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Best Supporting Actor and Actress
Like the lead categories the supporting one are dominated by the male performances. Sentimentality and surprise are against the reactions of the female nominees as opposed to the overwhelming amount of quality work on the male side. Take a look.
Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett - I’m Not There
Ruby Dee - American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan - Atonement
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
Blanchett is the most talented here, but her nomination only comes from the fact that she was playing someone of the opposite sex. Ruby Dee will be the perennial sentimental favorite. Though she was good she is only on screen for about two minutes. Ronan and Swinton seem to be two throw away nominations because of an overall lack of quality. I think the overall best performance belongs to Amy Ryan in the underrated and overlooked Gone Baby Gone. With a wide open field this is the category most likely to produce the surprise award. Winner: Amy Ryan
Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem - No Country For Old Men
Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson’s War
Hal Holbrook - In to the Wild
Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton
This is the best collection of talent in this category since perhaps 1999, when Jude Law, Tom Cruise, Haley Joel Osment, and Michael Caine competed (making Michael Clarke Duncan wonder what he may have done to deserve such competition.) This year Bardem holds the performance of the year by any actor in any category. Period. I fear saying this, however, because I don’t think a win is sewn up for him yet. This seems to be one of those competitions that could hold a lot of surprises. Wilkenson and Holbrook could be winners simply to award good films that don’t otherwise have a chance in any other category. Casey Affleck was very good in two films this year and could get a statue for double work. Then there is Phillip Seymour Hoffman who gives an incredible performance, and as a past winner holds an advantage. I am still hoping that the overall best performance in the year’s best film is enough to hold up, but I wouldn’t put any hard money on it. Winner: Javier Bardem
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4 Responses to “Best Supporting Actor and Actress”
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I think “Gone Baby” got shoved under the rug because of poor Madeleine McCann, even though that story didn’t get nearly as much play here as it did in Europe. I think the crazy timing of that event delayed the film’s release, even?
Haven’t seen Michael Clayton but I do love Tilda Swinton. Hopefully the nom is enough to get her some more good work. I hear they are re-releasing this in theaters, so hopefully I’ll get a chance to check it out.
Javier is just too strong. I will be betting him in my Oscar pool for sure.
Strong analysis, and I agree with your picks. Bardem may be the one true even bet of the whole shindig. And Amy Ryan will certainly be the representative winner for Gone Baby Gone, which has been overlooked, as Megan said.
I think Cate Blanchett will get it. She played an ugly man, that alone gives her an edge.
I think Casey Affleck will get the male award. He seemed to be everywhere this year and his future is very bright. Giving him the award makes the academy look smart, if his career continues to role like it did this year.
Well, I watched the SAG awards last night, and now I don’t know. Super cool that Ruby got to mention Ossie, though.