HOLLYWOOD—This might be the easiest predictions I’ve made for Oscar in the years since I’ve covered predictions about who will win the golden statute that is pinnacle for any in the entertainment industry. With the Academy Awards less than 3 weeks away, it’s time to look at some of the major categories like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor. We’re taking a look this week at the races for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Let’s kick-off the discussion with Best Actor. This might be the one race where I’m certain the victor has already been predicted and my jaw will indeed drop if any other name is called beyond Mahershala Ali for his performance in “Green Book.” He has so far swept awards season picking up a Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance. Is there anyone who could steal away his thunder? Well, there was in Timothee Chalamet for his performance in “Beautiful Boy,” but Chalamet was snubbed for Oscar.
The other contenders in the race include Sam Elliott “A Star is Born,” Sam Rockwell “Vice,” Richard E. Grant “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and Adam Driver “BlacKkKlansman.” The only candidate here with potential upset ability is Elliott in my opinion, but him losing to Ali at the SAG Awards cemented this race in my opinion. This is the one category that has delivered crazy outcomes in recent years. Just because you win the SAG doesn’t always scream the same thing come Oscar.
Now let’s talk about a race that is not clear-cut, but there are indeed frontrunners: Best Supporting Actress. The contenders include Emma Stone “The Favourite,” Rachel Weisz “The Favourite,” Marina de Tavira “Roma,” Regina King “If Beale Street Could Talk” and Amy Adams “Vice.” Stone and Weisz are likely to cancel each other out, Tavira is a wild card because she was snubbed most of awards season, but don’t count her out. However, in essence, this is a two-way race between King and Adams. King has never been nominated, but is the heart and driving force of “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Her performance is amazing and cannot be ignored.
Then we have Adams, this woman is becoming the Susan Lucci of the Academy Awards. She has been nominated six times, five times for Supporting Actress and once for Best Actress. If there was ever a year why I think Adams has a chance it’s this year. Why? King wasn’t even nominated for a SAG Award for her work, while Adams was. Adams did lose that award however, to Emily Blunt for “A Quiet Place.” What’s the problem? Blunt wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar.
So in essence this race is wide open. I have this nagging feeling where everyone is saying this award is Regina King’s to lose and I must agree. If there is one person to claim the prize it would be Adams, and for a bevy of reasons. Her performance is unforgettable and Oscar has a tendency to want to give the accolade to those who have gone overlooked not once, not twice, but several times. The argument can indeed be made that Adams is long overdue, and the AMPAS might be ready to give this woman the top prize, even if King is standout.
