Onward we march in my drawn-out unveiling of 2014's best cinematic achievements. Today the focus is on Best Supporting Actor.
Unlike in my recently unveiled Best Original Screenplay ballot, I find there is a dearth of quality in this category. I'm sure you'll immediately notice that my top five are nearly identical to the SAG, Globes, BAFTA, and Oscar slate (save for one obvious non-contender who should've received more consideration anyway). It's not that I particularly enjoy lining up with the everybody else, but I couldn't find a whole lot of alternatives that I felt okay nominating myself. When different groups are in this much agreement at the nomination stage, it's often an indicator of a weak year.
But enough griping, because these five performances are still excellent -- whether or not they had any competition:
ETHAN
HAWKE in Boyhood
Unlike in my recently unveiled Best Original Screenplay ballot, I find there is a dearth of quality in this category. I'm sure you'll immediately notice that my top five are nearly identical to the SAG, Globes, BAFTA, and Oscar slate (save for one obvious non-contender who should've received more consideration anyway). It's not that I particularly enjoy lining up with the everybody else, but I couldn't find a whole lot of alternatives that I felt okay nominating myself. When different groups are in this much agreement at the nomination stage, it's often an indicator of a weak year.
But enough griping, because these five performances are still excellent -- whether or not they had any competition:
ETHAN
HAWKE in Boyhood
Hawke
is delightful as Mason and Samantha's father, who is all too
self-aware of his faults as a parent but never gives up on trying to
make a positive difference in their lives. His easy-going wisdom is
juxtaposed by the fact that he still has a lot of growing up to do,
and Hawke ties all those character details together beautifully.
TOBY
KEBBELL in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Andy
Serkis is always the one getting whispered about for awards
consideration whenever Weta churns out another impressive mo-cap
performance, but the Most Valuable Primate this time around is his
co-star Toby Kebbell, whose complex Iago-like villain makes a lasting
impression with his threatening body language and menacing scowl.
EDWARD
NORTON in Birdman
Norton
is hilarious and committed in playing the raging id to Michael
Keaton's harried ego. He's more than just a one-note comic creation,
though, as evidenced in his quieter dialogues with Emma Stone. It's a
shame his character peters out with not much to do towards the end,
but his temperamental bite is a highlight in every scene he crashes.
MARK
RUFFALO in Foxcatcher
Ruffalo
is quiet as a mouse yet solid as a rock in playing a character whose
true thoughts and feelings are always lurking just beneath the
surface of the page. He gets no shocking outburst scene like his
costars Tatum and Carell, but he makes just as strong an impact in
moments of total silence.
J.K.
SIMMONS in Whiplash
Not
since R. Lee Ermey's obscenity-gushing drill sergeant in Full
Metal Jacket has the cinema seen such a sadistic and inhumane
mentor. But Simmons isn't merely playing a simplistic villain,
because however contemptuous he is to his students, we can always
feel his authentic passion for the music coming to a boil.
A raging
boil.
Just missed:
JOSH BROLIN in Inherent Vice
JAMES CORDEN in Begin Again
BEN KINGSLEY in The Boxtrolls
CHRIS PINE in Into the Woods
FABRIZIO RONGIONE in Two Days, One Night