Oscar Predictions: Supporting Players
Best Supporting Actor Nominees: Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men), Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James), Hal Holbrook (Into The Wild), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War)
Well, no doubt at all who is the frontrunner here. Javier has picked up all the precursors and was acclaimed widely from the outset. It would be a major upset if anyone else won. I suppose Holbrook is the dark horse in the race, given his age and that general feeling of deserving. Plus, he’s bloody wonderful in the film.
Affleck is so utterly fantastic that he would be a deserving winner over Bardem, especially seeing as he should really have been in contention for Actor for Gone Baby Gone, a supremely overlooked film. Hoffman too should’ve been challenging for the men’s top gong for Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead but that was given a full snub due to its resolute cynicism and, seemingly, the attention given to a topless Marisa Tomei over the actual movie.
Wilkinson is good and is always a dark horse contender so don’t count him out but I can’t see him having the firepower to take on Bardem.
Who Will Win: Javier Bardem
Who Should Win: Javier Bardem or Casey Affleck
Dark Horse: Hal Holbrook
Supporting Actress Nominees: Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There), Ruby Dee (American Gangster), Saoirse Ronan (Atonement), Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone), Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)
If there is any justice, Blanchett will win from this somewhat lukewarm field. She was brilliant in I’m Not There, another film which hasn’t really been given the praise it deserves. Her main challenges will come from Ruby Dee who is okay in an okay film and is very difficult to explain in her presence for any awards. Romola Garai in Atonement was far more deserving. Swinton is the other challenger following her surprise BAFTA win but I still would be somewhat shocked if she won.
Amy Ryan is good if overly loud in Gone Baby Gone but again would deserve a win if she got while Ronan is precocious if not outstanding and really probably won’t win.
It’s a tough call because the category is weak but Blanchett, despite giving a performance head and shoulders above the rest, isn’t really dominating the precursors.
Who Will Win: Cate Blanchett
Who Should Win: Cate Blanchett
Dark Horse: Tilda Swinton
