Oscars 2012: Key scenes that made Academy Awards voters take notice
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What made Academy voters take notice?
Oscar Contenders
Film producers point to their nominees' key scenes
Best Actor
Click on images to watch key scenes.
Brad Pitt
"Moneyball"
As the real-life Billy Beane, general manager of the struggling, cash-poor Oakland A's, producer Mike De Luca says Pitt "tees up the entire ending" in his post-victory speech.
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Gary Oldman
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
As veteran spy George Smiley, Oldman recounts his first meeting with his greatest adversary. Producer Robyn Slovo calls the scene, in which the camera never strays from Smiley's face, "spellbinding."
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George Clooney
"The Descendants"
As Matt King, Clooney stands before his comatose wife as the machines keeping her alive are turned off. Producer Jim Burke calls the performance a "confluence of emotion and vulnerability."
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Demián Bichir
"A Better Life"
As struggling gardener Carlos Galindo, Bichir imparts his wisdom to his son in a quiet, steady manner that hit audiences hard. Before shooting, director-producer Chris Weitz had jokingly called it "the Oscar scene."
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Jean Dujardin
"The Artist"
As silent film actor George Valentin, Dujardin wordlessly moves from "comedy to vulnerability" in an early scene from the movie-within-a-movie. Executive producer Richard Middleton calls the work "compelling."
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Best Actress
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Viola Davis
"The Help"
As Aibileen, a long-suffering Southern maid, Davis' strength is hidden until she calls her nemesis a "godless woman." Co-producer Chris Columbus said he knew then he was "in the presence of greatness."
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Glenn Close
"Albert Nobbs"
As a woman living as a man in 19th century Ireland, Close plays butler Albert Nobbs, with "restraint and invisibility," said producer Bonnie Curtis. "To be able to pull that off to the length she does is unbelievable."
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Meryl Streep
"The Iron Lady"
As an aging Margaret Thatcher, Streep faces her fading years. Producer Damian Jones calls a scene at her doctor's office "thought provoking and full of wisdom." "She just nailed it," he said.
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Michelle Williams
"My Week With Marilyn"
As Marilyn Monroe, Williams never slips into parody -- making the icon by turns likable and sexy, damaged and delightful. When she tells a young film assistant to call her Marilyn, producer David Parfitt says "that's the moment they connect."
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Rooney Mara
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
As hacker Lisbeth Salander, Mara needs no words as she watches her lover with his arms around another woman. "That final look on her face tells you everything she's going through," said producer Ceán Chaffin.
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Credits| Interviews: Randee Dawn | Production: Emily Christianson, Lily Mihalik and Jevon Phillips | Programming and design: Armand Emamdjomeh/@emamd, Stephanie Ferrell, Lily Mihalik/@mazet
Los Angeles Times photography by Liz O. Baylen (Brad Pitt); Jay L. Clendenin (George Clooney and Glenn Close); Carolyn Cole (Gary Oldman); Ricardo DeAratanha (Jean Dujardin); Robert Gauthier (Viola Davis and Michelle Williams); Kirk McKoy (Demián Bechir and Meryl Streep) and Jennifer S. Altman / For the Times (Rooney Mara)