Oscar Buzz: Javier Bardem

When the Coen brothers' take on the Cormac McCarthy novel premiered at Cannes, audiences were stunned by Bardem's terrifying portrayal of Chigurh, a conscienceless killing machine hellbent on retrieving $2 million in drug money. With Tommy Lee Jones' sheriff in pursuit, Chigurh plows through Texas, racking up bodies with a cattle stun gun. ''It's not something I especially like, killing people — even in movies,'' says Bardem. ''When the Coens called, I said, 'Listen, I'm the wrong actor. I don't drive, I speak bad English, and I hate violence.' They laughed and said, 'Maybe that's why we called you.''' It was a good choice: This chilling look at the nature of evil might just score Bardem, who was nominated in 2001 for Before Night Falls, his second Best Actor nod.