PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING
ROLE
Predictions: The Five Noms:
Carice van Houten in Valkyrie (MGM)
Jessica Lange in Grey Gardens (HBO Films)
Amy Ryan in Changeling (Universal Pictures)
Amy Adams in Doubt (Miramax)
Toni Collette in Towelhead (Warner Independent
Pictures)
Comments:
I hate trying to predict the supporting categories this early in the game – mostly because of the uncertainty behind toplined cast and their importance to the film narratives: are they the lead or a supporting player? This year is Carice van Houten breakout year. The Dutch actress is taking some space in Ridley Scott’s Body of Lies but it might be her role as the wife to Tom Cruise’s Col. Claus von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie that might get heads turned into one direction.
The last time (and only time) she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, she walked away with the award. That was back in 1982 with Tootsie. Jessica Lange takes on the yummy role of ‘Big’ Edith Bouvier Beale. Normally HBO Films don’t go the theatrical route, but after separating from Picturehouse, Grey Gardens becomes their tentpole film of the award season.
Amy Ryan might make it a second year in the row in the potential winner’s circle. She”ll be supporting Angelina Jolie’s struggling mother Christine Collins in Mr.Eastwood’s Changeling.
Her star in shinning so bright that Miss Pettigrew
Lives for a Day and Sunshine Cleaning will only point towards her juxtaposed role against the top dame in the game Meryl Streep in Doubt. Amy Adams get your Sunday dress ready.
Finally, this one might be a dark horse pick, but in a truely “supportive” role, Toni Collette might get the nod depending how Towelhead gets out of the gates.
The Contenders:
Synecdoche, New
York has a rich cast of female characters (kind of like Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers) but the question is: which studio will buy the picture from Cannes and when will they position it? The same can richness in supporting female characters will be found in another directing debut…Diane
English’s cast in an all-female shing-ding The Women might pull in a nod. Out of those that I haven’t included in the top 5 picks and will most likely get wrong are veteran thesps Tilda Swinton and Frances McDormand who each take turns in the Coen’s Burn After
Reading. Finally, if Javier’s win as a Best Supporting bad guy is any indication, then we need to take into consideration that Cate Blanchett might get a nom for Indiana
Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Tomorrow: Best Supporting Actor
