Best Supporting Actor: Ranking Every Oscar Nominee
Like the Best Supporting Actress category, the male counterpart has to fulfil the same mission: enhancing a film, scene, or lead performance as the side character. You can steal said scene, or even the entire film, but you still function as the side character. It can be tricky to tell what constitutes as a lead or a supporting role, but we try to step back and observe the story as a whole. For instance, in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth is a major character, but he acts as Rick Dalton’s stunt double and friend; the story is more focused on Dalton’s rise-and-fall as a television (and aspiring film) actor. Therefore, Pitt’s inclusion here makes sense. It can be debatable, but one thing is for certain. This category is full of great performances by acting legends.
Here are your nominees for Best Supporting Actor, ranked from worst to best.
Biggest Snub: Willem Dafoe-Lighthouse
Look. The Dafoe nomination trifecta (previously nominated for The Florida Project and At Eternity’s Gate the last two years) would have been fun. We love Willem Dafoe. He should have had an Oscar years ago. However, fun is not the only reason behind this entry. In The Lighthouse, Dafoe delivers a performance for the ages (even by his standards) as a wickie-gone-mad. He is completely from a different era in mind, body, and spirit (not to mention that thick accent of his). His insanity is the kind of craziness only Dafoe can pull off: extreme, but not outrageous. 'Tis a damn shame.
5. Tom Hanks-A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
We know. We know. This is ideal casting, and we’re spitting all over it by ranking it last. Tom Hanks is splendid as the late, great Fred Rogers. He serves his purpose well. We’ve placed him last not out of anger (we love this transformation), but because we had to look at the entire film. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is really Lloyd Vogel’s story, and Rogers lets him have this moment. The real Fred Rogers, would do the same, and the real Tom Hanks literally did this. The resemblance and performance is uncanny. It just never dominates the film, and that’s exactly how it should be. Unfortunately, on a list of this nature, it allows other, more demanding performances to overtake it. Still a fantastic job by Hanks, and a worthy nomination!
Our review of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
4. Anthony Hopkins-The Two Popes
Immediately, noticing Anthony Hopkins’ acting acrobatics in The Two Popes will knock you down. Multiple languages? A convincing German accent? The mannerisms of Pope Benedict XVI down perfectly? This guy has to be nominated. As the film continues, there are one or two moments where Hopkins really flexes his talents, but most of this role is focused on just being present. Like Tom Hanks in the previous entry, it gets to a point where Hopkins — while doing a great job — is sacrificing cinematic dominance for realism. In general, this is a smart move. For a list of this nature, it makes it hard to place it high. Once again, that doesn’t mean anything. We just had to place these roles in an order. Anthony Hopkins is as committed as always, and that’s what is important.
Our review of The Two Popes
3. Joe Pesci-The Irishman
Unlike the previous two performances (where you are wowed right away, and then realize this is mostly what the performance for each film will entail), Joe Pesci’s turn in The Irishman is deceptive. You feel like this is the same-old Joe Pesci we’ve grown to love: feisty, hilarious, and dangerous. The beauty of The Irishman is seeing how these figures age over time. For an actor that has been retired for years and was heavily hesitant to return for this role, Pesci knocks it out of the park. His Russel Bufalino is a silent monster, but full of regrets that he forces back down into the deepest pits of his heart. As he ages, Pesci balances the aura of fear and the sympathy of the failing, worn down human body with ease. You feel for a guy that is a villain in the real world. Even if this really is Pesci’s final performance, it was a great note to end on.
Our review of The Irishman
2. Brad Pitt-Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Every Quentin Tarantino film, there is at least one performance nominated, where someone does well just for knowing how to approach a Tarantino screenplay. Christoph Waltz is the reigning champion of this club. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rob Forester are also members. Now, Brad Pitt has been ushered in as Cliff Booth: a cool, laid back stunt double that has no problem going with the flow (unlike his buddy Rick Dalton). The final moments of hell are made hilarious and exciting, thanks to Pitt’s LSD freak out (more chill than anxious). You’re totally glued to a guy that may or may not have killed his wife on purpose. That’s the power of Pitt’s magnetic performance here.
Our review of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
1. Al Pacino-The Irishman
If anybody got the best career do-over out of the Irishman crew, it’s Al Pacino. Seriously. Have we seen Pacino this good since the late ‘70s? His Jimmy Hoffa is absolutely hilarious. He cannot separate his arrogance from his reasonable thinking, so much of The Irishman'‘s darker moments come from Hoffa being unable to shut up. It’s sad, but it’s a riot for us. Even his angry moments are turned into comedic gold. It’s as if Pacino has realized his scenery chewing (thanks, Scarface) can be used for the greater good. Even with all of that aside, it’s just a detailed, great performance. Pacino reminds you that he has complete control over all of his lines, and he never lost that ability from the Godfather or Dog Day Afternoon days. Pacino isn’t ranked first because of clout. He absolutely deserves his nomination. He’s as captivating as he is entertaining.
Our review of The Irishman
Who we want to win: We wouldn’t mind Al Pacino winning an Oscar for an actually great role (sorry, Scent of a Woman), but it’s about time Brad Pitt gets an Academy Award for his acting.
Who we think will win: Brad Pitt. Another no brainer. The first tell tale sign: he has claimed every Supporting Actor win thus far. Secondly, he has been pitted against (no pun intended) actors that have all previously won Academy Awards (Hanks, Hopkins, Pesci, Pacino). That’s usually a subtle way the Academy ushers in the next big winner (think of Adrien Brody for Best Actor, up against Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicolas Cage, Jack Nicholson, and Michael Caine). It’s absolutely going to be Brad Pitt, unless something drastic happens.
Tune in tomorrow for our next Academy Award category! We’re reviewing every single nominee.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.