Supporting Actors

A supporting actor is given the task of taking less screen time with the expectation that those scenes are memorable. A great supporting role can be the icing on the cake of a great movie, and a bad one can sink any hope of greatness. Great supporting actors are the Hollywood version of professional baseball closers. They are used for short periods of time when the game is on the line and are expected to seal the deal, because after all nothing is worse than blowing a win in the last inning. And the nominees are...

The Men:

Josh Brolin as politician Dan White (Milk)(1st Nomination)- Brolin plays the disturbed politician whose uncomfortable professional relationship with Penn's character Harvey Milk explodes following his resignation which he blames on Milk. Dan White's journey from assured and confident politician to crumbling alcoholic is brought to climax as he executes his ultimate revenge. Brolin is very good in this role but I have two major problems with this nomination. First is the fact that this award is not recognizing this performance but merely a reward for two great years that have otherwise gone unrewarded (He has had great roles in Grindhouse, American Gangster, In the Valley of Elah, No Country for Old Men, W., and Milk all in the last two years). My second and more blatant problem is that he was not even the best supporting actor in this movie, and to only recognize him is a slight to all of the others (Emile Hirsch, James Franco and Diego Luna all were equally good). (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Robert Downey Jr. as actor Kirk Lazarus (Tropic Thunder)(2nd Nomination)- He's the guy playing the dude disguised as another dude. In the satirical action movie that pokes fun at the Hollywood establishment, Downey delivered as the self obsessed, acclaimed actor. His character undergoes a cosmetic surgery to change his skin to black so that he will be capable of playing a lead role in the upcoming action blockbuster. Downey's character who has won numerous awards is oblivious to the fact that he is on an action movie set with very sub par actors, and is constantly frustrated by the overall lack of dedication to the acting craft that he holds as sacred. While Downey is definitely the best part of this movie (Although Tom Cruise is the most entertaining), I still felt it was undeserving of a nomination, and in a way an insult to Downey(All of his great performances and he gets nominated for a role in a comedic action movie?). (Chances of Winning=Slim to None)
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Brendan Flynn (Doubt)(2nd Nomination/1 Previous Win)- Hoffman has become one of the go to actors in the last few years. He exudes a self confidence and intelligence that made him the ideal person to be cast opposite of Meryl Streep. The scenes of dialogue between those two actors are probably being made into acting instructional videos as we speak. Hoffman's character represents the idea of change in the Catholic church structure toward a more modern, friendlier style which does not sit well with the head nun. When things get heated and Hoffman is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a male student, a battle of wits and power ensues. One thing is for sure it is fun to watch these characters and that is the ultimate compliment. (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Heath Ledger as the Joker (The Dark Knight)(2nd Nomination)- Say hello to the definition of a great supporting performance. When an actor can take less than 30 minutes of screen time in a 2.5 hour movie and make their presence felt throughout, along with an unquenchable desire to see their next scene, something great has been produced. In what will probably become known as one of the greatest supporting roles of all time, Heath Ledger gives a chilling performance as the psychopathic criminal with a fetish for sinister pranks known simply as The Joker from the Batman comics. He is mesmerizing throughout and personifies the ultimate sadistic attitude toward life and society that is the stuff nightmares are made of. Combine his performance with his untimely death, meaning this will be the academy's last chance to reward him, and you get the closest thing to a guaranteed win this year come Oscar night. (Chances of Winning=Locked)
Micheal Shannon as psycho John Givings (Revolutionary Road)(1st Nomination)- Micheal Shannon makes the most of his very limited screen time in this movie, which I felt was one of the most under appreciated of the year. In the movie for basically three scenes encompassing less than 10 minutes, Shannon steals the show. Producing the funniest yet most awkward moments in the film, he uses his ability to see straight through a person and state the issue that nobody else would say out loud. Behind the veneer of the supposed psychiatric problems (possibly just imposed by his prim and proper mother to protect her from embarrassment), Shannon's character is as astute as they come, and only appears to be lacking the social filter that prevents us from saying inappropriate and uncomfortable things. This character doesn't care much for politeness or political correctness and would rather call things like he sees them... and he sees them pretty well. (Chances of Winning=None)


