Yesterday we unveiled our picks for the top contenders in the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories for the upcoming 84th Academy Awards. Today, weâre taking on Best Actor and Best Actress. Though itâs still relatively early in the race, weâve got some surefire contenders and a couple of clear frontrunners for the top acting categories. In addition to Academy darlings like George Clooney and Meryl Streep, weâve seen some extraordinary performances from relative newcomers likes Elizabeth Olsen and Michael Fassbender. As I stressed yesterday, itâs still pretty early so things can definitely change between now and February, but there are certainly some clear frontrunners in these two races already. Hit the jump to see find out how everyone stacks up.Best ActressFrontrunners:Viola Davis â The HelpLikely to be nominated:Meryl Streep â The Iron LadyCharlize Theron â Young AdultTilda Swinton â We Need to Talk About KevinKirsten Dunst â MelancholiaOther contenders: Glenn Close â Albert NobbsElizabeth Olsen â Martha Marcy May MarleneMichelle Williams â My Week with Marilyn Rooney Mara â The Girl with the Dragon TattooThe Best Actress race is largely untested at the moment, with a number of highly anticipated performances still unseen. The undisputed frontrunner here though, and likely winner, is Viola Davis for The Help. She made waves in 2008âs Doubt where she overshadowed the one-and-only Meryl Streep, and now sheâs got a lead performance all her own. Itâs simply the right performance at the right time, and sheâll likely take home the trophy. Speaking of Streep, two tested heavyweights threaten to trump younger actresses in the running: five-time nominee Glenn Close plays a woman disguised as a man in Albert Nobbs, and 16-time nominee Meryl Streep plays Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. So yeah, Close and Streep are surefire contenders in the category with two ballsy performances on display. Reception to both Albert Nobbs and The Iron Lady has been cool, but Close and Streep have picked up considerable heat for their performances. Theyâve also got that whole âseniorityâ thing going for them, as the two are no stranger to the Academy Awards. Streep is the undisputed standout in The Iron Lady, but some are noting that Close gets overshadowed by actress Janet McTeer so sheâs less of a sure thing.Tilda Swinton is also a safe bet for her work in the drama We Need to Talk About Kevin. While sheâs a fantastic actress whoâs been recognized time and again for her fantastic work, I think itâs unlikely that she actually wins, but sheâs too good here to go unrecognized. Jason Reitman has just started screening the drama Young Adult, and early word is that Charlize Theron turns in one hell of a performance. The character is entirely unlikable, so the credit goes to Theron for crafting a performance that can simultaneously draw ire and sympathy. Sheâs an undeniably stellar actress and has been nominated twice before (with one win for Monster), so sheâs got a good shot at a nomination. Also getting recognition is Kirsten Dunst for Lars von Trierâs Melancholia. She won the Best Actress award at Cannes though sheâll have to gain a good deal of steam to stay in the race for long. Elizabeth Olsen is the yearâs breakout actress and is poised to be this yearâs token âyoung relative unknownâ nominee. Her work in Martha Marcy May Marlene is great, but sheâs got plenty of chances ahead of her to take the statue home so sheâs not necessarily a lock. Michelle Williams also has a shot at a nomination with her turn as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn. The film itself isnât exactly grabbing enthusiastic attention, but the consensus seems to be that Williams has transformed herself for the role.Then weâve got a number of untested performances that everyoneâs keeping a close eye on. Jason Reitman has just started screening the drama Young Adult, and early word is that Charlize Theron turns in one hell of a performance. The character is entirely unlikable, so the credit goes to Theron for crafting a performance that can simultaneously draw ire and sympathy. David Fincherâs The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has yet to screen at all, but judging from the trailers actress Rooney Mara has gone above and beyond to play troubled hacker Lisbeth Salander. If Maraâs performance is as intense as it appears to be, expect to see her name shoot up the list once the film opens.My Picks: At the moment I say Davis is a lock for a nomination and an extremely good chance at winning, with Streep, Theron, Swinton, and Mara filling out the category. The possible (and altogether likely) spoilers here are Close and Williams.Best Actor Frontrunners:George Clooney â The DescendantsJean Dujardin â The ArtistLikely to be nominated: Leonardo DiCaprio â J. Edgar Gary Oldman â Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Other contenders:Michael Fassbender â Shame Woody Harrelson â Rampart Brad Pitt â Moneyball This is one of the more crowded categories so far, with a number of fantastic performances to consider. The current heavyweights seem to be George Clooney in The Descendants and Jean Dujardin in The Artist. Clooneyâs performance in Descendants is said to be the best of his career, and Dujardin brings the charm in spades with his silent film turn. Another way too good-looking contender in the mix is Leonardo DiCaprio for his decades-spanning turn as J. Edgar Hoover. Heâs certainly one of the best actors working today, but his performance in J. Edgar has been a tad polarizing. Some find it to be an extraordinary transformation, while others feel the strange accent and distracting make-up result in a less-than-convincing turn. However, itâs worth noting that the pic connected with older critics and the Academy loves actors who commit 1000% to a biopic.Also in the mix is Gary Oldman for the spy drama Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The film has picked up some enthusiastically positive reviews across the pond, and Oldmanâs turn is gathering steam. The actor has been a fixture in the business for a long time and itâs downright criminal that heâs gone this long without a single nomination. Buzz on Oldmanâs performance is great and heâs long overdue, so expect to see him nab his first nod. Woody Harrelsonâs work as a corrupt cop out of control in Rampart is also generating some heat. It appears that Harrelson drives the film, and this could turn out to be a Training Day-esque scenario where pundits are mixed on the movie itself but single out Harrelsonâs extraordinary work. Heâs been nominated twice before and I think he has a chance of getting into the Best Actor race here if he continues to pick up steam.One of the most prolific actors of the year (and for good reason) is Michael Fassbender. His work as a sex addict in Shame is turning lots of heads, and his outstanding performance coupled with an extreme likeability factor could result in his first Oscar nomination. Not to mention the fact that heâs turned in multiple great performances this year. Everybody respects his undeniable talent, so Iâve got a feeling his name will be announced come nomination time. Brad Pitt is also a contender for his stellar work in Moneyball which I thought was one of his best dramatic performances of his career. Itâs an understated role and not particularly flashy, so itâs not exactly a sure thing, but his performance was singled out amongst the many positive reviews the film received in September. However, without an aggressive For Your Consideration campaign to keep him fresh in voters minds, itâs likely that he misses the cut.My Picks: I think Clooney and Dujardin are all but guaranteed nominations, with Oldman, Fassbender, and DiCaprio filling out the rest of the slots. The Dark Horse candidate here is Pitt.Be sure to check back tomorrow when we take a look at a crowded Best Animated Feature race and provide our quick picks for the technical categories (as well as screenplay).