Honorable Mentions

Hugh Jackman, Prisoners

Steve Coogan, Philomena

Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips

Miles Teller, The Spectacular Now

This was a TIGHT two-man race between Matthew & Joaquin.  This was at once McConaughey's most dynamic and grounded performance to date, by far; but Phoenix brought a delicate vulnerability that I've never seen from him before, which is hard to do via a delightfully quirky characterization such as his in Her.  But because I like to spread wealth, and Joaquin won my Dickie last year for The Master, Matthew won by a hair!  CONGRATS MATT!