The
Supporting Actress slate doesn't seem has chock full of legit
contenders as it has in years past. Not that any of these five
performances are undeserving of some Oscar love, but four of them
really don't hold a candle to the fifth, making this one of the
night's slam dunk categories.
If any actress has been riding an Oscar hot streak of late, it's Amy Adams. She's somewhat quietly accrued four Best Supporting Actress nominations in just seven years. Early speculation suggested that maybe this year would be her turn to win, but then the film was seen. Her performance, like the film that houses it, is a beautiful mystery, and is a crucial element, but is just not flashy enough to take the gold.
If
anyone could maybe lay claim to the spoiler position, it's Sally
Field in Lincoln. She
took some high profile critics prizes before the frontrunner emerged,
and most seem to agree that she's quite good in the film. If
anything, her scenery chewing helps her stand apart from her cast
mates. If she shocks us on Oscar night with a win, it will bode very
well for Lincoln's
Best Picture chances indeed.
However,
only a fool would bet against Anne Hathaway in Les
Miserables. If you ask me, not
only did Hathaway give the best supporting female performance of the
year in a relatively brief role, but actually gave the two
best supporting female performances of the year (How cool was that
shout out to her Dark Knight Rises
cast at the SAG Awards!). Her hair-raising rendition of the musical's
signature song is her ace in the hole. Worked for Jennifer Hudson and
Catherine Zeta-Jones, and it's gonna work for her.
Next
to Hathaway, my favourite performance of the bunch is Helen Hunt's in
The Sessions. While I
object to her nomination on the basis of category fraud (she's so a
co-lead!), I'm glad that she, and the film, got at least a
little representation. However, being the movie's only nomination
indicates a general lack of support; support which Hunt would have needed in
order to challenge for the win.
Finally,
the only appreciable surprise the category had to offer was the
inclusion of Jackie Weaver for her unassuming performance in Silver
Linings Playbook. As decent an
actor as she is, the script really didn't give her character a whole
lot to do. Her nomination speaks more to the Academy's love of the
film, but it's nice to see that her nod a couple of years ago for
Animal Kingdom has
clearly given her career a real boost.
Will
win: Anne Hathaway for
Les Miserables
Runner-up:
Sally Field for Lincoln
Should
win: Anne Hathaway for
Les Miserables
Should
have been nominated: Anne
Hathaway for The Dark Knight Rises
