GEORGE CLOONEY - CLOONEY FIGHTING FOR AN OSCAR

GEORGE CLOONEY has put his name forward for an Oscar as a potential Best Supporting Actor winner .

The movie star's handlers advised Clooney to aim for a Best Actor nomination for his role in political drama SYRIANA.

But industry insider website Theenvelope.com claims he was convinced he wouldn't win the coveted prize.

A studio insider tells the site, "We've been listening carefully to members of the Screen Actors Guild, National Board of Review, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and to film reviewers.

"Everyone decided this (decision) was best for the movie."

Since Clooney also has a supporting role in acclaimed film GOOD NIGHT, + GOOD LUCK, which he also directed, many Oscar experts are calling this 'The Year of Clooney.'

Oscars expert TOM O'NEILL is sure Clooney is a good Oscar bet for Syriana: "It helps that the role looks like classic Oscar bait, calling upon the handsome matinee star to uglify himself by donning a scruffy beard and packing on 30 pounds."