Just like the Best Supporting Actress bracket, there are twenty names that I think are worthy of discussion when it comes to predicting the Best Supporting Actor race. But, unlike the Best Supporting Actress category, there are many foreseeable outcomes and competition for the prize is fierce. There is no frontrunner at the moment, and I don't see that changing until late into the season- after all the films have premiered.
The performance I can see being the most Academy friendly is Josh Brolin's in
Labor Day. Jason Reitman's coming of age tale is one of my most anticipated this year and Brolin's apparently got some fantastic scenes next to Oscar winner Kate Winslet. Reitman has a great track record when it comes to directing Oscar nominated performances and with the film receiving positive early reviews I think it's safe to say his name will be in contention for the win. But he's not the only big actor with a showy role. Perhaps the showiest is Tom Hanks in
Saving Mr. Banks, where the two time winner will play none other than Walt Disney. If he nails the role- which, judging by the trailer, he does- I can see the Academy eating it up. Though his big role in
Captain Phillips could steal some traction if he's great in that too. And, finally, Michael Fassbender's performance in
12 Years a Slave could be received warmly from the Academy- though I'm a bit apprehensive based on how dark the material is. Still, many at Telluride are hailing it as a frontrunner for Best Picture so Fassbender stands a decent chance.
Moving on, I'm thinking that Mark Ruffalo could earn his second nomination for his work in
Foxcatcher, especially since Steve Carell will be campaigning in lead. Early buzz suggests that he turns in a great performance, and Bennet Miller has already directed four actors (including Jonah Hill) to an Oscar nomination. I see no reason to believe Ruffalo doesn't (at least) have a shot. I'll need to see a trailer before I make any bold claims, however. I also need to wait until I read some reviews before getting brash with my placement of Daniel Brühl, but his part in Ron Howard's
Rush is the definition of Oscar bait. While Brühl may be a relative unknown in America, this could be the film that propels him to superstardom- and an Oscar nod will no doubt help with that.
Just outside my top five are two former nominees and one character actor who's long overdue. Bradley Cooper's career is at the highest its ever been and the Academy will certainly take note of his performance in
American Hustle. It certainly helps that he's reunited with David O. Russell, director of
Silver Linings Playbook and that the rest of the principal cast are former nominees as well. I'm not quite sure that
Monuments Men stands a chance at Oscar glory, but I feel like Matt Damon is the movie's best chance at a major award. And finally- John Goodman is long overdue for recognition from the Academy, and this could be his year. I'm just a bit hesistant, however, as his role in
Inside Llewyn Davis is supposedly quite small.
Moving down the list we come to Jared Leto, who impressed me with his few seconds of screen time during the
Dallas Buyers Club trailer. He may not be your typical Oscar nominee but I think he can breakthrough if
the movie connects with critics and audiences. There is also Sam Rockwell's raved about performance in
The Way, Way Back, which will need a serious push from Fox Searchlight but could definitely be a contender if some of the bigger films this fall disappoint. There's also Benedict Cumberbatch, who's slowly becoming a huge star in America, though he'll need to turn in a truly stellar performance to get noticed amongst A-listers like Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in
August: Osage County. The same can be said about Jeremy Renner's part in
American Hustle- his role seems the least dramatic of the lead cast and I could see him getting passed over, especially since he'll be competing with a co-star.
Next we have Jonah Hill, Javier Bardem and Woody Harrelson- three performances that could earn a lot of awards buzz, but have gone unseen. Hill's already earned one nomination and starring in a Martin Scorsese film is bound to earn him some buzz, though I really can't predict how much of a part he'll have in the actual film. Javier Bardem, meanwhile, looks solid in the trailer for
The Counselor, though the film's quality- and overall Oscar-frinedliness- is up in the air right now. As for Harrelson, he looks solid in the trailer for
Out of the Furnace, but I can't tell if the film will be an awards contender or not. Matthew McConaughey also appears on the bracket- though
Mud's April release date seriously stunted his chances at breaking out.
Rounding out the bracket are four performers who could stand a chance but I feel are going to be overshadowed almost entirely by the film's leading ladies. Alec Baldwin, Steve Coogan, George Clooney and Tim Roth all have a chance, but (I think) it's a slim one.
BRACKET:
- Josh Brolin, Labor Day
- Tom Hanks, Saving Mr. Banks
- Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
- Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
- Daniel Brühl, Rush
- Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
- Matt Damon, Monuments Men
- John Goodman, Inside Llewyn Davis
- Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
- Sam Rockwell, The Way, Way Back
- Benedict Cumberbatch, August: Osage County
- Jeremy Renner, American Hustle
- Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
- Javier Bardem, The Counselor
- Woody Harrelson, Out of the Furnace
- Matthew McConaughey, Mud
- Alec Baldwin, Blue Jasmine
- Steve Coogan, Philomena
- George Clooney, Gravity
- Tim Roth, Grace of Monaco
No comments:
Post a Comment