Best Actress in a Supporting Role
While the Best Actress category looks sewn up from a distance, there are a plethora of good performances competing for the Best Supporting Actress category. There are three relative locks at the moment and potential for a few surprises.
Those three locks are Patricia Arquette (Boyhood), Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game) and Emma Stone (Birdman). Arquette has been earning raves for her heartfelt turn as Mason’s mom in Linklater’s 12-year project, and the momentum has not stopped since the film opened in July. (She is the category’s frontrunner.) Knightley, already a past Oscar nominee, gives a nuanced turn as Joan Clarke in the crowd-pleasing The Imitation Game. Although it is not an emotionally devastating performance, she does all she can to “support” her leading man, Benedict Cumberbatch. Emma Stone has been a fierce part of Birdman’s ensemble, has earned various nominations, and her take-down of Michael Keaton’s character is almost guaranteed to be her “Oscar reel.”
The rest of the category could go to a large number of deserving women. Jessica Chastain is earning the best reviews of her career for her turn in A Most Violent Year, although she did not get a SAG nomination, which does put her name in a bit of doubt. Meanwhile, Carmen Ejogo (Selma) and Rene Russo (Nightcrawler) have also garnered much attention for their performances, although their leading men (David Oyelowo and Jake Gyllenhaal) could steal the spotlight. Laura Dern seemed to be a contender a couple of months ago due to festival buzz, but her lack of screen time in Wild could hurt her chances.
Finally, the Academy loves to award newcomers in the supporting actress category – remember Lupita Nyong’o’s win last year? – and this year’s ingénue could be rising star Meryl Streep. Disney is backing the star for her enchanting performance in Into the Woods, and she seems like the best bet from that film’s ensemble to earn a nomination. This could be a nomination that signals a huge rise in Streep’s career and points to many more chances for Oscar gold ahead. Who knows – maybe she will set a record for most Oscar nominations by an actor? Only time will tell.
Final Predictions:
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods