Special Coverage American Idol Lost Oscars Grammys Pop Style Tech

Oscars 2009

81 years of Oscar! Coverage of this year's awards (Feb. 22)

All Headlines

Page 3 of 4

Best Supporting Actor

5%
Casey Affleck
The Assassination of Jesse James...
For Him
He brought a creepy magnetism to his shifty killer, cementing his arrival this year (see also: Gone Baby Gone) as one to watch.
Against Him
At nearly three hours, it's not an easy film to get through, particularly on DVD. And Javier Bardem is the more vivid villain.

40%
Javier Bardem
No Country for Old Men
For Him
He's got it all: the look (yes, that was his real hair), the catchphrase (''Call it''), the arsenal of prizes, and the humility with each win. And his performance was a marvel of venom, mystery, and humor. How can he lose?
Against Him
Um... he's not 82 like the guy two columns down?

5%
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Charlie Wilson's War
For Him
His hilarious turn as a short-fused CIA agent was one of three terrific performances in 2007. Voters looking to reward something funny will look no further.
Against Him
Comedy rarely comes out on top. And it's hard to win on your film's only nod.

25%
Hal Holbrook
Into the Wild
For Him
He capped a 60-year career with his first nomination for his affecting turn as a retiree who reaches out to a disillusioned wanderer. Academy members are often said to vote ''with their hearts.'' In that case, he's a no-brainer.
Against Him
Compared with Bardem, Holbrook doesn't have much screen time. And the film received only two nominations.

25%
Tom Wilkinson
Michael Clayton
For Him
As a genius lawyer gone AWOL, he seamlessly vacillated between lucidity and madness — and delivered killer voice-over work as well. Particularly on repeat viewings, it's a knockout performance.
Against Him
He's absent from the last act, which doesn't keep him fresh in voters' minds when the credits roll.

Best Supporting Actress

22%
Cate Blanchett
I'm Not There
For Her
Her flawless take on Bob Dylan transcended gimmickry and was one of the riskiest performances of the year. We dare you to name another contemporary actress who could have pulled it off.
Against Her
She's already won this category for playing a real person (Katharine Hepburn, in The Aviator). And let's face it: The film is capital-B bizarre.

20%
Ruby Dee
American Gangster
For Her
This year's oldest nominee (at 83) packed a wallop — literally and figuratively — as Denzel Washington's mother, and she did it with only a few scenes. If voters go the career-achievement route, the award is hers.
Against Her
An Oscar for a five-minute performance? Even Judi Dench had more screen time in Shakespeare in Love — and that film won Best Picture.

5%
Saoirse Ronan
Atonement
For Her
This year's youngest nominee (at 13) showed astonishing poise as the precocious storyteller Briony Tallis. Hers was not a performance born merely of judicious editing; it was a true artistic achievement.
Against Her
She's missing from the second half of the film. And many viewers think her character is nothing but a lying brat.

25%
Amy Ryan
Gone Baby Gone
For Her
The New York stage veteran ran with author Dennis Lehane's atypical, unflattering take on a stock role (the kidnapped kid's mom), turning in a ferocious, sentiment-free turn — with a spot-on Boston accent to boot. Against Her
After winning the broadcast-critics prize over a month ago, she's lost some momentum. Plus, have all the voters even seen this film?

28%
Tilda Swinton
Michael Clayton
For Her
She showed remarkable vulnerability as an ambitious corporate attorney and shares a humdinger of a climax with George Clooney. In the most unpredictable race, she's the movie's best shot at a win, and the Academy knows it.
Against Her
She lacks Ryan's big ''Oscar scenes,'' the hook of Blanchett's gender-bending, and Dee's decades-long career.

NEXT PAGE: Our predictions for Best Director


Page 3 of 4
  • Print
  • Del.icio.us
  • Google
  • StumbleUpon
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • More