After Christian Bale’s victory at Critics’ Choice Awards – Oscar next?

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Christian Bale’s win at the Critics’ Choice Awards leaves him poised perfectly to win the Oscar for best supporting actor for ‘The Fighter.’ He portrays a colorful, real-life character, former boxer Dicky Eklund, and he’s an A-list star overdue for academy glory. (He’s never even been nominated.)

Winning the Critics’ Choice Award means he’s closer to the Oscar win, but it’s not a lock.

The two awards do agree often, but not always. Furthermore, Bale didn’t face off against potential Oscar foe Michael Douglas (‘Wall Street 2’). Douglas is nominated at the Golden Globes, which take place on Sunday night, however, so the momentum of this race could change quickly if Douglas wins then.

Meantime, here’s how the Critics’ Choice Award compares to the Oscar in recent years:

2009: Christoph Waltz (‘Inglourious Basterds’) wins both

2008: Heath Ledger (‘Dark Knight’) wins both

2007: Javier Bardem (‘No Country for Old Men’) wins both

2006: Eddie Murphy (‘Dreamgirls’) beats eventual Oscar winner Alan Arkin (‘Little Miss Sunshine’)

2005: Paul Giamatti (‘Cinderella Man’) beats eventual Oscar champ George Clooney (‘Syriana’)

2004: Thomas Haden Church (‘Sideways’) beats eventual Oscar champ Morgan Freeman (‘Million Dollar Baby’)

-- Tom O’Neil