BEST ACTOR FAVORITE: Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart”) DARK HORSE: George Clooney (“Up In the Air”) Nearly 40 years after the first of his five career Oscar nominations, Jeff Bridges is expected to finally get his hands on one of the famous gold statuettes. The popular 60-year-old has swept the awards season honors this year, winning Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his role in the independent drama “Crazy Heart.” Other nominees include Britain's Colin Firth for “A Single Man,” Morgan Freeman for “Invictus” and Jeremy Renner for “The Hurt Locker.” __