Who I Would Have Nominated:
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Viggo Mortensen (Appaloosa)
Brad Pitt (Burn After Reading)
Ralph Fiennes (In Bruges)



The Women:

Amy Adams as Sister James (Doubt)(2nd Nomination)- Representing the childlike innocent and naive outlook on the world where everyone is really a good person deep down is Sister James, played to perfection by Amy Adams. One of my favorite actresses in Hollywood, Adam's character personifies the actual battlefield between Hoffman and Streep's characters. She is in danger of being corrupted by the pessimistic, always look for the worst in people view of Streep, while at the same time possessing a desire to hold onto her simple innocence and faith that are the bedrock of how she sees herself. The internal conflict present in this character between playing devil's advocate and trying to maintain peace in her utopian world is the crux of the entire movie. (Chances of Winning=Slim)
Penelope Cruz as crazy ex-wife Maria Elena (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)(2nd Nomination)- The epitome of the passionate, tortured artist who feels too strongly is Maria Elena. Penelope Cruz has become pretty adept at playing characters who wear their emotions on their sleeve and treat every life event like it is either the end of the world or the best moment in history, reminiscent of a person who never matured past middle school. A gifted artist who channels her deep emotions into her art and her relationships, Cruz is at one minute passionately in love and in the next suicidal. The up and down roller coaster of her life and those she shares it with is entertaining to watch, but I can't imagine very practical in terms of a meaningful and committed relationship. (Chances of Winning=Very Good)
Viola Davis as concerned mother Mrs. Miller (Doubt)(1st Nomination)- The fourth acting nomination to come out of this film, is another example of a small part being completely utilized. With just over five minutes of screen time, which is basically encompassed in one scene of dialogue, Davis stands toe to toe with Meryl Streep and holds her own. The mother to the boy involved in the possible inappropriate relationship, Davis is conflicted on what is best for her son. A black family that has just moved to the Bronx, Davis is aware that her son has no friends and is at the mercy of the system. The one man who she knows has befriended and protected her son is the priest in question, and given the uncertainty of the situation, is hesitant to support the witchhunt against him. In the face of being called an uncaring and unfit mother, Davis pours out her soul to Streep's character in the most touching and poignant scene of the movie. (Chances of Winning=Good)
Taraji Henson as caring mother Quennie (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)(1st Nomination)- A woman finds an unwanted baby lying on the steps of the old person's home she runs. The catch is the baby is deformed and by all accounts, about to die of old age. Unwilling and unable to turn a blind eye, Henson's character takes the baby to raise on her own and with it accepts the opportunity to share in his adventure. The consumate mother figure who is constatly loving and interested even while being somewhat naive and oblivious to her son's need for independence and adventure. Henson plays the role with a simple elegance that fits nicely. (Chances of Winning=None)
Marissa Tomei as stripper Cassidy (The Wrestler)(3rd Nomination/1 Previous Win)- The perfect companion and counterpart to Rourke's character who is dealing with the fade from glory to oblivion, is Tomei's understanding character. A single mother who never learned any real skills or got an education, Tomei provides the only way she has ever known how, working as a stripper at the local men's club. Desperate to leave and start a new life as she realizes she is old enough to be a mother to most of the club's clientele, she strikes up a genuine understanding and friendship with Rourke's character who is a long time club member. Together they wrestle with the idea of life after fame, getting older, parenting and fresh beginnings. Things never seem to take shape though and they are left with the cold hard fact that some habits are tough to break, and some things never change. (Chances of Winning=Good)


Who I Would Have Nominated:
Amy Adams (Doubt)
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Taraji Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Marissa Tomei (The Wrestler)
Kate Winslet (The Reader)*

*- Much debate has occurred over whether Winslet's performance in this movie should be considered a lead or supporting role. Since it can be argued, and she has been nominated and won in this category for several other awards this year, and I would have nominated her in lead for Revolutionary Road, I would recognize this performance as supporting. It is kinda cheap but so is not being able to be nominated twice in the same category.