Best Supporting Male Performance:
Michael Fassbender as David in Prometheus
This was an extremely crowded category, but at the end of the day, Michael Fassbender always had to win. I did not like Prometheus on the whole, but as sentient android David, Fassbender made every stupid side character and bad piece of plotting worth enduring. Just as in last year’s Shame, Fassbender speaks volumes behind his eyes, imbues every inch of his gaze with weight and meaning, and gradually adds dimension to his part without betraying the fundamental truths about the character.
It is a fascinating, gripping performance, perhaps the single most captivating piece of supporting work sci-fi cinema has had since Rutger Hauer’s similarly layered turn in Blade Runner. Prometheus may have underwhelmed, but David didn’t. He’s arguably the most memorable original creation from summer 2012, and Fassbender deserves every bit of credit one can give him.
Check out the trailer for the film below:
Runners-Up: Again, a very tough category. If Fassbender did not exist, this award would unquestionably go to Tom Hardy for his utterly captivating work in The Dark Knight Rises. As Bane, Hardy had only his eyes and voice to work with, but he absolutely commanded the screen, striking unbelievable fear into the hearts of viewers, and crafting one of cinema’s most memorable screen villains in the process. Joseph Gordon-Levitt deserves similar recognition for his outstanding work as new standout character John Blake, and Michael Caine nearly stole the show in his brief but invaluable screen-time.
From The Avengers, Chris Hemsworth continued to own the part of Thor; even if his screen time didn’t quite amount to Iron Man’s or Captain America’s, he made the absolute most of every single appearance. Mark Ruffalo, meanwhile, was a perfect fit for Joss Whedon’s unique take on Bruce Banner, and the best cinematic realization of the character so far. Finally, Moonrise Kingdom featured several standout supporting actors, but it was an uncharacteristically warm and lovable Edward Norton who proved most impressive.
Best Supporting Female Performance:
Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises
The moment Anne Hathaway stepped on screen as Selina Kyle, a giant, goofy grin crossed my face, and it refused to leave whenever Hathaway was present. No performer, in live-action or animation, has ever understood Catwoman as innately and completely as Hathaway. Her playful, sensual attitude; her precise, acrobatic fighting style; her frisky back-and-forth banter with Bruce and Batman, and the near telepathic connection they share in battle. Everything I connect with Catwoman is there, and Hathaway is just mesmerizing in the part, embodying the character in mind, body, and soul. This is the definitive portrayal of a delightfully malleable character, and in a summer dominated by men, I find it inspiring that a woman absolutely stole the show in the season’s biggest movie.
Runners-Up: I had a hard time not giving this award to Emma Stone, whose portrayal of Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man instantly became my favorite superhero girlfriend of all time. She’s fantastic. Meanwhile, Joss Whedon gave Scarlett Johansson a whole lot of great material to work with in The Avengers, and she hit it all out of the park. Anna Farris, at her most adorable, charming, and side-splittingly hilarious, unexpectedly stole the show away from Sacha Baron Cohen in The Dictator, and it was a treat to hear Ellen Page recite Woody Allen dialogue in To Rome With Love, even though I didn’t like the film on the whole.
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