in november, we reviewed all of the extremes this year’s best-actor contenders went to for their awards-worthy performances. idris elba slept in nelson mandela’s jail cell to mentally prepare to play the late south african leader in mandela: long walk to freedom. matthew mcconaughey shed nearly 50 pounds from his 187-pound frame to play an electrician who contracts h.i.v. in dallas buyers club. robert redford even forfeited 60 percent of his hearing in one ear after sustaining high-pressure water injuries while filming all is lost. outside of this season’s awards fray though, shia labeouf has been gaining headline momentum for his own extreme method preparations for assorted roles. only unlike his elder, best-actor candidate peers, his strange tactics have earned him raised eyebrows, industry criticism, and if one report is to be believed, an isolated hotel room miles away from his current cast mates.