Hey, Oscar voters, don't forget these fabulous performances for nominations

Oscar voters have until Friday to finish their ballots for the big Academy Awards nominations announcement on Jan. 23, and soon we'll find out who are the next talented actors to be up for Hollywood's biggest prize.

Now, sadly, we don't have much of a say in who gets nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. But collectively our movie team watches a lot of films, and while we agree that Adrien Brody's pretty darn great in "The Brutalist" and Zoe Salda?a is one of the best parts of "Emilia Pérez," there's a bunch of performances that stand out among 2024's best. And, yep, we can get passionate defending our favorites.

Here are 10 fabulous performances we hope won't be overlooked next week:

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Monica Barbaro, 'A Complete Unknown'

Asking an actress who has never really sung or played guitar to portray folk icon Joan Baez is like asking an unathletic actor to transform into Michael Jordan. And yet Barbaro jumped at the Sisyphean challenge in James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.” Her resulting performance is not only a striking facsimile of Baez’s soaring soprano but also a heart-wrenching look into Baez’s doomed relationship with her discovery-turned-shooting star Dylan (Timothée Chalamet). Cinematic tributes to living legends don’t get better than Barbaro's. ? Marco della Cava

Daniel Craig, 'Queer'

The former James Bond has been cruising toward his first Oscar nomination all season long, picking up numerous nods for his heart-crushing turn as a lustful, lovelorn alcoholic in “Queer.” But Craig’s date with Oscar could be in jeopardy after being snubbed by the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), an oft-reliable bellwether for future awards glory. Let’s hope that was just a speed bump: In “Queer,” Craig has sweltering chemistry with co-star Drew Starkey, subtly conveying all the hurt and confusion of longing to truly connect. – Patrick Ryan

Hugh Jackman, 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

He's been an Oscar nominee before, he'll be an Oscar nominee again, but this is probably the only time it could involve pummeling Ryan Reynolds to the "Grease" soundtrack and skewering a legion of Deadpools with a classic Madonna needle drop. Jackman was Wolverine way before Marvel superheroes were super-duper cool, and his comic-book comeback isn't just the usual tights-and-fights fare. Jackman fills his grumpy clawed icon with rage, guilt and snark, plus a bit of mischief, and is an f-bombing joy to behold. If we're seriously talking nominating "Wicked" witches, throwing an adamantium bone to the Wolverine is a no-brainer. – Brian Truitt

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, 'Hard Truths'

In a just world, Jean-Baptiste would be a surefire best actress nominee for her astounding tour de force in “Hard Truths,” Mike Leigh’s slice-of-life drama about an ornery middle-aged woman named Pansy who has shut herself off from the world. The British veteran is a riot in the movie’s first third, as Pansy daggers unwitting strangers with her poison-tipped insults. But Jean-Baptiste slowly pulls the rug out to reveal a forlorn human being, imbuing the character with palpable pain as she breaks down and confides in her sister (the magnificent Michele Austin). – Ryan

Gabriel LaBelle, 'Saturday Night'

“Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels has been spoofed endlessly by his famous cast, who affect his nasally tone and almost blasé attitude. But LaBelle had the difficult task of playing Michaels straight in “Saturday Night,” Jason Reitman’s frenetic re-creation of the first episode. LaBelle anchors the movie with a measured yet driven spirit that effectively telegraphs how Michaels has held the reins of this juggernaut for a half-century and counting. LaBelle has a knack for playing famous folks as youth – including a convincing Steven Spielberg in “The Fabelmans” – and deserves a nod for portraying the calm eye of a comedy hurricane. – della Cava

Clarence Maclin, 'Sing Sing'

When the magnetic Maclin shows up opposite Colman Domingo, you can only think one thing: "Who's this guy?" This guy, this absolute force of nature, happens to be the best story of awards season. "Sing Sing" follows a group of convicts finding art and fellowship in a prison theater program, and Maclin is an alumnus who gets the chance to show his stuff. And that he does as Divine Eye, a hard case recruited by Domingo's wise Divine G to participate in a new play. The reluctant thespian blossoms onscreen as Maclin's own star is born as a fresh face you won't soon forget. – Truitt

Katy O'Brian, 'Love Lies Bleeding'

O'Brian has an impressive body of work – and we're not talking about the relative newcomer's increasingly interesting filmography. Who else in Hollywood could match the distinctive muscular look of a queer bodybuilder who falls for a lesbian gym manager (Kristen Stewart) on the way to a competition? But as the heart and soul of the 1980s-set noir revenge thriller, O'Brian's can't-miss turn goes more than skin deep. A natural for the film's dangerously pulpy romance, she brings real gravitas to a troubled drifter trying to outrun her past only to walk right into a truly bizarre and bloody situation. – Truitt

Adam Pearson, 'A Different Man'

Sebastian Stan won a Golden Globe for the criminally underseen “A Different Man,” portraying an aggrieved, disfigured actor who undergoes a life-changing facial procedure. But it’s Pearson who runs away with the movie, swooping in midway through as an Austin Powers-esque hotshot who beguiles everyone he meets. It’s a dazzling showcase tailor-made for Pearson’s sharp wit and innate charisma, subverting Hollywood tropes around disability with a character who’s always the coolest guy in the room. – Ryan

Margaret Qualley, 'The Substance'

Demi Moore is Oscar-worthy in “The Substance,” playing a fading star named Elisabeth Sparkle who takes extreme measures to reclaim her youth. But the gutsy horror satire would fall apart without the equally audacious Qualley, who brilliantly respects the balance as Elisabeth’s perkier, brattier alter ego Sue. Qualley nails the film’s deadpan humor and bonkers physical demands but also brings startling pathos and desperation to a woman teeming with self-loathing. She should clinch every supporting actress trophy imaginable for that third-act earring scene alone. – Ryan

Fernanda Torres, 'I'm Still Here'

The Brazilian acting legend was a surprise winner at the Golden Globes, where she bested A-listers Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman for best drama actress. But her triumph isn’t shocking to those who've seen the Portuguese-language film “I’m Still Here,” in which she brings steely resolve and quiet grace to the wife of a kidnapped political dissident. It’s far less showy than most performances in this year’s race, although, with an increasingly international voting body, the Academy would be foolish not to recognize Torres’ sneakily shattering work. – Ryan

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oscar voters, please nominate these 10 extraordinary performances