Best Supporting Actress: Ranking Every Oscar Nominee
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Last year’s winner: Laura Dern-Marriage Story
Best Actress in a Supporting Role, otherwise known as Best Supporting Actress, is going to be quite a unique competition this year. As of this ranking, there is absolutely no front runner for this award. The Golden Globe winner (Jodie Foster for The Mauritanian) is nowhere to be found here. Amanda Seyfried, who easily could have been neglected to be mentioned here (like she was for the SAG awards and BAFTAs) actually is here. Olivia Colman won’t get any BAFTA help but she’s here too. Youn Yuh-jung is considered a dark horse, but what is a dark horse if there isn’t a clear winner? Case in point: Maria Bakalova, who is both a dark horse and the recipient of the same kind of shaky major awards response that other nominees here are. Then, there’s Glenn Close in an atrocious film who has also been stepped over again and again this year alone. This award certainly could be anybody’s, and trying to predict this award this early almost seems stupid. But, I’m going to rank them anyway. Here are your nominees.
Biggest Snub: Helena Zengel-News of the World
Even though I don’t think any nominee here is weak enough to be replaced necessarily, the Golden Globes and SAG awards were on the right track with selecting rising child star Helena Zengel of News of the World. Not only does she balance different languages really well, but she evokes real pain and emotion, especially for someone her age. I wouldn’t say she deserves to be here more than any of the women that made it, but this section can certainly be a shout out to honourable mentions, and Zengel is for sure one of those this year.
5. Amanda Seyfried-Mank
I get why Amanda Seyfried being nominated (for the first time in her career, no less) makes sense, but I was quite confused as to how she was deemed the front runner early on (before other academies forgot to include her at all, which stymied her awards season race… also losing to Jodie Foster didn’t help either). I do think she is quite great in Mank, playing star Marion Davies, and she evokes the time period very well (believe it or not, not every performer is aware of this in period pieces). I have her at the lowest here, because I’d argue nothing about this performance really steals the show for me, or boosts the film in any major way, but I find her work as a supporting role here strong enough to do exactly what supporting roles should. She’s the most identifiable and magnetic side character in Mank, and she deals with the occasional heavy lifting with ease. Despite this ranking, I would like to see Seyfried doing more stuff of this caliber, and I’d argue we still have yet to see the best of what she can do.
4. Glenn Close-Hillbilly Elegy
I borderline detest this film, but the main reason why I didn’t give Hillbilly Elegy an even lower rating is because of Glenn Close as Mamaw. It’s too bad that she doesn’t show up for most of the first two thirds of the film (or so). The migraine I had throughout most of this nightmare seemed to slowly go away once Close became the focal point of the next chapter. She’s as tough as nails, but she has the biggest heart of anyone in the entire film. Only Glenn Close could come out of a film this bad looking this good.
3. Youn Yuh-jung-Minari
Even though she’s a veteran over in South Korea, Minari is Youn Yuh-jung’s big break over here in North America, and it’s for good reason. She is so touching and relatable as the grandmother figure Soon-ja, especially with how she approaches the mischiefs of her grandson, or the difficulties of her daughter and son-in-law during a time of change. Yuh-jung is so versatile in this role with the amount of range she gives, but she never loses sight of who her character is to begin with. I recall when people were predicting that she could be the surprise nominee here, but Minari won enough hearts over (clearly, given its six nominations overall) that Youn Yuh-jung making an appearance here is more than expected (and deserving).
2. Maria Bakalova-Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
In the same way Close elevated Hillbilly Elegy, I would argue newcomer Maria Bakalova absolutely steals all of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and runs away with it. It might seem so strange that she is here at all, or that she has a legitimate chance of actually winning an Academy Award, but take a deeper look at what Bakalova does as Tutar. She matches Sacha Baron Cohen’s ability to keep a neutral expression during insane hijinks in real scenarios, but she also does a lot more than Borat himself has done in either film. She goes through more drastic character evolutions (that extend more than the make up, hair and costume work), and has a bigger heart than Borat has ever had (she embraces the odd tender moment and responds to them both as a real person, and as character Tutar). Besides, all of the absurd events Bakalova partakes in are audacious enough that her courage has to count for something, right (especially in the numerous, endangering circumstances). Like the film or not, Maria Bakalova is both sharp and ruthless as Tutar, while never forgetting her softer side.
1. Olivia Colman-The Father
Even though Olivia Colman isn’t the loudest performance here, I have to go with her as my favourite of the pack. Her ability to act so naturally and small, yet hit you with every intended emotion or response, is such an incredible ability that she has. In The Father, Colman puts this capability on full display; her time on screen might not be too long, but she makes the most of every single frame that she is in. It’s also an amazing change of pace, seeing Colman in a straight up drama that doesn’t really use her comedic skills at all, or her knack for playing iconic figures. Here, we just get Olivia Colman the thespian, and she nails it. I’m really glad she managed to get a nod here, since the BAFTAs — who usually show some favouritism towards fellow Brits — didn’t include her whatsoever.
Who I Want to Win: On one hand, I want Glenn Close to win at least once, but not for this. Not for Hillbilly Elegy. Her legacy and career deserve so much more: she’s had better performances, and much, much better films. I’d love if Olivia Colman won and went two-for-two in her Academy Awards success. Then, there’s the side of me that wants Maria Bakalova to win, not just because of the immense talent that she possesses to pull off this role, but also due to the fact that Borat’s freaking daughter might in an Academy Award, and part of me thinks that is just hilarious (whilst fully warranted, mind you).
Who I Think Will Win: Considering how all over the place the awards season is this year, it’s borderline impossible to accurately guess this early on. However, I will do so anyway, because why not? I can always change my answer later on (I do final predictions right before the ceremony anyway). For now, the fact that Maria Bakalova has made it this far (with complete power and certainty) leads me to believe she absolutely has a shot at winning this whole thing. Unless Olivia Colman and Amanda Seyfried generate more steam, Youn Yuh-jung cracks the split votes in half and breaks on through, or Glenn Close somehow makes it known that this is her legacy year (please don’t be: nominate Close for something better and give her an award then because she is owed one), I personally think Bakalova might actually win this thing.
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.