Pro: He's in a number of movies this year, which is hugely beneficial for keeping the profile big. In David Chases's film, he plays the conservative father to John Magaro's free spirit son, a forthright, hard worker who wants security for his boy. But there are sparks of regret that make the character more dynamic and could cause boomer members to relate, or at the very least, remember someone similar. Perhaps their own father?

Con: The movie is pretty small and could get lost in the fray of bigger titles. Also, having three other performances eligible in the category leaves Gandolfini ripe for vote splitting as much as it may raise his profile, and 'Not Fade Away' won't be the last impression he leaves this year.

- Kristopher Tapley