kid deserve to win on just his second nomination, or if Leonardo deserves to win because he should have two Oscars by now.
Sigh... Our Lord Savior, please help me through this award season. Amen!