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The early awards season buzz was that George Clooney's performance in Syriana, for which the actor famously scaled Charlize Theron-level heights of self-uglification in the name of his craft, would be submitted for Supporting Actor categories only. No longer, says the Los Angeles Times's The Envelope's GoldDerby blog:

There's an official new category declaration: Clooney's definitely going lead and screening tattletales claim he's got a real shot at winning. Not only does he give a powerhouse perf as a conspiracy-snooping CIA trouper, but Clooney's got that whole body transformation thing going on. Voters love it when pretty stars go ugly, of course, and Clooney accommodates them by growing a scruffy beard, shaving back his hairline and packing on 30 pounds. Entertainment Weekly believes that Syriana will forever "be known as the film that turned the famous Sexiest Man Alive into a walrus."

We believe the correct wildlife term for heavy, bearded gay-bar owners is "bear," not "walrus," and Clooney's Syriana character name, Robert Baer, in this instance acts as a convenient mnemonic aid to that effect. As for his chances, our office pool money (now up to $2!) is always on the unrecognizable mega-star. If Nicole Kidman can win for gluing an Acme Fun Schnoz to her face, Clooney deserves some recognition for sneezing out spinal fluid and adding actual fat.