The French actor bests George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman and Demian Bichir in the hotly contested race. By Ryan J. Downey Jean Dujardin wins Best Actor at the 2012 Oscars Photo: Robyn Beck/ AFP/ Getty Images For several weeks, conventional wisdom foretold that the Best Actor contest would come down to George Clooney (“The Descendants”) and Jean Dujardin (“The Artist”), and Sunday night (February 26), the suspense was finally lifted. And the Oscar went to: Jean Dujardin. Dujardin bested a field that included Clooney’s pal Brad Pitt (“Moneyball”), veteran actor/ first time nominee Gary Oldman (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) and Mexican-born Demian Bichir (“A Better Life”). “The Artist” also took home awards in two other major categories, Best Director and Best Picture. Many viewers snickered when the Oscars announcer teased a commercial break by saying, “With no clear favorite, anyone could win” leading into the bigger awards. Several of the winners at the 84th Annual Academy Awards were long thought to be foregone conclusions, but Best Actor was one of the more hotly contested, as both Clooney and Dujardin racked up several awards at ceremonies leading up to Sunday. The 39-year-old French actor and comedian spent this awards season accumulating victories at the AACTA, BAFTA, Cannes, the Golden Globes, Hollywood Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards and several critical associations. “Key to the success of ‘The Artist’ is the work of its two French stars,” wrote the Los Angeles Times’ Kenneth Turan. “Dujardin and [B
