Best Supporting Actress: Ranking Every Oscar Nominee
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
We’re at the first category of the 95th Academy Awards, and I must start where we always do: with the supporting acting categories. I find that the Oscars have this right when they begin their nominations — and awards — with at least one of these categories, as they feel like a taste of the major awards that the majority of the public are more interested in (don’t worry: there will be much love for the tech and production categories on this site that will be coming soon). I’ll preface these categories with the question I ask every time: what constitutes a great supporting performance? Is it the acting that steals the scene? What about the acting that best serves and enhances the leads? It can be tricky to discern what makes one supporting role better than the other, but let’s give it a shot anyway. Here are your nominees.
Biggest Snub: Jessie Buckley-Women Talking
Not a single performance from Women Talking got nominated. Not. One. It’s actually shocking, despite how far away we could see this disappointment coming (when the numerous stars of Women Talking got continuously shut out). That alone is really frustrating. Furthermore, I consider Jessie Buckley’s internalized-yet-explosive performance a standout element of the film, as well as one of the most effective performances of the year. I definitely consider Buckley’s omission one of the bigger snubs of the year, but the lack of love for Women Talking overall (despite a surprising-yet-well-deserved Best Picture nomination) also needs to be brought up and scorned.
5. Jamie Lee Curtis-Everything Everywhere All at Once
As a fan of Jamie Lee Curtis again and again, I am firstly happy that she finally (finally) has an Academy Award nomination. Having said that, I am quite surprised why she has made quite a splash for Everything Everywhere All at Once to the degree that it was essential to nominate her for every award. She is entertaining in a cartoonish sort of way here, and she does bring many layers to an antagonistic IRS inspector that do catch you off guard and even have you sympathizing for her throughout the film. Having said that, I do feel like Lee Curtis has had much stronger work than this, and I always felt like her character was more beneficial to the characters played by Michelle Yeoh and Key hue Quan (so maybe that’s the kicker for Academy voters, I guess). Nonetheless, I like this performance, but I easily felt like it was the weakest of this batch. Please don’t kill me.
Cameron Geiser’s review of Everything Everywhere All at Once
4. Stephanie Hsu-Everything Everywhere All at Once
Now Stephanie Hsu’s unlimitedly faceted role in Everything Everywhere All at Once sparkles a little more greatly. She’s a daughter that is overwhelmed to the point of depression, and Hsu hits these cues out of the park. When she is taking on the role as Jodu Tupaki (an all-knowing being that has become complacent with all of existence), she’s a smart ass without any spunk: she has heard her own jokes and let herself down countless times before. Hsu goes through the motions in a myriad of ways here, and there are moments where she allows her parents (Michelle Yeon and Key hue Quan) to shine; otherwise, she seizes the moment and lets you know her presence. She feels at home amongst these nominees.
Cameron Geiser’s review of Everything Everywhere All at Once
3. Kerry Condon-The Banshees of Inisherin
Kerry Condon almost always winds up in between feuding or boisterous men in The Banshees of Inisherin: it almost feels like she is the lone female on this fictional island. As a supportive sister, Siobhán, that still has to deal with enough nonsense to bother her, Condon is hilarious (at times the most electrifying person on screen) but her rage can still be felt. She is frustrated and seemingly not listened to, and you can understand her at all times. When she eventually hints at her own freedom, I honestly cannot blame her: I only wanted the best for Siobhán, and Condon makes it obvious how much the issues of others can still affect one via the ripple effects of stubbornness. A worthy performance with an obvious nomination to boot; let’s not forget that Kerry Condon was initially the frontrunner for this category.
2. Angela Bassett-Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
It never felt possible that the Academy Awards would give a Marvel Cinematic Universe performance the light of day, but not everyone is Angela Bassett. As Ramonda, Bassett first and foremost acts as the embodiment of the void left by the passing of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), and you can feel two things simultaneously: her hurt as a mother that has lost her child, and the pressure of a leader picking up the pieces left for her in order to protect Wakanda. As Black Panther: Wakanda Forever progresses, Bassett is impossible to look away from, as she commands your attention virtually every single frame. The cherry on top comes in the form of what I consider to be (easily) the best piece of acting in all of the MCU: Ramonda’s expulsion of her eternalized grief, turmoil, and anguish. If anyone could break through the ceiling and land an acting nomination for this kind of film, it’s Angela Bassett, who has finally been nominated again.
1. Hong Chau-The Whale
One of the most overlooked performers of our time is Hong Chau, who I only really discovered when I put myself through the appalling Downsizing just because of the buzz around her performance. My main takeaway (outside of wanting my time back) is that I needed to see Chau again (she never got that Oscar nomination that was predicted). After numerous films and appearances on television (shoutout to her work in Watchmen especially), she is finally an Academy Award nominee for what may be her best role yet in The Whale. She plays Liz: a stern nurse that takes care of the fatally overweight Charlie; she gives him tough love, because she is also his friend as they are bound through grief. She tries to do her job as best as she can, but she can only take so much. Seeing Chau break in The Whale is soul crushing, and you can feel every bit of anger in her jabs and glares. She also does have a heart and sincerely wants to be there for Charlie, and it is this layer of warmth that solidifies this complex performance as my favourite of this group.
Who I want to win: Now that we have the nominees, I’d be fine with any of these performers winning (yes, even Jamie Lee Curtis, of whom I was harsh about, because it’s Jamie Lee Curtis. Of course she can have an Oscar). Since I like to at least narrow this section down, I’d be thrilled if Hong Chau won for The Whale, but I am also sincerely happy for Angela Bassett finally getting an Oscar for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Who I think will win: Right now, this is Angela Bassett’s to win. If the BAFTAs even have her nominated (and they get as far away from straight up American works unless they cannot ignore them), then I think this is hers to win. This goes beyond being a legacy win (which she has earned at this point anyway), as Bassett is legitimately fantastic in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and I feel like she’s great to the point of being impossible to ignore this time around.
Tune in tomorrow for our next Academy Award category! We’re reviewing every single nominee on every weekday.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan 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.