Why These Four Veteran Actors Are Suddenly Back in the Oscar Conversation

In a season rife with high-profile stars commanding attention at every turn, now’s the time to spotlight performers delivering exceptional but quieter work — especially those whose names haven’t entered the Oscar conversation lately, even though their talent never waned.

Russell Crowe reminds audiences of his formidable screen presence in James Vanderbilt’s World War II drama “Nuremberg.” The Oscar winner, known for career-defining roles in “Gladiator” and “A Beautiful Mind,” brings gravitas and nuance to his portrayal of Hermann Göring, Hitler’s second-in-command, in the lead-up to the Nuremberg trials. More than half his dialogue is in German, and the work powerfully showcases Crowe’s fearsome intensity and depth. His talent is as potent as ever, even if the spotlight has shifted in recent years.

Kate Hudson delivers a revelatory performance in Craig Brewer’s crowd-pleaser “Song Sung Blue,” the poignant story of a Neil Diamond cover band…