There are just 15 days to go until the 91st Academy Awards. This week in our continuing look at the Oscars race, we check out the standings of the five nominees for Best Supporting Actor.
Mahershala Ali (way up)
So far, “Green Book” has admirably weathered all its controversies and is enduring a new wave of support. Anonymous voters have even told the press that they believe there is a “smear campaign” against the movie, and are voting for it anyway. That mindset will benefit every “Green Book” nominee, and solidifies Ali — already the favorite — as the front-runner. For his role as pianist Don Shirley (which is more lead-size) he’s already won a Golden Globe, SAG Award and Critics’ Choice Award.
Sam Elliott (down)
“A Star Is Born” has the potential to pull a few upsets at the Oscars, but Elliott won’t be one of them. His role as the brother of Bradley Cooper’s character is small, and the film has been aggressively pushing Gaga and Cooper. Not Elliott. He managed to score an award from the National Board of Review in November, but nothing major since.
Richard E. Grant (up)
After Ali, Grant has received the loudest acclaim for his role as a gay lush in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” So far, he’s won a boatload of critics’ awards and Fox Searchlight is fighting hard for him, featuring the actor at many industry, invite-only screenings of the movie throughout the past month. Grant has a shot at taking the gold.
Sam Rockwell (down)
“Vice” has sputtered on the awards circuit more than anybody expected. After receiving the most Golden Globe nominations, six, the Adam McKay-directed flick won just a single award, for Christian Bale’s performance as Dick Cheney. It then scored eight Oscar nods, but Bale is still its best chance at glory. Rockwell, who plays George W. Bush, has yet to win a prize for the movie this season, and won’t win an Oscar.
Adam Driver (way down)
Of all the films represented in this category, Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” is the last one on voters’ minds — because it was released way back in August. Driver was lauded for his work as a Colorado cop then, but memories are short, especially during a crowded awards season. He’s in last place.
