Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Like last year’s category, where Jared Leto was the frontrunner to win from the moment Dallas Buyers Club opened, the race this year seems like it is J.K. Simmons’ to lose. Even though Whiplash has not been a fiery box office success, it has outgrossed 2011’s Beginners, which also won in this category, and continues to do solid business in limited release.
Besides him, the candidates for this category have not changed too much since November. Many possible nominees from December releases we were curious about back then – Miyavi in Unbroken, John Goodman in The Gambler, Christoph Waltz in Big Eyes – did not quite live up to the hype. So, past nominees Ethan Hawke and Edward Norton should continue with their solid awards runs for their terrific turns in likely Oscar favorites Boyhood and Birdman, respectively.
Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics may regret putting Steve Carell up for leading actor. He would be a much likelier contender in this group, as opposed to a crowded Best Actor field. Expect one of his Foxcatcher co-stars, likely Mark Ruffalo instead of Channing Tatum, to earn a berth here, though.
As for the last spot, the Academy sometimes likes to throw a little-seen but well-deserved performance in the supporting categories. Josh Brolin’s wry comic turn in Inherent Vice and Tom Wilkinson’s fine work in Selma could potentially upset. The bad news is that the former is in a film getting a mixed reception, while the latter is dealing with some controversy regarding how accurate the film depicts his presidential character. As a result, expect Golden Globe and SAG nominee Robert Duvall, who was great in the merely good The Judge, to bring up the final slot.
Final Predictions:
Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash